Guest Post – What is Shane Jones doing?

Written By: - Date published: 9:02 am, March 15th, 2014 - 149 comments
Categories: election 2014, greens, labour, national, russel norman, Shane Jones, winston peters - Tags:

OK six months ago Shane Jones’ political career was going nowhere. Watching porn on the country’s credit card is not a good look and people have not forgotten this.

He was very entertaining during the Labour leadership campaign and made many people smile. There should be a place in the labour party for real characters although where precisely I am not sure.

His elevation to the front bench was deserved. He has preformed pretty well and skewering the Aussie supermarkets in the way they have manipulated local suppliers has been a highlight.

But Shane needs to realise that the game does not revolve around him. The Labour Party is not here to provide him with a career, he is here to further the interests of the Labour Party.

During the past couple of weeks he has in the news slinging mud at Green MP Gareth Hughes, calling Russel Norman an “Australian” and then letting some of the pressure off Judith Collins by insinuating she was having an affair and then apologising to her. He has continuously attacked the Greens for wanting to protect the environment and says that they are costing jobs. I am sure National MPs agree with Jones whole heartedly which shows what the problem is.

Yesterday, on the day that David Cunliffe gives an important speech the media are concentrating on Jones back down.

Jones and a few of the old guard seem to think that Labour’s best chance to win the election is to side up to New Zealand First and to attack the Greens. This is a really stupid idea and will trash a lot of good work that has been put into improving the relationship between Labour and the Greens. The thought of some sort of deal between Labour and Peters will annoy Labour and Green activists no end and will cause Labour considerable harm.

In 1999 when there was cooperation on the left Labour was elected to Government. In 2005 when there was similar cooperation Labour won a knife edge election and was elected to a third term for the first time since the first Labour Government. Cooperation is good and the sort of things left wing parties should do.

The problem with Jones cuddling up to Peters is that it makes it more likely that Labour Voters will go over to NZ First. Peters will side with the party that offers him the most baubles. Jones’ strategy may see National confirmed in Government for three more years.

Fenian

149 comments on “Guest Post – What is Shane Jones doing? ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. David H 1
    15 March 2014 at 9:29 am

    Sabotaging the Labour chances of winning the next election Cunliffe needs to shut him up or dump him straight to the furthest back bench with NO portfolios at all. Jones cannot be allowed to think he is bigger than the Labour party. And if he don’t like it then he can piss off to his first love the Nats.

  2. drongo 2
    15 March 2014 at 9:31 am

    I disagree. He’s positioning himself as future party leader after Cunliffe. It is obvious.

    • karol 2.1
      15 March 2014 at 9:55 am

      Anyone who thinks Jones is a credible leader for Labour is totally out of touch. Jones’ appeal is to a narrow section of the centre/centre left. He doesn’t have much of a great following among women for a start.

        • felix 2.1.1.1
          15 March 2014 at 11:13 am

          Of course she does. He’s a corrupt greedy tory pig, just like her.

          • greywarbler 2.1.1.1.1
            15 March 2014 at 12:36 pm

            tricledrown made this comment below. It’s a bit off because I would say that Jones has Labour on the back foot.
            But the bit about barbs and contrition and what felix says about Collins and Jones reminds me of The Press cartoon that Bryce Edwards has picked up. Collins being so sorrrry, Not.
            https://twitter.com/bryce_edwards

            Jones is keeping Labour in the news and on the front foot .
            His apologies had more barbs than contrition.

      • Lanthanide 2.1.2
        15 March 2014 at 10:21 am

        Yes, and most Labour voters think Key is scum, and look how popular he is.

        • karol 2.1.2.1
          15 March 2014 at 10:24 am

          I’m talking principle. Too much focus is on the horse race and calculations of how to win votes.

          What’s the point of a right wing Labour Caucus leading a government?

          • Lanthanide 2.1.2.1.1
            15 March 2014 at 10:30 am

            If your choice is right-wing National with ACT as an excuse for the really toxic policies, vs a right-wing Labour, what is your choice?

            You can wish as much as you like for some other option, but if you have to choose from those two, which do you choose?

            • karol 2.1.2.1.1.1
              15 March 2014 at 10:34 am

              I choose Green. It’s about principle and policy. The whole lesser evil approach has resulted in the centre of politics being pulled steadily left. Enough of compromise politics. It’s time to lead on the big issues and focus on informing the public.

              Too much time has been wasted on the whole horse race, Game approach to discussing politics.

              • Wayne …
                15 March 2014 at 10:43 am

                But Karol, you would always choose Green irrespective of whether David Cunliffe gets his way on everything or not (though I guess he gets for electorate vote)

                • karol …
                  15 March 2014 at 10:44 am

                  Yes. I was just answering Lanth’s question.

                  Edit: My electorate boundary has changed – I am now in the Kelston electorate. Have no idea who the candidate choice will include.

          • geoff 2.1.2.1.2
            15 March 2014 at 10:39 am

            Precisely.

            Looking at the big picture in politics as a popularity contest is completely pointless.

            It has to rest on principles and policies because that is what actually makes a difference to people’s lives.

            • JustLikeTigerWoods 2.1.2.1.2.1
              15 March 2014 at 11:42 am

              Policy without popularity is the equivalent of a tree falling in a forest. Meanwhile, the opposition sets the economic and ideological agenda for decades to come.

              • geoff …
                15 March 2014 at 12:05 pm

                The policies that National supports will guarantee their eventual fall in popularity.
                National pisses on people’s shoes and tells them it’s raining. Their lies and spin will catch up with them in the end.

                • JustLikeTigerWoods …
                  15 March 2014 at 12:12 pm

                  National will eventually not be the government. Then Labour will be the government. Then National again. And on it goes.

                  Politics is about compromise. Under MMP, even more so. I can’t see the public buying into any extreme political agenda.

                  • Tracey …
                    15 March 2014 at 12:52 pm

                    And no one has compromised the majority of the workforce like this government.

                  • geoff …
                    15 March 2014 at 12:55 pm

                    Gosh you’re wrong about that too! You’ve a real talent.

                    Politics is on a continual leftward drift because leftwing politics is at heart about representing the people. That’s why the Green party is now a major political player.

                    The National party is now a special interest party, it’s just that they are backed by powerful financial interests. So in a way you’re correct, eventually the public will see how extreme National is and they’ll stop buying into it.

                    It’s a pity that National abandoned their principles for neoliberal plundering. Long-term they’ve kinda fucked themselves.

                    • JustLikeTigerWoods …
                      15 March 2014 at 1:25 pm

                      Gosh Geoff, you’re wrong again too! You’ve a real talent.

                      That was lazy and easy, wasn’t it.

                      Leftward drift? It’s like Rogernomics never happened, huh.

                      I doubt the Green Party will do well under the full glare of public scrutiny. They are too far-left. Their current levels of support are due mostly to Labour being so awful. They are highly unlikely to survive being a minor partner, as history shows minor parties get decimated in government.

                      National are not extreme. They are very close to Helen Clark’s Labour. That centrist core is what New Zealanders want, not some re-run of cod-Marxist Venuzuela.

                    • geoff …
                      15 March 2014 at 1:41 pm

                      Oh so rogernomics was introduced because the public demanded it?
                      The electorate has drifted left in spite of neoliberalism.

                      Once again your ignorance of history shines through.

                      Funny you talk about the full glare of public scrutiny because it’s National that are presently crumbling under that public scrutiny. John is looking very weak next to Collins.

                    • JustLikeTigerWoods …
                      15 March 2014 at 1:55 pm

                      Labour were voted in for a second term following Rogernomics.

                      Under MMP, we’re highly unlikely to see significant shifts. Support partners would block policy agendas that come out of the blue. New Zealanders are unlikely to vote for radical change in advance.

                      National aren’t crumbling. Colins was stupid, but it is beltway stuff. Come the election, people will vote for Key, because they like him and trust him, and for a continuation of economic policy, because it appears to be going well for most.

                    • geoff …
                      15 March 2014 at 2:15 pm

                      Tiger, your ignorance is only exceeded by your disingenuousness.

                      Not many people understood what the long term effects of rogernomics would be which is partly why Labour got a second term.

                      The big political shifts of the future will occur as the inevitable fallout from 30+ years of rightwing economics. MMP or no not.

                      National are crumbling, it’s just a question of whether glad-wrap John can keep the festering turd held together long enough to get past the election.

                    • phillip ure …
                      15 March 2014 at 2:57 pm

                      national are as irrelevant and as rotten as the republicans in america..

                      ..owned by special-interests..

                      ..and serving them only…

                      ..phillip ure..

                  • Puddleglum …
                    15 March 2014 at 8:57 pm

                    “I can’t see the public buying into any extreme political agenda.”

                    But they have. Most people – through their votes – seem to be accepting of the fundamental foundations of the Roger Douglas government (yes, his government).

                    If that is thought not to be an extreme political agenda then the word ‘extreme’ has lost all meaning. The vast swathe of suffering that followed that agenda – and continues to be generated by it – has certainly been extreme. ‘Third World’ disease, increased mental ill-health, dislocation of people from each other and from place – and the social and community consequences of that – are all direct and entirely predictable consequences of the ‘liberalised’ economy, labour market and public sector. The figurative jungle was created and the weak have dutifully gone to the wall as a result.

                    By contrast, what the Greens are proposing could only be described as moderate.

              • Tracey …
                15 March 2014 at 12:53 pm

                Popularity without Policy is the equivalent of a tree falling in a forest. Another forestry worker dies.

                FIFY

          • PapaMike 2.1.2.1.3
            15 March 2014 at 1:50 pm

            Too much left wing and you frighten the horses.

            • karol 2.1.2.1.3.1
              15 March 2014 at 1:53 pm

              The horses need to learn to be real journalists. But, the strength of the left is in the people – by-pass the horses.

      • Chooky 2.1.3
        15 March 2014 at 10:51 am

        +100

      • Karen 2.1.4
        15 March 2014 at 11:12 am

        All Shane Jones is doing is ensuring my party vote goes to the Greens and not Labour. I find him absolutely repulsive and every woman I know feels exactly the same.

        • rhinocrates 2.1.4.1
          15 March 2014 at 1:26 pm

          I’m stuck with Beltway Grant as my electorate MP, so my electorate vote will be Green too.

          That said, as a heterosexual cisgendered bloke with a rugby hero father, I find Jones absolutely repulsive. Does that guy drink Brut 33 or Old Spice by the pint?

        • drongo 2.1.4.2
          15 March 2014 at 1:51 pm

          I’d consider voting Labour if Jones were the leader. Meanwhile, I’ll give my vote to the Nats. A third term for Key seems, is, inevitable.

          • phillip ure 2.1.4.2.1
            15 March 2014 at 3:03 pm

            thank you for yr help there drongo..

            ..in painting jones in the corner he should be in..

            ..the rightwing/neo-lib/owned by corporate-interests one..

            ..of course you would support jones..!

            ..and that’s also how we know where he stands..

            ..jones not only put the act on the gummint-credit-card..

            ..he just is a total wanker..

            ..phillip ure..

      • Stephanie Rodgers 2.1.5
        15 March 2014 at 12:29 pm

        I agree, but I’ve seen a lot of people saying the same thing about Jones recently – and given he ran for the leadership last year he clearly sees himself as credible. I just wish we didn’t have these sideshows (and that people could can the petty personal attacks! There’s so much to criticise Collins for!).

  3. Te Reo Putake 3
    15 March 2014 at 9:33 am

    Interesting, if somewhat naive post.

    “The thought of some sort of deal between Labour and Peters will annoy Labour and Green activists no end and will cause Labour considerable harm.”

    Labour activists already understand that the next Labour led government will most likely require support from both NZF and the Greens. That’s just the way the numbers stack up. Rather than doing harm, having a good relationship with Peters is actually vital if we want to guarantee an end to the NACTM government.

    It’s funny that you should write this paragraph, yet forget the actual makeup of the 2005 Clark government:

    “In 2005 when there was similar cooperation Labour won a knife edge election and was elected to a third term for the first time since the first Labour Government. Cooperation is good and the sort of things left wing parties should do.”

    So if cooperation is what left wing parties should do, why shouldn’t we do it with Peters? It worked in 2005, it will have to work now.

    • Bill 3.1
      15 March 2014 at 10:26 am

      Was it in 2005 that Labour was bending over backwards behind the scenes to assure the US that the Greens would not be in power while peddling the opposite line in public? The cables were all a part of the wiki leaks. It’s a searchable data base.

      • Te Reo Putake 3.1.1
        15 March 2014 at 10:37 am

        Why are you asking me, Bill? Shouldn’t you be asking the wikileaks database? I’ll be interested in the answer, because it always puzzled me why HC didn’t try harder to get the Greens into government. On the surface, it was Winston’s refusal to go into coalition with them, but given his vanity, I would have thought he could have been bought off anyway in the negotiations.

        • Bill 3.1.1.1
          15 March 2014 at 10:49 am

          Only reason I’m asking is because I can’t quite remember for sure what election year the cables referred to and I thought that you might.

          • karol 3.1.1.1.1
            15 March 2014 at 11:03 am

            I can’t find anything that specific – only stuff about how Clark moved more towards the US, and embraced Winston Peters.

            Now in her third term in office, Clark has over the years developed a deeper understanding of the breadth and benefits of the US-New Zealand relationship. She recognises that sound bites matter, and in response has begun to modulate her public statements to be more positive about the relationship. She also strenuously avoids saying anything critical about U.S. policy. Although a strengthened centrist domestic political opposition may motivate Clark to be more open to us, most of her efforts to improve bilateral cooperation have not been made public, indicating genuine commitment.

          • Te Reo Putake 3.1.1.1.2
            15 March 2014 at 11:03 am

            Fair enough, Bill, sorry for being snarky. It really doesn’t sound all that plausible, given that HC never made any public promises that the Greens would be part of any of her governments*, nor would she have any reason to ‘assure’ the yanks of the opposite. She wouldn’t even have the ability to make such an assurance because she couldn’t know in advance how any election would play out, so she couldn’t know whether or not the greens would be needed to make up the numbers.

            *all Labour leaders under MMP have taken the line that its up to the voters to decide who the players are. I’ve never liked that approach and I’d rather we already have an agreement to form a voting bloc with the greens and NZF. ie, be upfront and let voters know that they have two choices, a tripartite coalition of 3 well supported parties or more of the same old shit from whatever desperate, dismal arrangement Key can cobble together post election.

      • mickysavage 3.1.2
        15 March 2014 at 11:06 am

        I would also like to see a link Bill. The comment was obviously about the mode of campaigning. I remember clearly Helen Clark and Jeanette Fitzsimons sharing campaign opportunities in 2005 although paradoxically it did not seem to help the Green’s result.

        • Bill 3.1.2.1
          15 March 2014 at 12:42 pm

          There was something somewhere, from memory quite explicit, about Labour mollifying the US admin through Burnett and whoever in Auckland and Wellington in relation to the Greens while spinning a different line in public. But, can I find it again? Of course not! 😉

          Here’s the closest similar reference I can find at the moment.

          Clark will ensure that the Greens are kept well away from foreign affairs, defense, and intelligence matters should the Labour-Green coalition form the government.

          http://www.cablegatesearch.net/cable.php?id=05WELLINGTON702&q=clark%20green%20labour

          If I feel up to wading through the database at some point and actually find it, I’ll post it.

    • Chooky 3.2
      15 March 2014 at 10:58 am

      +100 Te Reo Putake…there is no reason Labour can not , as Cunliffe wants, be in coalition with both the Greens and NZF….in fact Winnie is not sabotaging this…He is after Minister of Foreign Affairs imo…he and the Greens can co-exist . They are no longer in competition for votes

      Feel this post is stirring up trouble where there is none.

      It is clear to most that Shane Jones is a maverick out on his own…effective in some areas but not PM material…most effective as a support for Cunliffe

    • felix 3.3
      15 March 2014 at 11:21 am

      “Rather than doing harm, having a good relationship with Peters is actually vital if we want to guarantee an end to the NACTM government.”

      Actually having a good relationship with Peters and the Greens is vital.

      Having one at the expense of the other is the way to disaster, either before the election or after.

  4. Ant 4
    15 March 2014 at 9:35 am

    Shane looks like he is winning votes for Labour from the soft centre. Cunliffe, Robertson, and Jones had a great dynamic during the leadership race, now with Parker they form a strong team, not using those resources is ridiculous.

    Labour needs to strip 5-7% off National for a left block to win, the greens aren’t going to deliver it.

    • Skinny 4.1
      15 March 2014 at 10:47 am

      I agree with your sentiments Jones is pulling in soft centre votes. I met some guy last night that fit this very category. They were praising Shane for keeping it real. After having a good robust political debate here was the pleasing result. Out of the 5 men here is how they voted at the last election, 3 party votes National, 1 party vote Green and 1 Conservative. This election the 3 previous Nat voters are party voting Labour, the conservative voter is voting back Labour and the Green remains the same.

      The common thread was their liking of Jones dealing to the supermarkets and for 2 of them dealing to the Greens.

      • karol 4.1.1
        15 March 2014 at 10:49 am

        So Jones gets some of the male vote then? And women?

        • Skinny 4.1.1.1
          15 March 2014 at 11:18 am

          Yes I know a few that like him. One good friend dislikes the Greens and takes great joy in winding me up about them. Have to say getting a but sick of defending them. Hughes was being a little twerp the other day and deserved the clip around the ears by Jones. I simply can not believe Normans nonsense about Collin Craig. The Greens have lost cred’s with me lately, through stupid behavior. So if that has happen with me, one can only imagine others thinking the Greens are nut jobs, no offense to the many solid Greenies 🙂

          • karol 4.1.1.1.1
            15 March 2014 at 12:46 pm

            What did Hughes do to deserve a clip around the ear?

            Keep using the right wing and spin-smear about The Greens being nut jobs….. very helpful to Labour as they look unlikely to be able to form a government without the Greens.

            And the Greens maintain a stronger left wing cred that the current Labour Caucus.

            • Chooky 4.1.1.1.1.1
              15 March 2014 at 1:02 pm

              @ karol..you ask “What did Hughes do to deserve a clip around the ear?”

              ..you mean Hughes being called a “Mollyhawk”?…I thought Hughes found it amusing….which is the correct attitude to take….and Cunliffe was correctly quite mild also

              This “Mollyhawk” name calling is a NON ISSUE and is being blown out of proportion ( by the msm?…lets not help them)

              …..the response should be “Oh well we all know Jonesy regards himself as a stallion amongst the fillies” …ha ha…!.and leave it at that

              Jones is entitled to his opinions about the Greens and vice versa…but it is a side issue to Labour/Greens /NZF/Mana winning this election and must not be blown out of proportion

  5. greywarbler 5
    15 March 2014 at 10:00 am

    The post is very fair to Jones. And the point that he can do some good, has done some good, has made some mistakes that would probably be overlooked has been made fairly. And further indications, that he is possibly becoming a liability rather than an asset when looked at objectively is important.

    I think David H sizes up the situation well in the first comment.

    Sabotaging the Labour chances of winning the next election Cunliffe needs to shut him up or dump him straight to the furthest back bench with NO portfolios at all.

    Commenters should bear this matter in mind and not go off at tangents about whether Peters will be in or out. We certainly don’t want to see Labour voters go to NZF in the idea that he will automatically support Labour. But this is about Jones. And whether he is a fool. He is attacking the Green Party that Labour needs. The Green Party has been the fount of ideas and policies that will help us into the 21st century.
    NACT is wanting to remain in the mid 1900’s, Labour with Jones’ thinking would take us further back than that.

    He seems to be colonial in his attitudes to the country’s economy, when we were majorly into primary products and extractive industries. This thinking will take us back faster to the 1900’s which we seem to be already sliding towards, with many of us gripping desperately to our present position but our nails are making those horrible rasping noises when scraped on a blackboard. Have we learned nothing all these years to the 21st century? Listening to Jones, he’s a tub thumper from the past.

    Keep the thoughts on Labour and Jones. We need people loyal to and supportive of Cunliffe’s leadership. We need people who are encouraged to put ideas forward in frequent meetings of the shadow cabinet and caucus, but not air them in public until granted leave to do so. A controlled strategy is required so that there are no scandals, no odd statements, no brainfarts, no flights of fancy only affordable visions, no chest thumping and appeals to the common man who may be full of alcohol (ie stupid pub talk). And importantly, no lack of cohesion of the Party to pick up on.

  6. Sanctuary 6
    15 March 2014 at 10:10 am

    There is no down side for Shane Jones or, as long as he is clever, for Labour.

    Labour and the Greens share some social democratic ideas which makes them good coalition partners but –

    1/ Jones helping Labour reconnect with middle New Zealand – 90% of New Zealanders have no time for the Greens and their unconvincing economic ideas. Being to close to the Greens will therefore turn off that vast majority. Labour needs to remind the electorate that the Green’s are a separate party that may gain the treasury benches at Labour’s grace and favour, and not a faction of Labour. Remember, the ideal situation for Labour is being able to pick and chose from a position of dominance. If on the other hand the election gives the Greens a strong hand, then I am sure they’ll play hardball so they should park the whiny bitches routine. Labour doesn’t owe them diddly squat, and vice versa and the Green sense of entitlement is astonishing for a party that has never been in government.

    2/ Positioning himself for the leadership – If perchance Labour loses and it looks like a bunch of senior MPs white-anted the campaign to get rid of Cunliffe then Shane Jones is grounded enough to know there will be an enormous backlash from the party membership, up to and including expulsions of the last of the old-guard new right canker (if Labour doesn’t win, I am picking the fall-out will include a bunch of ABC walking away from Labour and forming a new party, a la Peter Dunne). In any case I wouldn’t want to be an ABC in that case and neither does Shane Jones.

    I am quite enjoying watching the supermarkets splutter indignantly and Crusher well up with crocodile tears 🙂

    • karol 6.1
      15 March 2014 at 10:17 am

      The downside of Jones is that he really isn’t left wing at all. It’s a matter of principle. I thought Cunliffe’s Labor was going to be more about conviction politics.

      The Greens’ economic policies are sound. It’s not helpful for the left to keep repeating the right wing, MSM supported spin lines about the Greens not being credible.

      What does labor stand for if they are willing to support the right wing to gain votes. And NZ First should be the last consideration for any truly left wing party.

      • Sanctuary 6.1.1
        15 March 2014 at 10:38 am

        Conviction politicians still have to know how to count. All the conviction in the world is worth nothing if you are twiddling your thumbs in opposition.

        • karol 6.1.1.1
          15 March 2014 at 10:43 am

          Actually focusing on the horse race puts a lot of people off voting. The way to win non-voters is not more “beltway” focused politics as Game. It’s through standing up with conviction on what is important for NZ’s future and for all kiwis, especially the battlers.

      • MrSmith 6.1.2
        15 March 2014 at 10:42 am

        True Karol, and are Labour saying when dishing the Greens and cuddling up to Winston that if Labour form a government along with the Greens and NzFirst they will look to National to pass legislation if the Green won’t support it.

        So beware people because quite possibly a vote for Labour is a Vote for the same old tired neoliberal bullshit!

        You want to keep people like Shane Jones in Labour quiet. Vote Green lets get them to 15%.

      • Chooky 6.1.3
        15 March 2014 at 1:09 pm

        Winnie and NZF was once to the Left of the Labour Party remember!?…so lets not put Winnie down….the Left needs him again to WIN!

        …just as Helen Clark worked well with him in order to keep Labour in Government

    • Lanthanide 6.2
      15 March 2014 at 10:24 am

      Yeah, I generally agree with your analysis, Sanc.

    • greywarbler 6.3
      15 March 2014 at 10:53 am

      Good points Sanctuary. Chaos theory maybe. Introduce a new variable, Jones, changes the path from the trend line and if it doesn’t wipe out the previous position, then it likely adds another grouping to the Labour votes.

      But also, think about whether Jones is going to undermine David Cunliffe’s position and desires for the running of the campaign?
      If it appears that David has no authority over Jones it then raises questions about whether he can run a stable government under his overall direction or whether there will be various MPs putting their positions up which may run counter to the accepted policies that voters would be expecting. Then voters might stick to what they know, Key and Co. whether they like them or not.

      Has Jones got enough self control to keep to a line that he is
      given the okay to pursue without constantly introducing new issues that don’t fit with Labour’s decided approach? I think not.Even if given room to tubthump, he won’t accept any reasoned controls and go on emotional bashes that will be embarrassing to the Labour campaign and ultimately to respect for the Party. It’s Jones for Jones, the all-knowing hero I think.

    • geoff 6.4
      15 March 2014 at 10:58 am

      I don’t buy this analysis at all, Sanctuary.

      You’re effectively advocating for a divided left and I think that would make an election win for the left impossible. That’s a pretty big ‘downside’ for Labour.
      That’s even without accounting for the valuable media time that would be dedicated to how divided the left would be, instead of focusing on the glaring deficits of National.

      I’m sure Jones has had a talking to and I would guess that if he rocks the boat further he will be tossed over-board.

    • newsense 6.5
      15 March 2014 at 11:35 am

      I don’t buy the middle NZ bullshit.

      But I do smell a Matt McCarten plan to go after Winston’s vote. Or look at tacking centrewards, just in a different way than Cunliffe was doing. It gets up the nose of those who would never vote for Winston, but it is a strategy.

      As much as I might have prefered presenting a unified front with the Greens and looking competent, this seems to be what has been trumped for. I mean Julie Anne Genter, Mojo Mathers- not sure about Ward…but if most of the Greens Mps get more attention they won’t lose votes from that.

      I think a lot of people are more sympathetic to the Greens and not being environmentally greedy and destroying what we’ve got, but they want to feed their children and grandchildren too. Ergo- solar panneling a winner as it achieves both…

  7. Bill 7
    15 March 2014 at 10:19 am

    The problem with Jones cuddling up to Peters is that it makes it more likely that Labour Voters will go over to NZ First.

    Erm – no. If they successfully hobble any left turn, then many Labour votes will fall to the Greens. Maybe enough to weaken Cunliffe and the left of the party enough so that post election another leadership challenge transpires.

    Can’t escape the feeling that too many of the caucus still don’t get that the caucus no longer has free reign to order ‘their’ patch. That, and that a tide is coming in.

    • Lanthanide 7.1
      15 March 2014 at 10:28 am

      If Cunliffe loses he definitely will not remain leader after the election. This isn’t the same as 1996.

      • Bill 7.1.1
        15 March 2014 at 10:31 am

        If the membership and affiliates reckon he was monkey wrenched, then why not?

        • Lanthanide 7.1.1.1
          15 March 2014 at 12:49 pm

          Because in order for the membership and affiliates to vote for him, he has to stand as a candidate.

          • felix 7.1.1.1.1
            15 March 2014 at 3:56 pm

            And?

            • Lanthanide 7.1.1.1.1.1
              15 March 2014 at 6:58 pm

              I think following a loss at the election, he wouldn’t.

              Anyway there’s nothing stopping the caucus then overthrowing the leader after a few months anyway.

              • felix …
                15 March 2014 at 7:46 pm

                Perhaps I misunderstand the party rules. I’m under the impression that caucus alone can no longer do that.

                Also, an election loss doesn’t leave the party leaderless. He doesn’t have to “re-apply” for his job.

                Or does he? Like I said, I may not be on top of the party rules.

                • Mike …
                  16 March 2014 at 7:30 am

                  No, because of the scheming to undermine Shearer by feral DC supporters back in 2012, the absurd 40% threshold to roll the leader after the election gives the caucus MORE power, not less.

                  • geoff …
                    16 March 2014 at 8:24 am

                    feral?

                    Is that you Whale?

                    • felix …
                      16 March 2014 at 11:51 am

                      Whoever it is, I don’t think he knows what he’s on about.

                      40% of caucus can trigger a vote, not “roll the leader”. And losing an election doesn’t automatically leave the party leaderless.

                      Can someone who isn’t a complete fucking idiot can fill us in please?

                    • Jim Nald …
                      16 March 2014 at 11:59 am

                      Cunliffe will be even more formidable from this point.

                      Any outcome from 20 Sep 2014 will provide him a stronger hand to ensure the tossers and relics of the Labour Caucus are consigned to history.

      • geoff 7.1.2
        15 March 2014 at 11:09 am

        You keep saying that, Lanth. Maybe that will make it true!

        The membership and the affiliates want a true left leader. Cunliffe is one of a very small number in the Labour caucus that fits that bill and that won’t change after the election.
        Jones is not leftwing. Jones is in it for Jones.

      • Te Reo Putake 7.1.3
        15 March 2014 at 11:18 am

        I think you’re wrong, Lanth. I think Cunliffe would stand again and would get re-endorsed. Assuming, that is, that the loss wasn’t clearly as a result of his leadership (ie some cock up or other or just a pisspoor campaign).

    • Olwyn 7.2
      15 March 2014 at 12:52 pm

      Can’t escape the feeling that too many of the caucus still don’t get that the caucus no longer has free reign to order ‘their’ patch. That, and that a tide is coming in.

      The charitable view is that Jones wants Labour to win and is doing what he can to unify the left and right of the party. The uncharitable view is that he is the front man for those who lost the leadership battle but refuse to admit defeat. The uncharitable view would dissolve at once if certain caucus members and Labour spokespeople were to more wholeheartedly accept the wider party’s wishes.

  8. Ad 8
    15 March 2014 at 10:24 am

    I like his ego and swagger; Labour spends too much time apologising. We need more political presence.

    I like his humour; Cunliffe has none. It covers most ills and shortens negative memory. Key is fantastic at it.

    I like his defence of business; you won’t change a country by largely opposing and regulating them. And he has donor-hoovering capacity. His boardroom presence is superior among all progressives.

    He brings many northland Maori, and Labour neds to prepare to deal with post-settlement Nga Puhi.

    His attacks on the Greens are an excellent signal to voters who think some of Labour – and all of Greens – are run by academics and effete children that its worth crossing over for.

    He is worth voting for. Pity 90% of Labour’s caucus aren’t equal to his media or stage presence.

    • geoff 8.1
      15 March 2014 at 11:05 am

      You’re easily swayed by personality.
      The electorate won’t be so easily distracted once they’re scurrying about trying to get a 2nd or 3rd job McJob just to avoid a mortgagee sale of their house.

      • Ad 8.1.1
        15 March 2014 at 1:18 pm

        Plenty of voters turn on whether they like your hair that day, whether they like your smile, whether they seduce the camera. Some even vote Labour.

        • geoff 8.1.1.1
          15 March 2014 at 1:29 pm

          All irrelevant when higher interest rates begin to bite and National leaves all the punters with 90% mortgages hung out to dry.

          Haircuts and smiles mean fuck all when the back pocket is under attack.

    • newsense 8.2
      15 March 2014 at 11:41 am

      can you tell me some of his jokes? I’ve heard a lot of interesting expressions, but not heard anything genuinely funny…

      if he’s that great, it’s about time he won a seat.

      Why do you automatically attack Cunliffe? He hasn’t really relaxed into the role- he was at the start, and when the polls were doing ok…and may be better now he’s got Matt working for him…

      I trust Cunliffe more than Jones. Basically. Colourful expressions don’t guarantee living wages and a steady hand on the tiller.

      • Ad 8.2.1
        15 March 2014 at 1:28 pm

        They are repeated at any RSA on a Friday night, sometimes without prompting.

        • newsense 8.2.1.1
          15 March 2014 at 7:00 pm

          Really? Didn’t hear any last time I was at an RSA. Source or example that doesn’t mean I say they are please or you are just talking BS.

    • greywarbler 8.3
      15 March 2014 at 11:41 am

      Ad
      Ultimately if all you comment on is true and comes to pass it could then lead to Jones standing for Labour Leader. Which I don’t think he has a hope in hell of achieving successfully. This is because there is more to a job than succeeding to it, it’s what intelligence, nous and vision you can apply within it. Jones would be Key in overalls. I don’t like that thought.

      And think of a populist buffoon who managed to capture the hearts if not the minds of people in Canada’s Rob Ford of Toronto This opinion piece comes up on Google ‘Canada’s clowning politician’. It says that Rob Ford is part of the 1%, but he knows how to appeal to voters to get in although he is basically right wing.
      http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/21/toronto-mayor-rob-ford-new-video_n_4639750.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular,robford

      One report on him has the headline ‘Toronto mayor singlehandedly makes Canadian politics interesting again’.
      The media wanting politics to be a circus, a place of entertainment, so they can sell more advertising, make more money!

      That sort of politician will get good air time but doesn’t do anything for ensuring voters get good governance, or that they know what they are getting. Some quips, some swear words, the ordinary man who doesn’t aspire to do as good a job in his position as the ordinary man does.

      Some people don’t understand the need for getting ‘good help’ when it comes to employing politicians – that the election is for choosing who will do the job of the country’s management role. It’s hard to do human resources when you don’t think about it seriously. Get to choose someone without jokes, and snide remarks about whoever is the current scapegoat of society, the Greenies, DPBs, unemployed, druggies, whatever.
      http://rabble.ca/news/2013/11/dark-clown-spectacle-charade-and-dark-politics-rob-ford

      This is a comment from Huffington Post Canada google site by Rob Ford that demonstrates the weakness of a system where voters can be distracted from their job of thinking seriously about the country and economy and social conditions, and go for amusement instead.
      Rob Ford. … So, Who’s Running For Toronto Mayor? … I’ve heard Jimmy Kimmel and various Americans (and Canadians) say, “Well, he seems to be a pretty good mayor”.
      Rob Ford … I wanted to talk about politics, but I knew if I did that, I’d likely lose the audience.

      • greywarbler 8.3.1
        15 March 2014 at 12:25 pm

        While looking further in google I came on this. When you get a poseur in a powerful position he/she will manipulate anything to advance their own interests. So take care who you support and who you vote for! You may be letting a cunning predator get the freedom of the zoo.

        Rob Ford, Toronto Mayor in 2012 addressed a meeting on World Press Freedom Day 8 May 2012. He spoke and left. No comments on the aggressive way he had gone after a reporter who had dared to compile information on one of his financial projects.

        The mayor has been embroiled in a public spat with the Toronto Star newspaper after confronting reporter Daniel Dale in a public park behind Ford’s house.
        Ford has accused Dale of spying on his family, while the Toronto Star maintains Dale was there writing about a piece of parkland Ford has applied to purchase from the region’s conservation authority.
        http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/toronto-mayor-marks-world-press-freedom-day-1.806875

      • Ad 8.3.2
        15 March 2014 at 1:24 pm

        Unfortunately candidates here don’t get sent along the corridor from H.R. He’s no real challenge to Cunliffe – but I could see him in Deputy Prime Minister’s seat shortly.

        Agree it takes more than brio and Bon mots. Fortunately he has more in the tank than that.

      • Murray Olsen 8.3.3
        16 March 2014 at 3:12 am

        Key in overalls is a great description of Jones.

    • Skinny 8.4
      15 March 2014 at 12:54 pm

      Jones is hopeless in his own patch, you only have to look at the very poor party votes Labour pulled. Shane is being a Maverick and will be threatening to jump to NZF and take over from Winston. I would cut him loose after the election win.

      • Ad 8.4.1
        15 March 2014 at 1:35 pm

        Such defeatism! A confident Labour leadership would go hard for NZF and destroy them as a party. We need more of Jones, not less.

        NZ politics is continuing to splinter in part because Labour and National are complacent. Imagine if Labour displayed NZFirst’s patriotic fervour and defensive pride. 6% of voters there for the taking from Parliament’s toupeed Tom Jones. Shane Jones running hard would haul that all back home to Labour.

        • Skinny 8.4.1.1
          15 March 2014 at 2:34 pm

          No need for talk of wiping NZF out they have been good with policies like the Gold Card. All I am saying is Jones need to get off his arse in his own patch and work constructively to pull the votes in his own patch of Northland, he is after all the only Labour MP up there. I can tell you we never see him which is a bloody disgrace!

    • Chooky 8.5
      15 March 2014 at 1:15 pm

      Ad +100….. but Cunliffe is best as leader of the Labour Party

      • Ad 8.5.1
        15 March 2014 at 1:26 pm

        Agreed. New Lynn all the way my friend.

        • Skinny 8.5.1.1
          15 March 2014 at 4:42 pm

          Labour ( including McCarten) and the Greens should have started strongly mooting the idea of buying the citizen’s of New Zealand’s assets back. I stated this on here earlier in the week. Now Winston takes centre stage by reaffirming any coalition arrangement with National or Labour/Greens will be on the condition our assets are to be coming back to all the people not just the few! Of course he is probably full of crap but it certainly will cause a few headaches for Key-National and the GE sale.

          So that is National out!

          Way to go Winston!

    • Sookie 8.6
      15 March 2014 at 4:57 pm

      I agree with Ad. Shane Jones is amusing and a good foil for Cunliffe, who comes across as a bit of a smug elitist. I vote Green and even I think they act a bit pompous and precious sometimes. I am not offended at Shane having a go at them.

      • greywarbler 8.6.1
        15 March 2014 at 7:55 pm

        Can I make the point that we aren’t choosing who will sit next to each other at a dinner party.. Who will socialise well with who, and who it doesn’t matter, because they are lucky to get invited anyway.

        This is about more than what you think – it’s what the nation thinks and/or feels. Your opinion counts for yourself only. try thinking about Labour working together getting behind David Cunliffe to be Prime Minister. Not like kids at college with favourite teachers or watching a pantomime with Cunliffe cast in the main role, trying to keep up with the sneaky jester playing tricks on him.

        This from newsense at 12.1 below summarises important points about Shane Jones which you casual acceptors of him should be considering.
        Jones- Grew up up north, went to Harvard, Sealord, picked out by Helen, Bill Liu scandal, porn scandal, light bulbs, saying he’d like to do things to John Key’s testicles, being a big pal with the 3rd Degree guys, new missus, sticking it to the Greens, forestry and…

        I don’t understand what personal convictions and life philospohy Jones subscribes to and why he’s in parliament. I can understand it making people nervous.

    • Murray Olsen 8.7
      16 March 2014 at 2:49 am

      The people I know personally who are most intense in their dislike of SeaLord Jones are Northland Maori. I don’t know one Maori woman who has any time for him at all. This may be a reflection of the people I know, but it’s at least as valid as you laughing at his jokes at the local RSA.

      The best thing I’ve ever heard about him is that you can’t take his public statements seriously, because he’s just after attention in what he sees as a big game. The worst can be left to the imagination of the reader.

  9. marty mars 9
    15 March 2014 at 11:00 am

    jones is a sheep in wolf clothing and when the time comes he imo will stick the sharp sword in someones back and swagger to the top, as the right rejoice and jones starts the payback. Short-memory-labourites will eventually wail oh know not another douglas or prebble , or maybe not, they probably supported the policies from those two which cut our country into ribbons. Meanwhile the left will continue on, as the cloak ‘labour’ is used to further decimate the values of the left and cover the actions of the right.

  10. tricledrown 10
    15 March 2014 at 11:02 am

    Jones is keeping Labour in the news and on the front foot .
    His apologies had more barbs than contrition.

    • Jim Nald 10.1
      15 March 2014 at 1:36 pm

      “and on the front foot” – as well as regularly shooting Labour’s foot, and sometimes also stuffing his mouth with it ?

  11. Corokia 11
    15 March 2014 at 11:16 am

    Jones is a fossil and there’s very little difference between him and National. He comes across as sexist and pro mining, the polar opposite to Green values, so no suprise he is dissing us. I expect he would prefer Labour to lose so he can spend the next 3 years making speeches in opposition and building his personal profile than have to work with the Greens.

  12. Karen 12
    15 March 2014 at 11:30 am

    I cannot understand the support for Shane Jones. Shane Jones is right wing with reactionary ideas and belongs in the National Party. He supports big business and doesn’t give a stuff for the poor and dispossessed, in spite of his rhetoric about supporting extractive industries because they provide jobs. He is very much in favour of foreign fishing vessels plundering our oceans and paying slave wages instead of encouraging a local industry training up young New Zealanders to do this work.

    • newsense 12.1
      15 March 2014 at 11:51 am

      It’s hard to know exactly what he is. I think that is really the disquieting thing. Other politician’s narratives are fairly clear.

      Cunliffe- son of a minster done good, went to Harvard, good job, cares about Labour values and compassionate and productive government, holds New Lynn.

      Jones- Grew up up north, went to Harvard, Sealord, picked out by Helen, Bill Liu scandal, porn scandal, light bulbs, saying he’d like to do things to John Key’s testicles, being a big pal with the 3rd Degree guys, new missus, sticking it to the Greens, forestry and…

      I don’t understand what personal convictions and life philospohy Jones subscribes to and why he’s in parliament. I can understand it making people nervous.

      • greywarbler 12.1.1
        15 March 2014 at 12:27 pm

        +1

      • swordfish 12.1.2
        16 March 2014 at 3:24 am

        @ newsense:

        I dont understand what personal convictions and life philosophy Jones subscribes to……..

        Well, I do remember him appearing on one of TVNZ’s specialist Maori programmes – probably Marae – shortly before the 2005 Election. He made it very clear that he was “agnostic” on economic policy, being more than happy with the neo-liberal consensus and seemed to imply that he had enormous trouble deciding whether he should be standing for Labour or National. Clearly very much on the Conservative and Neo-Liberal Right of the Party right from the very start.

        On the question of NZ First (discussed in various comments above), yeah I agree that it’s exceedingly unlikely that the Left will be able to form a government without Peters this election.

  13. tc 13
    15 March 2014 at 11:41 am

    Jones has value, if he can stay focused and knock about several of the nact MPs from angles most folk would agree with.

    Folk need to see some mongrel from labour, shes going to be a nasty ride. Jones has uses now and as a minister, up to him how he plays it.

    • marty mars 13.1
      15 March 2014 at 1:07 pm

      remember when prebble was labours attack dog? The problem with loose units like jones is that they bite everyone – the good, bad and ugly, foe and friend alike and then sit there waiting for a pat – very hard to talk to a dog that likes to bite – usually only one answer even when the hound is well loved by the owners and that is where the blame should be placed – not on jones but on labour’s leadership for trying to use him in that way and if they aren’t using him in that way then sort it out because he thinks it’s his job to bite, bite and bite.

  14. captain hook 14
    15 March 2014 at 11:48 am

    +100 TC.
    lABOUR NEEDS TO WIND Shane Jones up and point him in the right direction.

    • rhinocrates 14.1
      15 March 2014 at 1:43 pm

      Pointing him is the problem. As Marty says, he bites everyone, and he takes any attempt at discipline as a personal affront to be avenged immediately. He isn’t very bright, he’s utterly self-centred and has the emotional control of a spoilt adolescent.

      He’s a potential asset, but he’s a real liability.

  15. tricledrown 15
    15 March 2014 at 1:04 pm

    Eye eye captain.
    All hands on deck.
    Politics is not a fairy tale we have to make the best of a bad situation.
    National have been targeting the greens sucessfully.
    Russell Normans attack on Colon Craig backfired and has given him a platform he didn’t have.
    Jones is distancing labour from the greens to be able to pick up the soft swing voters.
    So we have 3 more years of smarmkey or a moderate left coalition.
    MMP forces pragmatism.
    That’s the reality.
    If you want real left wing policy it would be much easier to get elected at a local body level aka Bruce Jesson.

    • karol 15.1
      15 March 2014 at 1:08 pm

      Pragmatism has so far just brought us more Labour Party soft neoliberalism – just not helpful in the long term.

      Time for a return to a strong and principled left.

    • Stephanie Rodgers 15.2
      15 March 2014 at 1:56 pm

      I’m interested in your assessment of Russel Norman/Colin Craig. I don’t see that Craig’s been given any extra platform – he’s always found it easy to get media attention. And I haven’t seen anyone besides Craig really buy the idea that Norman defamed him – everyone knows he’s got socially conservative ideas.

      If anything, there’s been a lot of pundits saying that the issue just proves Colin Craig isn’t well suited for politics if he’s going to sue people over every minor criticism.

  16. irascible 16
    15 March 2014 at 1:41 pm

    As far as I can see and read from Labour’s sustained attack on the credibility of Judith Collins and, by association, John Key is that Grant Robertson has chosen to take Collins down wihile Jones acts as the vocal back up. Cunliffe is doing the hard yards as Party Leader fronting on policy and positioning the Party for the campaign which is of prime importance strategically. The strategy has worked well. There is no conspiracy coming from any fictious factiion within the Party to be seen. Let’s get on with effective campaigning to dispose of the corruption of power we have witnessed from this Key led govt.

    While we’re on the attack on Collins; I don’t recall Jones alleging that she was having an affair… he simply stated that the beltway rumours had it that she was using the Hotchin-Oravido mansion as a residence while in Auckland. The repetition of this rumour was akin to the breathless headline in the Herald on Siunday that Cunliffe was implicated in some sort of mysterious deal in the purchase of a property in Omaha. As was demonstrated the Herald’s story was a fabrication of fevered conspiracy theorists from some faceless opinionista for which an apology and withdrawal has never been offered.

    For Judith Collins to be on the end of a rumour that links her even more closely to Oravida and her abuse of the Cabinet Manual rules is probably the first time she has ever had to face up to close public scrutiny or even consider what it is like to be on the end of the sort of scurrilous rumour dropping that her friends and associates have been famed for.

    • PapaMike 16.1
      15 March 2014 at 2:03 pm

      Collins has been stung by omission.
      Beware the female of the species who has been hurt (really by the media plus Grant).

      She is liable to contain her venom and will strike back one day.

      • tricledrown 16.1.1
        15 March 2014 at 2:24 pm

        PM .
        Like crushing cars really worked.
        No Venom pythonesque .

      • red blooded 16.1.2
        16 March 2014 at 12:49 pm

        “Beware the female of the species who has been hurt”

        Excuse me? Collins is a smug, bullying, elitist who has been caught out blurring the line between personal interest and her political life, but that’s an assessment of her personality, values and actions, not a generalisation based on gender. Maybe this comment was intended as a joke (I hope it was), but please find another frame of reference for your attempts at humour. Perhaps the same blokes at the RSA who we are assured find Jones so affable would chuckle at this, but not all of us are blokes (and hopefully most men on this line wouldn’t be thinking in such sexist terms anyway).

        Sorry to be so self-righteous, but casual sexism like this annoys and offends me. That’s one of the reasons I’m not impressed by Shane Jones.

  17. The Chairman 17
    15 March 2014 at 3:20 pm

    Recent unfounded claims made by Jones against Collins weakened Labour’s credibility, shifted the media focus and gave Collins another opportunity to play the victim.

    Scoring points for Collins, he now seems to be a team player for the other side.

  18. felix 18
    15 March 2014 at 3:54 pm

    Think about it. Who does Shane Jones speak for? It’s not “the centre” or the “soft national support”. It’s far more specific than that.

    The people he speaks for didn’t want to pay the supermarkets a backhander and they definitely don’t want the Greens in govt. Another term of National would suit them fine, but if there’s to be a change then the Greens should be kept out.

    It’s that simple. Shane gets paid either way.

    • Tracey 18.1
      21 March 2014 at 8:14 am

      agree. having said that it has been interesting to watch countdown’s changing responses tot his thing

      start: Nothing to see here done nothing wrong:
      second: Nothing to see here done nothing illegal (interesting change)
      third: everyone cans ee something here except us and we still dont know what we are accused of?

      This is where the consumer legislation is of great use because it doesn’t have to have done anything contrary to say “contract law” BUT if it has created an unfair advantage “legally” (if you see what I mean by legally) it is foul of consumer legislation. Whether its more than a wet bus ticket who knows. Would love to see a class action against countdown by all onecard holders (can easily prove they are customers) …

  19. Notanymore 19
    15 March 2014 at 5:12 pm

    I also think Shane is thinking ahead and planning his future.

    He must think he has options and is keeping his name to the fore. I guess if Labour/Greens did form a coalition he would be an uncomfortable Minister.

    Six months out and the polls are indicating Labout will probably miss out, is Shane backing this outcome ?
    It could be do or die time.. if there is an absolute rout then it would follow a major rethink/restructure would be in order.
    If there is such an outcome, indeed say a devastating whipping, then surely the party would have to have a radical rethink. I, for one, doubt the party would continue in it’s present form. I know many others are thinking along similar lines. Shane may just be playing his hand brilliantly.

    • felix 19.1
      15 March 2014 at 6:07 pm

      Nah, his future executive positions with the major food production and packaging corporations he represents are well secured.

      • Anne 19.1.1
        15 March 2014 at 8:02 pm

        +1

        Heads… Labour wins the top spot and Shane gets to be a senior cabinet minister.

        Tails… Labour loses the top spot and Shane deserts the Labour ship for a CEO position at one of NZ’s major food companies. Sealord comes to mind.

        Whichever way it goes Jones is sitting pretty.

    • karol 19.2
      15 March 2014 at 6:19 pm

      So pleased to hear that Jones has brilliantly worked to secure his future – the left really doesn’t need committed team players working for the good of battling Kiwis? /sarc.

  20. Tanz 20
    15 March 2014 at 8:46 pm

    He is running the campgain for Cunliffe.

  21. George D 21
    15 March 2014 at 9:57 pm

    How many Labour activists actively like the Greens? How many dislike them?

    How many Labour activists actively like NZ First? How many dislike them?

    Labour will need strong turnout from a dedicated volunteer base to win this election. Undermining the enthusiasm of the base by attacking a liked partner and promoting a disliked potential partner is a problematic prospect.

  22. chris73 22
    16 March 2014 at 12:18 am

    Assuming Shane Jones will never be the leader of Labour and therefore never leader of the country what are his options.

    Senior ranking minister in Labour for which he may well have to wait another three years or cuddle up to WinstonFirst and take over when Winston retires (dies)

    Shane Jones as leader of WinstonFirst would be able to support both National and Labour so he’d always be in power and have more chances to push through pet projects then he would as merely a ranking memeber of Labour

    • Murray Olsen 22.1
      16 March 2014 at 3:24 am

      Not many people will ever be leader of Labour. Those of us who believe in the necessity of the left wing project don’t see attacking Labour from the right as one of our options. What does Jones believe in, apart from himself and his own superiority? While some might admire the faith necessary for that belief, others might see it as totally delusional. I’m in the second camp. He should shut up and go. I don’t care in which order.

    • felix 22.2
      16 March 2014 at 3:41 am

      🙄

  23. Stuart Munro 23
    16 March 2014 at 4:34 am

    If Shane Jones is really committed to doing nothing, he’s the natural successor not to Winston, but to Peter Dunne. I hadn’t noticed him collecting a party behind him. I don’t think he’s a good fit for Labour, most of his fanbase are already committed to voting for the Gnats. It’s hard to measure the efect of validating the right’s attack memes, but he knows it’s bad for his party. Hope Matt has a big carpet and a few promising lengths of supplejack.

  24. Matthew Hooton 24
    21 March 2014 at 7:55 am

    I don’t think you’ll need to put up with him much longer: http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/shane-jones-plots-exit-labour-MH

    • Tracey 24.1
      21 March 2014 at 8:08 am

      damn for a moment I thought it read

      steven-joyce-plots-collins exit-national

      Only last night I suggested to my partner that Jones is yet another politician in the wrong party…

      I haven’t got $130 so could you summarise it?

  25. Not a PS Staffer 25
    21 March 2014 at 10:12 am

    Ref Hooton and his games.

    Please Please ignore him. No comment either way. All he wants is attention, to stir debate that might get into MSM, damage Cunliffe and help Key.

    Hurt him by ignoring him.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Stories of varying weight

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 hours ago
  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    17 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    23 hours ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-07-26T23:27:43+00:00