Garner on National’s death rattle
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- Date published:
8:29 am, September 9th, 2017 - 73 comments
Categories: accountability, bill english, election 2017, national, Steven Joyce, you couldn't make this shit up -
Tags: #ChangeTheGovt, duncan garner, economic genius, joyce's hole, liar, lies
Here’s some weekend reading for liars Steven Joyce and Bill English:
Duncan Garner: Shameless Steven Joyce digs himself a massive hole to lie in
…
So let’s call it. Joyce stuffed up this week. In his desperation to smear Labour’s alternative budget, he got it wildly wrong.He made a $11.7b blunder that goes to the heart of his own credibility. He didn’t use Treasury officials this time – oh no, this was all his own work.
Because there is no $11.7b hole in Labour’s accounts.
There’s not one economist in the country who can find it. But what would they know? Joyce can see it clear as mud.
Who do you believe? A bunch of economists with no vested interest or the politician, the Finance Minister and campaign boss staring at a potential election defeat, but failing to name one independent person who supports his outlandish claim.
…
He came across like a desperate fool, whose big one-off spray never worked and whose grip on power looks weaker today than it was last Monday.Remember Joyce and his $11b hole claims were all encouraged and supported by his leader, Bill English. English is guilty too – by association. He’s boots and all in this grubby little set-up.
But it’s clear Labour is now bossing this campaign. Momentum and trend is everything.
Labour’s up 20 points in just four weeks, from 23 per cent to 43 per cent in the latest Colmar Brunton Poll. And National is down almost 10 points in five weeks, from 49 per cent to 39 per cent. It’s not just a game-changing poll. It’s a Government-changing poll.
…
The one thing that has become clear though is the wall of negative noise known in political circles as the ‘death rattle.’ …
National may not recover in time from its own goal
The National Party’s identification of an $11.7 billion “hole” in Labour’s budgeting looks like a spectacular failure.
Steven Joyce scores a sensational goal and is celebrating with Bill English, but the finance minister and prime minister are the only people in the stadium who don’t realise the ball is in the back of their own net.
Economists agree there is not a hole in Labour’s accounts. Labour has also left room for increases in spending. It has not made an embarrassing mistake that leaves it in a position where it can’t find the money to fund all the spending it wants to carry out.
…
National should concede it was wrong.Under Jacinda Ardern’s leadership, Labour is successfully mining a mood for change.
A dramatic but disputed own goal from the other team could prove to be decisive.
https://twitter.com/ChrisKeall/status/905887157549645824
https://twitter.com/MatthewHootonNZ/status/905901666901213184
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The Green Party has written to the Speaker of the House requesting he enable a personal vote on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Govt move to exclude journalist risks chilling effect
The Green Party is alarmed by the Government’s move to exclude a journalist from covering this week’s apology for the survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care. ...2 weeks ago
- Without action, an apology will be empty air
For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Concerns remain over tobacco interference
Concerns about the tobacco industry’s ability to interfere in government policy making remain, despite the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the Government’s decision to halve the excise tax on heated tobacco products. ...2 weeks ago
- Urgent wake-up call on climate
The Climate Change Commission’s latest advice indicates Aotearoa needs to be stepping up on climate action. ...2 weeks ago
- Green MP’s Meme-ber’s Bill set to save the world
Break out the punchlines and dust off your meme folder: Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter’s Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill was pulled from the Ballot yesterday. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies
Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...2 weeks ago
- Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ must pursue independent foreign policy
The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Winston Peters must apologise
The Deputy Prime Minister should apologise to the public servant he named and blamed for something they did not do, and for misusing the rules of Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements
The Government is taking action to ensure Southland farmers and growers are not affected by unreasonable regional farm plan deadlines, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.“Cabinet has agreed to provide more time for farmers and growers to comply with regional rules ...9 hours ago - Bill reaffirms Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending
The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “In recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. “This Bill makes ...10 hours ago
- Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review
Fairer, more sensible rules about managing earthquake risks are a step closer with the passing of legislation and the appointment of an independent chair to provide expert advice, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The Government is committed to reinvigorating our cities and regions to support economic growth, ...10 hours ago
- State of the art radiology machine for Auckland
People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...10 hours ago
- Foreign Minister to visit Europe
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Europe for high-level talks with France, Germany and the United Kingdom next week. "Since taking office almost a year ago, the Coalition Government has emphasised the importance we place on New Zealand's traditional and likeminded diplomatic and ...11 hours ago
- First arrests made under gang patch ban
Police have made their first arrests under the new gang patch legislation, with two gang members arrested, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “Just before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He has been arrested and will now face enforcement ...12 hours ago
- Better support for victims of sexual violence
The Government is proposing two major changes to name suppression laws that will put the views of victims of sexual violence first, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “We are committed to restoring law and order and these two proposed changes will help ensure the victims of crime are put at ...13 hours ago
- Government moving forward with Regional Deals
Cabinet has agreed to invite all regions to submit proposals for Regional Deals between central and local government that drive economic growth and deliver the infrastructure our country needs, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop say. Inviting all regions to propose a Regional Deal that boosts ...14 hours ago
- MSA pilot participant update
One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend. “I’m saddened that this young person has not taken this opportunity ...14 hours ago
- Attendance rates increase, again
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that school attendance is continuing to rise. In Term 3 of 2024 51.3 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from 46 per cent in Term 3 of 2023. “This Government has prioritised student attendance and it is ...16 hours ago
- Improving the lives of young New Zealanders
Ensuring New Zealand is the best place in the world for children and young people is the vision at the heart of the Government’s new Child and Youth Strategy, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says. “Childhood represents a huge opportunity to set people on a positive path towards living ...19 hours ago
- Government continues work to reinstate livestock exports by sea
The Government is reinstating the trade of livestock exports by sea while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, says Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard.“The Government will introduce legislation changes to reinstate the trade, enhance oversight, and strengthen requirements for exporters to identify risks and manage the welfare of ...1 day ago
- Speech to the National Quality Forum 2024
Tēnā koutou katoa – it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...2 days ago
- New Zealand’s COP29 National Statement
Tēnā koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...2 days ago
- Latest Quarterly Investment Report released
The Government has released its second Quarterly Investment Report (QIR) which shows substantial work still to be done by agencies to improve investment reporting and meet the Government’s expectations, Infrastructure and Acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “New Zealand has significant infrastructure and investment needs. The Government is determined to get ...2 days ago
- New Zealand supporting loss and damage fund
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced New Zealand will contribute NZ$10 million to the new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage while at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. “New Zealand is joining the global effort to address the significant challenge of responding to ...2 days ago
- Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight
The free ride for gangs is over when the clock strikes midnight tonight, with tough new laws officially coming into effect, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say. “Gang patches will no longer be able to be worn in public. To earn the right to wear a ...2 days ago
- LGFA increases borrowing capacity to support high growth councils
The Government is welcoming the decision by the Local Government Funding Agency to increase access to financing tools for fast growing councils to support greater investment in critical infrastructure, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says.“Communities across the country are facing an infrastructure deficit and significant population growth is projected in ...2 days ago
- Temporary Traffic Management costs revealed
The Government has revealed that over the past three years, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has spent an eyewatering $786 million of taxpayers’ money on road cones and temporary traffic management (TTM), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“When I became Minister, I was surprised to learn that that NZTA did ...2 days ago
- Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal to double
Legislation that will double the financial jurisdiction of the Disputes Tribunal from $30,000 to $60,000 has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. “We need to improve court timeliness and access to justice so that Kiwis and get on with their lives. Court delays affect everyone, the ...2 days ago
- Protecting New Zealand from foreign interference
Legislation that will specifically criminalise foreign interference and strengthen espionage offences has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “It is normal and appropriate for states to interact and work to influence one another. This encourages cooperation and can have mutually beneficial outcomes. “However, the reality ...2 days ago
- Significant milestone for Canterbury Road of National Significance
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news that the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board has approved funding towards pre-implementation and early works on the State Highway 1 (SH1) Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass Road of National Significance (RoNS). “Reaching this significant milestone is a reflection of our Government’s ...2 days ago
- Health survey results to help drive change
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says findings from the annual Health Survey highlight the need to continue driving better health outcomes for New Zealanders. The New Zealand Health Survey is an annual snapshot of key metrics measured from July 2023 – July 2024. Findings released this morning include: In 2023/24, ...3 days ago
- Final push needed to get to Smokefree 2025
A renewed effort to get people to quit smoking will build on what has worked to date and target the groups who most need support, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today. “The latest New Zealand Health Survey results show the daily smoking rate at 6.9 per cent and we ...3 days ago
- New diplomatic appointments
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced four new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign ...3 days ago
- Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill
Regulation Minister David Seymour has today announced the next steps in the Government’s plan improve the quality of regulation by opening consultation on a proposed Regulatory Standards Bill. “New Zealand's low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation,” says Mr Seymour. ...3 days ago
- Red Tape Tipline goes live
Minister for Regulation David Seymour has today announced that the Ministry for Regulation’s Red Tape Tipline is now live. “We want to hear about your red tape horror stories. From today, New Zealanders will have a say on how they are regulated through an online portal,” says Mr Seymour. The ...3 days ago
- Youth Parliament 2025 announced
The Minister for Youth Matt Doocey has today announced the eleventh Youth Parliament will be taking place in 2025. “Youth Parliament offers a unique youth development opportunity to young people from across New Zealand to experience the political process and learn about how government works,” says Mr Doocey. “The two-day ...3 days ago
- Police stats show promising change
After nearly a year in Government, Kiwis have seen significant change across law and order with promising early results shown across some Police statistics, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “In August 2023, I told New Zealanders that if they had not started to see a change in public safety within ...3 days ago
- Better coordination of anti-scam efforts
With the launch of Fraud Awareness Week, the Government is committing to new coordination efforts across industry and government to combat online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Online financial scams are a growing problem for New Zealand. New data released today shows that Kiwis lost nearly ...4 days ago
- Minister to consider 7AA select committee report
Minister for Children Karen Chhour will consider the recommendations made by the Social Services and Community Committee in its report back to Parliament on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill. “I want to thank the people who made submissions and those who appeared before the committee in ...4 days ago
- Defence Minister to attend ASEAN meeting
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Vientiane, Laos. “We need to take every opportunity to engage with our international partners, given the increasingly unstable geo-political situation,” Ms Collins says. “New Zealand has a long-standing commitment to this ...4 days ago
- Launching the White Ribbon Ride
The Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour, was on hand to wish riders well at the start of the North Island leg of the White Ribbon Ride in Whakatāne this morning. The ride helps mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, ...4 days ago
- Construction to begin on next stage of Papakura to Drury
Construction on the next stage of the SH1 Papakura to Drury project will begin early next month, with the contract for works awarded to Fulton Hogan, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. "SH1 Papakura to Drury is a key project that will drive economic growth and productivity, reduce congestion, and enable people ...6 days ago
- NZ signs trade deal with Costa Rica, Iceland and Switzerland
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has signed a pioneering trade agreement that prioritises New Zealand’s sustainable exports at a ceremony during APEC in Peru today. “The Agreement on Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS), between Costa Rica, Iceland, and Switzerland was concluded in July of this year and opens up significant ...6 days ago
- Government and iwi work together on aquaculture
Five new Aquaculture Settlement Areas will help ensure Ngāi Tahu shares in the opportunities aquaculture offers for Southland’s economy, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. “The Aquaculture Settlement Areas (ASAs) I’m announcing today set aside space so the Crown and Ngāi Tahu can assess their potential for aquaculture development. ...6 days ago
- Government launches review to ensure electricity market is fit-for-purpose
The terms of reference for a review of the performance of the electricity market have been released. The review, initiated by the Coalition Government during the power crisis in winter will look at whether current regulations and market design support economic growth and access to reliable and affordable electricity, Energy Minister ...7 days ago
- Speech to Social Investment Hui: Jack and his whānau need our help
Kia ora koutou katoa. Nau mai, haere mai, piki mai. Ki te mihi atu ahau, ki te manwhenua nei, Te Atiawa, Ngāti toa rangatira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Thank you, Andy, for your introduction. Let me acknowledge you as the new Chief Executive of the Social Investment ...7 days ago
- Minister of State for Trade heads to Brisbane for PACER Plus meeting
Minister of State for Trade Nicola Grigg has travelled to Australia to attend the PACER Plus Ministers Meeting in Brisbane. “Trade plays a critical role in driving employment, economic growth, and improving the standards of living in the Pacific Region. The Government is strongly committed to supporting Pacific Island countries ...7 days ago
- Proposals to modernise conservation released
Toitū te taiao – Our environment endures The Government is consulting on proposals to modernise New Zealand’s conservation management system, aiming to protect relevant natural areas while supporting sustainable growth in tourism and regional economies, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. “Today, the Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai is ...7 days ago
- Grattan on Friday: Marles plays a defensive bat on nuclear as the government rushes to get though la...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Richard Marles is an ambitious man who hasn’t given up the dream of one day reaching the top job. But, despite being deputy prime minister, his profile is much lower than that of Treasurer Jim ...3 hours ago - NEW POLL: Kiwis Overwhelmingly Support MPs’ Expenses Transparency Law Change
62% of respondents support the extension of the OIA to cover MPs’ spending, compared to just 13% opposed and 24% were unsure. ...5 hours ago - The House: Meanwhile, a week of passing law
The political week has been packed with worthy distractions, but all week Parliament has focused on passing new laws. Here are the highlights. ...5 hours ago - The biggest difference between Hīkoi mō te Tiriti and past hīkoi: More support from non-Māori
Analysis - The diversity of voices during the hīkoi was noticeable - from tangata moana to young immigrants to elderly Pākehā from the South Island. ...6 hours ago
- The House: Samoan citizenship restoration – ‘It means we belong to this land’
When the bill to restore NZ citizenship to some Samoans passed this week, Parliament's galleries were full to the brim with members of the community. ...6 hours ago
- More Delays In Action On Use Of Puberty Blockers With Children
Women’s Rights Party Co-leader Jill Ovens says the Ministry has put New Zealand children at risk by continuing to allow “off-label” prescribing of puberty blockers at far higher rates than other similar countries. ...7 hours ago
- Police Minister adamant he wasn’t aware of gang members training at gun clubs
That is despite two papers from police that raised the matter with him. ...8 hours ago
- Shorten declares himself ‘a proud moderate’, saying Australians ‘in the middle’ shouldn’t ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Bill Shorten has declared himself “a proud moderate” in a valedictory speech declaring parliament has the responsibility to ensure the extremes of left and right do not set the terms of political debate. Shorten, ...8 hours ago
- New ‘best practice’ principles for superannuation products are coming. We asked a panel of exper...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt Garrow, Editorial Web Developer Studio Romantic/Shutterstock We all know how important it is to save enough money for retirement – but what about spending it wisely when we get there? Even for those who have built up a suitable ...8 hours ago
- Government accused of betraying Kiwis’ trust over lack of consultation on live exports
The government has always vowed to reinstate live exports by sea, which was banned by the previous Labour government. ...8 hours ago
- 7 things you can do if you think you sweat too much
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Freeman, Associate Professor of Dermatology, Bond University ERIK Miheyeu/Shutterstock Sweating is our body’s way of cooling down, a bit like an internal air conditioner. When our core temperature rises (because it’s hot outside, or you’re exercising), sweat glands all ...9 hours ago
- Phenergan for under 6s is now banned due to hallucination fears. Here’s what to use instead
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nial Wheate, Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Macquarie University Australia’s drug regulator has issued a safety warning over the medicine Phenergan and related products containing the antihistamine drug promethazine. The Therapeutic Goods Administration said the over-the-counter products should not be given to children ...9 hours ago
- A new stage adaptation of Peter Carey’s Jack Maggs is a delightful homage to theatrical storytelli...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Campbell, Lecturer, Performing Arts, UniSA Creative, University of South Australia Matt Byrne/STCSA Jack Maggs is a delight and a homage to theatrical storytelling in Australia. Based on Peter Carey’s bestselling novel, Jack Maggs follows the ex-convict as he lands ...9 hours ago
- The government has introduced laws for its social media ban. But key details are still missing
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Angus, Professor of Digital Communication, Director of QUT Digital Media Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology Ron Lach/Pexels The federal government today introduced into parliament legislation for its social media ban for people under 16 years. Communications Minister Michelle ...9 hours ago
- Archives NZ, National Library to cut 27 roles
The Department of Internal Affairs wants to bring the two organisations under the joint leadership of the Chief Archivist and National Librarian. ...9 hours ago
- Gang patch ban: Members warn of potential for violence to ‘erupt’ as new laws enforced
"I can't see this lasting unless they have a budget to lock fullas up in jail which I think is absolutely stupid, really it's ludicrous," Ngavii Pekapo, who set up a Mongrel Mob chapter 54 years ago, says. ...9 hours ago
- ACT leader David Seymour raises doubts about Waikato medical school
Government documents show ACT leader David Seymour told the government he was "dissatisfied" with a cost-benefit analysis. ...10 hours ago
- National’s Erica Stanford allegedly calls Labour’s Jan Tinetti a ‘stupid bitchR...
The Education Minister has apologised in Parliament for her remark. ...10 hours ago
- Labour backs new Police Commissioner – but warns against routine arming
The alternative to policing by consent would be a police state, which New Zealanders don't want, the party says. ...11 hours ago
- Youth on boot camp pilot re-offended five weeks after release
Children's Minister Karen Chhour said while it was disappointing, it would naïve to think none of the participants would lapse. ...12 hours ago
- In photos: People of the hīkoi, and why they marched
Hikoi mō Te Tiriti has come to an end, going down in history as the largest march to Parliament in Aotearoa. ...12 hours ago
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Ahead of his appearance in Aotearoa, the acclaimed British journalist, podcaster and documentarian talks to Stewart Sowman-Lund about why people are still fascinated by the fringes. The last place I would expect to find Jon Ronson is relaxing in the countryside. The iconic British journalist and writer is best known ...12 hours ago - Kia kaha Lebanon: NZ media only tell half your story of struggle
The United States has vetoed a UN Security Council ceasefire resolution — for the fourth time — in Israel’s war on Gaza, while Hezbollah demands a complete ceasefire and “protection of Lebanon’s sovereignty” in any deal with Israel. Amid the death and devastation, Joe Hendren reflects on his time in ...13 hours ago
- ‘Deserves a Bafta’: After the Party premieres in the UK to five-star reviews
The acclaimed New Zealand drama has just premiered on TV in the United Kingdom, and the five-star reviews are already flowing in. Six months after it was called a “blistering” “tour de force” by Australian critics, and nearly a year since The Spinoff declared it the best drama New Zealand ...13 hours ago
- Drugs are getting cheaper and easier to find in Aotearoa
New Zealanders are drinking and smoking less, but most other recreational drugs are becoming cheaper, more popular and more available, two new reports show. Two significant new surveys about drugs in Aotearoa were released this week, offering a rare insight into New Zealanders’ choice of substances, which ones are becoming ...13 hours ago
- COP29: ‘climate finance’ for the Pacific is mostly loans, saddling small island nations with mor...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven Ratuva, Director, Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Canterbury Lenora Qereqeretabua, the deputy speaker of Fiji’s Parliament, at the COP29 climate summit. IISD/ENB/Mike Muzurakis, CC BY-SA As this year’s UN climate summit reaches its final stage of negotiations, Pacific ...14 hours ago
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- Dame Jacinda Ardern to be given United Nations leadership award
She will get the champion for global change award from the United Nations Foundation at a ceremony in New York tomorrow. ...15 hours ago
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Analysis: NZ is lifting what was supposed to be a permanent ban on live animal exports. But it’s not the lucrative industry it once was. The post NZ will resume live animal exports – to low demand appeared first on Newsroom. ...16 hours ago - Financial forms of family violence affect one in seven of us – but the law is lagging
There are calls for New Zealand’s Family Violence Act to name economic harm as a standalone type of violence, rather than a subcategory of psychological abuse, to bring it in line with the United Kingdom and Australia. Economic harm – restricting access to, sabotaging or exploiting another person’s financial resources, ...16 hours ago
- Downside Risks To Treasury’s Economic And Fiscal Forecasts
New Zealand is currently running a structural fiscal deficit, with expenditure exceeding revenue. Economic growth falling short of expectations has been making it harder for the Government to bring the books back into balance. ...16 hours ago
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And still no comments or analysis of Nationals spending promises or that in 2014 and 2015 they did what they say Labour woukd have to do as govt. Survive with little wiggle room.
I am sick of the slavish real world references where real world means I got rich. The real world is when someone needs two jobs to pay rent and bills but no more. Key and Joyce had no experience of this world before enteri g parliament, and it shows. Our Health system is in tatters and education serves the coffers not the futures of our people.
The problem is many journos move in the same world as these types of pollies and it shows. They also worship at the alter of success = lotsa dosh for me.
Bang on tracey.
100% agree
+111
+100
50000 kids immediately spring out of poverty on 1April 2018, he says. I mean, what the HELL? What, does he have some kind of switch? Are we that gullible?
April fools’ day.
Good one Duncan its assume to see you giving your unbiased view on what is going on in our beautiful country.
Shows how the media love a pile on once there is a bit of momentum behind a candidate. So many porkies told over the past few elections, they finally decide to call Joyce on it instead of gullible acceptance and jumping on Labour every time he makes an unfounded claim.
Yep, hundreds of lies by National over the last 9+ years and suddenly they’ve found one.
” Hundreds of lies by National over the last nine years and suddenly they’ve found one ”
Totally agree Draco the media have been in bed with the National party so long they think monogamy is some type of wood.
[your comments are being deleted until you respond to previous moderation – weka]
weka –
Please advise ‘what response’ I should be responding to please as to which issue?
I have not seen other moderation other than telling me not to use capital letters which I have conformed to your request?
Is it that I should use lower case with my cleangreen to?
Regards, cleangreen.
[you’ve been moderated 3 times to stop using all caps in your comments, and you failed to respond to any of those moderations so most of your recent comments (last ten days or so) went into trash. You probably can’t tell from the front end, but that’s a lot of work for me to have moderated and tracked this trying to get your attention. I’d suggest when you comment that you look at your last comments and see if anyone has replied to them. And if you get moderated, then say something to the moderator so they know you have seen and understood the moderation and they can take you out of the Spam list.
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-23082017/#comment-1372428
https://thestandard.org.nz/armstrong-the-tide-going-out-on-national/#comment-1372946
https://thestandard.org.nz/the-first-debate/#comment-1376783
– weka]
Understood Weka 100%,
I had not considered spending time for looking at my last comments and see if anyone has replied to them.
reason is I am busy with community work right now, but wanted to get our messages out to as many ‘social media’ platforms as possible as other are because we have on TDB bloggers doing this to.
Sorry for the upper case issue as being ‘offensive’ and will not use it any more.
When I joined TS in July 2014 many bloggers were using ‘bold’ lettering to place an impression on their blog and thought since I cant do this using uppercase was o/k but now will not.
All a misunderstanding it’s all cool.
Thanks weka.
[thanks cleangreen, we got there in the end and I appreciate your response now, it makes quite a difference when people respond in a real way. All the best with the community work and getting the message out. – weka]
Stuff have closed the comments section below that story by Garner, i cant even see the comments that were already posted. Why do that?
When the right-wing are shown to be wrong and have a hard time passing off their lie as truth they tend to like to get comment sections shut down A.S.A.P. to stifle the debate.
Because the only voices that matter are those of the journalists. You know, the people with cameras, microphones and officially sanctioned soapboxes. Everyone else must sit down and shut up. They determine the narrative, and we go back to swilling beer and gawping at the rugby. That’s how it works. Haven’t you been paying attention?
I have heard a death rattle and it is not nice. The gnats aren’t done for yet and after their big loss coming up they will be working out what they have to do to get back in. A cornered animal is dangerous – never get between a seal and the sea.
And I agree about the pile on – these johnny journalists have no shame and no moral fibre.
never get between a seal and the sea
I was thinking of a rat rather than a seal. 🙂
But you’re right – what other cheap shots does National have planned?
me too but I think rats get a hard time – in non western cultures they are considered auspicious.
eg Chinese Zodiac “People born in the Year of the Rat are instinctive, acute and alert in nature which makes them to be brilliant businessmen. They can always react properly before the worst circumstances take place. They are also sophisticated and popular in social interaction. They are sanguine and very adaptable, being popular with others.”
please note – this example is not a comment on the chinese zodiac 🙂
And right on cue…although this looks pretty unsophisticated, as if Whaleoil produced it.
https://www.facebook.com/NZYoungNats/videos/10155642857027622/
the young nats are spamming facebook big time – most comments I see take the piss out of them – they, like nearly all righties, have a very undeveloped sense of humour so it is easy to take the piss out of them – they never get the joke especially when THEY are the joke.
I laughed at the woman who is posting from Disneyland! Truly has no idea how she came across with her champers in her profile
I imagine they all sat around and had a good chortle about that. Right after they’d finished patting each other on the back and braying, “Haw haw! We’re all so clever, witty and interesting. How could anyone not vote for us?”
I mean, I’m not so partisan that I’d stubbornly refuse to laugh if it were genuinely funny. But… it’s just not. Very poor effort from the Young Nats there. Must do better.
You just got to see how nasty they get when they have good pole number telling them they will have no problem getting reelected to know cornered like this they can get very dangerous.
They tried to get Winston out of the way as a king maker and might have done so, but their 11.7b hole attack on Labour has ended up losing them support. They will have people searching for a tiny scrap of dirt they can turn into something bigger by enhancing it with lies.
In nine years Bill English ran up eight deficits, even while cutting contributions to the super fund and underfunding health, to mention just two areas. All while we supposedly had a ‘rock star economy’. (!) And where has the cash from the asset sales gone? Labour can justifiably ask ‘Show us the money, Bill’. Joyce’s comeuppance richly deserved.
In fairness, he did say he would have to do that and forecast (in 2010) that he would deliver a surplus in 2016. Which he duly did.
Manufactured by the way ?
+1
And a mere $250M surplus, the debt at $120B
The surplus was all smoke and mirrors by temporarily shifting funding from one column to another till after the budget. Most of the services are well under funded by National and there can be no real surplus while they are not being properly funded anyway. Labour had surpluses while managing to also pay off our international debt mostly incurred under the previous National Government before them. National has a habit of giving the rich an easy tax ride while shifting the burden onto the poor to pay off the debts they run up.
Wish they would. Be great on some of the debates if they pointed out that National had lost the country more than they got from asset sales.
I just think it is so funny to watch them going belly up.
The Nats or the msm
Lets hope both
If Greens dont get over 5% it is not a forgone conclusion tgat Labour will rule. I want a change of govt so bad
Remain optimistic, the youth of NZ are going to have their say this election, Generational Change, Govt hasn’t done anything for them, cos they don’t usually vote but I think Jacinda has motivated them, a lot are concerned about the environment and poverty, so the Greens will definitely be there, Polls don’t show their support because they don’t have land lines.
Hey Newsflash
I havent looked but I do wonder how polling for Green looked in comparisson to election day prior to 2008?
They are still lashing out at NZF supporters as well, funny, so much bad blood i doubt there will be a coalition.
“The hole” has shown that the National government is willing to lie. It is willing to lie big. It won’t accept it was wrong.
What other lies have they told?
Are they big ones? Are they ones that many journalists stopped asking questions about?
Was the Saudi sheep deal “Labour’s fault”? Or did questions stop being asked?
Was there a “black ops” dirty politics operation in the Prime ministers office? Where is Jason Ede? Have we stopped asking? Have we all read the book?
Did the minister behave ethically? (substitute JC, PB, etc for minister)
So many lies. I can’t remember all the times things smelled bad and questions stopped being asked because the National Government said it didn’t smell.
What other lies have they told?
Start here – they won’t be the only ones. Some of them are big but the MSM never called National on them.
QFT
the exposure of dirty politic s last election is the reason the nats are not getting away with this shit’ thanks Nicky Hagar for waking the press up to it
Pretty much my view as well.
I don’t know. It’s way more ham-fisted this time that to not notice is to be brain-dead.
It’s like Eade was the only one with brains.
Or more likely, Key. He must have had a well chosen entourage of experts in that field.
With his absence the lying and manipulation is Just second rate from National nowadays.
I wonder baghorn. Or was the elevation of Ardern a groundswell from below and onc3 that tide turned the media decided to shone the light more and longer on the lies?
@bwaghorn, agreed. Hubby and I were saying exactly that today.
He made a $11.7b blunder that goes to the heart of his own credibility. He didn’t use Treasury officials this time – oh no, this was all his own work.
He didn’t need to approach Treasury. All he had to do was tap Grant Robertson on the shoulder – I mean, they both work in the same building – and advise him that there might be an issue with Labour’s fiscal plans. If he didn’t think he’d get the truth from Robertson, then he could’ve contacted BERL or another economist. He didn’t do any of those things, because he didn’t want to. He expected the media would allow him, and National, to get away with murder. It was cynical and it was lazy.
Yes, well, the evidence suggests that the MSM have been letting National get away with a whole lot over the last 9+ years.
They want to be on winning side and so have changed ships. Shallow indeed
Gareth Morgan explains the last nine years of poor National lead economics in one simple graph.
http://www.top.org.nz/nationals_claims_strong_eco_performance?utm_campaign=two_weeks_to_go&utm_medium=email&utm_source=garethmorgan
Morgan’s closing comment,
“They’re either fibbers or just haven’t got a clue”
Na, you’ve giving them too much there Gareth, It really is “They’re either fibbers AND just haven’t got a clue”
the trouble with cults like neo liberals and our current National Party is that they believe their own bullshit. Hence dildo’s brain fart this week.
If you take out the ‘or’ you should also take out the ‘either’. Sentence should read: ‘They’re fibbers and just haven’t got a clue.’ Sounds right to me..
Spot on!
Ooops, multi-tasking fail….
I can multi-fail.
The difference is the media attitude not National’s behaviour
Hope TOP continue along these lines to directly expose the bs behind the rock star managers meme. Plenty of single event based gold like the power genie rip off.
As a former fund manager owner it should help the soft nact voters ponder if they’ve been conned or not, being the type they aspire to etc….it all helps.
What other figures has Joyce misunderstood and misinterpreted?
The guys a joke and can’t possibly be considered a trustworthy Finance Minister
Once they’re out we need to drain the swamps where they bred. Kleptocracy is never an acceptable form of government. Lying in office is not acceptable and must cost the liars accordingly.
So true and could not agree more. Just look at the corruption of Maurice Williamson and Judith Collins to see the corruption of Chinese money – most of it dirty. How many others, ie National Party members?
Power corrupts and all that
If you blatantly lie, then your credibility vanishes. Joyce lied.
English blatantly agreed with the lie but deflected to other shortcomings.
Bennett blatantly agreed with lie but deflected into other issues.
Credibility gone. And so the credibility has also leeched away for National candidates everywhere when they support the lie.
That should mean that all other MPs, Journalists and voters must know what each of the above “Leaders” look like when they are lying. Barefaced lies are morally disastrous for Democracy.
Surely therefore every statement made now by Joyce, Bennett and English should be greeted with contempt. Imagine a Town Hall faced with speeches from any of the above three?
National have been lying the entire time that they’ve been in power – doesn’t seem to have hurt them much.
As blips list testifies.
Not until the media turned… as long as the media was fine with the lying they shone the 4th estate torch the other way
Yea I was gonna say, Key blatantly lied continuously over 8 years as well as the creepy ponytail fetish stuff and still remained popular.. bewildering really
Yes ,… its out the back door for Stephen Dildo Joyce – and the rest of his colleagues ,… now ,… there’s a country to be repaired and then run after September 23rd ,… we need to be focusing on that now.
Happy days.
Any doubt about English’s social conservatism? Latest spending promise is our money to fix churchs. No thanks.
Yep – the people are the ‘church’. And after 9 years of engineering poverty , pollution and dismantling our social services etc comes a definite first. There’s a lot of work to be done once National is voted out come September 23rd.
$30m suddenly available to fix churches. Bugger that put it toward poverty health or education.
100%
And I think that was the general consensus among the audience at the last / third leaders debate.
That won’t help many churches ; some are looking at over $5 million per fix.
I’d rather ensure that no family homes in Christchurch still needed rebuilding.
Huh?… what I’m meaning is forget the church until all the rest is done lol!
International power shifts, so the gNats know their bubble bath formula will fail in the next term.
Optimistic that Greens and NZFst can share bath water, Labour will need their help to remove all…
Yes but, no but, yes but, no but…
Remember Little Britain?
Remind anyone of anyone?