Good for the goose

Written By: - Date published: 7:04 am, April 2nd, 2013 - 90 comments
Categories: class war, wages - Tags:

As you know, the Right says more money incentivises harder work. John Key felt he wasn’t working very hard when he first became PM on a net $250,000 a year, so he gave himself tax cuts and pay rises worth $100 a day. Just look at the results!

But I’m confused: why’s he cutting our pay with youth wages, higher Kiwisaver, and higher student loan repayments? Is it that rich people work harder when they get more money and poor people work harder when they get less?

I guess the elite really do see us as a different species – mules, I suppose. And I see them as a different species but for different reasons and as a different species – leeches.

90 comments on “Good for the goose ”

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  1. halfcrown 1
    2 April 2013 at 7:15 am

    That’s an insult to Leeches, They are just blood sucking arseholes

    • The Al1en 1.1
      2 April 2013 at 7:50 am

      The twilight saga characters that never made it past the cutting room, but weta workshop have the rights to the animated movie.

  2. Ennui 2
    2 April 2013 at 8:04 am

    What is sauce for the goose will definitely be sauce for the gander, and if you read Kunstler this morning you will realise that nobody will be incented by working harder soon because there wont be much money to spread around and suck up.

    Myself, I am off to work this morning to look hard at the books, the annuity and sales revenues, the cost lines and how we can extend our profitable existence into the financial storm…which means who has to go, what can and cant be done etc. Employees will suffer first, then the owners pockets will suffer. The whole thing focuses the mind on thinning blood.

    Our story is the same as most employers. As those on this site line up to demand work, demand how the tax on non existent profit is spent, how to ameliorate social conditions, and how to carry on sucking on the diminishing public purse for pet projects,: you might want to consider that the motor is misfiring and may soon stop.

    In short, all leeches, left or right ought to suck hard and fast in the near future because the blood is drying up.

  3. vto 3
    2 April 2013 at 8:12 am

    .
    The creed espoused by the right and the National Party is dishonest and bankrupt.

    • Tim 3.1
      2 April 2013 at 10:03 am

      Indeed! As Zetetic makes the point – in NActs creed, High pay = Hard work. Minimum pay simply means we’re not working hard enough (just like all those aged care workers, nurses, road workers, etc.)
      Their creed also states that Shrewd gamblers = shrewd negotiators (as the likes of Paddy Gower keep trying to push whilst advocating for them).

  4. Chris 4
    2 April 2013 at 8:48 am

    Why is higher Kiwisaver suddenly a bad thing according to Labour and now apparently people on this site. Labour orignally set it at 4% and complained when National dropped the rate.

    I’ve always thought that even 4% was too low – does anyone know what Australia’s rate is? I have a feeling it’s like 7% or something similar.

    • shorts 4.1
      2 April 2013 at 9:15 am

      its no bad thing, it is a political thing…. National “backing down” and labour trying to make hay of that fact

      • Joe Bloggs 4.1.1
        2 April 2013 at 2:04 pm

        such hypocrisy from the Left…

        Labour complained bitterly about National dropping the minimum contribution from 4% to 2%

        And Labour’s policy is to make contributions compulsory so struggling workers have no choice in the matter.

        • Chris 4.1.1.1
          2 April 2013 at 2:58 pm

          You could at least change the words a little bit when copy and pasting from Kiwiblog

          • QoT 4.1.1.1.1
            2 April 2013 at 8:02 pm

            Typical leftie, expecting Joe Bloggs to work for free.

          • Joe Bloggs 4.1.1.1.2
            3 April 2013 at 11:20 am

            why change the wording? It remains rank hypocrisy no matter how much icing you smear over it.

            Incidentally I see David Shearer endorsed the Kiwisaver contribution increase on this week’s Breakfast programme, and he endorsed National targeting science and engineering in its loans and education policies.

            If it’s good enough for Shearer to endorse then it good enough for me. Enough arse-kissing – can I have my hidden offshore bank account now?

  5. infused 5
    2 April 2013 at 9:04 am

    When a youth doesn’t have a job, how is it cutting their pay?

    It’s funny how kiwisaver at 3% is now a bad thing eh? Chris their rate is 8%

    Student loans, maybe they should get such big loans then. The repayment incentive should have been kept though.

    • Descendant Of Sssmith 5.1
      2 April 2013 at 9:31 am

      There’s no minimum amount employees have to pay in Australia. Employee contributions are voluntary.

      The 9% is paid by the employer. This was lifted to 9% when employers got tax cuts. The tax cuts were moved into compulsory super payments for their staff.

      I’m more than supportive of employers paying 9% in line with Australia. Reminder too that NZ employers have already had the benefit of the tax cuts for a number of years now.

      http://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/pathway.aspx?pc=001/002/064&alias=super

      • freedom 5.1.1
        2 April 2013 at 2:52 pm

        “had the benefit of the tax cuts for a number of years now.”
        SNAP QUIZ
        What do you get if you multiply the tax cuts by four years?

        yes, that’s right kids
        No credible reason to sell the Assets and incontravertable proof that NActs are treasonous scum

    • Richard Down South 5.2
      2 April 2013 at 11:40 am

      Higher kiwisaver alone, isnt a bad thing, however, when minimum wage rises by 25c, you get a 1.85% increase in your wages, but over 1/2 of that goes to kiwisaver…

  6. TightyRighty 6
    2 April 2013 at 10:11 am

    So saving for your own retirement, paying back the loan you took to earn the higher wage in the first place and pricing the youth back into the job market are “cutting your pay packet”?

    Saving for your own retirement – this will give you a nest egg later in life. which can supplement your super. and afford you a better quality of living at a time in your life when you deserve to enjoy the fruits of your labour. Remember a dollar saved today gives you a dollar + X in the future. This will also help reduce our reliance on the foreign banks you are so fond of hating.

    Paying back the loan you took to earn the higher wage – this will reduce the outstanding loan amount sooner. enabling more money in your pay packet later in life. Wow, paying back something you owe, what a novel thought. Being interest free and all, the actual value of your loan is decreasing by 2.5% roughly any way. increasing the payment amounts by 2% is a fair way to claw back the inflation loss for the government without charging interest.

    Pricing the youth back into the market – not really cutting there pay packet is it? sort of giving them a pay packet really.

    • millsy 6.1
      2 April 2013 at 10:48 am

      Youth need to be able to pay bills, rent etc. Youth rates will not make them able to do that. All they will end up doing is slogging their guts out, and barely getting enough to pay for the gas to get them to work.

      And we need to keep the costs down for students, education is a social good, right wing scum.

      • Lanthanide 6.1.1
        2 April 2013 at 10:56 am

        Youth Rates only apply for the first 6 months.

        Actually Youth Rates already existed anyway, but they were capped at something like 140 hours or 3 months, whichever was the latter. Imo they should have moved it to 140 hours and 6 months whichever was the latter.

        • Lanthanide 6.1.1.1
          2 April 2013 at 11:24 am

          Er, it was previously something like 140 hours or 3 months, whichever was the earlier.

          IMO it should have been changed to 140 hours or 6 months, whicher was the earlier.

      • TightyRighty 6.1.2
        2 April 2013 at 12:07 pm

        Dozy left wing loser. You call that an argument? If you have a student loan you are a prime reason to claw the monies back faster. So stupid you’ll forget to breathe

        • Tim 6.1.2.1
          2 April 2013 at 2:34 pm

          And you’d call foul if we clawed back the cost of all those who benefited from Tertiary Study pre-student loans period would you? I’m picking that would be a YES

          • Tim 6.1.2.1.1
            2 April 2013 at 2:37 pm

            I’m hoping you’ll say yes on the basis of it “being a matter of principle” – ESPECIALLY in light of the ‘principle’ applied to events since this term of government [read reality TV show] has taken place.

          • TightyRighty 6.1.2.1.2
            2 April 2013 at 3:04 pm

            No, I wouldn’t cry foul. I don’t really see how it would be workable though. I have a student loan, i’d love to share some of the burden. I have a funny feeling that any government that proposed that wouldn’t be a government for long. Maybe its why this government wants more people to contribute to their retirement? in the past they’ve benefited from government largesse before.

            Stop guessing my opinions on things. You lefties are very quick to ascribe a certain outcome of opinion to people that you don’t even know. I don’t even know what your comment below means. Fucking numpty.

    • Draco T Bastard 6.2
      2 April 2013 at 12:11 pm

      This will also help reduce our reliance on the foreign banks you are so fond of hating.

      No it won’t due to the vagaries of a debt based monetary system. Every dollar saved is a dollar taken out of circulation which means that another dollar plus interest will need to be borrowed taking us even further into debt.

      Paying back the loan you took to earn the higher wage

      IMO, Society benefits more from the person being educated than the person does and so that education should be freely available.

      Pricing the youth back into the market

      Doesn’t happen. This has been proved a number of times now – a low minimum wage and lower youth wages result in higher unemployment due to less demand.

      The problem with reducing everything to money is we forget the true value of things.

      • TightyRighty 6.2.1
        2 April 2013 at 2:42 pm

        I completely disagree with all your assertions Draco.

        A dollar saved is not a dollar taken out. the most basic premise of economics, the opportunity cost tells us this is wrong. The opportunity cost of spending the dollar we have to today is not having that dollar + x interest in the future. Interest is earned for you by the banks loaning the money out. So every domestic dollar saved is one less domestic dollar we don’t need to borrow offshore. Also, as consumer based lending gets tighter due to the increased saving, we see the effect of increased investement in capital producing items. which then means a dollar saved is worth to society 1 + x(y) in the future. Yeah!! economics bitch.

        Society benefits from having all these marketing and arts grads how? Nurses, doctors, Lawyers, financial geniuses absolutely. History masters, yes. philosophy doctorates, brilliant. but the sheer quantity of BA and BCA grads? just pouring off overseas to not pay back their loans? Your opinion, while you are entitled to it, is wrong.

        Youth wages encourage youth employment, especially for menial jobs like flipping burgers and cooking chips. filling grocery bags. Your theory on a low minimum wage may have some merit in small economies, but it doesn’t flow through to youth wages which price inexperienced workers out of the market.

        The problem with thinking in fuzzy non-quantifiable terms is that you forget the true cost of things. things with no cost can’t achieve any value.

        • Draco T Bastard 6.2.1.1
          2 April 2013 at 2:45 pm

          They’re not assertions – I’ve linked to the research several times before.

          As for having too many artists (which I don’t believe) then we should probably to something about our woeful R&D and manufacturing. As long as we continue to only do farming in the country then people doing studies that don’t want to do farming will look for alternatives and not find any.

          • TightyRighty 6.2.1.1.1
            2 April 2013 at 3:01 pm

            I agree with that. But how are we going to fund these things? maybe an investement by a mysterious institution with money looking to make a return? Maybe groups of investors can invest in capital increasing mechanisms then spare some of the increase in capital to fund research and development of newer, better capital producing products. WOW.

            at least your arguments, even if wrong are better than millsy. Stupid fucking left wing toady loser.

            • Draco T Bastard 6.2.1.1.1.1
              2 April 2013 at 4:42 pm

              maybe an investement by a mysterious institution with money looking to make a return?

              You mean like the taxpayers through their agent the government?

              • TightyRighty …
                2 April 2013 at 4:48 pm

                Taxpayers through the government mandated scheme using third party vehicles that possess the right expertise and incentives? Yes

                • One Tāne Huna …
                  2 April 2013 at 4:56 pm

                  Sounds good, doesn’t it? “The right expertise and incentives” – I think you may have meant to say “correct”, because let’s face it, if they were “right” they’d probably be a bit challenged.

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  2 April 2013 at 7:46 pm

                  Why go to the added expense of using third party vehicles? Just hire the expertise directly – far cheaper as it doesn’t have all that dead weight loss of profit.

        • One Tāne Huna 6.2.1.2
          2 April 2013 at 3:21 pm

          “Society benefits from having all these marketing and arts grads how? ”

          So you think The Hobbit is a waste of society’s time now, yeah? So hard keeping up with those shifting goalposts.

          PS: What Sir Bob said.

          • TightyRighty 6.2.1.2.1
            2 April 2013 at 3:31 pm

            What have BA’s got to do with the hobbit? Jesus wept, this will be a stretch.

            I agree with Bob to. I’d rather hire someone with a BA than a BCA if it’s a general position.

            • One Tāne Huna 6.2.1.2.1.1
              2 April 2013 at 3:41 pm

              Um, computer graphic design and model making/sculpture are two examples. Don’t you know anything?

              PS: scriptwriting, makeup, lighting, special effects, the fucking novel…

              PPS: perhaps poor Tighty thinks lawyers and accountants did all the work 😆

              PPPS: I agree with Sir Bob *too, you illiterate gimp.

              • McFlock …
                2 April 2013 at 3:46 pm

                not to mention all that acting, filming, writing/adapting for screen – you know, arts.

                Next TR will ask what BComs have to do with tax dodging.

                • One Tāne Huna …
                  2 April 2013 at 4:03 pm

                  PPPPS: What’s the matter Tighty? You’re very quiet all of a sudden 😀

                  • TightyRighty …
                    2 April 2013 at 4:57 pm

                    hey lprent, you hate it when people call people out for not lurking moar on the standard all day. Guess the rules do not apply to the tards like this idiot who thinks using a post script abbreviation so many times has a place outside a romcom.

                    Calling me out me out for using to instead of too. Maybe I should lurk moar, answer your internet tough guy challenges and proof read all your comments? Use some more emoticons spud the 2nd. They really emphasize your internet awesomness. Is this what using your expensive degree that you don’t want to pay back has brought you too? being a grammar dick?

                    A lot of them actually got intern jobs, at youth rates, to get the experience to do these things properly. degrees don’t guarantee jobs. That’s why overseas talent has to be trucked in sometimes.

                    [lprent: What are you talking about? What are you asking for (apart from a spelling check). I just looked at the context for several levels up and it still makes no sense.

                    Ummm – I guess you’re trying to refer to the owned/pwned whatever stupidity. But if you are referring to the comment you replied to, he (very carefully) did not claim victory – he asked a question. In fact you could have asked the same question of me since it is 4 hours since you commented. However I run moderation sweeps usually between 4 and 6 hours apart, so you can imagine what answer I’d give.

                    Explain what you are appealing about next time and don’t waste my time trying to read your mind. ]

                    • McFlock …
                      2 April 2013 at 5:06 pm

                      lol
                      Still unclear of what BAs have got to do with the Hobbit, then?

                    • One Tāne Huna …
                      2 April 2013 at 5:14 pm

                      I’m going to agree with Tighty on this one. My response to his attack on fellow citizens was indeed vituperative and unnecessarily belittling.

                      I apologise unreservedly.

                      Do you understand why the Arts are valuable to society yet Tighty?

                    • TightyRighty …
                      2 April 2013 at 5:25 pm

                      I do get why already, having studied economics, philosophy and politics, all humanities subjects. It’s the quantity that we are churning through our universities. Some of them then sit around on left wing blog sites pontificating about shit they know nothing about. All the while imagining they are dead cool and important, yet not understood by the world because the real world won’t hire substandard pontificating arse holes.

                      You and McFlock, if that’s the arts societies dream team, Bob Jones just might be wrong. Makes me wish I took a BCA. oh wait, did too.

                    • One Tāne Huna …
                      2 April 2013 at 5:39 pm

                      “It’s the quantity that we are churning through our universities. ”

                      [citation needed]

                      Let’s imagine it’s 2007, and New Zealand has it’s highest employment rate in recorded history. Obviously the academic imbalance was just lying there waiting to trip us up.

                      Subtle, Tighty, almost sophisticated.

                    • McFlock …
                      2 April 2013 at 5:40 pm

                      lol

                      so basically you made a full of shit comment, and are miffed that we didn’t take it as gospel.

                      Two degrees? Wow, that’s unheard of. You must be smarter than I thought, or indeed your best IQ tests indicated.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      2 April 2013 at 5:47 pm

                      I do get why already, having studied economics, philosophy and politics, all humanities subjects. It’s the quantity that we are churning through our universities. Some of them then sit around on left wing blog sites pontificating about shit they know nothing about.

                      Shit the irony makes me piss my pants.

                    • One Tāne Huna …
                      2 April 2013 at 5:48 pm

                      “substandard pontificating arse holes.”

                      Thanks Sweety I hoped I’d touch a nerve.

                      Stop attacking New Zealanders and you won’t find me in your face so much 😀

                    • One Tāne Huna …
                      2 April 2013 at 6:14 pm

                      I’m in love with TightyRighty,
                      I’m in love with TightyRighty,
                      I’m in love with Righty T!

                      Oh, TightyRighty is so sexy,
                      He’s the girl for you and me,
                      I go red when he’s on the telly,
                      ‘Cos, I think, he fancies me…”

                      Apologies to The Notsensibles.

                    • Descendant Of Sssmith …
                      2 April 2013 at 6:35 pm

                      Being a grammar dick is better than being semi-literate methinks.

                      Literary misunderstandings can make you both non-sensical and angry.

                      http://thestandard.org.nz/the-many-bail-out-the-few/#comment-245107

                      I do notice though that the right pointing out that the super contributions were much higher in Oz have fallen silent since it was pointed out that the contributions were paid by the employer.

                      One can only guess that their enthusiasm to match Oz has waned.

  7. aerobubble 7
    2 April 2013 at 12:52 pm

    Fonterra is a collective, the combining of milk producers has meant better supply consistency, quality, price for consumers. so meat and wool producers want in too. What next? Students demanding fee education to deal to the exploitation they meet at the university gates?

    More kiwis would get wealthier quicker, and return to NZ faster, to buy homes, grow kids, if higher education were free. Look at Key, returned a multimillionaire. What has Key got against more Keys?

    The GFC is due to a mismatch between market valuations and real value. Real value in the great depression was represented when oil put a generation out of work due to the effects of oil on productivity (and took two world wars to unseat the systemic view that held back the market from finding real value again). Similarly today, the web is reshaping the nature of value, markets are weaken and unable to match real value sue to all the systemic interests. Take climate change, the National party denied it, and now farmers are paying the price because of the flawed incentives National feel farmers need (no CGT and water rights forever). More diary isn’t the way forward.
    More collectives in farming is!!!

    The world debt is the symptom that shows neo-liberalism up as a market failure.

    • aerobubble 7.1
      2 April 2013 at 12:53 pm

      The biggest type of market failure. Market mismatch with the underlying realities of the global economy.

    • Draco T Bastard 7.2
      2 April 2013 at 2:48 pm

      What has Key got against more Keys?

      The same thing that capitalists have against competition – it lowers profits.

  8. cricklewood 8
    2 April 2013 at 3:03 pm

    I don’t get it,

    On one hand (on Labour.co.nz) David Parker last year said…
    “That’s why Labour supports a universal KiwiSaver scheme. After five years KiwiSaver has proved a huge success. Expanding it to every employee will increase savings, which will help to grow our economy and reduce overseas debt and the current account deficit.”

    Now they are criticizing an increase in Kiwisaver contribution as taking money from those who can’t afford it, I don’t see how making it compulsary won’t have the same effect for many who have opted out because they need that $20 now.

    Has Labour’s policy changed/changing? I can’t tell from the website as it doesn’t seem to say much. Would I be correct to presume that they will make kiwisaver and the employer contribution compulsary again as well as lift the contribuiton back to 4%?

    So many conflicting messages…

    • burt 8.1
      2 April 2013 at 3:26 pm

      It’s not about what is good policy for Labour – It’s about being popular… Sadly the muppets think that all they need to do is oppose the government and they will be popular.

      Somebody should have told them the editor isn’t filtering the letters for them them anymore and their stupidity flip flopping to stay popular is laid bare in the blogs – has been for years…

      But they are dinosaurs… just waiting for their retirement doing what they have always done – say what the you think the people want to hear…..

      • cricklewood 8.1.1
        2 April 2013 at 3:44 pm

        You’re probably right, and I think people see through it and in the end they are put off more than anything.
        Would be best if any public comment was filtered through the ‘say what we mean and mean what we say.’ standard.

        For my 2 cent’s worth ,
        I would have been issuing a release saying that Labour supports the governments desicion to increase kiwisaver contributions but they don’t go far enough. Then something along the lines of Labour will be reinstating the compulsary employer contribution and increasing it in step with the employee contribution.

        It’s positive and gives a clear point of difference…

        • burt 8.1.1.1
          2 April 2013 at 9:45 pm

          Exactly, takes balls though and isn’t much chop for winning votes off National. So easier to bank on the short memories of the voters and oppose what would most likely be your own policy if in government.

          Another good example of this was the tax deductibility of donations. Labour poo-poo’d it as Nationals proposed policy referring to it as a Tory tax cut prior to an election then implemented it themselves 2 years later. Party faithful supporting them in both situations…

          You don’t need policies, just a charismatic leader and good polling information. Pitiful isn’t it.

  9. One Tāne Huna 9
    2 April 2013 at 3:39 pm

    “…elite really do see us as a different species ” Zet.

    It really bugs me when left wingers buy into right-wing frames.
    \
    There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being a member of an “elite”. Excellence must be encouraged wherever it is found.

    The right, of course, want “elite” to become synonymous with “wealthy”, so as to perpetuate the myth of the deserving rich. Don’t help them.

  10. Transient Viper 10
    2 April 2013 at 4:12 pm

    The left needs to stop making this about John Key. Make it about National. As soon as we make it about JK, it forces the comparison with David Shearer.

    John Key gives that money to charity. Shearer paid NO tax, and was earning in excess of US$500,000. (Which he still has a lot of sitting in an overseas bank account.)

    • One Tāne Huna 10.1
      2 April 2013 at 4:33 pm

      Shearer paid NO (sic) tax

      [citation needed]

      Am I missing something? Has Captain Mumblefuck been cheating on his taxes?

      • unpcnzcougar 10.1.1
        2 April 2013 at 5:35 pm

        Shearer’s income from the UN was tax free. He also received free accommodation and meals, transport etc. Which begs the question – how much do you think it is possible to save over 10 years with no tax and living expenses. I think that is why he won’t disclose how much is in that US bank account.

        • One Tāne Huna 10.1.1.1
          2 April 2013 at 5:59 pm

          Citation still needed. Do you know what “citation” means? It means I don’t take random anonymous interwebz person’s word for it. Please link to a source.

          Captain Mumblefuck worked in some pretty hostile places. Are you sure “tax free” is good characterisation? It strikes me that working in such environments might be “taxing” enough to cause a man to stutter. Post traumatic stress disorder, etc…

          • unpcnzcougar 10.1.1.1.1
            2 April 2013 at 6:06 pm

            https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=SAL

            If this one doesn’t work for you I will find some more references.

            • One Tāne Huna 10.1.1.1.1.1
              2 April 2013 at 7:22 pm

              Now be a good little wingnut and remind me who would collect the tax paid by UN workers.

            • GregJ 10.1.1.1.1.2
              2 April 2013 at 10:12 pm

              You haven’t dug deeply enough – all UN staff salaries are subject to a Staff Assesment that is deducted from their gross salary – info here and here. It can be anywhere from 25-40% of the salary.

              The raison d’être behind the Staff Assessment is explained fully here but to quote directly from the document:

              “… noted that the GA, in establishing staff assessment, had recognized two purposes: one, conceptual, i.e., given the principle that UN salaries should not be subject to national income taxation, UN staff should not be seen as a privileged group exempt from any form of income tax; and the other, practical, i.e., given the fact that some Member States nevertheless continued to impose national income tax on the UN earnings of their nationals, to provide a source from which the amounts paid by those staff members in taxes could be reimbursed to them, so as to ensure equality of treatment as between staff members, regardless of their nationality, while not imposing any additional financial burden on those Member States which did not reap returns on their contribution to the budget in the form of income taxes.”

        • felix 10.1.1.2
          2 April 2013 at 8:08 pm

          “I think that is why…”

          That’s not what “think” means.

    • idlegus 10.2
      2 April 2013 at 4:35 pm

      what charity is that then?

    • Transient Viper 10.3
      2 April 2013 at 7:52 pm

      I don’t have a citation – but that’s the perception. I’m not even sure it’s true (about John Key), and I’m sure the amounts Shearer was getting is just hearsay – but I’m sure that the chance of getting Shearer’s bank statements is as likely as John Key giving his charity receipts.

      • felix 10.3.1
        2 April 2013 at 8:14 pm

        He doesn’t have any.

        I’ve been asking people on this blog and others for five years to provide a quote, a reference or a citation from John Key (or anyone else who would have reason to know) to indicate that he donates his salary to charity.

        In five years no-one has come up with a damn thing.

        Doesn’t happen.

    • karol 10.4
      2 April 2013 at 8:18 pm

      Shearer declared the UN money to NZ IRD. I think that means, even though he pays no tax to the US on it, it still gets included in his total income and tax band in NZ.

  11. big bruv 11
    2 April 2013 at 7:04 pm

    But I suppose this is OK?

    “NZ Nurses Organisation loses $1.1M but Union staff get paid nearly $900,000.00 more – Observation by the Owl

    The NZ Nurses Organisation have just posted a $1,108,073.00 LOSS – yes $1.1M, I repeat $1.1M loss.

    Yes the NZ Nurses Organisation has lost $1M plus but its all OK – Union staff wages went up from $9,242,906.00 to $10,134,451.00.

    An increase of $891,545.00”

    • One Tāne Huna 11.1
      2 April 2013 at 7:16 pm

      Citations needed, trash. You think your word is good enough?

      • Draco T Bastard 11.1.1
        2 April 2013 at 7:56 pm

        Google only reports WhaleOil, ergo, not credible.

          • big bruv 11.1.1.1.1
            2 April 2013 at 8:38 pm

            Goodness me. It is indeed all there.

            Typical union low life feathering their own nest at the expense of the workers.

            • One Tāne Huna 11.1.1.1.1.1
              2 April 2013 at 8:56 pm

              More like typical wingnut trash making false and malicious allegations if you ask me. Still, Capill, Garrett and Banks have set the benchmark so what can you expect?

          • BM 11.1.1.1.2
            2 April 2013 at 8:41 pm

            From what I’ve just read the nurses union has 60 staff and has a wage bill of over 9 million dollars.
            There’s some really shonky shit going on here.

            • Descendant Of Sssmith 11.1.1.1.2.1
              2 April 2013 at 9:06 pm

              So if the 19 staff listed in the report were at the maximum of the range declared over 100,000 the wage bill for those staff would come to 2.080 million.

              That would leave 6.920 million divided by 41staff which would equal over $168,000 each which funnily enough means they would be listed in the numbers receiving more than $100,000.

              Methinks common sense would say they have employed much more than 60 staff during the year.

            • Descendant Of Sssmith 11.1.1.1.2.2
              2 April 2013 at 9:16 pm

              You realise reading is not the same thing as comprehending don’t you.

              • BM …
                2 April 2013 at 9:20 pm

                A 9 million dollar wage bill is completely ridiculous.
                The year before it was 8.5 million, what excuses have you got for that?
                Utterly disgraceful.

                • Descendant Of Sssmith …
                  2 April 2013 at 9:38 pm

                  Even if no additional staff were employed, and I think it’s likely they were given the Earthquakes, that’s a 5% increase.

                  If only you were so vigilant questioning much larger increases in the private sector when companies made massive losses but CEO’s got large pay increases and bonuses.

                  It’s another reason I think business should be taxed at gross. You dumb asses think it’s about taxable profit while the executives of those companies rip shareholders off all over the place.

                  If shareholders focussed much more on actual expenses within businesses they would be a darn sight better off.

          • Descendant Of Sssmith 11.1.1.1.3
            2 April 2013 at 8:49 pm

            Doesn’t seem particularly rank.

            Association is solvent with good asset base
            The nurses association was celebrating it’s centenary
            The association rightly would have incurred more cost supporting staff affected by Chch earthquakes – most organisations with significant numbers of staff affected have incurred additional costs. Unions in particular needed to support their own union staff in chch as well as members
            They hosted the South Pacific Nurses forum which would be a one off cost for the year

            It does seem quite a jump of staff into 100,000 bracket but without knowing why – they might have all been previously sitting on or around $99,000 and normal pay increases may have just jumped them over – I wouldn’t be drawing too many conclusions.

            I certainly don’t see anyone being paid 3.2 million dollars per annum.

      • felix 11.1.2
        2 April 2013 at 8:05 pm

        It’s a whaleoil story: http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2013/03/nurses-union-loses-1-1m-but-union-staff-get-paid-900000-00-more/

        And the reason bruv didn’t link to it is because it also contains no citations, quotes or references and was written by Cameron’s top investigative reporter Brian Toldme.

        Hilarity in the comments though:

        my wife hates being part of the union, but not being in it means a very hard road which noone can be bothered with and you actually end up with many times less than the union tax so its not even a smart move. Very annoying.

        Yeah bloody unions, making your job easier and saving you money.

        • Descendant Of Sssmith 11.1.2.1
          2 April 2013 at 9:12 pm

          Should be likely “I hate my wife belonging to the union cause I’m a patriarchal RWNJ. I’d like to believe she does under protest but in reality she’s much smarter than me, puts up with my mouthing off about unions and has learned to nod and say yes dear in all the right places when I utter forth my hate speech against those communist bastards.”

    • BM 11.2
      2 April 2013 at 7:50 pm

      Typical rich pricks screwing over the worker.

  12. RedBaronCV 12
    2 April 2013 at 8:57 pm

    Actually Labour are not being that inconsistent about kiwisaver. When they set it up originally the employer share was to be over and above the wages paid to employees and was to try to move the wage & salary share of the National income from around 45% up towards the 55% that is the equivalent Aussie figure. The employer share was deductible from entity profits but not taxed as part of an individual’s income. It had controls so shareholder employers couldn’t game the system but it did result in a lot of shareholder employees going onto their own PAYE payroll.

    Nact slayed all that by effectively allowing employers to take the employer share off someone’s wages and then the final insult was taxing it as employee income before it goes to the kiwisaver fund. Bill English made a lot of tax out of that little scam.
    It also means that unless people have a particularly good employment contract then the whole extra 2% comes off an employee’s gross wages.

    So under Labour someone with a gross wage of $100 put $2 into kiwisaver and then got another $2 from the employer so $102 in total and and a gross after KS of $98.

    Under Nact both of the $2 come out of the gross so the $100 is now $96 and from today will be $94. Calling anything an employer contribution is largely nonsense but Bill is loving this.
    Wage and salary earners are now funding KS schemes that keep his mates in high paying jobs and that will bear the risk of meltdown or Mighty River shares falling.

    Okay that’s a bit long winded.

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    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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW:  It’s the economy – and the spirit – Stupid…
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Over the past 30-odd years it’s become almost an orthodoxy to blame or invoke neoliberalism for the failures of New Zealand society. On the left the usual response goes something like, neoliberalism is the cause of everything that’s gone wrong and the answer ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week 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 ...
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    6 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    5 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
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    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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    2 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 ...
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    2 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. ...
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    3 weeks ago

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