Espiner becomes RNZ Morning Report host and Pagani criticises the Standard

Written By: - Date published: 11:00 am, December 31st, 2013 - 177 comments
Categories: blogs - Tags: ,

alternative-vs-mainstream-media-450x250

There were a couple of interesting stories yesterday relating to the mainstream media and the blogs.

Firstly it was announced that Guyon Espiner will become the new host on Morning Report.  This has caused some comment.  His appointment from the Mediaworks stable is unhelpful.  Radio New Zealand has always been part of the public service independent media model and an influx of people from private media, especially those being shown preference by the current government, has the potential to undermine the principle of independence.

Bomber Bradbury jumped into the debate and described Espiner’s appointment alongside that of Mike Hosking on TVOne’s Seven Sharp and Paul Henry replacing Nighline on TV3 as “the 3 broadcasters of the apocalypse” giving a hard right view of news just in time for the next election.  His criticism of Espiner may be a bit harsh although his comments about Hosking and Henry are appropriate.  But Espiner has come from the hard corporate edge of the media and you have to wonder if there was not someone within RNZ’s ranks who could have stepped up to the job.

And Josie Pagani has jumped into the debate describing Bradbury as abusive, in part for calling her a “Fox News Democrat”.  But she also took the opportunity to criticise the Standard despite Espiner’s appointment not even being commented on until this morning.

She states:

Martyn Bradbury’s unreasonable aggression has produced a truckload of ugly incidents lately, but the pattern of reprehensible abuse and aggression is not restricted to him.

Check out the tone of comments on The Standard nearly any given day.

I have no problem with argument – it’s why we are here. The contest of ideas is vital to progress and the only way we can tell good sense from bad.  So therefore it is important to distinguish argument from bullying, from hatred and denunciation, and from the politics of exclusion.

There is something wrong with a version of the left that despises people. The fundamental principle of the left is our compassion, our belief that no matter where you come from, or who you are, you deserve the same opportunities as anyone else. Ours is the politics of redemption, forgiveness and humanity.

She also describes herself as a “pro-Labour commentator”.

She has been vilified in the past in part for her partner John Pagani’s rather bizarre campaign ideas.  His beneficiary on a roof speech written for David Shearer was justifiably ridiculed for its ham fisted beneficiary bashing tone.  And of course Josie should not be criticised for her partner’s actions.

But she has some strange views.  For instance:

The desire amongst activists is that they just want a spokesperson who actually represents what they think, not someone who feeds into right wing spin on what the Labour party stands for.  If the media want someone to speak on behalf of the Labour Party they should, like, actually reflect the thinking of members.

This is not radical.  Nor is it being mean to criticise her every time she comes out with a crazy notion such as support for casualised labour.

What Pagani does not appear to understand is that her views are at odds with those of most of the Labour Party’s activist base.  Her use by the media to present a Labour Party view of matters jars because she does not do that.  The media would be much better off using Queen of Thorns to provide lefty comments.

Rather than criticise commentators on the Standard Josie should consider her own views and wonder whether she is actually reflecting the views of progressives.  And if not she should question what her media role actually is and whose interests she is serving.

177 comments on “Espiner becomes RNZ Morning Report host and Pagani criticises the Standard ”

  1. John Williams 1

    Nicely summed up Micky.

  2. Kevin Welsh 2

    It’s Guyon Espiner, Mickey.

    [Thanks mass change applied, brain obviously in holiday mode – MS]

  3. RedBaronCV 3

    Any chance of shifting earlier comments on this from open mike?.

    [I would but my technical skills are not up to moving a set of comments LPrent?]

  4. irascible 4

    Interestingly, I’ve never heard Josie Pagani comment on anything vaguely left or Labour. I’m left wondering why she might be thought of as being Labour or Left of anything?
    What are her “credentials” to present herself as a spokespersomn for the Labour Party or of Labour? Why do the mediagive her air or page space?
    Please help me underrstand this “commentator”.

    • weka 4.1

      Didn’t she used to work for the Labour party?

      • QoT 4.1.1

        She was the Labour candidate for Rangitikei in 2011. That’s where her ridiculous “we shouldn’t extend WFF to beneficiaries” anecdata comes from.

        • weka 4.1.1.1

          Funny how she just said this then

          There is something wrong with a version of the left that despises people. The fundamental principle of the left is our compassion, our belief that no matter where you come from, or who you are, you deserve the same opportunities as anyone else. Ours is the politics of redemption, forgiveness and humanity.

          • Colonial Viper 4.1.1.1.1

            It’s the same Bill Clinton-esque “I feel the pain of those doing it hard” bullshit which he spouted at the same time that he was cutting welfare to US children.

            • swordfish 4.1.1.1.1.1

              The Paganis have moved in a (not-entirely-untypical) right-wing trajectory over the last 12-15 years – slowly but surely co-opted into the neo-liberal establishment.

              I mean, they were founding members of the New Labour Party for fucksake !!! You know, the Left-Wing conscience of the Labour Party. They became prime movers in the Alliance in the 90s, moved with Anderton to become his Progressive Party spin doctors after the big bust-up. (Anderton promoting the Progs as Left of Labour economically and to the (conservative) Right on moral issues). From there they continued on their relentless rightward journey to become key advisors to Goff and Shearer, generally credited with encouraging the latter in a Right-leaning direction.

              And then the final neo-liberal coup de grace, John Pagani becomes a lobbyist for the mining industry in 2012, while Josie takes over some of his media gigs, her “right-wing opponents”, Hooton, Coddington, Farrar and Slater apparently often being complimentary about her views (according to the highly sympathetic daughter, sister and sister-in-law of various National Party Politicians, Audrey Young). Here: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10847238

              They’re probably best seen as upwardly mobile opportunists these days.

  5. QoT 5

    The media would be much better off using Queen of Thorns to provide lefty comments.

    *applauds*

    Seriously though, my major beef with Josie Pagani is that she’s a terrible writer. That latest post about religion on Pundit which Sanctuary linked to? I have literally no idea what she was trying to say. Shelley Bridgeman is the soul of incisive commentary in comparison.
    http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-30122013/#comment-750832

    • “Shelley Bridgeman is the soul of incisive commentary in comparison.”

      Nice. Now this, my friends, is how you deal a sick burn.

    • Tim 5.2

      mmmmm! No, it’s not JUST that she’s a terrible writer, it’s that she’s a total fucking fake!

      By the way …. Can one grow grapes in Rangitikei? Olives perhaps? If so, expect a gorgeous Chardonnay, or very exclusive Pagani Olive Oil to be ‘marketed’ soon – perhaps even in this “2014 Boom Year” that confronts us all.
      Gorgeous Darling

  6. veutoviper 6

    Excellent summation, MS. I cringe every time I hear Josie Pagani described as representing the left, or pro-Labour. She certainly does not represent my views, and IMO her views are all over the place, as you have pointed out. I assume that she no longer has any standing, position in the Labour Party; and IMO it is time (indeed, past time) that this is pointed out publicly.

    PS – being a pedant, Guyon’s last name is spelt “Espiner” not Espinar”.

    EDIT – hadn’t seen any other comments when I wrote this.

  7. karol 7

    micky, you have laid out well the problems with Josie Pagani’s views as they relate to Labour and the wider left.

  8. captain hook 8

    whjy is morning report going to auckland?
    being in wellingotn gives some distance and objectivity to the huddling masses of the metropolis.
    cozying up to the mavens is not good for democracy.

  9. captain hook 9

    and Mickey dont worry about the pedants and their spelling.
    they are just red herring experts who cant sem to manage the challenge of sticking to the point.
    dig?

  10. weka 10

    I don’t know what Pagani’s background is, but she strikes me as the epitome, the flag-bearer even, of the parts of Labour/the left that have dragged the left to the right and are very happy to stay there. The parts of Labour described on ts as Chardonnay-drinking, middle-class liberals who have fucked the working class. She attracts ‘abuse’ from parts of the left for that continual betrayal, and because she fails to recognise how much she abuses whole swathes of people by using her positions of power in society to prop up neoliberalism all the while pretending to be on the left. For me it’s the dishonesty part that I find disgusting, that she has privilege from that whole sorry story of Labour’s part in neoliberalism and that she doesn’t want to give it up.

    I’ll also note that the middle classes really don’t like rudeness, and sometimes tend to experience it as abuse. I haven’t looked too closely at what her actual claims are, and am more than willing to accept that abuse is going on at times, but I also think it’s likely that there are very real class, and political, differences in perceptions of what is abuse and what is not.

    There is also this middle class, we’re all reasonable people here, thing that everyone is entitled to their opinion and being able to express it without being subjected to harrassment (there was a classic example of that with Rhinocrates on Public Address a few weeks ago). However some opinions and actions deserve ridicule and probably eventually abuse where the reactions are not being taken seriously. Pagani probably doesn’t differentiate much between her beliefs and how she acts on them in the world in ways that affect others, because in the world where you have all your needs met, ideas are just ideas, not tools and weapons.

    (CV, Pagani is one of the people you should be targeting for boutique politics, not your natural allies here on ts).

    • Colonial Viper 10.1

      +1 good comments weka

      also important to recognise that the right wing of the Labour caucus have definite right wing membership and institutional support…

      Here I’m broadening the term “Right Wing” to include anyone who continues to buy into the globalised neoliberal economic framework as something which will deliver prosperity, happiness and long life to most, if not all.

      • karol 10.1.1

        the right wing of the Labour caucus have definite right wing membership and institutional support…

        can you elaborate on tat, CV?

        • Colonial Viper 10.1.1.1

          As a concrete example, the Affiliate unions supported an increase in the retirement age. At Conference other members spoke up in support of the benefits of free trade and the TPP.

          In terms of institutional support – I would look at the example of the US Democratic Party. Which under Obama built on trends from Clinton days and exceeded even Republican corporate fundraising levels.

          The genius of Bill Clinton in cosying up to Wall St and the big banks was that he understood that workers and unions had no other party to turn to, anyway.

          Further, I’m pretty sure that those in Treasury and the Reserve Bank view Labour as being a safe pair of hands vis a vis the dominant neoloiberal economic framework.

          • karol 10.1.1.1.1

            OK. Good examples,. thanks, CV.

          • Draco T Bastard 10.1.1.1.2

            Further, I’m pretty sure that those in Treasury and the Reserve Bank view Labour as being a safe pair of hands vis a vis the dominant neoloiberal economic framework.

            Yep and maintaining the present banking system which will ensure that NZ will continue to be in debt and that NZers will be working to make the banksters richer rather than NZ better. It’s a system we need to change and we won’t get that change from Labour as David Cunliffe has already said.

            • Macro 10.1.1.1.2.1

              exactly.. the Banking system which is the basis of the economic policy of today is nothing more than theft, sucking the wealth from the many to the control of the few. Local monies and systems of “barter” based on localised markets offer the possibility of people again gaining control of their lives and destinies, while providing the basis for building a sustainable economy.

              • aerobubble

                Capitalism started off nice, finding needs and supply them. Then every so often Governments get lazy, stupid, or a both and start printing money. In fact they did this initially by loosening finance, and so started the printing in the private sector. The printing now is to bring the excess onto the books. You see capitalism goes bad from time to time when instead of supplying demand, it creates demand as there too much money around and the unnecessary necessity to keep citizens busy. More pointedly, we have a plague of artificial self creating distortion driven capitalists, instead of distortion meeting capitalists who are merely a small part of the economy.

          • Jill 10.1.1.1.3

            The Affiliates did not support an increase in the superannuation age at the recent LP Conference.Nor did we support the TPP.

            • Jim Nald 10.1.1.1.3.1

              Please excuse my ignorance or lack of knowledge or background about the issues. As an observer who is very interested in the issues, I am trying to work it all out.

              CV: “As a concrete example, the Affiliate unions supported an increase in the retirement age”

              Jill: “The Affiliates did not support an increase in the superannuation age at the recent LP Conference.”

              I understand the votes on the day gave (delegated?) caucus the discretion to decide on the issue of superannuation age. If the votes went that way, and if it was known to caucus that an increase in the superannuation age would not be supported, then there are two questions:

              – why did caucus vis a vis Parker announce the increase in the superannuation age, while knowing what the voters really wanted?
              – what did the voters expect would happen by giving caucus such a discretion, and did voters not factor in the implications of caucus exercising the discretion against the preferred position held by voters?

              As I said at the outset, please pardon my ignorance or any errors in understanding about the issues. I would really like some clarification about this. As well, another question that arises is what would the voters have done differently (or need to do differently, if there is a next time)?

            • Colonial Viper 10.1.1.1.3.2

              IIRC, at the policy session the Affiliates supported a change to the super age remit which said that caucus would look at what age increase, if any, was appropriate. The remit did not state a specific age that super eligibility would be increased to, but left it up to caucus.

              When it went to the Conference floor vote, I recall no more than a handful of voters against the motion, which would have been far more had the affiliates stood against the motion.

        • felix 10.1.1.2

          “can you elaborate on tat, CV?”

          lolz 😀

    • Macro 10.2

      Hear! Hear!

      There is still unfortunately a strong faction within Labour who are still deeply entrenched in the failed economics of neo-liberalism and who think that all that is needed is a bit of “humanitarianism” liberally applied. They cannot see that the economic woes that beset this country are largely as a result of the policies adopted by Douglas and to a lesser extent the Clarke Government (I’m thinking Free Trade “deals” here and the opening of our boarders to all and sundry.) These actions may have seemed good sense at the time, but the result is an erosion of our ability to fend for ourselves, to the extent that like the recent post on the decline of the USA to 3rd world status, so too can the same be said for NZ.

      The policies of the past 30 years must be reversed if this country is to have any future. In the words of Dylan:

      “get out of the new one if you can’t lend a hand – for the times they are a’changing”

  11. tinfoilhat 11

    In my opinion her views on many of the comments at this blog are pretty much spot on.

    • weka 11.1

      The only thing she says in that link about ts is this –

      “Check out the tone of comments on The Standard nearly any given day.”

      Pretty vague. What was it you agreed with exactly?

    • lprent 11.2

      Talking about your own comments tfh?
      I usually just spam them because they are so full of bile and zero actual content.

      • tinfoilhat 11.2.1

        QED from one of the worst offenders.

        • karol 11.2.1.1

          Glad you admit to the proof of your, offending, tfh!

        • fender 11.2.1.2

          TFH, can you confirm who this comment was directed at?

          • tinfoilhat 11.2.1.2.1

            BM

            • fender 11.2.1.2.1.1

              Oh that’s good, ’cause it looks like an uncalled for attack on our (in less than a year) next PM.

              • tinfoilhat

                No, not at all………. but on that note I’m not sure if you saw Cunliffe and Key delivering their respective XMAS messages on TV ?

                I couldn’t help wondering if they were the best we could do for prospective PMs after the next election…….. both very uninspiring… a bit like the two main contenders for the Auckland mayoralty race.

                • fender

                  No I missed the TV messages, but I’m confident Cunliffe was speaking from the heart and meant what he said, whereas Key no doubt was just going through the motions as usual while considering whether the holiday home windows have been cleaned as per instructions.

                  Cunliffe is far above the shonKey fake as well as the Auckland mayoralty candidates, you will see this in time if you doubt it at present.

                  • @ key/cunnliffe speeches..

                    ..sorry fender..i saw both..

                    ..(i was stuck in a moose-trap..couldn’t get to the remote..)

                    ..and it was neck and neck for ‘shudder!’/retch-reaction..to both..

                    ..both were exercises in cloying-embarrassment..

                    ..leaving you sobbing ‘please.!…god..!..no..!’..

                    ..and wanting to drive hot-needles into yr eyes..

                    ..just to make it all stop..

                    ..phillip ure..

          • sockpuppet 11.2.1.2.2

            Oh what wit Karol methinks you might be the next Morrisey.

  12. greywarbler 12

    The fundamental principle of the left is our compassion, our belief that no matter where you come from, or who you are, you deserve the same opportunities as anyone else. Ours is the politics of redemption, forgiveness and humanity.

    This sounds like the theory of Christianity (the practice does not always follow). It could be said that Labour has a desire to implement this, but if it is following these Christian principles then it could be said to be up against the evil Devil of wilful neglect of those principles, even hate of ordinary society. With that to contend with, Josie Pagani’s idea of Labour brings to mind a spongey shoe inner-sole that eases the upwards thrust for financial runners and social-climbing athletes rather than the pressures on the souls of the lower-income classes underneath.

    • karol 12.1

      Ours is the politics of redemption, forgiveness and humanity.

      Except when it comes to TS.

      • greywarbler 12.1.1

        Martyn Bradbury’s unreasonable aggression has produced a truckload of ugly incidents lately, but the pattern of reprehensible abuse and aggression is not restricted to him.

        Check out the tone of comments on The Standard nearly any given day.

        I have no problem with argument – it’s why we are here. The contest of ideas is vital to progress and the only way we can tell good sense from bad. So therefore it is important to distinguish argument from bullying, from hatred and denunciation, and from the politics of exclusion.

        I don’t come to TS to drink tea with my little finger extended. I get information, ideas, feel the pulse of thinking, intelligent people and get chided, encouraged, damned, whatever. People here are exercising their intellect, not just passing time till the End of the Universe.

        We are concerned about our own future, our children’s future, or our neighbour’s children’s future, etc. and we are afraid of the direction that leaders the politicians the powerful and their sycophantic offsiders are taking us in. While the populace watches bemused, or anaethestised, or stupified by dopey mendacious media and smiling bonhomie or competent confident delivery of misleading irrelevancies that are merely propaganda. That’s what we are concerned about Josie. What is your passion, that great in word with the chattering class! If you find it is too raw and uncouth, you could always take up gardening, or write a new book for the post-modern PC person on how to behave suitably in interesting times.

  13. tricledrown 13

    Pagani and Williams are trying to get Nationals soft middle class vote by pandering to their predjudices.
    Labour would be better served by getting the 800,000 who didn’t vote out to vote.
    That requires the membership to get out and door knock pamplet and help on election day.
    Does Labour have this membership.
    Or are they stuck with the Pagani Williams solution of targeting soft National support.
    With a strengthening economy
    Populist PM.
    I Doubt many soft National voters will change sides.
    So that leaves labour having to work buttsoff and have policy aimed at the 800,000 who are angry disenfranhised.
    If Pagani and Williams had any brains they would push Left instead of right.

    • Naturesong 13.1

      I would suggest that soft National voters won’t change away from National because of Pagani / Williams, but because of GCSB/TICS, Pollution and obvious corruption in the Beehive.

      I know several voters who previously voted National who will now not be voting National this election because of those issues. However, most are simply abstaining from voting since they don’t trust Cunliffe (Herald; Job done)

      • aerobubble 13.1.1

        National voters are not being served by Key’s government, selling assets when they don’t have the spare cash, supporting the big end of town while ignoring the small (Hobbit gets money while the industry gets nobbled by dithering), numerous economic issues can be shown to harm core national voters.

        What I never got about the Goff election was how concentrated they were on asset sales alone.

        • SHG (not Colonial Viper) 13.1.1.1

          National voters are not being served by Key’s government

          Growth up, business confidence highest since 1994, terms of trade highest since 1974, unemployment down, country on track for a Budget surplus, crime down, child mortality down, would you like me to continue? Pick up a newspaper or open a NZ news site.

          NZ is in the best shape it has been for decades. National voters are fucking LOVING this Government.

          • Naturesong 13.1.1.1.1

            Thats why so many National voters I know won’t be voting National next year?

            The disconnect is strong in this one

            • SHG (not Colonial Viper) 13.1.1.1.1.1

              So you know lots of National voters do you, class traitor?

              • Naturesong

                Class traitor? Rofl.

                Yes, I know quite a few. I’m middle class, both sides of my family are, and I grew up in Epsom. Academics on one side, engineers, lawyers, accountants on the other.
                I was even in the same class as Cameron Slater at intermediate (he was a nice kid back then – no idea what happened to him since).
                I can most easily be described as a social democrat, and am arguably the left most leaning of my family (although my cousin, who earns something in the region of 1/2 mil per year did marry a real socialist – he’s very cool, scary bright, and is able to make you question the very ground you walk on – he did his doctorate in pure mathematics – bring your “A” game to the annual christmas political conversation, er smackdown).

                My point of view is not because of ideology, or some esoteric liberal caring about the downtrodden while sipping Riesling, it’s pure self interest

                I like to swim in rivers, eat fresh shellfish and fish that I’ve caught. I enjoy unpolluted beaches. I grew up in a community. I know that institutions, democratic or otherwise are prone to corruption if sharp eyes are not kept on them.
                I know that a higher standard of living is measured in quality of life, not how much money you can count behind the walls of a gated community. In the health of a nations population. In ensuring all New Zealanders have the opportunities I took for granted growing up.
                I don’t like to be spied on by my government. I want the right to have my voice heard, to assemble peacefully, to democratic representation, to know that the people I vote for will act in the interests of the majority of the population whilst ensuring that they do not disadvantage any other section of the population.
                I want my government to ensure I am protected from rapacious corporations, not enable or collude with them, or just give them great wads of my tax money.
                I want the government to be cost effective, not let staff go because it looks good politically, and them have to hire those same people as consultants for twice as much.

                I wish all of these things for the children I am yet to have, as well as for the children of my siblings and cousins, irrespective of who they vote for.

                At it’s most basic level the choice is between the following:
                a) Walls, Prisons, Pollution and Corruption or
                b) Quality public services, Education and Welfare

                New Zealand is one of the very few countries that still has the potential to be paradise on earth. Socially, economically and environmentally. And we’re blowing it.

              • Lanthanide

                Unfortunately, right-wing thinking is almost like a mental illness, in that it pervades many levels of society. I say like a mental illness because those in the low-middle class would generally be better off voting for a left-wing party, but they vote for National instead.

                • McGrath

                  The same could be applied to the Left in its efforts to punish success.

                  To see Socialism in action, just look at the paradise that is now France. Their economy is performing badly. There is also the other postcard for socialism, Venezuela. Again another country who is plummeting despite significant natural oil reserves. These countries are failing their lower class

                  • Colonial Viper

                    Don’t be a fucking dork.

                    France is sucking because their banks, including BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole and SG are in the red with hundreds of billions in off balance sheet derivatives.

                    Add to that their signing away of currency sovereignty and you get the situation you have now.

                    Venezuela has been under constant economic attack by the USA and by transnational corporate interests.

                    Basically, you are pointing at the economic explosions, yet quietly ignoring who is firing the artillery. Dick.

                    • McGrath

                      CV. All the world is a conspiracy theory for you it seems, yet you miss the bleeding obvious. NZ is doing a lot better economically then most OECD countries. Nothing to do with class wars, corporate conspiracy, illuminati, or anything else you’ve been smoking. Far-Left Wing economies do worse off overall.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      How can it be a “conspiracy” when it’s a fact out there in the open? Do you use the word “conspiracy” because having those facts out in the open make you uncomfortable? If so, that’s quite understandable.

                      Of course NZ continues to do OK. Which country wouldn’t, borrowing tens of millions of dollars a week just to keep things ticking along.

                      And now you want to give Bill English and National credit for putting the tab on our sovereign credit card? You really are a dick.

                    • MaxFletcher

                      “Don’t be a fucking dork.”
                      “Dick.”
                      “You really are a dick.”
                      “LOL fuck off.”

                      Aren’t you running (or did run) for a seat in parliament?

                  • Naturesong

                    Or, for an actual example, see Red Vienna

                    • greywarbler

                      That’s so interesting Naturesong. The city advances, and the countryside becomes more conservative. It seems a regular thing. Afghanistan – Kabul and the country under local leaders or warlords etc.

                  • greywarbler

                    Mcgrath
                    I can smell RWT on your breath. You have to learn past economics 101 to talk on this blog. Or breathe through your nose and read fast. Don’t talk about other economies or indeed this one before you can bring a holistic financial viewpoint to the site. Every country is doing badly. Just some more than others. And no-one to bankrupt them to bring them some quiet moments to break their feverish activity that is snowballing towards us, or some say. Others burn paper effigies in a fire and watch the ashes blow away, turning their problems to lighter than air.

                    • McGrath

                      I just disagree with the extremes, be it left wing or right wing. For me Centre-Right is the best position, Centre-Left the 2nd. I could quote more than Economics 101 (being an Honours Major in Economics), however I fear that would be missed on most.

                      I worry (though I suspect I’m in the minority here) that Labour is lurching too far left. Labour will get into power eventually, and I don’t want them fucking things up with extremes.

                    • Draco T Bastard

                      I just disagree with the extremes, be it left wing or right wing.

                      No you don’t, you believe in extreme right-wing ideology. This is proven by your support of this extreme right-wing government and what it’s doing to the economy, the environment and the people who live here. None of it is very good or sustainable.

                    • rhinocrates

                      Honours Major in Economics

                      Ah yes, but do you have a degree in astrology or phrenology to make that look more respectable?

                      Cherry-picking France is not argument (as Grumpy in another thread should learn about a trapped ship).

                      Matthew Arnold called economics the “dismal science”. He was right about the first word, but wrong on the second. It fails the most basic empirical criteria used by real sciences. A recent letter to New Scientist hit the nail on the head:

                      “Science, which aims to describe the real world, is based is based on the laws of physics and chemistry with defined units of measure. Economics, in the artificial world of money, is based on questionable and unreliable assumptions about human behaviour, and uses undefined and variable units of measure. There’s no science in it.”

                      The crucial thing is that in the real sciences, all units of measure are transferable – joules, newtons, metres, kilograms can all be transferred and translated… except in the cargo cult of economics which only superficially imitates science.

                      So you have a piddling graduate enrolment in an embarrassing pseudoscience – but how fluent in Klingon are you?

                    • McFlock

                      lol

                      dude, you’re extreme right – and puffing yourself up because you’re an undergrad for a degree in religion impresses nobody.

                    • RedLogix

                      rhino – finely flambeed topped with an indelicate sauce. 🙂

                      majQa’

                    • Kevin Welsh

                      Funny how equality, fairness etc, are now considered extremes.

                    • McGrath

                      I never knew that getting a university education and doing well for yourself makes me an extreme right winger. I apologise to you all for my success. Given that the amount of tax I pay probably funds a significant number of benefit lifestyles on this blog, I definitely apologise for that as well.

                    • karol

                      Hahahahaa….McGrath.

                      You’re making some assumptions there @ 8.35pm. You may surprised by how successful some here are in their chosen fields. We have people here who have been through Uni education, and have a very good grasp of what it’s about – and we have people here who have learned way more than some graduates, from life experience, reading, discussion etc. Great thing about the net and pseudonyms is you stand or fall on the arguments you make here, not on paper credentials.

                    • McFlock

                      McGrath, when your claim to intellectual authority is something that’s not commonly achieved by people in their very early twenties, you might not be such a laughing stock.

                    • Draco T Bastard

                      I never knew that getting a university education and doing well for yourself makes me an extreme right winger.

                      It does when that education is in “economics” and thus has absolutely nothing to do with the real world. We know this because every time we listen to the economists and implement policies based upon their sayings the economy collapses, we get more poverty but a few people make out like bandits.

                      The economics taught at uni is nothing more than a justification for capitalism.

                    • alwyn

                      rhinocrates at 7.19pm.

                      You tell us that “Mathew Arnold called economics the ‘dismal science'”

                      Well he didn’t actually. The person who DID say that was Thomas Carlyle.

                      Is the rest of your comment equally erroneous?

                    • heh..!..to rhino..and others..

                      ..mcgrath..you have been so ‘owned’..

                      ..eh..?

                      ..v. funny..

                      ..economists grumping to be accepted as serious thinkers..

                      ..is always a bit of a hoot..

                      ..but the howls of derision directed at the pretensions of mcgrath..

                      ..do have a satisfying odour of sulpher about them..

                      phillip ure..

                    • Hi McGrath @ 6:50pm,

                      I’m interested in fleshing out your descriptors of ‘Centre Right’ and your declared aversion to political (and economic?) extremes.

                      Which of the economic policy changes instituted by the fourth Labour Government and by the National Government in 1990-1993 do you consider to be extreme and which do you consider to be ‘centrist’ (‘Centre Right’ or ‘Centre Left’)?

                • Harriet

                  So under the 9 years of a Labour government compared to the current 6 of National – who then were they better off under?

                  I’ll answer that – National. Why? – because no one is complaining that they ‘lost stuff’ under national that they ‘owned’ under Labour.

                  The current situation is just the ups and downs of a market economy in a turbulent international enviroment – with the added misfortune of an earthquake. everyone sees that.

                  • Colonial Viper

                    LOL fuck off.

                    • greywarbler

                      CV
                      Peace man.
                      Don’t let the troll or trolless settle. A little dimp will do it. Maybe he/she has enough blood and it’s stopped raining. It’s interesting that tsmithfield stopped when harriet started harrassing. Do you think it’s a tag team.

                    • Anne

                      What’s H talking about? 😕

                    • karol

                      Anne, just a randian looking vainly for her lost morality in a turbulent market economy.

                    • rhinocrates

                      “turbulent”?

                      I thought it was “dinamick”.

                  • Francis

                    I can’t figure out whether you’re serious or not…

                    • @..is she serious..?

                      ..that’s harriet..and yes..she is ‘serious’..

                      ..and is considered a rightie..

                      ..by the righties on kiwiblog..

                      ..best to just laugh at her..

                      ..do a ‘mcgrath’ on her..

                      philip ure..

                  • newsense

                    err….

                    I do remember owning a lot more in the way of power companies, our national airline, etc etc…

              • McGrath

                Class Traitor! What is this, North Korea?

                • McFlock

                  I love it when tories believe each others’ bullshit

                  • Tim

                    You know … once upon a time in a past life when I was a sysprog in the banking sector (oft providing support to banks’ dealing rooms and elsewhere) … we used to monitor these economic ‘sages’ – many of who you now see pop up on MSM television screens, and most hons and masters grads.
                    We logged their ‘predictions’ against the reality. Fuck me! Quelle surprise! – Most times a frikken dart board would have been more accurate. It all became boring and ended up being a syndicate whereby we’d take turns at placing bets at the TAB.
                    (And strangely enough, though I’d never placed a bet in my life before and had to be educated on how to fill out the necessary – it was definitely a more profitable exercise for all concerned).
                    Pardon me Mr or Ms McGrath if I don’t take your credentials seriously.

          • aerobubble 13.1.1.1.2

            The talking points. Key delayed the rebuild so the economic spurt occurs in the election year. China’s demand for milk will shrink as they innovate new dairy methods. Crime was already going down (though violet crime is up), child poverty has risen as housing costs have hit.

            National are not serving Kiwis, especially National voters by getting out in front of disasters, or Chinese growth, while ignoring the huge long term problems from ignoring the tail. Small business owners need the young to replace the older consumers of their products and services, when one young person will be tax to sustain three older people its a huge waste of manpower to shove the young into overcrowded under heated, moldy leaking over priced rentals and store up a tsunami of health woes in the future workforce.

            Key dithers on the pressing problems, intervenes to quickly for the top end, and claims credit for stuff he had nothing to do with.

            And we still haven’t gotten to the elephant, that the US will end printing of money and the world economy will then need to deal with the over supply of huge calls of value (money).

    • “..If Pagani and Williams had any brains they would push Left instead of right..”

      ‘fuck-the-poor’ and ‘i agree with matthew’ can’t do that..they are both neo-lib true-believers..

      ..it worked for them…eh..?

      ..phillip ure..

    • Olwyn 13.3

      Tricledown: “Pagani and Williams are trying to get Nationals soft middle class vote by pandering to their prejudices.”

      That is the justification they made for supporting David Shearer; “We need the middle class if we are to win.” However, I think they are skirting around a deeper problem, which is that the current economic consensus increasingly conflicts with Labour’s stated principles. Given that this same economic consensus has removed many of the service-oriented, upper middle class footholds, working for the Labour Party is now among the last of the cool jobs. Hence I suspect the “appeal to the middle class” is more about “the right to a cool job for people like me” that any broader thesis.

      It is a very big problem for the left. Those inside the magic circle want their cool jobs. Those on the outside want representation, which the economic consensus effectively rules out. And with each turn of the screw the two positions get harder to reconcile.

  14. Ad 14

    Invite her to blog here. Lprent to moderate.
    See if she’s up to it.

    • karol 14.1

      I think Pagani has never gotten over the fact that Mr Pagani was banned from here.

      • Anne 14.1.1

        There is something wrong with a version of the left that despises people. The fundamental principle of the left is our compassion, our belief that no matter where you come from, or who you are, you deserve the same opportunities as anyone else. Ours is the politics of redemption, forgiveness and humanity.

        Like others, that post gave me the best belly-laugh of the day. But I object strongly to the above segment. It smacks of arrogance and stupidity. I have seen more compassion, caring and a general humanitarian attitude towards our unluckiest citizens expressed here on a daily basis… than has ever come from MSM personnel and journalists in an entire month. They don’t have the time because they’re too busy patting each other on the backs and telling one another what great guys and gals they are. Pfft! Most don’t seem to have a clue what they’re talking about, and every time Josie bursts into print she verifies it.

      • Tim 14.1.2

        I think Pagani has never gotten over herself – what’s the buzz? FIFY maybe.
        Ekshly, I suspect she’s in training to become the next Rosie McLeod.
        Down with the trendy bros and lefties in her heyday, now content with a limo-like ride to the RNZ studios when the nicest man on Earth summons her.
        Kind of like a poor man’s BBC gig

    • lprent 14.2

      Or I could reply on Nat radio.

  15. Will@Welly 15

    This commentary has gotten side-tracked by a soft case of middle-class woes, in this case, Paganitisms. The real concern should be the appointment of Espiner, and what appears to be an obvious shift in the near future of Morning Report, and National Radio to Auckland. Simon Mercip and Jim Mora are already stationed there.
    National have hated National Radio for years, and if they could, this is the one institution they would sell off and privatize. Dick Griffin was essentially appointed to oversee the privatization of RNZ, there is no doubt about that, the agenda is plain for all to see. Shifting RNZ to Auckland makes it more marketable long-term.
    Once again, democracy is under threat by this National-led administration, and they and their cronies are stacking the decks so that the voices of opposition are silenced in the year of Parliamentary elections. F**K the Tories, take a leaflet out of Bomber Bradbury’s and rise up.

    • Jesus Wept 15.1

      Agreed Will. Josie just wants to be loved.
      More importantly I’m old enough to remember the Listener with Gordon Campbell doing the Politics rap – not the present Pamela Stirling crap. And Public TV – now that was an idea. Must have been unbalanced – called a tory spade a shit shovel. So yeah – what’s our Guyon gonna do? More than a worry.

  16. Tracey 16

    I guess she has ignored all the posts in poverty to be able to write this

    “There is something wrong with a version of the left that despises people. The fundamental principle of the left is our compassion, our belief that no matter where you come from, or who you are, you deserve the same opportunities as anyone else. Ours is the politics of redemption, forgiveness and humanity.”

    • Colonial Viper 16.1

      Don’t you know, the wealthy plutocrat class (many of whom are white and male) are an under siege minority who deserve our special compassion and sympathy…don’t we realise how tough life is at the top, dammit?

  17. Tracey 17

    When espiner first entered my consciousness I though he was even handed if not left sympathetic. He says he never felt comfortable in commercial tv. Perhaps to keep a job he had to start leaning to the right?
    Maybe he has got out to return to why he became a journalist?
    Will listen with interest. BLiP might want to email his thread to guyon at th end of april.

  18. Tracey 18

    Greywarbler way up there… bravo and bloody well expressed. Thanks for writing my thoughts so clearly.

  19. Tracey 19

    Lol cv…

    labour need to ask national when the so called good news will reach the 50% of kiwis earning below 29000… they have been tightening their belts since 1984. Some have died waiting for the promised benefits of such good news. Trot out median incomes not averages… if good times mean half the population are on under 30k we must be on the wrong path.

  20. greywarbler 20

    I haven’t read everything on this thread so might be repeating. But I looked up info on current CEO at Radionz. And found Frank Macskasy blog with good comments and info. He’s been watching a lot of things and Radionz is among them. Here’s a bit of background.

    http://fmacskasy.wordpress.com/tag/peter-cavanagh/
    15 June 2013
    Radio NZ’s new CEO –
    Paul Thompson is currently the Group Executive Editor of Fairfax Media in New Zealand and a former award winning editor of the Christchurch Press and the Nelson Mail.

    There was concern that he was too close to corporates.
    I read the funding hasn’t gone up since 2009 when it was $31 million per annum approx. A very good read from Frank with further useful links.

    Then on Peter Cavanaugh who came from OZ SBS and was praised for holding the line on quality and resisting government attempts to find other funding streams. This apparently didn’t please gummint.

    This is about one unsettling happening resulting from a comment on Mora’s show.
    10 October 2011
    Bradbury’s comments are highly critical of the Prime Minister’s actions on the day of the “Balcony Jumper”, and describes Key in unflattering terms.
    So because Bradbury has criticised John Key’s actions, CEO Peter Cavanaugh has banned him from participating in Radio NZ again, and has removed Part Two of the Panellists Hour.

    Martyn Bradbury explains the situation here.
    If this doesn’t smack of Big Brother, then what does? In effect, Cavanaugh accepts right wing critical comments – often directed at the Greens or the Labour Party – but balks at criticism of the Prime Minister?!
    Since when has it been a bannable offense to criticise the Prime Minister?

    • Will@Welly 20.1

      Look/listen to many of Jim Mora’s panelists. There has been an incremental swing to the right over recent years. Also there has been a lightening in the tone of the show, a lot more triviality, rather than any real indepth discussion.
      As for criticism of John Key, trying standing up in any of the various religious sects and denouncing the head of their religions – it’s called heresy. The same with criticizing our dear leader, unbecoming to those who worship at the alter of the almighty dollar, and every corrupt politician and crony who follows in their wake.
      Perhaps we need to re-write the western calendar, B.C., A.D., and now N.O., and so we are in approx. year 29 N.O., the 29th year of the Neo Liberal era. Over half my life has existed in the era of purgatory. What a f**ken abomination.

    • xtasy 20.2

      Greywarbler, you are coming up with some great comments here, and I as now mostly just TS reader, feel once more prompted to put in my voice.

      Radio NZ is already so much compromised, and has moved towards the “right” as the whole of the NZ establishment and society have. Listen to this, where one “Simon Mercenary” presents a supposedly “independent” program on the housing and property issues, mainly in Auckland and Christchurch.

      Listen to the “experts” and panel members he or RNZ chose. They are:
      The CEO of the Real Estate Institute, Helen O’Sullivan,
      the Westpac Chief Economist Dominic Stevens and
      the Property Investors Association member Anthony King!!!

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/outspoken/audio/2580670/outspoken-for-31-december-2013-property

      What a fricking joke!. We get this more and more, and you must ask, what is going on? Now Guyon Espiner, one of the greatest and smartest “spin-meisters” for this government, will join “Simon Mercenary” to host the “Morning Report” show, to tell people what to think and how to vote. That is in addition to Radio Live and 1 ZB hosts already openly telling people that Labour and the “left” are “shite”, and that they should trust John Key.

      Indeed, still now, after the leadership change, much of Labour is “shite”, because there are too many in Caucus manipulating the outcome of the last conference, and the whole program. The ones like Pagani and Williams, and the latter one I heard with Hooton, either on RNZ or Radio Live a few weeks back, saying, Cunliffe would not be “that left”, they should be THROWN OUT of the Labour Party!

      Sadly though, apart from these issues, the whole society has been totally brain-washed and compromised, and the traditional Labour voters have all been forced into individual employment contracts, or into contracting self employment over the years. There is little solid Labour voting basis now. The unions are weak and hardly make a mark. The public are totally corrupted, divided and brainwashed into endless consumerism, self serving ideas, by commercialism, by falling for all the kinds of trappings and seductions there are. And re the latter, Key is the master of seduction. I went to Sylvia Park Shopping Centre in East Auckland today, and I saw, the GREATEST TEMPLE in the country, full of “worshippers” of consumption, of material goods on offer, and it all was so “clean”, “organised”, “safe”, “accommodating”, “convenient”, “nice” and catering for everyone who just wanted to be away from anything “bad”, it was like a “temple” of seduction, which it is. Most ‘escape” into this kind of environment, as the day to day routine is dull, depressing and leaves them as nothing but numbers and commodities. But with their addictive “replacement therapies” (e.g. shopping), most do not realise they are caught, manipulated and trapped, kept into dependence by corporations, that control all their wants and needs.

      There is NO labour movement left in New Zealand, because this evil system has corrupted the majority of the populace, and they party tonight, like there is no tomorrow, fooling themselves that this ritual will set them free. Thinking and true awareness only exists still in a minority, and unless the “addiction” to this lying, consumerist, manipulative life style imposed on us, is stopped, we will not see any real chance for a left win this coming year.

      Most will follow the piper Key, into the abyss, as all seems so nice, for most, they do not even comprehend anymore what goes on. They are all led and misled, ill informed, do not even bother informing themselves anymore. Modern day manipulated slaves and idiots, I am afraid, they make up too large a percentage of the population and voters. Even beneficiaries forced into draconian conditions, rather try to do all to please their case manager, than to stand their ground and unite.

      I wish it was different, but I cannot see any improvement on the horizon. Pour another drink to keep the people drunk that is more or less how this government has most hooked!

      To take control, people have to revolt and occupy, but you will find only one in a thousand ready to do so. Forget the “revolution” in one of the most brain washed countries on earth, it is called New Zealand!

      • greywarbler 20.2.1

        xtasy
        I think your critique is spot on. Depressing though. So I think the only way is to push it towards back of mind and keep doing positive things to deal with the stand-out concerns. I apologise to you in advance if in my critical comments in this year I speak against a matter that is important to you. I am getting anxious to see the paradigms change so there is pragmatic facing of what Labour is up against and we have to focus.

        The thinking that will help that I read in CVs comments. I am impressed by CVs thinking on just about everything. He makes good sense and is wise and thoughtful beyond his years. He makes me a bit hopeful that some good will arise in Labour this year, and lots more if the dragon can wake from its sleep and breathe some fire – and not at beneficiaries. I’ll never forget Shearer coming out with that roof comment. A death-stone tied around his neck that is.

  21. Tracey 21

    But u can call the leader of the opposition a liar???? As long as you pretend u r sorry later.

  22. tricledrown 22

    Since National gained power in
    2008.

  23. chris73 23

    Now now Labours a broad church so Pagani is as Labour as anyone 😉

    • Anne 23.1

      Naughty, naughty 73. 😛

    • Tim 23.2

      Pagani is hoping Labour’s church will be getting broader too – so broad its principles will become meaningless. (Much as it is now unless they wake the fuck up – and sooner rather than later. It’s why many of us are hoping Cunliffe will actually use that toilet brush now that he’s had it handed to him – and NOT without a struggle. Of course there are STILL one or two stubborn stains that are clinging to the porcelain like little fleks of shit – each with a trendy name)
      Of course the likes of Pagani, Williams, a Parker or two, amongst others aren’t worried – if only because they don’t shit, and those stubborn little stains can’t possibly be down to them

  24. Tracey 24

    Your leader still has no clothes chris lite. Trouble is you are dragging so many down with your delusions.

    • Tim 24.1

      I really hope @ Tracey that you don’t want to see Key in the nuddy.
      Just believe me when I tell you he’s like a knock-kneeded blubbery boi [ a booooyee, a bwaaaah – basically an Emperor that’s pretty fucking ugly when disrobed] (as in camp as with a flabby bum the size of a bus) – but the campness as an attempt at displaying manhood, and smiling as a gittus.
      It’s ekshly no wonder he travels with his pathetic lying DPS (doing their best to come acrsoss as all macho and impartial)
      Thank Christ for Armarni aye?
      Sincere commiserations to Bronagh as well – it’s ne a cnut of s situation to have to contend with (especially with those loving chillun doing their ‘thang’) in the background.

  25. She … opposed WFF being extended to those on benefits.

    Well, duh. It’s called an In-Work Tax Credit and was created specifically to increase the gap between welfare benefits and full-time wages. It’s not hard to figure out that a policy of extending that in-work tax credit to those not in work would be extra-strength voter repellent.

    • QoT 25.1

      It’s called the In-Work Tax Credit for a reason, PM. The reason is: Labour wanted to give something nice to the middle classes but not beneficiaries.

      Of course this was a really shit thing to do and bought into bullshit ideas about the “deserving” poor, and at some point pre-2011 Labour had a change of heart.

      I don’t disagree with providing equivalent payments to beneficiaries. But it was the height of political naivete for Labour in 2011 to suddenly see the light and say “oh, we’ll extend it to beneficiaries” after spending many years and Crown Law dollars defending the idea that it was for “working” families.

      And I laugh my ass off at numpties like Josie Pagani who to this day don’t understand that they painted themselves into a stupid corner.

      • Psycho Milt 25.1.1

        They painted themselves into a stupid corner when they decided to use the social welfare system to assist people whose wages weren’t enough to live on, rather than actually addressing the issue of low wages. But at least, having gone down the extremely ill-advised path of subsidising low wages, they tried to at least minimise the stupid by targeting the subsidies to maintain relativity between wages and benefits.

        At some point, minimising the stupid seems to have fallen out of favour. In 2011, among all the other ways in which Goff-led Labour was bereft of a clue, it decided that actually the party’s policy should be to continue subsidising low wages, but to make sure that it also subsidises social welfare beneficiaries as much as people who work for a living. If Pagani recognises this as doubling down on the stupid, she’s smarter than most Labour activists.

        • QoT 25.1.1.1

          Nope, her argument is:

          The hardest week to door-knock was when we were telling people – who had just come home from a day’s work earning the minimum wage – that it was a great idea to extend their Working for Families tax credit to beneficiaries. “So what’s the point of working my guts out all week while someone sitting at home on the dole gets the same tax credit as me?”

          There’s a reason we’re called “Labour”: We have always represented people who work.

          • Puddleglum 25.1.1.1.1

            There’s a reason we’re called “Labour”: We have always represented people who work.

            Given the context of her previous paragraph, that is an appallingly cruel, inhumane sentiment. The notion that a Labour Party should not and would not support those workers who cannot sell their labour in the capitalist market has to be one of the most wrong-headed understandings of the history of the labour movement ever promulgated.

            Pagani should read this biography of Michael Joseph Savage to get some sense of what it means to advocate for ‘Labour’ under capitalism. This bit in particular might be of interest for her:

            The onset of the economic depression of the late 1920s and early 1930s and the deprivation and suffering that many people, especially the unemployed and the elderly, experienced put tremendous pressures on members of Parliament. Savage was distressed by the hardship he encountered

            Pagani could no doubt have eased Savage’s conscience with her insight about who the Labour Party represents, had she been around at the time.

            And then there’s the interesting implication that, for example, a Labour Party does not represent people who spend their days raising children (as they do not ‘work’ in Pagani’s sense).

            That would be a winning slogan – ‘Labour – Proudly not representing non-working parents’.

            • newsense 25.1.1.1.1.1

              you can’t talk about Michael Joseph Savage! Don’t you know he’s a socialist! think of how the vote would plummet if it got out that Labour listened to socialists!!!!!!!!

        • phillip ure 25.1.1.2

          pm..do you accept the concept of osmosis..?

          ..as in..hang with rightwingers for too long..

          ..and you start parrotting their neo-lib/tina-bullshit..?

          ..i thought in the past you claimed to be ‘left’..

          ..but fuck the poor!..eh..?

          ..so a correction there..

          ..you are giving every impression of being a neo-lib apologist..

          ..and i think we already have enough of them..eh..?

          ..phillip ure..

  26. thechangeling 26

    I’ve listened to Josie Pagani several times on the radio and met her twice and the conclusion I came to is that she is an air head that talks about things and around things but never gets down to the core of the idea so as to come close to solving it. She was just another Labour Party wannabe politician with firmly ingrained neo liberal beliefs and is well off enough to be completely disconnected from the pain of ordinary kiwis and would not be out of place in the National Party. That being her truth (as I see it) she could be deployed quite successfully as a political decoy that would confuse a lot of people who don’t quite know what they believe in a political sense either.
    Josie’s replacement for Labour in the Rangitikei electorate, Deborah Russell is a similarly endowed neo liberal with elitist centre right beliefs but which are cloaked under the leftist appearance of a feminist hell bent on bullying any male that has something constructive to say. Suffice to say I’m rapidly becoming disenfranchised with the reality of the Labour Party and some of the candidates who appear to be egotistical maniacs that use brown nosing, manipulation, deceit and bullying as weapons to plot their own future political paths and as a result are detached from reality. I was warned, and now I’m seeing just how things really are.
    Espiner on National Radio is disappointing too as he is just another neo liberal who won’t investigate and challenge the right with enough hard questions in an election year that demands ruthless analysis and deconstruction of policy if National are to be successfully dethroned.

    • Colonial Viper 26.1

      Man you can’t say that shit about QoT’s good friend.

      Don’t you know, you can be a privileged neolib and be an identity politics champion at the same time! There’s nothing philosophically inconsistent about supporting gay marriage and pay equality at the same time as stripping out and selling a nation’s industries, for instance.

      • weka 26.1.1

        “Man you can’t say that shit about QoT’s good friend.”

        Or you can, but you will get asked for evidence. How about 3 examples of Russell being hell bent on bullying men with anything constructive to say, and some evidence that she is NACT in disguise. I’m not saying you are wrong, just would like to see some actual evidence.

        • thechangeling 26.1.1.1

          That’s not my primary beef with her. She’d be great at attacking the National Party in parliament. An absolute terrier in the making. It’s the ‘pretending to be left when really not’ that does my head in. I’m trying to understand so many things but can’t assimilate them all.

          • weka 26.1.1.1.1

            I don’t know Russell other than what I have seen online. So if you are going to slander her I am naturally curious what you mean. Leave aside the man bullying thing and just give some examples of her being NACT in disguise. I am genuinely interested.

            • thechangeling 26.1.1.1.1.1

              It’s not my intention to slander anybody. Critiquing would be a better option and more reflective of what I’m about. Apologies if it came across that way. I’ll edit my original post if I can. I get wound up sometimes when trying to express stuff. A belief in private education demonstrates elitism quite clearly to me.
              Another of my beefs was Labour Party Policy hubs where the ‘winner’ was the person who said the most, the fastest, and the most often, and was not an environment conducive to developing a deeper understanding of the issues and solutions that face us all. Is this the right format for those discussions as usually they are held in universities right?

              • weka

                I’d be interested to hear you find the Greens then. Different communication processes and values around that, although less democratic than they used to be.

                Thanks for the example of private education, that makes it easier to understand what you mean.

                • “..although less democratic than they used to be…”

                  bloody hell..!..really..!

                  .they paid lots of lip-service..back then..

                  ..but the realities were..’nah!’..

                  ..more clique and control..

                  ..and now they are worse you say…?

                  ..whoar..!

                  ..’holy pretend-green-democracy..!..batman..!’

                  ..phillip ure..

      • thechangeling 26.1.2

        CV: Whose QoT? I’ll figure it out eventually hopefully anyway. I can’t tell sometimes if you’re sarco or not. Mind bending and informative either way. After saying what I did I, think I’m joining the Green Party now.

      • rhinocrates 26.1.3

        identity politics

        Christ CV, it seems like every second post or more has that unsupported phrase and you’re starting to look really defensive about it.

        I’m really starting to find it offensive – and stupid. I don’t know what’s going to get through to you since so many have tried to explain it, but “identity politics” is not the enemy or a “distraction”.

        By some criteria I’m a majority, by others I’m a minority “identity”. Someone who distinguishes between the two is a fairweather friend, and I’m afraid that that is what Labour has been too well for too long.

        Whatshisname Nash made an absolute dick of himself opposing Louisa Wall’s marriage equality efforts and you’re only going to make yourself irrelevant by broadening your opposition to anything that isn’t core anti-capitalism as you define it.

        Yes indeed, evil, nasty, smelly people will indeed see no contradiction between supporting marriage equality and corporate raiding, but that doesn’t taint marriage equality as a cause.

        The “identity politicians” are in fact multiple lines of defence against the tyranny of the market.

        I suggest that you read Pastor Niemoller’s poem

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Niem%C3%B6ller

        First they came for the Communists,
        and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Communist.

        Then they came for the Socialists,
        and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Socialist.

        Then they came for the trade unionists,
        and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist.

        Then they came for me,
        and there was no one left to speak for me.

        Paraphrase “I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a…” to “I silenced them because they were a distraction” and think about what that implied, please.

        You talk about “identity politics”, but I’m thinking of fairweather friends and I’m getting sceptical.

        Hmmm, I wonder if my roof needs painting…

        • RedLogix 26.1.3.1

          Yeah. I definitely agree with CV’s big analysis. He’s right when he says uncomfortable truths about how the 0.1% treat the bottom 90% as utterly disposable, and the 10% they need to run the machines as interchangeable grey goo.

          If you’ve been around corporates long enough you’ll know that one of the basic maxims is “no-one is irreplaceable”. It only has one meaning, ‘stick your neck out far enough and you will be replaced’. And on occasion I’ve personally witnessed the utter contempt that the really wealthy and powerful hold us ordinary people in.

          And he’s right when he says that the left was allowed to dissipate it’s energies on a worthwhile skirmishes just so long as they did not threaten all-out war on the economic order. And it would be good if a few people had the humility to acknowledge that.

          But telling fine battle-worn troops that the beatings will continue until moral improves is leadership fail 101.

          The fact is that the left has seen nothing but defeat against the neo-liberals for forty years now, and other than the potential Cunliffe represents, not much else is looking pretty at the moment.

          The left in NZ is at it’s Ruweisat Ridge moment.

          • weka 26.1.3.1.1

            You make it sound as if CV is the only one with a good analysis of those things. He’s not.

            • RedLogix 26.1.3.1.1.1

              Sorry no I didn’t mean that either. It’s an analysis that comes from real hodge-podge of places, and lots of people far smarter than me. And I’m prone to being rather po-faced about it – it’s hard to find anything other than a bitter, black humour in the rape of the planet by the elites.

              What bugs me is that while we expend energy sparring over this very insider debate – we still have no fecking clue how to really demolish the neo-liberal machine.

              Ever noticed how very ‘on message’ the right is? And this despite their widely disparate interests? Ever wondered why?

              • Colonial Viper

                They target the next immediate concrete step that they want, while preparing the ground work and personnel for the next concrete step after that.

                They are not afraid to push for frankly radical and revolutionary change, under the guise of morality, rationality and necessity. They have a far better feel for what will be popular, what will be topical, and how to use that to ‘manufacture consent.’

                And then they resource their campaign, with big bucks, powerful organisations and very smart people.

                • weka

                  I would say the core difference between the left and the right is that the right want power for its own sake, irrespective of ethics, and so have developed many strategies and skills for getting it. Once they have it, they can then use it to get the other things they want (right wing values).

                  The left, esp those namby pamby greenies, believe that power is at worst the root of evil or at best a tool that can be used within the context of ethics. At the core of the left is the idea of fairness for all, and how can you play the power game and still be fair. This is the essential dilemma in all human endeavours. Once you have a power-over system in place, how do you replace that without becoming a bunch of oppressive fuckers like the ones you want to get rid of.

                  One of the strategies I see as crucial is building strong collaborations across difference. So Red, where you say “we still have no fecking clue how to really demolish the neo-liberal machine.”, I think we need to be focussed as much if not more on what we want than what we don’t want. Going into an election, by all means use tactics that bring down NACT (the dilemma of fairness and ethics still exists of course). But beyond that we need to know what we are aiming for, and I don’t think we have that sussed.

                  I also think that as well as rallying the missing 800,000, building working relationships with the old school conservatives who are also unhappy with the way things are turning out would be smart. When the shit hits the fan, I want the right to be dominated by them not by the ACT and greedy-fuck-like-Key crowd.

                  • RedLogix

                    Once you have a power-over system in place, how do you replace that without becoming a bunch of oppressive fuckers like the ones you want to get rid of.

                    The basic principle is to separate the individual from the point of authority. In other words it’s important not to allow personal power and institutional power to be combined.

                    The second idea is to redefine power as ‘the capacity to be of service to others’.

                    • weka

                      “The basic principle is to separate the individual from the point of authority. In other words it’s important not to allow personal power and institutional power to be combined.”

                      Can you please expain what you mean, I didn’t understand that. Some examples would be good.

                      Then, how you separate the powers without using force or power-over.

                      “The second idea is to redefine power as ‘the capacity to be of service to others’.”

                      Yes, this in line with my suggestion of building bridges with the old conservatives who by and large don’t have such a selfish ethic as the libertarians and power-mongers.

                    • RedLogix

                      All organisations require decision making; without which they quickly cease to be organised.

                      I’ve done a lot of trip leader on tramping trips. They way I run it is to take account of the stated goal of the trip ( where do we want to go), they resources (whose with me, how strong are they, what gear and food do we have) and what are the problems (weather, terrain, etc). For little decisions, like where to have lunch – I make the call. For bigger decisions, like do we press on into unknown terrain in dodgy weather, I get everyone elses’ input because this choice can be complicated trade-off.

                      But ultimately trip leader’s job is to ensure a decision is made and everyone else has to obey them.

                      Which brings up the question of rules, like if someone decides they don’t like a decision in the middle of fecking nowhere – they are not allowed to just piss off on their own. Causes bloody havoc.

                      That’s ‘strong, experienced indivdual’ model of leadership. Works well over the short-term like a trip, but in very prone to corruption over time. But it does point out the essential features required.

                      Then there is the committee method of decision-making, little committees for small, short-term problems and big ones for the big, existential issues that must be determined. And committees can delegate their decision making if circumstances demand an on-the-spot, immediate response.

                      Membership can be selected and rotated by any variety of means, preferably some form of non-partisan democracy that emphasises merit over ideology, and balanced participation.

                      The key here is that serving on the committee confers no special privileges whatsoever on the individuals involved. It has to be clearly understood where the source of decision-making lies, with the committee in consultation, not the individuals who compose it.

                      Outside of a meeting, it’s members do not discuss or back-channel committee business.

                      Outside of a meeting, it’s members are not entitled to any privileges other than an ordinary respect and courtesy for the service they are assisting with.

                      While it is still necessary to be vigilant against corruption, this basic model is reasonably resistant to it.

                    • weka

                      Ok, but my question still stands. How do you get people to behave like that without using power over? Esp people that have been born and bred in a system that tells them that their wellbeing is dependent on having power.

                    • RedLogix

                      It’s not all that hard karol. Lot’s of church and community groups get somewhere near this model.

                    • weka

                      Red, I’m familiar with many groups that have great internal processes. I’m talking about how you make a change at a societal level. You said that we still have no plan for taking down the right. My point was that once they’re ‘taken down’ you still have to find a way of organising and the left’s problem is how to do that society-wide (shit, we can’t even do it within our own ranks), without using a domination model that we are trying to replace.

        • QoT 26.1.3.2

          Christ CV, it seems like every second post or more has that unsupported phrase and you’re starting to look really defensive about it.

          Isn’t he just?

      • QoT 26.1.4

        Oh, go fuck yourself. I never said “you can’t criticise my friend”. I offered links to her writing so people can draw their own conclusions.

        You, on the other hand, think that flinging unsubstantiated shit around about someone is a relevant, clever argument.

        I will once again leave it to the readers of The Standard to make up their minds.

    • Josie’s replacement for Labour in the Rangitikei electorate, Deborah Russell is a similarly endowed neo liberal with elitist centre right beliefs but which are cloaked under the leftist appearance of a feminist hell bent on bullying any male that has something constructive to say.

      I was tossing up whether describing her as a “neo-liberal” is funnier than describing her as “bullying” (oh, it’s “bullying” by a long way) but really neither one comes up to the Kiwiblog standards of “shrill, hectoring left-liberal” and “useless communist oxygen thief.” Welcome to politics…

  27. Pictish 27

    The “WFF should not be extended to beneficiaries” quote can also be attributed to another person. Helen Clark.

  28. tricledrown 28

    SHG terms of trade facts
    Worst trade deficit in NZ history.ok Defence Helicopters one offs but in the many years I have been reading our stats we always have gone offs ie plains for Air NZ.

  29. Tracey 29

    Is the 50+b debt ok??

  30. Tim 30

    Geez! This is turning out to be a real slag-a-Pagani thread huh?
    I wonder why tho’ – ekshly, no I don’t, but there’s enough to spread around Brethren!
    Oh yay!!!!
    Mike Williams
    yay I say unto thee:
    Ken fucking Douglas
    yay,,,,
    Mike Williams

    etc.

    Better to just ignore the cnuts

  31. Philj 31

    Xox
    Why so flaming Pagani and not Mike Williams?

  32. Philj 32

    Xox
    @Xtasy
    I find myself agreeing. Good post. A deathly non response from the TS brigade. Curious eh? I wonder whether this left /right discussion thingy is passe, a distraction, an unhelpful cul-de sac? We are talking housing, health and quality of life for all Kiwis. The present system is failing throughout the world, Right and Left.

    • RedLogix 32.1

      Not so much a deathly non-response phil, as tired acceptance. Mostly I agree with xtasy as well.

      And yes the traditional left/right divide isn’t very useful anymore. To my mind the more interesting divide is between the authoritarian and non-authoritarian mind-set.

  33. xtasy 33

    With the state of the “media” in this brain-washed country, there is only one solution, that is to raise awareness by attacking and occupying the MSM offices, repeatedly, and to expose the lies and crap they serve us up. I suggest “true socialists” take action, as you are the core elite, and few and far and between activists, that still bother. The wider populace is lost and dares nada.

    But there is hope, in spirit, to learn:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQpVV27CPfE

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyL13TyFUQc

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpf4zCPbpvY

    Mas de cultura y diversification, enjoy!!!

    • xtasy 33.1

      As for the situation, if activists take it that far, challenge the remnants of so called “journalistic profession”, who pays them, what they are there for, what their job is, what the hell they expect the tax payer or private enterprise to pay them for what they deliver, and what they actually bother to fucking “deliver”?!

      Hey, come trespass notice, charge and more, and they all run, the so-called “activists” that may be left, or their “slip/porters”, I am afraid this will come.

      What a damned state of affairs, I wish I could wake more up, but hey, it is New Years, so enjoy your beer, wine and else, we will catch up later.

      Things may be ok for the night, but the issues will still be there once all others sober up. Forgiveness, and enjoy your New Years celebs.

      FUCK DA POLICE AND DA NAZI NZ SOCIETY THAT LIES TO US ALL!

      X

  34. xtasy 34

    La revolution es la lucha de el pueblo:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpf4zCPbpvY

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • A crucial week starts as early voting opens in the NZ Elections … it’s been a ride so far. Are y...
    Chris Hipkins down with Covid, at least for 5 days isolation, National continue to obfuscate, ACT continues to double-down on the poor and Winston… well, he’s being Winston really. Voters beware: this week could be even more infuriating than the last. No Party is what they used to be ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    7 hours ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 24, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 30, 2023. Story of the Week We’re not doomed yet’: climate scientist Michael Mann on our last chance to save human civilisation The renowned US ...
    16 hours ago
  • Clusterf**ck of Chaos.
    On the 11th of April 1945 advancing US forces liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald near Weimar in Germany. In the coming days, under the order of General Patton, a thousand nearby residents were forced to march to the camp to see the atrocities that had been committed in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    21 hours ago
  • The party of business deals with the future by pretending it isn’t coming
    Years and years ago, when Helen Clark was Prime Minister and John Key was gunning for her job, I had a conversation with a mate, a trader who knew John Key well enough to paint a helpful picture.It was many drinks ago so it’s not a complete one. But there’s ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    22 hours ago
  • 2023 More Reading: September (+ Old Phuul update)
    Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
    1 day ago
  • Losing The Left.
    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    2 days ago
  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    2 days ago
  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    2 days ago
  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    3 days ago
  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    3 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    3 days ago
  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago
  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    4 days ago
  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    4 days ago
  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    5 days ago
  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Old habits
    Media awareness about global warming and climate change has grown fairly steadily since 2004. My impression is that journalists today tend to possess a higher climate literacy than before. This increasing awareness and improved knowledge is encouraging, but there are also some common interpretations which could be more nuanced. ...
    Real ClimateBy rasmus
    5 days ago
  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    5 days ago
  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    5 days ago
  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    5 days ago
  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan  – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
    As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago
  • Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
    Voters  are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris  Hipkins’  valiant  rearguard  action.  So  where  are they  heading?  Clearly  not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that  the  outcome  will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a  few weeks  ago  was ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago
  • GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
    Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes –    With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
    As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
    6 days ago
  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
    ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
    6 days ago
  • September-23 AT Board Meeting
    Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
    6 days ago
  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
    Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Big money brings Winston back
    National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago
  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
    As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    6 days ago
  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • A pallid shade of Green III
    Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • A coalition of racism, cruelty, and chaos
    Today's big political news is that after months of wibbling, National's Chris Luxon has finally confirmed that he is willing to work with Winston Peters to become Prime Minister. Which is expected, but I guess it tells us something about which way the polls are going. Which raises the question: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago
  • More migrant workers should help generate the tax income needed to provide benefits for job seekers
    Buzz from the Beehive Under something described as a “rebalance” of its immigration rules, the Government has adopted four of five recommendations made in an independent review released in July, The fifth, which called on the government to specify criteria for out-of-hours compliance visits similar to those used during ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago
  • Letter To Luxon.
    Some of you might know Gerard Otto (G), and his G News platform. This morning he wrote a letter to Christopher Luxon which I particularly enjoyed, and with his agreement I’m sharing it with you in this guest newsletter.If you’d like to make a contribution to support Gerard’s work you ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Alarming trend in benefit numbers
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  While there will not be another quarterly release of benefit numbers prior to the election, limited weekly reporting continues and is showing an alarming trend. Because there is a seasonal component to benefit number fluctuations it is crucial to compare like with like. In ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago
  • BRIAN EASTON: Has there been external structural change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase.   Brian Easton writes –  Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago
  • CRL Progress – Sep-23
    It’s been a while since we looked at the latest with the City Rail Link and there’s been some fantastic milestones recently. To start with, and most recently, CRL have released an awesome video showing a full fly-through of one of the tunnels. Come fly with us! You asked for ...
    7 days ago
  • Monday’s Chorus: Not building nearly enough
    We are heading into another period of fast population growth without matching increased home building or infrastructure investment.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Labour and National detailed their house building and migration approaches over the weekend, with both pledging fast population growth policies without enough house building or infrastructure investment ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago
  • Game on; Hipkins comes out punching
    Labour leader Chris Hipkins yesterday took the gloves off and laid into National and its leader Christopher Luxon. For many in Labour – and particularly for some at the top of the caucus and the party — it would not have been a moment too soon. POLITIK is aware ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago
  • Tax Cut Austerity Blues.
    The leaders have had their go, they’ve told us the “what?” and the “why?” of their promises. Now it’s the turn of the would be Finance Ministers to tell us the “how?”, the “how much?”, and the “when?”A chance for those competing for the second most powerful job in the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • 100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
    The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • Government invests in Greymouth’s future
    The Government has today confirmed a $2 million grant towards the regeneration of Greymouth’s CBD with construction of a new two-level commercial and public facility. “It will include a visitor facility centred around a new library. Additionally, it will include retail outlets on the ground floor, and both outdoor and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • Nanaia Mahuta to attend PIF Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Suva, Fiji alongside New Zealand’s regional counterparts. “Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply committed to working with our pacific whanau to strengthen our cooperation, and share ways to combat the challenges facing the Blue Pacific Continent,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • PREFU shows no recession, growing economy, more jobs and wages ahead of inflation
    Economy to grow 2.6 percent on average over forecast period Treasury not forecasting a recession Inflation to return to the 1-3 percent target band next year Wages set to grow 4.8 percent a year over forecast period Unemployment to peak below the long-term average Fiscal Rules met - Net debt ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • New cancer centre opens in Christchurch
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall proudly opened the Canterbury Cancer Centre in Christchurch today. The new facility is the first of its kind and was built with $6.5 million of funding from the Government’s Infrastructure Reference Group scheme for shovel-ready projects allocated in 2020. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2023-10-01T15:16:23+00:00