Green MP Marama Davidson on keeping the faith

Written By: - Date published: 10:45 am, August 10th, 2017 - 90 comments
Categories: benefits, class war, election 2017, greens, Maori Issues, welfare - Tags: , ,

We will not forget the thousands of you who came to us with your stories of hardship.

edit – (If the video in this post isn’t visible to you here is a direct link to FB of Marama Davidson’s kōrero from last night).

 

90 comments on “Green MP Marama Davidson on keeping the faith ”

  1. spikeyboy 1

    Well thank goodness for that. Go Marama Davidson. Go the greens. The fight goes on. Nothing has changed.

    • Dspare 1.1

      Davidson will get my vote for the next female coleader of the GP. Though she does run up against many of the; “Mr Rightwing” rules to survive politics:

      If you’re brown, don’t dream of conquering mountains.
      If you’re a woman, don’t you start having an opinion.
      If you’re intelligent, play that shit down.
      If you have stretch marks, you don’t stand a chance.
      If you have aroha, don’t share it with others.
      If you extend your arms, it had better not be for a handout.
      If you have a voice, keep it zipped.
      If you have a skeleton, best you bury the whole house, not just the closet.
      Also, learn to lie.

      https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2017/08/10/guest-blog-vanessa-kururangi-a-guide-to-politics-rules-on-how-to-survive/

      • esoteric pineapples 1.1.1

        I predict she will be the next female co-leader of the Greens despite some other very good candidates. She’s thrives in politics and has the sort of feisty attitude that is needed.

        • Dspare 1.1.1.1

          Genter would likely be Davidson’s main competition for the role, but her accent is a bit of a liability (not her fault, but people can be shallow – the immigrant line was constantly hurled at Norman). Sage is probably too experienced to put herself up as such a target for vitriol. Logie would be good, but is a bit far back on the list (now up one to 6, with Davidson’s 2 & Genter’s 3).

      • Roy 1.1.2

        Me too. Manama for PM!

  2. Macro 2

    I have had no doubt that the Greens would continue the fight to end poverty in this country; just as they are fully committed to cleaning up our rivers and renewing our environment and biodiversity; and undertaking the enormous task of addressing all the matters of climate change, and bringing this country to Carbon Neutrality by 2050.
    Kia Kaha Metiria, Marama, James, et al.

  3. Bryce Edwards”

    Been thinking about Ken Loach film, “I, Daniel Blake” in terms of the Metiria Turei scandal, & wrote this for a column (but edited it out):

    He then has a pic of what he edited out. Gives rise to serious thought and how people, confronted with the reality of our welfare system, scampered back into their safe hole.

    • Carolyn_nth 3.1

      I thought I saw another tweet saying middle classes loved I Daniel Blake cos he died in the end.

      haven’t yet seen it myself.

    • weka 3.2

      Bryce Edwards is an interesting one. He’s almost in the camp of good journos but he also shit stirs. That tweet looks like shit stirring to me (haven’t seen the original article). Plenty of Labour people supporting MT so it’s an easy slur for him to make which is the same old shit – journo with inside knowledge knows what is really going on 🙄

      Trying to remember where he fell in the Dirty Politics scheme of things.

  4. popexplosion 4

    Connecting poverty and environment should not be so hard to do. damp homes. burning plastic by homeless. it’s the economy stupid! Efficient use of resources is why poverty reduction couples with environmentalist to increase wealth.

    Take portable water, it’s inefficient to use pure pristine drinkable water from a accredited spring on horticulture when plants like a bit of nutrient in with the water. Hand in hand taxing high quality water incentivises the market to not waste portable water and so raises the price for farmers to think clearly about planting trees on ridge lines and so raise the water table create a water resource beneath their farms, unless of course they have not crafted… …better economy means better outcomes for all which alienates poverty. as near anyone can plant trees, that attract visitors and grows local jobs.. ..etc. But polluting and not incentivizing usage like we do with rich high quality seams of gold, cold, etc where we tax…

  5. Wayne 5

    spikeyboy,

    Marama proudly comes from the SJW side of the Greens. I have been in debates with her to know that is what moves her most.

    But I would thought the poll results would show that doubling down on that is quite a risk for the Greens, especially if that message is so dominant that it crowds out the environmental message. After all the party is the Green party. That should show where it should focus most.

    Yes, the Greens can continue to listen to their echo chamber to the exclusion of everything else, but I personally would expect professional politicians to be a bit more objective, to look at actual evidence. And I would have thought that evidence is now in.

    Of course you will just say the I am of the right, therefore any views that I have are necessarily biased. However, I did say three weeks ago that Metiria should have accepted that what she did was wrong and made a unilateral payment to WINZ. If she had she would still be there. Not that many people are critical of the events of 23 years ago. It is the way it has been handled over the last three weeks; changing stories, no contriteness, “#IstandwithMetiria” that actually did the damage.

    Anyway it is your party. You can do whatever you want. But do you want the Greens in parliament? Continuing to focus on this issue runs the risk that the Greens may not be. Even Chris Trotter, among others now sees this as a risk.

    [off topic. You are now banned from commenting on this post. I’m leaving your comment in place rather than moving it to Open Mike because people have replied. But take this as a warning Wayne, this isn’t a free for all for you to comment your RW reckons about what people should do about whatever you think is important. Pay attention to what the posts are about. Don’t troll. If you are unsure where the boundaries are, ask and/or err on the side of caution or comment in OM. – weka]

    • Macro 5.1

      Yes I know you, and your lot, are more than happy to throw the homeless and dispossessed under a bus Wayne, just as was Labour, and all the “righteous” media and blowhards who have never had to walk the walk of the poor. After all being in power is far more important than standing up for what is right.
      I would remind you of the words of Hosea: 4 3-4

      3 “That is why your land is not producing; it is filled with sadness, and all living things grow sick and die; the animals, the birds, and even the fish begin to disappear.

      4 “Don’t point your finger at someone else and try to pass the blame to him (or her)! Look, priest, I am pointing my finger at you

      • Wayne 5.1.1

        Macro and KJT,

        I think you have forgotten that the Deputy Prime Minister has complete knowledge of the difficulties of being on the DPB. That kind of personal knowledge is not the exclusive preserve of the left.

        I also have no doubt that the experience informed the policy choices the DPM made when she was the Minister of Social Development. Certainly I was not going to contest her policy choices. I fully accepted that she could effectively draw on her personal experience to know what works, and what does not.

        • KJT 5.1.1.1

          How about following the evidence. “but that is not how we do policy in New Zealand” Eh. Wayne?

          I see nothing to dispute the idea that Bennett has totally forgotten what she did on the benefit, and is happy to please her political mates, by shitting on beneficiaries, so they can cut taxes.

        • Brigid 5.1.1.2

          ” Deputy Prime Minister has complete knowledge of the difficulties of being on the DPB.”
          What years was she on the DPB Wayne? Was it before your government reduced to rate to below the poverty level?

          • UncookedSelachimorpha 5.1.1.2.1

            “What years was she on the DPB Wayne? Was it before your government reduced to rate to below the poverty level?”

            Wayne tends not to answer any questions that involve facts.

            The “Mother of All Budgets” that slashed welfare rates was implemented by National in 1991. Apparently National had advice at the time that these rates were less than what was needed to survive.

            Paula Bennett became a solo mother in 1986 , and so enjoyed state support at a level far in excess of the level to which her party later reduced it.

        • francesca 5.1.1.3

          And yet she seems to be suffering selective amnesia
          Fran OSullivan could perhaps have another look at her interview notes and remind her
          In 2012 she wrote in the Herald about Bennett ..paraphrase…
          There is no doubt that Bennett knew how to play the system to her advantage. And good on her .Lets face it , at that time rorting the welfare system was more or less a national sport

      • marty mars 5.1.2

        + 1 yep listen to Wayne if you want more gnats –
        more poverty and desperation, more homelessness and deprivation, more inequality and dirty liars running the show.

    • KJT 5.2

      Of course it would be very convenient for the right wing if, Greens forgot that you cannot have a sustainable environment, without a sustainable society.

      The blackmail and witch hunts, of anyone who puts their head above the parapet, about the right wings evil and punitive treatment of the poor, is obviously becoming a feature of the right wing narrative.

      The only thing the Greens are guilty of, is underrating the amount of bad faith, mysgony, racism, unjustified vilification of the poor, creepy interest in condemning youg mothers and lack of compassion, in the right wing media and New Zealand establishment.

      So. Wayne. To another self righteous twat. Again. [RL: Deleted. Not needed]. You were in a position to make life better for New Zealanders, and you made it infinitely worse.

      Metiria tried to make things better.

    • Reality 5.3

      Wayne, your belief that Meteria should have been more contrite is interesting in comparison with Todd Barclay’s highly arrogant denials over his taping saga. And all the changing stories from him and the PM. Haven’t heard any regrets from those quarters. Any comment in that regard?

      • KJT 5.3.1

        Waiting for Waynes contritness over the billions of dollars his Government has lost tax payers.

      • popexplosion 5.3.2

        I thought Meteria jumped cos she gave the election authorities a false address.

        • Carolyn_nth 5.3.2.1

          nah. That’s a storm in a tea cup. She was never a serious candidate back in the 1990s – standing for the McCillicudy Serious Party was a protest against our electoral system. And the statute of limitation on that is long gone. Would not be prosecuted now.

    • DoublePlusGood 5.4

      SJW, really? Did you just get back here from shitposting on Reddit or 4chan?

      Marama represents core green values, which includes addressing both environmental and poverty concerns.
      So your concern trolling is inherently nonsense. The Greens will listen to their members on what they should focus on, not someone like you who wants them to fail.

    • Dspare 5.5

      Wayne
      My assumption is that anyone who uses the term SJW unironically is declaring themselves to be an; Antisocial Injustice Collaborator. This seems to be the description that naturally opposes; Social Justice Warrior. Also AIC sounds midway between; ache and ick, which seems appropriate.

      Do you feel that term this accurately describes you?

    • RedLogix 5.6

      Thank you Wayne. For the most part I’ve not much quibble with your comment as far as it expresses your perspective accurately.

      Still it would be better received if you had not so lightly dismissed the motives at work here. It is a fundamental Green movement premise that the health of the environment and human society are tightly, mutually bound up with each other.

      Well the right now has Turei’s political scalp; but I advise caution. There will be many who’ve quietly watched this drama unfold having long second thoughts about the manner in which she was destroyed.

    • weka 5.7

      Wayne, please read the moderation note above. You are now banned from commenting in this post.

    • After all the party is the Green party. That should show where it should focus most.

      RWNJ shows fundamental misunderstanding of what it means to be Green.

      Yes, the Greens can continue to listen to their echo chamber to the exclusion of everything else, but I personally would expect professional politicians to be a bit more objective, to look at actual evidence.

      Why would you expect that? National never does. If they did then we’d have got rid of cars decades ago and had decent trains and public transport. They wouldn’t have been selling off our power companies.

      Of course, the Green MPs and members do take into account reality and that’s the real problem you have with them.

  6. Carolyn_nth 6

    Where is the Davidson quote in the post from?

    I couldn’t find it, but found this tweet from Davidson from last night:

    I love @metiria as fiercely as I love the thousands of people who for the first time ever felt they had a voice. Still here for you all.

    For me, the GP election result in 2014 had this major success – it delivered Davidson to the House, to get some valuable experience. She hit the ground running in the House, and out of it since then.

    She is the kind of leader I could support.

    GP list sans Turei will have Davidson at #2

    Jack McDonald will be an asset – now at #11

    Metiria Turei (Standing for electorate only- Te Tai Tonga)
    James Shaw (Wellington Central)
    ​Marama Davidson (Tamaki Makaurau)
    Julie Anne Genter (Mt Albert)
    ​Eugenie Sage (Port Hills)
    Gareth Hughes (East Coast)
    Jan Logie (Mana)
    Kennedy Graham (North Shore)
    Chlöe Swarbrick (Maungakiekie)
    Golriz Ghahraman (Te Atatu)
    Mojo Mathers (Rangitata)
    Barry Coates (Epsom)
    Jack McDonald (Te Tai Hauauru)
    John Hart (Wairarapa)
    Denise Roche (Auckland Central)

    • weka 6.1

      Quote is near the start of the video (slight mistake in the actual quote).

      • Carolyn_nth 6.1.1

        Thanks, weka. The vid isn’t showing on my FF browser since I installed some privacy blockers – can now see it on safari.

        That vid really looks like Davidson stepping up to #2 position and showing some leadership in a moment of grief, and confirming the resolve to continue Turei’s & the GP’s campaign.

        In the vid Davidson says:

        Let’s do this together. … We will continue to fight poverty.

        • weka 6.1.1.1

          I’ve had some issues too (WordPress updates affected things). I’ll amend the post with a link.

    • Dspare 6.2

      Carolyn_nth
      Thanks for reminding me to factor that in (in a comment up at 1.1etc I used the old rankings by habit until I saw yours and hastily edited). So Roche is up to 13 now, and even if seat allocation is less favoured with redistribution than in 2014 (TOP being unlikely to match the CP + IMP), she should still squeak in, if the vote holds steady with new voters replacing those who go over to Labour.

    • Venezia 6.3

      According to RNZ National midday news, Kennedy Graham is now in talks to get back on the list. If this happens, I will not be voting Green.

      • weka 6.3.1

        I posted this in OM earlier,

        I just listened and here is what I heard James Shaw say (my paraphrasing):

        – Clendon doesn’t want back in.
        – Graham might
        – it’s up to the Party to sort that out, and the appropriate staff (national executive) are looking at it.
        – Shaw himself can’t see how it would work because of the raw feelings in the caucus from what Graham and Clendon did only a few days ago.
        – Graham is hugely experienced on climate change and Shaw has a lot of respect for him
        – the party is bigger than any one person
        – the party has a number of people very experienced on climate change

        The thing to understand about the GP is that the leader doesn’t get to dictate stuff. There are processes to work through and it’s not Shaw’s place to pre-determine what that will be.

        http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/336863/greens-tough-week-entirely-recoverable-shaw Relevant bit starts at 30 secs.

        My own feeling is that Graham should do what Norman and Hague did and go get himself a kick arse NGO job that allows him to be political on CC. I hope the party say not to having him back because of the betrayal and because of the message it would send to Māori and poor people.

        I really wish people would start trusting the Greens more and listen to what they say. I know this is hard, but mostly everything that the MSM say is based on them not really understand the kaupapa.

        • Macro 6.3.1.1

          Yes Weka totally agree wholeheartedly with what you say – it’s a very accurate description of the situation as it stands right now.

          • Dspare 6.3.1.1.1

            I’ve been over at the Green party website candidate list (mainly to have a look at some of the candidates who have been boosted three places in the last week), and it won’t link to either; Graham’s or Clendon’s profiles, instead I get; “Access denied
            You are not authorized to access this page. ”

            https://www.greens.org.nz/green-party-aotearoa-new-zealand-list-2017

            Even more telling, when you click on the; Our People, tab where there is a short blurb that links on to profiles – neither of these two traitors are anywhere to be seen. There might be formal processes to go through before they are expelled from the party, but it seems clear that neither are any longer regarded as Greens.

            Poignantly, you can still see Turei’s profile for the moment, and this bit seemed to sum her political career as well as anything:

            Metiria has worked hard all her life to speak up for those who have struggled to be heard.

            Whether as a young mother, an advocate for the unemployed, or an MP, she has stood up, fought for what she believes in and brought about real change…

            She remains very aware of why she is in Parliament, and for whom.

            • weka 6.3.1.1.1.1

              DC and KG’s profiles were removed almost immediately on the day they took themselves off the list. Afaik they’re not being expelled from the party, but there is a process being worked through.

              I would expect MT’s profile to stay there until she leaves parliament (amended given she’s not leader any more).

          • greywarshark 6.3.1.1.2

            Graham should take his climate change wisdom over to National where he would feel mor at home on social issues, and they sure as hell need some decent advice on the environmental problems we have. Go and do some good work for NZ with the Nats. The Greens can replace you but the Nats should embrace you.

            • Dspare 6.3.1.1.2.1

              greywarshark
              I’d suggest that NZF might be a better home for Graham. Hopefully he doesn’t get involved with any finance companies with his brother.

              • greywarshark

                Are they all high achievers in the Peters family? Graham might jut give Winston the gravtas that he needs with others to rise. And then what though? Everyone seems to think that his conservative side will win out.

        • Dennis Frank 6.3.1.2

          Betrayal isn’t an accurate label for what happened. In the RNZ interview Ken said he’d been objecting ever since her speech at the AGM which launched her crusade. James later confirmed that they’d had ongoing discussions to try to resolve the lack of consensus.

          My take is that the leftists in the caucus assumed they could proceed on the basis of a lack of consensus, because they had a clear majority. Ever so twentieth century of them, eh? The party rules don’t allow such misbehaviour (unless the leftists have changed them to permit it). The crux of the issue is whether the Green caucus records its decisions, whether the record shows that consensus was reached, and whether it shows that the caucus subsequently found Ken & Dave to have acted in breach of the rules.

          Naturally I don’t expect anyone in our media to be sufficiently competent to get to this crux. It could even be that caucus decision-making is defined as private by the rules of parliament (to prevent the public from discovering the truth). If so, even members of the Green Party will be unable to discover the truth about what actually happened…

          • weka 6.3.1.2.1

            I took the betrayal to be not the disagreement but what happened on the day especially going to the media before the Party or caucus had time to understand what has happening. At lease one MP heard about it from the media. From what Shaw has said, there is supposed to be 48 hrs notice and they simply didn’t give that. It’s possible that they thought threatening to resign would force MT to resign and so they didn’t need to give notice, but that’s just as bad.

            • Dennis Frank 6.3.1.2.1.1

              Fair enough. I don’t disagree with your take. If they breached a real 48 hour rule (and like you I saw James say they did) then they were wrong to do that (if it is actually a caucus rule, not merely a parliamentary convention). My concern is more whether our caucus does operate according to decision-making rules, who oversees that process, and who failed to ensure that consensus was actually established (before the shit hit the fan).

        • Venezia 6.3.1.3

          Thanks for clarifying that Weka. RNZ National have misrepresented what James Shaw said. And I agree about trust.

      • Jpo73 6.3.2

        Don’t you want a climate change expert in the Greens?

        • weka 6.3.2.1

          The Greens have other climate change experts. No-one is indispensable, that’s one of the strengths of the Greens.

        • marty mars 6.3.2.2

          What exactly is a climate change expert please. I ask because I’d like a climate change resilience expert or a climate change mitigation expert – is that what he is or does he just know all the ppm carbon stuff?

        • KJT 6.3.2.3

          Got plenty.

  7. On fbook they are saying Metiria is standing for Te Tai Tonga – I thought she was leaving parliament – have I got that wrong?

    • DoublePlusGood 8.1

      Well, she is leaving parliament…unless she wins Te Tai Tonga.

    • weka 8.2

      afaik she’s campaigning on the party vote in Te Tai Tonga, because she wants the help the party vote and because she wants to support the people who have been supporting her. I’m guessing she’s had a lot of contact with TTT people in the past few weeks.

      • marty mars 8.2.1

        I’m wondering because I was giving her two ticks and I spose it’s one now

        • Carolyn_nth 8.2.1.1

          Turei is now just like many candidates e.g. Labour Maori MPs, who are standing only in Maori electorates as LP members, but are not on the LP list. Thus, you can still do 2 ticks – 1 for the GP candidate Turei, and one for the GP party. If Turei wins the electorate vote, she will continue to be a GP MP, just not the GP co-leader.

          • marty mars 8.2.1.1.1

            Why is she doing that? What is the point? Yes party votes – I don’t get the other.

            • Carolyn_nth 8.2.1.1.1.1

              I suspect turei always thought she would not win TTT, but was alsways going to campaign for the party vote.

              She now is not a high profile target for those attacking the GP, but she can continue to mobilise support for those who want to see a change to our social security system and other GP policies.

            • weka 8.2.1.1.1.2

              Running electorate candidates who won’t win has long been a GP strategy because it increases the party vote more than if they just go for the party vote without standing a candidate. It’s just more exposure I guess.

              You don’t do tactical voting right? (because I’m guessing there is some tactical voting to be done in Te Tai Tonga given the way the vote splits).

              • Thank you both – I’m not voting labour or MP electorally so limited – i’d be interested in other thoughts.

                • weka

                  Am curious, do you feel the Te Tai Tonga MP is an important representative locally? I don’t follow seats very closely.

                  • No, not in my experience. Mind you Tasman is the general seat and that is damien – we do see him a liittle bit and he’s not local.

  8. Sorry again – hard habit to break it appears

    • weka 10.1

      lol, the edit function is probably set too long. You can always just edit the post instead of deleting it.

  9. rhinocrates 11

    Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere.

    Hat tip to Giovanni Tiso.

    http://werewolf.co.nz/2017/08/gordon-campbell-on-the-turei-finale/

    So the political career of Metiria Turei is, in effect, now over. It goes to show the double standard in politics is alive and well. Which one, you may ask – the one where a different standard of behaviour is applied to politicians on the centre-left as opposed to those on the centre-right? Check. The one where far less is expected of white male politicians than brown female ones? Check. The one where benefit fraud gets treated far, far more harshly than tax fraud? Check. All of the above.

    (It also puts Wayne Blimp’s sanctimonious drivel above in context, illuminating its covert racism)

    • ianmac 11.1

      Gordon well sums it up. Including the parody in the last section.
      I used to not mind David Seymour’s little talks but now regard him as a spiteful little man/child in the mould of Hosking and Collins and Bennett.

      • Grey Area 11.1.1

        Totally agree ianmac. I heard Seymour this morning on RNZ and thought what a nasty piece of work he is. I think it’s time to ditch the Rimmer images as they paint a slightly softer, more humorous persona than he deserves.

  10. Good on you , Marama . I reckon the Greens will storm on home this election and nothing these far right wing media prats do will be able to stop it. The Greens have opened up the narrative regarding poverty in this country and there’s no putting the Jack back in the box now.

    There will be a bonny comeuppance in September and National will be out.

  11. mosa 13

    What a shame they won’t appoint a new co leader now as there is a vacancy and Marama would eat them alive.

    That would get the poll numbers back up.

  12. BM 14

    Genter will be the new co-leader.

  13. Xanthe 15

    I suggest that in running a polarising campaign on poverty Greens have done a disservice to poor in NZ. I dont believe MT ‘s strategy was a good one for anyone.. not for party, not for those in poverty! We need leaders that bring people to work together on the problems that face NZ. MT was not such a leader. IMHO!
    If the Greens are going to “keep the faith” in this matter they need to begin with a long hard look at how to go about ethical campaiging #nothelping

    • I think Metiria performed a magnificent civil service in challenging the neo liberal narrative about how they regard the poor, unemployed and chronically ill as shit on the end of their shoes.

      But the genie is out of the bottle and Nationals shit sucker attitude towards welfare policy’s can never be put back in.

      Genie In The Bottle – YouTube
      you tube▶ 0:08
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUCtZreX-xU

    • Dspare 15.2

      Xanthe
      Turei has for 15 long years been trying to work together with other party’s MPs in parliament trying to aid those in poverty. This has not been effective. Not just under the current National regime, but also Clark’s government. There is little reason to think that Ardern’s Labour will be driven of its own volition to succour the nonvoting poor (except possibly in improving the governmental monitoring of unemployment and underemployment, and acting on these facts, rather than; manipulating them to create false positive publicity).

      So Turei gambled and lost out personally; knowing the risk when she started, and having discussed it with her colleagues who backed the move. But there is now space created in the election discourse for the plight of the poor in our increasingly selfish society. So in that way the gamble may have paid off – we won’t know till next month.

      • Xanthe 15.2.1

        Ardern has from her first press conference as leader stressed that inequality was high on her agenda. I propose we support and encourage her on that

        • Dspare 15.2.1.1

          I propose that we support and encourage Davidson and the rest of the Green party in continuing to Champion the downtrodden and despised of Aotearoa. Ardern’s role in the next government will (hopefully) be at the centre of the executive. But there she will be forced to compromise to gain the support of coalition partners &/or confidence and supply.

          A vote for the Green party will help ensure that policies to assist the poorest are supported, rather than traded away to get Peters’ band of bigots onboard.

        • rhinocrates 15.2.1.2

          She can promise me a pony if she likes. I won’t expect it to be delivered.

          Talk is cheap, and Labour has shown for years that they consider it very cheap indeed. They have a much more compelling record of suddenly throwing the vulnerable under the bus if they think that it will gain a vote in Epsom.

          I propose voting for a party that has a real commitment.

    • seeker 16.1

      With you on “brilliant” Beatie. As I saw it it just lit my’awareness button’ and I thought this should be seen by all, so they too can experience this bit of ‘magic’.
      Love Toby Morris’ Pencilsword.. it certainly cuts to the chase….. especially in this case!

      Hope this gif can be used as post, somehow. Perhaps what the Greens stand for and their noble and purposeful ways of pursuing their principles no matter what.

  14. Candy1 17

    Well, I hope Marama steps into Metiria’s shoes. This is Aotearoa and we need a wahine.

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    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 hours ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    6 hours ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    7 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    8 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    9 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    11 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    12 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    12 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    12 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    13 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    14 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    17 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
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