Espiner becomes RNZ Morning Report host and Pagani criticises the Standard

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 11:00 am, December 31st, 2013 - 177 comments
Categories: blogs - Tags: guyon espiner, Josie Pagani

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:

She previously thought that John Tamihere would be a welcome addition as a Labour MP.
She criticised Labour for not being sufficiently aspirational and opposed WFF being extended to those on benefits. Effectively she wanted labour to represent those with jobs, not those without.
She opposed the idea that Labour’s parliamentary ranks should have a proper proportion of women, that is half while at the same time she bought into the right wing framing of the issue. She failed on two counts.
She was supportive of labour casualisation on Auckland’s wharf, or at least this is what I think she was saying.
She was probably the only Labour Party feminist that voted for Shane Jones in the recent leadership contest. Of course she is entitled to but this does put her in a very distinct minority.

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 ”

Comments are now closed

John Williams 1

31 December 2013 at 11:11 am

Nicely summed up Micky.
- Saarbo 1.1
  
  1 January 2014 at 2:02 pm
  
  +1
Kevin Welsh 2

31 December 2013 at 11:14 am

It’s Guyon Espiner, Mickey.

[Thanks mass change applied, brain obviously in holiday mode – MS]
- tricledrown 2.1
  
  31 December 2013 at 4:58 pm
  
  Guyon ebonizor isn’t
RedBaronCV 3

31 December 2013 at 11:14 am

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?]
- weka 3.1
  
  31 December 2013 at 11:20 am
  
  http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-31122013/#comment-751315
irascible 4

31 December 2013 at 11:17 am

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
  
  31 December 2013 at 11:21 am
  
  Didn’t she used to work for the Labour party?
  - QoT 4.1.1
    
    31 December 2013 at 11:43 am
    
    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
      
      31 December 2013 at 11:55 am
      
      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
        
        31 December 2013 at 1:34 pm
        
        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
        
        1 January 2014 at 6:41 pm
        
        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.
QoT 5

31 December 2013 at 11:17 am

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
- Cemetery Jones 5.1
  
  31 December 2013 at 1:40 pm
  
  “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
  
  31 December 2013 at 3:45 pm
  
  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
veutoviper 6

31 December 2013 at 11:22 am

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.
karol 7

31 December 2013 at 11:28 am

micky, you have laid out well the problems with Josie Pagani’s views as they relate to Labour and the wider left.
captain hook 8

31 December 2013 at 11:28 am

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.
captain hook 9

31 December 2013 at 11:30 am

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?
weka 10

31 December 2013 at 11:36 am

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
  
  31 December 2013 at 1:37 pm
  
  +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
    
    31 December 2013 at 1:41 pm
    
    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
      
      31 December 2013 at 2:15 pm
      
      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
        
        31 December 2013 at 2:19 pm
        
        OK. Good examples,. thanks, CV.
      - Draco T Bastard 10.1.1.1.2
        
        31 December 2013 at 5:24 pm
        
        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
        
        31 December 2013 at 6:44 pm
        
        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 …
        
        4 January 2014 at 12:37 pm
        
        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
        
        1 January 2014 at 8:04 am
        
        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
        
        1 January 2014 at 3:21 pm
        
        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
        
        1 January 2014 at 3:22 pm
        
        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
      
      1 January 2014 at 2:26 pm
      
      “can you elaborate on tat, CV?”
      
      lolz 😀
      - Colonial Viper 10.1.1.2.1
        
        1 January 2014 at 2:40 pm
        
        😈
- Macro 10.2
  
  31 December 2013 at 2:39 pm
  
  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”
tinfoilhat 11

31 December 2013 at 11:39 am

In my opinion her views on many of the comments at this blog are pretty much spot on.
- weka 11.1
  
  31 December 2013 at 11:49 am
  
  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
  
  31 December 2013 at 1:04 pm
  
  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
    
    31 December 2013 at 1:29 pm
    
    QED from one of the worst offenders.
    - karol 11.2.1.1
      
      31 December 2013 at 1:33 pm
      
      Glad you admit to the proof of your, offending, tfh!
    - fender 11.2.1.2
      
      31 December 2013 at 1:39 pm
      
      TFH, can you confirm who this comment was directed at?
      - tinfoilhat 11.2.1.2.1
        
        31 December 2013 at 3:14 pm
        
        BM
        
        fender 11.2.1.2.1.1
        
        31 December 2013 at 3:32 pm
        
        Oh that’s good, ’cause it looks like an uncalled for attack on our (in less than a year) next PM.
        
        tinfoilhat …
        
        31 December 2013 at 3:48 pm
        
        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 …
        
        31 December 2013 at 7:49 pm
        
        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.
        
        phillip ure …
        
        1 January 2014 at 6:24 pm
        
        @ 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
        
        31 December 2013 at 5:26 pm
        
        Oh what wit Karol methinks you might be the next Morrisey.
greywarbler 12

31 December 2013 at 11:46 am

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
  
  31 December 2013 at 11:55 am
  
  Ours is the politics of redemption, forgiveness and humanity.
  
  Except when it comes to TS.
  - greywarbler 12.1.1
    
    31 December 2013 at 1:08 pm
    
    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.
    - Rogue Trooper 12.1.1.1
      
      31 December 2013 at 1:13 pm
      
      😀
      - greywarbler 12.1.1.1.1
        
        31 December 2013 at 2:38 pm
        
        RT
        Happy New Year – and 2014 to you, and us all! 😉
        
        Rogue Trooper 12.1.1.1.1.1
        
        31 December 2013 at 4:31 pm
        
        see ya on the ‘flip-side’ y’all
    - Naturesong 12.1.1.2
      
      31 December 2013 at 2:29 pm
      
      Yup.
      
      Thanks greywarbler, for articulating what I feel better than I could.
      
      One point though “… we are afraid of the direction that leaders the politicians the powerful and their sycophantic offsiders are taking us in”.
      
      I would change that to “… we recognise the direction that leaders the politicians the powerful and their sycophantic offsiders are taking us in”.
      - greywarbler 12.1.1.2.1
        
        31 December 2013 at 2:35 pm
        
        Naturesong
        +1
        (But are afraid, be very afraid etc. too)
    - rhinocrates 12.1.1.3
      
      31 December 2013 at 2:41 pm
      
      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.
      
      +1
    - Chris 12.1.1.4
      
      31 December 2013 at 2:44 pm
      
      GW… Post of the day 🙂
    - Frank Macskasy 12.1.1.5
      
      31 December 2013 at 2:49 pm
      
      @ GreyWarbler…
      
      Damn.
      
      Wish I’d said that. 🙂
      
      *Bloody Big Thumbs Up*
    - LynWiper 12.1.1.6
      
      31 December 2013 at 3:42 pm
      
      Well said greywarbler. +6
      - Colonial Viper 12.1.1.6.1
        
        31 December 2013 at 3:48 pm
        
        Yep. Bloody good. The writing is too… 😀
    - Kevin Welsh 12.1.1.7
      
      31 December 2013 at 5:06 pm
      
      Nailed. +1 GW
    - Saarbo 12.1.1.8
      
      1 January 2014 at 3:07 pm
      
      +1…
    - phillip ure 12.1.1.9
      
      1 January 2014 at 6:26 pm
      
      @ greywarbler..+ 1…
      
      phillip ure..
tricledrown 13

31 December 2013 at 11:52 am

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
  
  31 December 2013 at 12:13 pm
  
  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
    
    31 December 2013 at 12:42 pm
    
    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
      
      31 December 2013 at 1:50 pm
      
      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
        
        31 December 2013 at 2:18 pm
        
        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
        
        31 December 2013 at 2:24 pm
        
        So you know lots of National voters do you, class traitor?
        
        Naturesong …
        
        31 December 2013 at 3:12 pm
        
        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.
        
        Colonial Viper …
        
        31 December 2013 at 3:50 pm
        
        Wow, made my day Naturesong. Love TS for stuff just like this.
        
        Kevin Welsh …
        
        31 December 2013 at 5:09 pm
        
        Fuck me, there is some great comment on here today. Naturesong and Grey Warbler, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and salute you.
        
        phillip ure …
        
        1 January 2014 at 6:28 pm
        
        @ naturesong..++1..
        
        phillip ure..
        
        Lanthanide …
        
        31 December 2013 at 3:16 pm
        
        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 …
        
        31 December 2013 at 3:49 pm
        
        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 …
        
        31 December 2013 at 3:54 pm
        
        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 …
        
        31 December 2013 at 6:31 pm
        
        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 …
        
        31 December 2013 at 8:54 pm
        
        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 …
        
        1 January 2014 at 2:00 pm
        
        “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 …
        
        31 December 2013 at 4:54 pm
        
        Or, for an actual example, see Red Vienna
        
        greywarbler …
        
        31 December 2013 at 9:55 pm
        
        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 …
        
        31 December 2013 at 5:48 pm
        
        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 …
        
        31 December 2013 at 6:50 pm
        
        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 …
        
        31 December 2013 at 7:14 pm
        
        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 …
        
        31 December 2013 at 7:19 pm
        
        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 …
        
        31 December 2013 at 7:23 pm
        
        lol
        
        dude, you’re extreme right – and puffing yourself up because you’re an undergrad for a degree in religion impresses nobody.
        
        RedLogix …
        
        31 December 2013 at 7:45 pm
        
        rhino – finely flambeed topped with an indelicate sauce. 🙂
        
        majQa’
        
        Kevin Welsh …
        
        31 December 2013 at 7:51 pm
        
        Funny how equality, fairness etc, are now considered extremes.
        
        McGrath …
        
        31 December 2013 at 8:35 pm
        
        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 …
        
        31 December 2013 at 8:47 pm
        
        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 …
        
        31 December 2013 at 9:27 pm
        
        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 …
        
        31 December 2013 at 9:50 pm
        
        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 …
        
        1 January 2014 at 1:50 pm
        
        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?
        
        phillip ure …
        
        1 January 2014 at 6:34 pm
        
        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..
        
        Puddleglum …
        
        1 January 2014 at 7:20 pm
        
        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 …
        
        31 December 2013 at 3:49 pm
        
        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 …
        
        31 December 2013 at 3:56 pm
        
        LOL fuck off.
        
        greywarbler …
        
        31 December 2013 at 5:52 pm
        
        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 …
        
        31 December 2013 at 8:10 pm
        
        What’s H talking about? 😕
        
        karol …
        
        31 December 2013 at 8:13 pm
        
        Anne, just a randian looking vainly for her lost morality in a turbulent market economy.
        
        rhinocrates …
        
        31 December 2013 at 8:28 pm
        
        “turbulent”?
        
        I thought it was “dinamick”.
        
        Francis …
        
        1 January 2014 at 1:59 am
        
        I can’t figure out whether you’re serious or not…
        
        phillip ure …
        
        1 January 2014 at 6:37 pm
        
        @..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 …
        
        3 January 2014 at 8:54 pm
        
        err….
        
        I do remember owning a lot more in the way of power companies, our national airline, etc etc…
        
        McGrath …
        
        31 December 2013 at 3:37 pm
        
        Class Traitor! What is this, North Korea?
        
        McFlock …
        
        31 December 2013 at 7:27 pm
        
        I love it when tories believe each others’ bullshit
        
        Tim …
        
        1 January 2014 at 12:40 pm
        
        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
        
        3 January 2014 at 1:18 pm
        
        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).
- phillip ure 13.2
  
  31 December 2013 at 12:17 pm
  
  “..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
  
  1 January 2014 at 11:31 am
  
  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.
Ad 14

31 December 2013 at 12:09 pm

Invite her to blog here. Lprent to moderate.
See if she’s up to it.
- karol 14.1
  
  31 December 2013 at 12:11 pm
  
  I think Pagani has never gotten over the fact that Mr Pagani was banned from here.
  - Anne 14.1.1
    
    31 December 2013 at 12:40 pm
    
    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
    
    31 December 2013 at 5:07 pm
    
    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
    - phillip ure 14.1.2.1
      
      1 January 2014 at 6:39 pm
      
      “.. a limo-like ride to the RNZ studios..”
      
      i think nat-rad only stretch to shanks’-pony..
      
      ..eh..?
      
      phillip ure..
- lprent 14.2
  
  31 December 2013 at 12:56 pm
  
  Or I could reply on Nat radio.
Will@Welly 15

31 December 2013 at 1:06 pm

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
  
  31 December 2013 at 2:05 pm
  
  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.
Tracey 16

31 December 2013 at 2:11 pm

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
  
  31 December 2013 at 2:18 pm
  
  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?
Tracey 17

31 December 2013 at 2:14 pm

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.
Tracey 18

31 December 2013 at 2:19 pm

Greywarbler way up there… bravo and bloody well expressed. Thanks for writing my thoughts so clearly.
Tracey 19

31 December 2013 at 2:31 pm

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.
greywarbler 20

31 December 2013 at 2:52 pm

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
  
  31 December 2013 at 3:29 pm
  
  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
  
  31 December 2013 at 10:44 pm
  
  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
    
    1 January 2014 at 1:46 pm
    
    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.
    - greywarbler 20.2.1.1
      
      1 January 2014 at 1:58 pm
      
      Guy McPherson thinks we may only have 17 years to go before the big E. Let’s think about that and stop scrapping over whose human rights are the top priority.
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPt3ziW5u6k
Tracey 21

31 December 2013 at 3:25 pm

But u can call the leader of the opposition a liar???? As long as you pretend u r sorry later.
tricledrown 22

31 December 2013 at 3:27 pm

Since National gained power in
2008.
chris73 23

31 December 2013 at 3:46 pm

Now now Labours a broad church so Pagani is as Labour as anyone 😉
- Anne 23.1
  
  31 December 2013 at 6:18 pm
  
  Naughty, naughty 73. 😛
- Tim 23.2
  
  1 January 2014 at 12:56 pm
  
  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
Tracey 24

31 December 2013 at 3:52 pm

Your leader still has no clothes chris lite. Trouble is you are dragging so many down with your delusions.
- Tim 24.1
  
  3 January 2014 at 10:50 pm
  
  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.
Psycho Milt 25

31 December 2013 at 3:53 pm

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
  
  31 December 2013 at 11:12 pm
  
  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
    
    1 January 2014 at 7:06 am
    
    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
      
      1 January 2014 at 3:12 pm
      
      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
        
        1 January 2014 at 8:03 pm
        
        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
        
        3 January 2014 at 8:58 pm
        
        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
      
      1 January 2014 at 6:48 pm
      
      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..
thechangeling 26

31 December 2013 at 3:56 pm

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
  
  31 December 2013 at 4:00 pm
  
  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
    
    31 December 2013 at 4:05 pm
    
    “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
      
      31 December 2013 at 4:17 pm
      
      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
        
        31 December 2013 at 4:24 pm
        
        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
        
        31 December 2013 at 4:38 pm
        
        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 …
        
        31 December 2013 at 4:46 pm
        
        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.
        
        phillip ure …
        
        1 January 2014 at 6:54 pm
        
        “..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
    
    31 December 2013 at 4:11 pm
    
    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
    
    31 December 2013 at 6:55 pm
    
    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
      
      31 December 2013 at 7:19 pm
      
      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
        
        31 December 2013 at 11:26 pm
        
        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
        
        1 January 2014 at 12:14 am
        
        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 …
        
        1 January 2014 at 12:44 pm
        
        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 …
        
        1 January 2014 at 12:59 pm
        
        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 …
        
        1 January 2014 at 1:21 pm
        
        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 …
        
        1 January 2014 at 1:40 pm
        
        “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 …
        
        1 January 2014 at 4:37 pm
        
        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 …
        
        1 January 2014 at 4:46 pm
        
        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 …
        
        1 January 2014 at 5:25 pm
        
        It’s not all that hard karol. Lot’s of church and community groups get somewhere near this model.
        
        weka …
        
        1 January 2014 at 5:56 pm
        
        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
      
      31 December 2013 at 11:15 pm
      
      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
    
    31 December 2013 at 11:14 pm
    
    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.
- Psycho Milt 26.2
  
  31 December 2013 at 5:23 pm
  
  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…
Pictish 27

31 December 2013 at 3:57 pm

The “WFF should not be extended to beneficiaries” quote can also be attributed to another person. Helen Clark.
tricledrown 28

31 December 2013 at 4:06 pm

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.
Tracey 29

31 December 2013 at 4:14 pm

Is the 50+b debt ok??
Tim 30

31 December 2013 at 5:17 pm

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
Philj 31

31 December 2013 at 11:29 pm

Xox
Why so flaming Pagani and not Mike Williams?
Philj 32

31 December 2013 at 11:57 pm

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
  
  1 January 2014 at 12:25 am
  
  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.
xtasy 33

1 January 2014 at 1:38 am

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
  
  1 January 2014 at 1:49 am
  
  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
xtasy 34

1 January 2014 at 1:53 am

La revolution es la lucha de el pueblo:

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

Links to post

In defense of Guyon Espiner | The Dim-Post: posted on 31 December 2013 at 1:33 pm
A study in blogging while leftwing-and-feminist | Ideologically Impure: posted on 2 January 2014 at 6:30 pm
Josie Pagani replies - The Standard: posted on 3 January 2014 at 3:35 pm

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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 ...
Bowalley Road
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 ...
Skeptical Science
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 ...
Skeptical Science
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 ...
Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
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 ...
Skeptical Science
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 ...
Open ParachuteBy Ken
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 ...
Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
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. ...
Skeptical Science
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 ...
Greater AucklandBy Matt L
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 ...
Greater AucklandBy Matt L
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

Labour Manifesto 2023
Labour is in it for you. This election Kiwis will decide what kind of country they want New Zealand to be, who they trust to have their back, and how we can be better, together. This election matters. View our full Manifesto below. ...
Labour Blog
13 hours ago

Release: National's water U-turn will drive up New Zealanders' rates bills
The National Party's U-turn on water reform has left local councils high and dry and will drive up Kiwi's rates bills, Labour Party Local Government Spokesperson Kieran McAnulty says. ...
Labour Blog
17 hours ago

Labour's Rainbow Manifesto
A re-elected Labour Party will continue to tackle discriminations still faced by members of the Rainbow community in areas ranging from surrogacy and adoption to blood donation. ...
Labour Blog
1 day ago

Release: National’s plan means more cuts, more kids in poverty
National’s fiscal plan has failed to fill the massive fiscal hole in its dodgy tax scheme, it will mean more cuts to public services, more children being put into poverty and an end to action on climate change. ...
Labour Blog
3 days ago

Release: Labour will continue to back Kiwis when the going gets tough
Labour’s Social Development Plan will build on the social welfare safety net, rather than strip it back. ...
Labour Blog
3 days ago

Policy Announcements: Law & Order and Justice, Courts & Corrections
New Zealand First Policy Announcement: Law and Order New Zealand First believes that keeping society safe should be the priority of law-and-order policies. Every New Zealander deserves to feel safe, secure, and have their person and property respected. That is why New Zealand First continues to fix the flaws in ...
NZ First Press Release
4 days ago

Labour's Dirt Campaign Exposed With Media Help
In last night’s leaders debate Labour Leader Chris Hipkins referred to a quote without giving any explanation of its content, which was about the ‘disease of co-governance’ that is perpetuated by the Māori elite, and he said it was racist. Then, without even examining the content, National leader Christopher Luxon agreed with ...
NZ First Press Release
4 days ago

Labour's Dirt Campaign Exposed With Media Help
In last night’s leaders debate Labour Leader Chris Hipkins referred to a quote without giving any explanation of its content, which was about the ‘disease of co-governance’ that is perpetuated by the Māori elite, and he said it was racist. Then, without even examining the content, National leader Christopher Luxon agreed with ...
NZ First News
4 days ago

Chris Hipkins: Speech Progressing Together
Today, Chris Hipkins delivered a speech about Labour’s relationship with and ongoing commitment to Māori. ...
Labour Blog
4 days ago

Release: National out of ideas on law and order, copies Labour’s policies and costings
After years of criticising the Government on law and order, National have embarrassed themselves by conceding they have no new ideas and instead copied Labour’s Police policy announced three weeks ago, Labour Police spokesperson Ginny Andersen says. ...
Labour Blog
5 days ago

Release: Labour releases balanced, costed and credible fiscal plan
Labour’s fiscal plan will continue its focus on carefully managing the books while protecting critical public services like health and education and investing to deliver high wage jobs and a low carbon economy. ...
Labour Blog
5 days ago

Policy Announcement: Capped Time-Period For Job Seeker Beneficiaries
New Zealand First today is announcing a policy on adjusting the rules and restrictions around access to the Job Seeker Benefit. New Zealand First’s policy is to introduce a capped time-period for any person to access the Job Seeker Benefit during their lifetime. Any individual will have the ability to access the Job Seeker ...
NZ First Press Release
6 days ago

Policy Announcement: Capped Time-Period For Job Seeker Beneficiaries
New Zealand First today is announcing a policy on adjusting the rules and restrictions around access to the Job Seeker Benefit. New Zealand First’s policy is to introduce a capped time-period for any person to access the Job Seeker Benefit during their lifetime. Any individual will have the ability to access the Job Seeker ...
NZ First News
6 days ago

Release: National’s traffic light system has child poverty reduction stalling
National’s cuts to funding for beneficiaries will once again leave children and their parents with less, Spokesperson for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni said. ...
Labour Blog
6 days ago

Green Party will end child poverty
The Green Party will double the Best Start payment and make it available for every child under three years of age - and it will be paid for with a fair tax system. ...
Greens
6 days ago

Release: Labour pledges billion-dollar medicines boost
Labour will fund more medicines for more New Zealanders by investing over $1 billion of new funding into Pharmac if re-elected, Chris Hipkins announced today. ...
Labour Blog
6 days ago

National's welfare policy is cruel
The National Party’s job seeker policy announced today is heartless. ...
Greens
6 days ago

Labour's PHARMAC Policy A Placebo
Labour has just announced a policy to increase Pharmac funding by $1billion over four years to fund additional medicines. With the current Pharmac budget of $1.2billion per year and needing a further $213million, by Minister Verrall’s own admission, just to keep up with current costs - then this is nothing ...
NZ First Press Release
6 days ago

Labour's PHARMAC Policy A Placebo
Labour has just announced a policy to increase Pharmac funding by $1billion over four years to fund additional medicines. With the current Pharmac budget of $1.2billion per year and needing a further $213million, by Minister Verrall’s own admission, just to keep up with current costs - then this is nothing ...
NZ First News
6 days ago

Re: The Call For Corporate Manslaughter Legislation
This matter begins with the Pike River investigation being inadequate, inexplicably lengthy, and after millions of dollars, the evidence that should have been placed before the public still has not been. We have always believed that Pike River is a crime scene, and that a proper investigation would have come to that conclusion. Blue ...
NZ First Press Release
7 days ago

Re: The Call For Corporate Manslaughter Legislation
This matter begins with the Pike River investigation being inadequate, inexplicably lengthy, and after millions of dollars, the evidence that should have been placed before the public still has not been. We have always believed that Pike River is a crime scene, and that a proper investigation would have come to that conclusion. Blue ...
NZ First News
7 days ago

Release: Labour releases New Zealand’s first climate manifesto
New Zealand faces a stark choice this election – vote for Labour to continue to confront the climate emergency with eyes wide open or bury your head in the sand alongside Christopher Luxon. ...
Labour Blog
7 days ago

Green voice crucial for climate action
The Green Party is today welcoming Labour’s climate manifesto, but is clear that much more will need to be done to tackle the climate crisis. ...
Greens
7 days ago

Speech: Chris Hipkins – Wellington Rally, 24 September
...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

People need a government that will build many more homes
Labour’s plan to build more homes is a welcome step forward, but it lacks ambition. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Release: Supercharging public housing
Labour is supercharging its plan to solve the public housing shortfall created by National, promising another 6,000 homes on top of what has already been committed says Labour Housing spokesperson Dr Megan Woods. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Release: New Super Visa for migrants’ parents and rights for Dawn Raid victims
Labour will back migrant working families by introducing a 10-year multiple-entry parents’ and grandparents’ Super Visa, and make good on the Dawn Raids apology by providing a one-off visa for overstayers who have been in the country ten years or more, Labour’s Immigration Spokesperson Andrew Little says. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Only the Greens will deliver a fair amnesty for overstayers
The Green Party is today welcoming Labour coming to the table to ensure an amnesty for overstayers, but only the Greens will ensure immigration settings actually reflect the reality of people who have been failed by our immigration system. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Climate future of communities on the line this election
Green Party co leader James Shaw attended a South Dunedin Future street meeting today to discuss local responses to climate change. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Green Party calls for stronger action by Auckland Council to protect urban trees and native forest
The Green Party is calling on Auckland Council to do more to protect urban trees and housing developer Aedifice Property Group to restore and replant the native forest it cleared, and protect all the remaining trees on Ngahere Road in Pukekohe after a significant number of native trees were cut ...
Greens
1 week ago

Release: Ram Raids drop to two-year low
Latest Police data shows monthly ram raids have hit a two-year low, laying waste to Christopher Luxon’s false claim that there are two ram raids a day says Labour’s Police Spokesperson Ginny Andersen. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Every party needs to step up on school lunches
Labour has finally said it would continue free school lunches - and the Green Party is calling on every party to step up. ...
Greens
1 week ago

Release: School lunches on the line this election
Free and healthy school lunches will be here to stay if Labour is re-elected, guaranteeing food for our kids who need it most and significant cost saving for parents. ...
Labour Blog
1 week ago

Release: Labour commits to a new hospital for the people of Hawke’s Bay
The next Labour Government will build a new hospital in Hawke’s Bay, Labour leader Chris Hipkins and Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall announced. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Govt changes fall short of what’s needed for migrant protection
The Green Party will keep up the fight to support exploited migrant workers, including pushing to end single employer visas, after the government picked up Green recommendations to improve immigration settings. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Clean Power Payment the smartest way forward to reduce emissions and bills
Green Party co leader James Shaw visited a home in Auckland today that has been upgraded with a wide range of energy improvements, similar to those that would be supported through the Green Party’s Clean Power Payment. ...
Greens
2 weeks ago

Foreign Minister's Action – A Contempt For “Caretaker Government” Convention
The Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta’s presence in New York today at the United Nations General Assembly is a contempt of New Zealand’s “caretaker government” convention. Despite the long-standing caretaker convention, Minister Mahuta is today at the UN to sign a highly contentious “Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement”, delivering a ...
NZ First Press Release
2 weeks ago

Back To Black Responsibly
The Pre-Election Fiscal Update Changes Everything Within an hour of this speech there is going to be a debate between the political parties that the media, under MMP, still think are the only parties that matter in this campaign. Both of those parties are riddled with inexperience, as evidenced by ...
NZ First Press Release
2 weeks ago

Stop the cuts before they start – Labour launches new TV ad
National and ACT's tax plans don't add up, and that means deep cuts to the public services New Zealanders rely on, says Labour Campaign Chair Megan Woods. ...
Labour Blog
2 weeks ago

Free school lunches paid for with a wealth tax
The Green Party will expand free school lunches and pay for it with a fair tax system. ...
Greens
2 weeks 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

Labour Party’s Manifesto Commitment To Extend Diplomatic Recognition To The State Of Palestine Is ...
Sunday, 1 October 2023 Justice for Palestine and Alternative Jewish Voices welcome the Labour Party’s announcement that if elected it will extend diplomatic recognition to the state of Palestine, by inviting the Head of the General Delegation of Palestine ...
Scoop politics
8 hours ago

Opportunities Party Candidate Reveals Takapuna As The Centre Of Burgeoning Cannabis Trade
The Opportunities Party (TOP) candidate for North Shore, Abe Gray, is proud of his electorate's outsized role in the burgeoning, newly legal trade in high THC cannabis flower. Did you know that millions of dollars worth of cannabis has been sold in ...
Scoop politics
9 hours ago

Luxon promises ‘quick off the starting block’ government
Despite potentially messy coalition talks, Christopher Luxon is confident he can get a full to-do list ticked off in 100 days 100 day promises, media jousts and tractors over the Auckland Harbour Bridge – it was a busy Sunday on the trail for politicians approaching the last sprint of the ...
Newsroom
12 hours ago

Winston Peters lashes out after being rattled by TV interviewers
Two interviews in two days have seen the NZ First leader make personal attacks on journalists after struggling badly to answer questions about his policies and costings Current polls show Winston Peters and his party returning to Parliament after being soundly defeated in 2020. With the resurgence has come closer ...
Newsroom
12 hours ago

Two Million Free Hours Of Maths And Literacy Catch Up
Intermediate and secondary school students will have access to two million free tutoring sessions to help lift maths and literacy achievement A maths and literacy training fund for all primary and intermediate teachers More funding to help young ...
Scoop politics
13 hours ago

Let’s Vote For The Aotearoa We Deserve
The Future is Up to Us released today by the Green Party is a clear vision of the future we can build together. The Green Party has also published an independent fiscal review of the policy priorities set out in The Future is Up to Us , which shows ...
Scoop politics
14 hours ago

National’s water U-turn will drive up New Zealanders’ rates bills
The National Party’s U-turn on water reform has left local councils high and dry and will drive up Kiwi’s rates bills, Labour Party Local Government Spokesperson Kieran McAnulty says. “The National Party said they’ll repeal Affordable Water ...
Scoop politics
14 hours ago

Election 2023: Green Party unveils policy priorities and fiscal plan review
The Green Party has unveiled its policy priorities as well as an independent fiscal review, which it says shows their plan adds up. ...
Radio NZ – political
14 hours ago

Why you must vote ACT for real change
Today, ACT Leader David Seymour released a video asking New Zealanders to Party Vote ACT to avoid inaction and instability. You can watch the video by clicking the image below. “ACT is making one final appeal to voters before the polls open tomorrow. ...
Scoop politics
14 hours ago

National Announces 100 Day Action Plan
If New Zealanders choose a National-led government to rebuild the economy and deliver tax relief, we will go to work immediately implementing our 100 Day Action Plan, National Party Christopher Luxon says. “New Zealanders have waited six long years ...
Scoop politics
14 hours ago

It could all come down to one seat: Seymour
With advance voting almost under way, Act pitches hard for voters to exclude "chaos" in a future government by ensuring National and Act can govern, Tim Murphy reports Act leader David Seymour is emphasising one extra seat could be the difference between "real change" and "chaos" in a centre-right government after ...
Newsroom
14 hours ago

'It's because I'm young, I'm female, and I'm Māori'
The country’s youngest candidate to run for Parliament has made three separate reports to police after her home was broken into and her rubbish rifled through. Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke says other political leaders have gaslighted her experience. Te Pāti Māori Hauraki Waikato’s candidate says she isn’t scared or shaken by the ...
Newsroom
14 hours ago

Election 2023: Labour reveals full policy plan
Labour has released its full policy plan this afternoon, with a focus on improving education for children and funding for training and work for youth. ...
Radio NZ – political
15 hours ago

Chris Hipkins isolating with Covid-19
The Prime Minister and Labour leader has tested positive for Covid-19 and is isolating for five days or until he returns a negative test After feeling unwell on Sunday morning and cancelling his attendance at a Samoan church service in Auckland, Chris Hipkins has now tested positive for Covid-19. He ...
Newsroom
15 hours ago

'Bugger' – Labour leader Chris Hipkins tests positive for Covid-19 at crucial point ...
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has revealed that he has tested positive for Covid-19, just as the party prepares to release its manifesto today. ...
Radio NZ – political
16 hours ago

Prime minister tests positive for Covid-19
Prime minister Chris Hipkins has tested positive for Covid-19, and will be isolating for five days or until he returns a negative test. A spokesperson confirmed he has cold and flu symptoms that began yesterday and will continue with engagements he can undertake via Zoom. Hipkins missed an event on ...
The SpinoffBy Anna Rawhiti-Connell
16 hours ago

Mediawatch: Giving young people an election voice
The TVNZ Young Voters' debate run by Re:News was a rowdy interjection into a relatively subdued election campaign, and its moderator has some ideas on how media organisations can better cater to young people. ...
Radio NZ – political
16 hours ago

‘I’ve got news for you and your masters’: Winston Peters takes aim at ‘corrupt’ TVNZ
In a bizarre interview with TVNZ’s Q&A programme this morning, NZ First leader Winston Peters said he would “make sure” he secured the broadcasting portfolio should his party make it into government. “We’ll start with TVNZ after the campaign,” he told journalist Jack Tame in an interview that made yesterday’s ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
17 hours ago

Election 2023: National Party releases 100-day action plan if elected
The National Party has released its plan of what it would do in its first 100 days in government, if elected. ...
Radio NZ – political
18 hours ago

Hipkins missing morning campaign event but will launch Labour manifesto
Labour’s manifesto launch will go ahead this afternoon, despite leader Chris Hipkins missing an event on the campaign trail this morning due to being unwell. Deputy prime minister Carmel Sepuloni is speaking at a Sāmoan church service in Auckland this morning in Hipkins’ place, but according to a Labour spokesperson, ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
18 hours ago

National sets out priorities in ‘100-day action plan’
National has pledged to remove the Auckland fuel tax, repeal water reform and resource management legislation, ban gang patches and remove funding for cultural reports used in sentencing in its first 100 days in office. The party has set out a range of priorities for its first 100 days in ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
18 hours ago

Chris Hipkins unwell, to miss morning campaign event
The prime minister is missing an event on the campaign trail this morning because he’s unwell. Chris Hipkins was due to speak at a Sāmoan church service in Auckland, but deputy prime minister Carmel Sepuloni is stepping in to take his place. Hipkins is scheduled to launch Labour’s manifesto at ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
18 hours ago

Make it strange: an interview with Bill Nelson
Lawrence Patchett talks to Bill Nelson about Root, Leaf, Flower, Fruit, a verse novel that Nelson has just released with Te Herenga Waka University Press. Bill Nelson demonstrated his versatility with his first book, Memorandum of Understanding. A book of surprising range and humour, it included a love poem styled ...
The SpinoffBy Lawrence Patchett
19 hours ago

The French vanilla fraud
None of New Zealand’s commercial French vanilla ice creams contain the crucial ingredient. Dylan Jones busts the case wide open. Like any good investigation, this one started as an innocuous Thursday night question among flatmates: what is French vanilla ice cream, and how is it different to regular vanilla? A ...
The SpinoffBy Dylan Jones
20 hours ago

An Ode for .. the Kingmaker
Bard Billot on Lord Winston The Duke of Hazard Lord Winston, the Duke of Hazard, Rose late and yawned. The Palace was loud with the hubbub Of busy courtiers preparing to flee the city. Outside the gates, the followers of Baron Luxon Prepared for their assault upon the ...
Newsroom
20 hours ago

Election 2023: All the latest developments on 1 October
National leader Christopher Luxon says he wouldn't do a deal with The Opportunities Party leader Raf Manji, even if it could help avoid a potential coalition with New Zealand First. ...
Radio NZ – political
21 hours ago

All Black legend’s Mitey legacy
School-aged children in the south are increasing their emotional literacy and talking about the tough stuff thanks to a rugby star’s commitment and a Southland teacher’s persistence Belinda Brown was a teacher with two decades of classroom experience when she heard Sir John Kirwan talk at a Winton pub about his ...
Newsroom
22 hours ago

The time is ripe to turn wine waste into gold
The promise of science to add commercial value to the waste of the New Zealand wine industry while limiting how much of it is sent to landfill Opinion: The New Zealand wine industry has been a great success story, creating world-renowned wines with continued export demand, but it’s an industry ...
Newsroom
22 hours ago

The Sunday Essay: The joy of paper diaries
My appointment diary will never be replaced by apps and platforms. It is the only true record of the minutiae of my life. The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. Images by Tina Tiller. I bumped into an old friend and former colleague ...
The SpinoffBy Venetia Sherson
23 hours ago

The truth behind the ‘audacious’ return of the Pop-up Globe
The Pop-up Globe might be returning to the stage, but not everybody’s happy about it. Sam Brooks talks to some creditors – left in the dark after the company’s liquidation – about its shock 2023 return. On September 15, the Pop-up Globe announced it would be making an “audacious” return ...
The SpinoffBy Sam Brooks
23 hours ago

NZ elections 2023: Green Party, Te Pāti Māori call out ‘harmful emboldening of extremism’
RNZ News Green Party co-leader James Shaw has compared the language of New Zealand First leader Winston Peters to former US president Donald Trump, saying it may be emboldening violence against candidates in Aotearoa NZ’s election campaign. It comes after several candidates from different parties have spoken out about being ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
1 day ago

Hipkins claims the 'm' word
Chris Hipkins endured four seasons in one hour at an outdoor festival in an Auckland park – and claims to be sensing a rapid change in mood in the electorate as well, a fortnight from the election The Labour leader has gone there. He's publicly claiming his party has picked up 'momentum' in this ...
Newsroom
1 day ago

Labour releases Rainbow Manifesto, promising reformed surrogacy laws and LGBTQ+ refugee quota
The party also wants to look at possibly removing the stand-down period for blood donation men who have sex with men currently face. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

Green Party and Te Pāti Māori call out 'harmful emboldening of extremism' after incident...
Green Party co-leader James Shaw has compared the language of New Zealand First leader Winston Peters to Donald Trump, saying it may be emboldening violence against candidates. ...
Radio NZ – political
1 day ago

1 in 50 Fijian children may have rheumatic heart disease, says health chief
By Pauliasi Mateboto in Suva One in 50 Fijian children could have rheumatic heart disease and children between the ages of five to 15 years are the most at risk of rheumatic fever. While revealing these alarming statistics, Health Secretary Dr James Fong revealed the high figures indicated the high ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
1 day ago

NZ election 2023: Police investigate after invasion of Te Pāti Māori candidate’s home
RNZ News New Zealand police are investigating after the home of Te Pāti Māori election candidate Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke was invaded, vandalised, and a threatening letter left behind. They said the burglary of a Huntly home was reported to police on Monday. On Friday, Te Pāti Māori issued a statement saying ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
2 days ago

Anti-co-governance march to parliament overshadowed by counterprotest
A protest against co-governance led by Julian Batchelor, a prominent figure in the movement, has ended, with police saying there were no issues. About 300 people marched from Civic Square to parliament in Wellington today, according to a police press release, and they have now departed parliament grounds. About 45 ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
2 days ago

ACT's business plan: Removing January holiday, putting minimum wage on hold
The ACT Party says it would abolish Fair Pay Agreements, put a hold on minimum wage increases for three years, and remove the 2 January public holiday. ...
Radio NZ – political
2 days ago

Police investigate after invasion of Te Pāti Māori candidate's home
Police are investigating after the home of Te Pāti Māori candidate Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke was invaded, vandalised, and a threatening letter left behind. ...
Radio NZ – political
2 days ago

Election 2023: All the latest developments on 30 September
There's no break in sight for the political party leaders as they continue to campaign in communities on Saturday. Follow RNZ's live blog for more. ...
Radio NZ – political
2 days ago

Andy Foster plots his glorious return
Former Wellington mayor Andy Foster is attempting a political comeback as a candidate for NZ First. He talks to Joel MacManus. Fear not, Wellingtonians, your leader has returned from exile: Andy Foster is back. After nine terms on council and one term as mayor, Foster lost his re-election bid to ...
The SpinoffBy Joel MacManus
2 days ago

Andy Foster plots his glorious return
Former Wellington mayor Andy Foster is attempting a political comeback as a candidate for NZ First. He talks to Joel MacManus. Fear not, Wellingtonians, your leader has returned from exile: Andy Foster is back. After nine terms on council and one term as mayor, Foster lost his re-election bid to ...
The SpinoffBy Joel MacManus
2 days ago

‘Who’s that?’ says Peters of Luxon in at times jovial, at times furious interview
In an interview that swung from jovial to furious and back again, Winston Peters joked about National leader Christopher Luxon’s claim not to know him, and denied his party was responsible for race-baiting that’s led to an escalation in vitriol towards Māori. In an interview on Newshub Nation this morning, ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
2 days ago

‘Who’s that?’ says Peters of Luxon in at times jovial, at times furious interview
In an interview that swung from jovial to furious and back again, Winston Peters joked about National leader Christopher Luxon’s claim not to know him, and denied his party was responsible for race-baiting that’s led to an escalation in vitriol towards Māori. In an interview on Newshub Nation this morning, ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
2 days ago

‘I had to drive into a wheelbarrow’: Miriama Smith on the TV ad that haunts her
The star of Shortland Street, The Gone and now Celebrity Treasure Island shares some of her favourite TV moments. Name a New Zealand television show, and Miriama Smith has probably been in it. For the past 30 years, the actor and presenter has been a welcome fixture on our TV ...
The SpinoffBy My Life in TV
2 days ago

The Week in Detail: Tiny homes, mental health awareness, and Afghan refugees
Every weekday, The Detail makes sense of the big news stories. This week, the big problems with tiny homes, how we can do our bit to mitigate climate change (besides recycling), why it's so difficult to keep our drinking water safe, the limits of mental health 'awareness', and the case of an ...
Newsroom
2 days ago

VOTE2023: Q&A with James Shaw
In this week's episode of VOTE2023, we talk to Green Party co-leader and Climate Change Minister James Shaw about student-focused policies, electric vehicles, the Emissions Trading Scheme, and whether the Green Party would form a coalition government with National This series is made by politics students and aims to entertain ...
Newsroom
2 days ago

Their house, my garden: Growing things in pots
See ya later, ground. This week on Their house, my garden, it’s all pots, balconies, window ledges and the kitchen bench. Sometimes you move into a tiny CBD apartment to live out your urbanite dreams. You put on your sparkly eyeshadow and smile till 3am behind the bar of a ...
The SpinoffBy Gabi Lardies
2 days ago

Getting the brain back on track: How my recovery from chronic illness could hold hope for others
After a mild traumatic brain injury turned her life into a ‘game of snakes and ladders with no ladders’, Ursula Cochran discovered a powerful tool she could use to start getting better – her own brain. Here, she explores the potential of mind-body training for other sufferers. This piece is ...
The SpinoffBy Ursula Cochran
2 days ago

Getting the brain back on track: Is there new hope for sufferers of chronic illness?
After a mild traumatic brain injury turned her life into a ‘game of snakes and ladders with no ladders’, Ursula Cochran discovered a powerful tool she could use to start getting better – her own brain. Here, she explores the potential of mind-body training for sufferers of other chronic illnesses, ...
The SpinoffBy Ursula Cochran
2 days ago

Long Read: The food lobby in Aotearoa
This is The Detail's Long Read – one in-depth story read by us every weekend This week, it's a story from RNZ's In Depth team: 'Fully embedded': The food lobby in Aotearoa. Investigative reporter Guyon Espiner has come out with a new series, Off the Shelf, looking at the quiet struggle to stop New Zealanders eating ...
Newsroom
2 days ago

Media targeting public for a war with China, warns Declassified Australia
Pacific Media Watch Barely a day passes without a story in the British or Australian media that ramps up fear about the rulers in Beijing, reports the investigative website Declassified Australia. According to an analysis by co-editors Antony Loewenstein and Peter Cronau, the Australian and British media are ramping up ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
2 days ago

Indonesian police raid church office, home in Nduga – arrest six, torture 12
Asia Pacific Report Members of Indonesia’s Nduga District Police and the Damai Cartenz Police Task Force have raided a residential house and the local head office of the Papuan Tabernacle Church (Kingmi Papua) in the town of Kenyam, Nduga Regency, Papua Pegunungan Province, reports Human Rights Monitor. Before raiding the ...
Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report
2 days ago

Candidate's home broken into, vandalised, threat left behind
The home of Te Pāti Māori candidate Hana Maipi-Clarke was broken into, vandalised, and a threatening letter left behind this week. ...
Radio NZ – political
2 days ago

‘Politically motivated attack’: Te Pāti Māori candidate’s home vandalised, ‘threatening le...
Te Pāti Māori’s candidate for Hauraki-Waikato says her home was “invaded, vandalised, and left with a threatening letter” in what the party is calling a “politically motivated attack”. Hana-Rawhiti Maipi Clark said the “premeditated and targeted attack” was the latest of three incidents to take place at her home just ...
The SpinoffBy Stewart Sowman-Lund
2 days ago

Ghoulish smoke and mirrors: Reaction to National's fiscal plan
The National Party's fiscal plan is ghoulish smoke and mirrors that will put more children into poverty, if you listen to Labour and the Green Party. ACT is critical, too. ...
Radio NZ – political
2 days ago

Taking The Politics Out Of The Covid-19 Royal Commission
“ACT will take the politics out of the Royal Commission into the Government’s Covid-19 response by allowing all New Zealanders to have their say on what should be investigated through a new crowdsourced terms of reference”, says ACT Leader ...
Scoop politics
2 days ago

Te Pāti Māori Candidate Hana Maipi-Clark’s Home Invaded In Politically Motivated Attack
Te Pāti Māori are not strangers to hate speech and online threats. Today however, a line was crossed. Our Hauraki-Waikato candidate, Hana-Rawhiti Maipi Clark’s home was invaded, vandalised, and left with a threatening letter. This premeditated and ...
Scoop politics
2 days ago

The disability royal commission recommendations could fix some of the worst living conditions – bu...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Di Winkler, Adjunct Associate Professor, La Trobe University The bite mark on Ashlee’s cheek, her broken teeth and other photos of injuries from assaults in disability housing are some of the haunting images emerging from the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
2 days ago

The Week in Politics: Luxon likely to get what he doesn't want
Analysis - Christopher Luxon's announcement that he'll work with Winston Peters after the election if he has to boosts NZ First's chances of getting back into Parliament, writes Peter Wilson. ...
Radio NZ – political
2 days ago

National's big guns come out in Tāmaki
National has wheeled out its stars into the blue, blue seat of Tāmaki which is under friendly fire attack from Act deputy leader Brooke van Velden First Bill English, then Christopher Luxon fronted within two days of each other for Simon O'Connor in the previously safe National heartland of the east ...
Newsroom
2 days ago

Concern at candidate's assault: 'He shook me, slapped my cheeks'
Chris Hipkins has condemned the increased risk of campaign trail violence as police investigate an assault on Labour’s Angela Roberts Labour’s candidate for Taranaki-King Country has confirmed she was assaulted following an election debate at the Inglewood Rotary Club earlier this week. Angela Roberts explained in a Facebook post after ...
Newsroom
2 days ago

National's fiscal plan doesn't answer tax cut questions
National may have hoped its detailed fiscal plan would put to bed the lingering questions about how it will pay for its tax cuts, but there are no satisfactory answers in sight, Marc Daalder writes Analysis: Grant Robertson says National's new fiscal plan has a $537 million hole in it and ...
Newsroom
2 days ago

Beneficiary Bashing Continues This Election With National, ACT & NZ First Policies
“People who experience poverty as sanctioned by a capitalist system shouldn’t be punished for the predicament they’re in” says Brooke Pao Stanley, AAAP Coordinator. These parties use fear based politics to gain popularity and continue to push a narrative ...
Scoop politics
2 days ago

Foreign policy has been missing from NZ’s election campaign – voters deserve answers to these bi...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato Tax cuts, crime, the cost of living, potholes and co-governance … these and various other issues are now familiar to most voters. But there has been one major election area missing the serious debate ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
2 days ago

Labour candidate slapped following debate in Taranaki
Labour candidate Angela Roberts, a list MP campaigning in Taranaki-King Country, was shaken and slapped by a member of the public following a debate on Tuesday this week. She described the incident on Facebook. While talking about education policy with an attendee after an event at Inglewood Rotary Club, the ...
The SpinoffBy Shanti Mathias
3 days ago

Forest Owners Welcome National's Forest Policy But Hold Reservations On Planting Restrictions
The Forest Owners Association generally welcomes the National Party forestry policy announcement that National wants to give certainty and support to the forestry and wood processing industry clearly recognising its economic and environmental advantages. ...
Scoop politics
3 days ago

Funding The Basics Brilliantly Would Be A Start
Both major parties needed to have prioritised ongoing new investment in children and education in their allowances for new spending, NZEI Te Riu Roa president Mark Potter said today. “The two fiscal plans released this week made pre-commitments ...
Scoop politics
3 days ago

National’s Fiscal Plan Continues Attack On Low Income Households
National has finally released its fiscal plan after much delay and it reveals a plan to cut the incomes and essential public services the poorest New Zealanders rely on, just so they can pay for tax cuts for landlords and the well-off, says NZCTU ...
Scoop politics
3 days ago

Governor-General’s Official Visit To Malaysia
The Governor-General of New Zealand, Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, and Dr Richard Davies will depart for an official visit to Malaysia on Sunday 1 October 2023. Their Excellencies are travelling to Malaysia at the invitation of His Majesty Yang di-Pertuan Agong ...
Scoop politics
3 days ago

‘Forcing more children into poverty’: Labour responds to National’s fiscal plan
Labour says National’s plan to index benefits to inflation rather than wages will result in more children living in poverty. Speaking in Lower Hutt today, party leader Chris Hipkins said National was proposing “$2 billion in benefit cuts”. “In the middle of a cost of living crisis, they’re cutting benefits ...
The SpinoffBy Alice Neville
3 days ago

Review Of Wellbeing Strategy Needed As Police Recruitment Declines; Suicides Continue
Hatikvah Blue Hope Foundation is gravely concerned following the suicide of another serving police officer in the past month, and we extend our deepest sympathy to the grieving family. This tragedy comes as NZ Police is seeing a staggering 48.5% decline ...
Scoop politics
3 days ago

Here’s how to fix Australia’s approach to soil carbon credits so they really count towards our c...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Aaron Simmons, Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, University of New England William Edge, Shutterstock Australia’s plan to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 relies heavily on carbon credits. These credits are awarded to projects that avoid the release ...
Evening ReportBy The Conversation
3 days ago

Tough Times Ahead For Children In Hardship Under Next Government, CPAG Warns
The Child Poverty Action Group is asking the National Party to make good on its commitment to children in poverty, but says the party’s fiscal plan reveals it has no desire or intention to help those living in the greatest poverty in Aotearoa. ...
Scoop politics
3 days ago

Review: Patricia Highsmith play never quite reaches its subject’s brilliance
Sam Brooks reviews Auckland Theatre Company’s Switzerland, which can’t quite meet its subject straight in the eye. What is it? The last show in Auckland Theatre Company’s programme is somewhat of a pivot from the rest of its programme this year. It’s a psychological thriller by an Australian playwright (Joanna ...
The SpinoffBy Sam Brooks
3 days ago

Espiner becomes RNZ Morning Report host and Pagani criticises the Standard

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