I agree SP. And the Standard deserves a mention in the House. Of course the blog is left leaning, but that is what it proclaims. It is not the Fairfax dominated print media with its monumental undeclared agendas suppporting the blue party with its obvious undeclared agendas.
A number of commentators have called the taping of politicians’ party ramblings a low threshold but I would disagree completely. Private conversations that clearly show public pronouncements to be a lie (or at best smoke and mirrors) deserve very public airing. Surely it is a positive that politicians are held accountable for their intentions. English can be condemned by his boss for being honest; Lockwood is being told off for being honest to his party members. Mike Williams was told off for being open. Let us have more tapes to get rid of the double-speak.
The problem for the Nats is their hidden policies. Labour are up front and cannot be caught out in the same way. If the Nats actually told us what their policies were, there would be no issue. But as long as the right are totally preoccupied with gaining power by subterfuge and hope to put in place their nonsense ideology that has been discredited world-wide, then they will continue to be caught out.
Remember the electricity reforms; remember bulk-funding; remember Ruth Richardson; and ask why the only sensible moderate in the Nats, Katherine Rich has left. Self inflicted Nats!! Your two-faced smugness has caught you out!
Of course it was negative. They are spinning out of control and lashing out wildly. Not a pretty sight.
Plus, the material covered here at The Standard must be really getting to them. (I’m reminded of an old saying, to the effect that sunlight is the best disinfectant).
infused. The Nats have been telling journos how I applied to the conference as media and they rejected me cause I’m with The Standard. As I said in another thread about Key’s mention of ‘Young Labour’ being “evicted” from the conference-
“Key is referring to me and some others (which included some Young Labour people) holding a protest outside the conference on the Sunday. On the Sunday, a Young Nat recognised me as The Standard guy and took me briefly into the foyer of the Town Hall where I spoke to some old Nat for a couple of minutes – essentially:
‘you’re secret Labour stooges aren’t you?’
‘no, we’re just a bunch of people from the leftwing, I don’t even vote Labour’,
‘but Whaleoil proved you’re Labour’,
‘Whaleoil is a technically illiterate pornographer, I wouldn’t rely on his ‘proof’
‘so, you’re going to be heckling during the speech?’
‘No, I wouldn’t do that, besides, I have something else on’
Then I got a phone call to say the others had arrived for the protest and I left the building. There was no ‘eviction’. Actually, they had seemed quite happy to have me there, even watch the speech, but I was otherwise engaged with the protest.
No-one else from that group entered the Town Hall, apart from one guy who went to grab the journos to watch our skit. And this was all on the Sunday morning anyway. Key knows that, he knows the public doesn’t, so he’s trying to confuse matters.”
I’ve been getting phone calls and emails from journos all day about it but there’s nothing to tell, just National grasping at straws.
Meanwhile, back on topic: Rodney is completely right. That is one reason I still retain confidence in Act, the Greens and the Maori Party… they (so far, at least) say what they mean and mean what they say.
Sadly neither of the “major” parties can lay claim to the same, and are reduced to an argument that amounts to “we’re not quite the big fat liars that they are”.
It’s a pity these shabby, dilapidated facades of what were once great parties won’t be dismantled by this election, leaving the way clear for smaller parties of principle to engage in an honest battle for hearts and minds. The “broad church” party doesn’t belong in a proportional representation environment. It has to perform ridiculous contortions to remain in power, and eventually those contortions morph into deception.
If we had a “real” MMP Parliament, with a plethora of philosophies and interests represented by several parties (or better yet, 120 independents) people would be astounded at the improvement in behaviour and quality of policy.
That’s one solution, but the best solution would be to say in public what you say in private.
Going from being evasive in public and frank in private, to being evasive in both public and private might be a good idea from a spin perspective, but surely we’d prefer that a party went from evasive in public and frank in private, to frank in both?
captcha: 1917 again – I guess the Worker’s Party is going to win this election!
Funny, I made a similar comment earlier acknowledging that HC has said the same re living in a goldfish bowl.
There is a certain irony and I’d be interested in SP’s view.
Not tugging any chains but we have debated for some time the fact that the pre-campaign period wasn’t about policy.
The problem for the Nats is that they now have to convince that public that there isn’t a hint of a hint of a policy to do the things implied.
In other words, we’re not actually debating policy and the policy specifically states that the dire things won’t happen.
I realise that the comeback is “they can’t be trusted” but that falls into the similar hole of not debating policy.
Actually, I agree with Rex’s comments re the smaller parties particularly the Maori party. They have impressed me with the way they have developed their positions and reacted to issues – so much better than the Nats
“If we had a “real’ MMP Parliament, with a plethora of philosophies and interests represented by several parties (or better yet, 120 independents) people would be astounded at the improvement in behaviour and quality of policy.”
George Washington warned about the risks of political parties in his farewell speech. Hard to imagine life without them though.
Isn’t it funny that there aren’t any Secret tapes of Labour Party members private conversations.
Perhaps there is only one party that lacks the class and will stoop so low because they are behind in the polls. That would do this a new low in NZ Politics but who is surprised after Professor Bill Hodge said on One ZB
That the legacy of this Labour Government will be that it will go down as one of the most corrupt Governments New Zealand has ever seen
[lprent: Tape of Mike Williams at the NZLP congress in closed session earlier this year.
Rob – I’m starting to get seriously irritated with your persistent level of inaccuracy. It is starting to look to me as being deliberate rather than simple stupidity. I’m getting tired of listening to people bitching about it. It has stopped being amusing or comical. Consider yourself to be warned – list lift your comment level or leave. ]
Hide has learnt the importance of fully internalizing his lies.
Reminds me of the saying “it’s one thing to hide the truth, and another thing altogether to forget where you put it”.
Said she has some BIG IDEAS FOR NEW ZEALAND does anyone know where they are. Or was the taping saga one of them everyone has a different perspective of big I guess
Way to go Standardistas !!! Out with the truth and yes, if Newspapers and mainstream media don’t do their job: Finding out what we the people need to know so we can make an educated choice than others must step in. Blogs are the main source of real information around the world and that makes us citizen journalists. It is the duty of every citizen to partake in a democracy and to make sure that politicians are afraid of us. Not because we are violent but we won’t take shit lying down. You lie to us, we dump you and that’s how it should be. This is our country not theirs and they are there to serve us not the other way around.
George Washington warned about the risks of political parties in his farewell speech. Hard to imagine life without them though.
So did Thomas Jefferson – the man who started todays US Democratic party. He also said (paraphrased) that we couldn’t legislate against them as it would be a gross violation of free association and liberty. We have them, we’re always going to have them and so the best thing we can do is make sure that we have legislation that works with them.
I to would like to see more of the 20 registered parties in parliament which is another reason to support state funding of parties.
“the best solution is to say in public what you say in private”?
Hide’s comment could be read to say that you should tell your public lies to your friends and family. Shouldn’t we be asking politicians to tell us the same truth they tell people they’re close to?
Thanks for telling your side of what happened at the conference Steve, I was wondering after the media coverage, having been at a few party conferences in my time and thinking that Key’s explanation sounded rather illogical.
I guess that’s the one thing you can say for Hide, at least the guy’s honest. You know what you are voting for with Act. Which is why they are under 5% I guess 😉
Anyone from National keen to withdraw and apologise for all their claims that they had no secret agenda? With the refusal to release papers backgrounding their policies, comments by senior MPs that conflict with public statements by the leadership, spokespeople who seem to be privy to a different policy from what has been released, it’s all starting to look like National is not a Government in Waiting. Imagine what the Cabinet meetings would be like?!
Scribe. Thought I had replied to your question but it’s not here:
I did apply to attend the conference as media – just as Farrar and I attended the Budget as media and Farrar attended the Nat conference as media. My application was denied on the grounds that The Standard is not friendly to National.
I think any fair analysis would say that Kiwiblog and The Standard are media outlets and it was as a media rep for The Standard that I applied.
“My application was denied on the grounds that The Standard is not friendly to National.”
But being a sad wee young labour stooge you went along anyway.
Great to see all this is starting to paint labour as dirty players. Did you smile for the cameras Clinton?
Anybody that admires a turd master like the Hager wimp needs a lobotomy asap. Is the timid geek hailed as the standard liar?The freak is the epitome of the new age androgynous man ? This country is plummeting in a sewage pond!!
Anybody that loves Hager needs a lobotomy. Is he the made in NZ wimp hailed as the epitome of the new hollowhead androgynous freak?
Go back to bed nutbar.
Julie- I thought the same thing about how he worded that comment. Apparently Hide has some experience in keeping secrets- maybe National should listen to its potential coalition partners more carefully next time 😉 Meanwhile us greenies will continue to say in private exactly what we say in public.
Hide has it right. Saying the same in private as in publis IS the answer. Obvious to everyone except the clever-clever types who disrespect the voting public by misleading them.
If they told the truth, they would lose votes. They know it….so are “forced” to cheat.
With ethics like that, they shouldn’t hold public office. I’ve been saying that about the worst Nats since 1983….and about Richard Prebble since he signed up to ‘the public must be lied to for their own good’ brigade.
The odious Mark Ellis had a wee rant on his sports show last night about -a desperate Labour Govt. using entrapment- mirroring the Key diversion line of earlier in the day. How do this motley television crew (Breakfast, Gone Fishing even, with its fawning recent recommendation of Key) repeatedly get away with this stuff?
It sure seems to be working with a certain type of kiwi bloke.Go the Standard! lets deny these willfully uninformed oafs their electoral prize.
I’ve had it with all this crap from the mainstream and others about who was behind the taping of Nat MPs.
Two points.
1. A wee while age I suggested in a comment that someone should bail up to one of these guys with a tape recorder and pin them on a few issues. Now, if I can think it’s a good idea so can countless other individuals. So well done that man for having the wherewithal to follow through on his idea.
2. JK appears to have transferred the nastier aspects of individual corporate success strategies to our electoral process. While it might be okay for individuals to employ subterfuge for their personal gain within a party, is it okay for an entire party to practice it within the context of an election bid? Of course it is (sadly), but not if you are caught out.
So excuse me as I dream a while on the long odds of the two shibboleths of NZ politics burying each other in enough slung mud to hand us a “Green November”. Yeah, yeah, it’s a very long shot, but we deserve to be completely rid of neo-liberal economic policies and parties. (Labour with their occasional lifebelt tossed over to prevent a few drownings and Nat with their ‘no lifebelts’ policy).
Back to the point. ‘The punters’ applaud you, whoever you are.
Incidentally, if anyone has a clip of that Gone Fishin’ episode `A Day on the Water With John Key’, I’d love to see it. Aired Saturday July 12 at 1730 on TV3.
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New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In the free-for-all between the Australian government and Big Tech boss Elon Musk this week, the government had to be on a winner. Most people would have little sympathy with Musk’s vociferous opposition to ...
Asia Pacific Report Chief Mandla Mandela, a member of the National Assembly of South Africa and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, has joined the Freedom Flotilla in istanbul as the ships prepare to sail for Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. Mandela is also the ambassador for the Global Campaign to Return to ...
Pacific Media Watch Journalists who report on environmental issues are encountering growing difficulties in many parts of the world, reports Reporters Without Borders. According to the tally kept by RSF, 200 journalists have been subjected to threats and physical violence, including murder, in the past 10 years because they were ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
ACT's Rural Communities and Veterans spokesman Mark Cameron responds to cancellations and protests of ANZAC Day commemorations in Wellington. He says, "These pitiful attempts to detract from ANZAC Day are not at all indicative of the feelings of mainstream ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Pōneke based peace activists staged a silent protest at the ANZAC day service to highlight New Zealand’s complicity in war and genocide, and urge the government to take concrete steps to stop the genocide in Palestine. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magdalena M.E. Bunbury, Postdoctoral Researcher, James Cook University Burial with a horse at the Rákóczifalva site, Hungary (8th century AD).Sándor Hegedűs, Hungarian National Museum, CC BY How do we understand past societies? For centuries, our main sources of information have been ...
Amanda Thompson doesn’t really do Anzac Day. But what she does do is remember the people she knew who had a lifetime to remember stuff they didn’t really want to, because of a war they didn’t ask for. And she does make Anzac biscuits.First published in 2021.All my ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Willis, Postdoctoral Researcher, CSIRO Xavier Boulenger/Shutterstock In the two decades to 2019, global plastic production doubled. By 2040, plastic manufacturing and processing could consume as much as 20% of global oil production and use up 15% of the annual carbon ...
With our collective remembrance, and steadfast belief in our common humanity, we strengthen our hope and resolve to do what we can to foster dialogue and understanding, and to heal divisions in our pursuit of peace. ...
Principal reasons for the opposition is the loss of the public’s democratic right to have “a fair say” and the vital need for a government free from corruption, said Casey Cravens of Dunedin, president of the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater ...
Never mind the scoreboard – in the 2000 Bledisloe Cup decider, the real trans-Tasman battle was won before kickoff.First published in 2016. The dawn of the new millennium was a dark time for the All Blacks. Their final game pre-Y2K was a 22-18 loss to South Africa in the ...
I’m on the wrong side of 40, I never pursued creative work and now my job is killing my soul. Help! Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,May I start with the least original conversation opener you’re likely to hear around the motu at the moment, particularly in Wellington: ...
“Never again - No AUKUS” was the message of the wreath laid at this morning’s national ANZAC Day commemorative service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park this morning by the Stop AUKUS group. ...
Until this month, Auckland swimmer Hazel Ouwehand had never met a qualifying time in an Olympic event for a New Zealand team, even as a junior. Now she’s very likely off to the Paris Olympics after swimming well under the qualifying standard in the 100m butterfly twice – both in ...
While Anzac Day has experienced a resurgence in recent years, our other day of remembrance has slowly faded from view.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. Original illustrations by Hope McConnell.First published in 2022.The high school’s head girl and ...
Australian and New Zealand volunteers fought together in the Waikato War, yet still its place in the Anzac tradition is unacknowledged by our defence forces or Returned Services Association.First published in 2018.When I was a boy cub I attended Anzac Day services in the South Auckland suburb of ...
A poem by Wellington writer Tayi Tibble.Hoki Mai She kisses him goodbye with her eyes still wet and alight from their last swim in the Awatere river. At the train station celebration, she leads the Kapa Haka but her voice keeps breaking under and over itself like waves. ...
A poem from Bill Manhire’s 2017 book of verse Some Things to Place in a Coffin.My World War I Poem Inside each trench, the sound of prayer. Inside each prayer, the sound of digging. Image courtesy of Auckland War Memorial Museum. ...
There are three books I have wolfed down in one sitting over the last two years. Colleen Maria Lenihan’s gorgeous and sad debut Kōhine, Noelle McCarthy’s memoir Grand about becoming her mother and then unbecoming her, and now Hine Toa, a staunch yet gentle self-portrait by living legend Ngāhuia te ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 25 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University laurello/Shutterstock Some reports and popular books, such as Bill Gammage’s Biggest Estate on Earth, have argued that extensive areas of Australia’s forests were kept open through frequent burning by ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon framing the demotion of two ministers as the portfolios getting "too complex" is a charitable way of saying they weren't up to the job. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As ...
Analysis: Melissa Lee has lost the media portfolio and her spot in Cabinet after multiple failed attempts to find solutions for a media industry in crisis. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced Lee would be losing her spot in Cabinet along with her media and communications ministerial portfolio. The job ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Wilmot, Senior Lecturer, Film, Deakin University Among the many Australian who served during the second world war, there is a small group of people whose stories remain largely untold. These are the Muslim men and women who, while small in number, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Saunders, PhD Candidate, University of Canberra There has been much analysis and praise of Justice Michael Lee’s recent judgement in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Channel Ten. Many people were openly relieved to read Lee’s “forensic” and “nuanced” application of law ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathy Gibbs, Program Director for the Bachelor of Education, Griffith University zEdward_Indy/Shutterstock Around one in 20 people has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It’s one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and often continues into adulthood. ADHD is diagnosed ...
The Fairer Future coalition of anti-poverty groups say Whaikaha must be properly funded going forward, and that to argue that poor financial management of the new Ministry is a red herring by the Prime Minister. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is today congratulating Hon. Paul Goldsmith on his appointment as Minister for Media and Communications and urges him to rule out state intervention in the private media sector. ...
Asia Pacific Report The West Papuan resistance OPM leader has condemned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden, accusing their countries of “six decades of treachery” over Papuan independence. The open letter was released today by OPM chairman Jeffrey P Bomanak on the eve of ANZAC Day ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits and quirks of New Zealanders at large. This week: writer and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2024, Lauren Groff.The book I wish I’d writtenIf I wish I’d written a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Fechner, Research Fellow, Social Marketing, Griffith University mavo/Shutterstock Imagine having dinner at a restaurant. The menu offers plant-based meat alternatives made mostly from vegetables, mushrooms, legumes and wheat that mimic meat in taste, texture and smell. Despite being given that ...
“Three Strikes is a dead-end policy proposed by a dead-end government. The Three Strikes law ignores the causes of crime, instead just brutalising people already crushed by the cost of living.” ...
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist An Australian-born judge in Kiribati could well face deportation later this week after a tribunal ruling that he should be removed from his post. The tribunal’s report has just been tabled in the Kiribati Parliament and is due to be debated by MPs ...
With its clear mandate for police use, political nuances, and nuanced public trust, Denmark's insights provide valuable considerations for Australia and New Zealand. ...
Books editor Claire Mabey reviews poet Louise Wallace’s debut novel. A famous poet once said to me that he’s always suspicious when a poet publishes a novel. I never really understood why but maybe it’s something to do with cheating on your first form. Louise Wallace is a poet. She’s ...
For a few months at the turn of the millennium, TrueBliss burned bright as the biggest pop stars in the country. Alex Casey chats to two superfans who still hold the flame. During a humble backyard wedding in Nelson, 1999, one of the cordially invited guests had to excuse themselves ...
How will the recent wave of job cuts impact ethnic diversity in the media? In November last year, I was working a very busy day in the newsroom of a large online news site, interviewing whānau about their concerns over the imminent closure of one of the few puna reo ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruth Knight, Researcher, Queensland University of Technology Have you ever felt sick at work? Perhaps you had food poisoning or the flu. Your belly hurt, or you felt tired, making it hard to concentrate and be productive. How likely would you be ...
Despite heavy criticism and an ongoing select committee process, the Police Minister says the Government will forge ahead with a ban on gang patches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Whiting, Lecturer – Creative Industries, University of South Australia Shutterstock Everyone has a favourite band, or a favourite composer, or a favourite song. There is some music which speaks to you, deeply; and other music which might be the current ...
A new survey says ‘outlook not great’ for those charged with building infrastructure, while RMA changes delight farmers and depress environmentalists, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. First RMA changes announced ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato Getty Images When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also ...
I see the Standard was just named in the house.
I see the Standard was just named in the house.
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin!
Was pretty negative to be honest, but nothing that hasn’t been said before.
I agree SP. And the Standard deserves a mention in the House. Of course the blog is left leaning, but that is what it proclaims. It is not the Fairfax dominated print media with its monumental undeclared agendas suppporting the blue party with its obvious undeclared agendas.
A number of commentators have called the taping of politicians’ party ramblings a low threshold but I would disagree completely. Private conversations that clearly show public pronouncements to be a lie (or at best smoke and mirrors) deserve very public airing. Surely it is a positive that politicians are held accountable for their intentions. English can be condemned by his boss for being honest; Lockwood is being told off for being honest to his party members. Mike Williams was told off for being open. Let us have more tapes to get rid of the double-speak.
The problem for the Nats is their hidden policies. Labour are up front and cannot be caught out in the same way. If the Nats actually told us what their policies were, there would be no issue. But as long as the right are totally preoccupied with gaining power by subterfuge and hope to put in place their nonsense ideology that has been discredited world-wide, then they will continue to be caught out.
Remember the electricity reforms; remember bulk-funding; remember Ruth Richardson; and ask why the only sensible moderate in the Nats, Katherine Rich has left. Self inflicted Nats!! Your two-faced smugness has caught you out!
Of course it was negative. They are spinning out of control and lashing out wildly. Not a pretty sight.
Plus, the material covered here at The Standard must be really getting to them. (I’m reminded of an old saying, to the effect that sunlight is the best disinfectant).
infused. The Nats have been telling journos how I applied to the conference as media and they rejected me cause I’m with The Standard. As I said in another thread about Key’s mention of ‘Young Labour’ being “evicted” from the conference-
“Key is referring to me and some others (which included some Young Labour people) holding a protest outside the conference on the Sunday. On the Sunday, a Young Nat recognised me as The Standard guy and took me briefly into the foyer of the Town Hall where I spoke to some old Nat for a couple of minutes – essentially:
‘you’re secret Labour stooges aren’t you?’
‘no, we’re just a bunch of people from the leftwing, I don’t even vote Labour’,
‘but Whaleoil proved you’re Labour’,
‘Whaleoil is a technically illiterate pornographer, I wouldn’t rely on his ‘proof’
‘so, you’re going to be heckling during the speech?’
‘No, I wouldn’t do that, besides, I have something else on’
Then I got a phone call to say the others had arrived for the protest and I left the building. There was no ‘eviction’. Actually, they had seemed quite happy to have me there, even watch the speech, but I was otherwise engaged with the protest.
No-one else from that group entered the Town Hall, apart from one guy who went to grab the journos to watch our skit. And this was all on the Sunday morning anyway. Key knows that, he knows the public doesn’t, so he’s trying to confuse matters.”
I’ve been getting phone calls and emails from journos all day about it but there’s nothing to tell, just National grasping at straws.
The Nats have been telling journos how I applied to the conference as media and they rejected me cause I’m with The Standard.
Are they telling the truth? Did you apply to cover the conference as media? Are you media?
[lprent: I think he is media. Certainly writes enough posts around here – according to the backend, 380 of them.]
Meanwhile, back on topic: Rodney is completely right. That is one reason I still retain confidence in Act, the Greens and the Maori Party… they (so far, at least) say what they mean and mean what they say.
Sadly neither of the “major” parties can lay claim to the same, and are reduced to an argument that amounts to “we’re not quite the big fat liars that they are”.
It’s a pity these shabby, dilapidated facades of what were once great parties won’t be dismantled by this election, leaving the way clear for smaller parties of principle to engage in an honest battle for hearts and minds. The “broad church” party doesn’t belong in a proportional representation environment. It has to perform ridiculous contortions to remain in power, and eventually those contortions morph into deception.
If we had a “real” MMP Parliament, with a plethora of philosophies and interests represented by several parties (or better yet, 120 independents) people would be astounded at the improvement in behaviour and quality of policy.
surely it’s the other way ’round.
That’s one solution, but the best solution would be to say in public what you say in private.
Going from being evasive in public and frank in private, to being evasive in both public and private might be a good idea from a spin perspective, but surely we’d prefer that a party went from evasive in public and frank in private, to frank in both?
captcha: 1917 again – I guess the Worker’s Party is going to win this election!
Funny, I made a similar comment earlier acknowledging that HC has said the same re living in a goldfish bowl.
There is a certain irony and I’d be interested in SP’s view.
Not tugging any chains but we have debated for some time the fact that the pre-campaign period wasn’t about policy.
The problem for the Nats is that they now have to convince that public that there isn’t a hint of a hint of a policy to do the things implied.
In other words, we’re not actually debating policy and the policy specifically states that the dire things won’t happen.
I realise that the comeback is “they can’t be trusted” but that falls into the similar hole of not debating policy.
Actually, I agree with Rex’s comments re the smaller parties particularly the Maori party. They have impressed me with the way they have developed their positions and reacted to issues – so much better than the Nats
“If we had a “real’ MMP Parliament, with a plethora of philosophies and interests represented by several parties (or better yet, 120 independents) people would be astounded at the improvement in behaviour and quality of policy.”
George Washington warned about the risks of political parties in his farewell speech. Hard to imagine life without them though.
http://www.forbes.com/business/global/2006/0508/014.html
Isn’t it funny that there aren’t any Secret tapes of Labour Party members private conversations.
Perhaps there is only one party that lacks the class and will stoop so low because they are behind in the polls. That would do this a new low in NZ Politics but who is surprised after Professor Bill Hodge said on One ZB
That the legacy of this Labour Government will be that it will go down as one of the most corrupt Governments New Zealand has ever seen
[lprent: Tape of Mike Williams at the NZLP congress in closed session earlier this year.
Rob – I’m starting to get seriously irritated with your persistent level of inaccuracy. It is starting to look to me as being deliberate rather than simple stupidity. I’m getting tired of listening to people bitching about it. It has stopped being amusing or comical. Consider yourself to be warned –
listlift your comment level or leave. ]Hide has learnt the importance of fully internalizing his lies.
Reminds me of the saying “it’s one thing to hide the truth, and another thing altogether to forget where you put it”.
“Isn’t it funny that there aren’t any Secret tapes of Labour Party members private conversations.”
Please refer to the secretly taped conversations of Mike Williams.
Helen
Said she has some BIG IDEAS FOR NEW ZEALAND does anyone know where they are. Or was the taping saga one of them everyone has a different perspective of big I guess
Way to go Standardistas !!! Out with the truth and yes, if Newspapers and mainstream media don’t do their job: Finding out what we the people need to know so we can make an educated choice than others must step in. Blogs are the main source of real information around the world and that makes us citizen journalists. It is the duty of every citizen to partake in a democracy and to make sure that politicians are afraid of us. Not because we are violent but we won’t take shit lying down. You lie to us, we dump you and that’s how it should be. This is our country not theirs and they are there to serve us not the other way around.
Oh what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practice to deceive!
So did Thomas Jefferson – the man who started todays US Democratic party. He also said (paraphrased) that we couldn’t legislate against them as it would be a gross violation of free association and liberty. We have them, we’re always going to have them and so the best thing we can do is make sure that we have legislation that works with them.
I to would like to see more of the 20 registered parties in parliament which is another reason to support state funding of parties.
Shouldn’t it be
“the best solution is to say in public what you say in private”?
Hide’s comment could be read to say that you should tell your public lies to your friends and family. Shouldn’t we be asking politicians to tell us the same truth they tell people they’re close to?
“list your comment level or leave”
Lift?
[lprent: typo – lift damnit]
Thanks for telling your side of what happened at the conference Steve, I was wondering after the media coverage, having been at a few party conferences in my time and thinking that Key’s explanation sounded rather illogical.
I guess that’s the one thing you can say for Hide, at least the guy’s honest. You know what you are voting for with Act. Which is why they are under 5% I guess 😉
Anyone from National keen to withdraw and apologise for all their claims that they had no secret agenda? With the refusal to release papers backgrounding their policies, comments by senior MPs that conflict with public statements by the leadership, spokespeople who seem to be privy to a different policy from what has been released, it’s all starting to look like National is not a Government in Waiting. Imagine what the Cabinet meetings would be like?!
forgetaboutthelastone
Indeed. Been reading my blog lately? LOL.
Must have given you some food for thought and more to come.
“what the Cabinet meetings would be like?!”
John: Right then, today we’re going to talk about what not to say
Bill: Are you sure we should be talking about that John?
John: Are you questioning my grasp of the facts Bill?
Bill: Sorry John, I chose my words poorly
John: Yeah well don’t do it again you crater-faced prick-pauper
Lockie: Does that mean we shouldn’t talk about the secret agenda either boss?
Bill: Shut up Lockie, stick to your studs
Lockie: I resent that insinuation Bill. John, Bill is being nasty
Brian: Is there something we should know about?
John: There is nothing you should know about
etc, etc
Nice one sprout. LOL.
Scribe. Thought I had replied to your question but it’s not here:
I did apply to attend the conference as media – just as Farrar and I attended the Budget as media and Farrar attended the Nat conference as media. My application was denied on the grounds that The Standard is not friendly to National.
I think any fair analysis would say that Kiwiblog and The Standard are media outlets and it was as a media rep for The Standard that I applied.
travellerev – marvellous work you do on your blog there. just waiting for another quote i can steal.
“My application was denied on the grounds that The Standard is not friendly to National.”
But being a sad wee young labour stooge you went along anyway.
Great to see all this is starting to paint labour as dirty players. Did you smile for the cameras Clinton?
Public? Private? Ethics? Dirty tricks? Who commissioned and paid the private investigators that collected all the dirt on Winston?
Oh what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practice to deceive!
But when we have the art perfected,
It’s time to go and get elected!!
(Dennis Glover actually…)
My application was denied on the grounds that The Standard is not friendly to National.
Is that what you were told, Steve, or is that your opinion of why you were not given media accreditation?
I loved Nicky Hager on TV3 saying “it wasn’t one of my guys” classic
Anybody that admires a turd master like the Hager wimp needs a lobotomy asap. Is the timid geek hailed as the standard liar?The freak is the epitome of the new age androgynous man ? This country is plummeting in a sewage pond!!
“I loved Nicky Hager”
Go back to bed and clean up your chunder!
Anybody that loves Hager needs a lobotomy. Is he the made in NZ wimp hailed as the epitome of the new hollowhead androgynous freak?
Go back to bed nutbar.
Julie- I thought the same thing about how he worded that comment. Apparently Hide has some experience in keeping secrets- maybe National should listen to its potential coalition partners more carefully next time 😉 Meanwhile us greenies will continue to say in private exactly what we say in public.
OoB- heh. 😀
edit: Wow, D4J continues to be inciteful 😉
“D4J continues to be inciteful”
Oh shut up you wimpster, everybody knows I am a spiteful prick you sad arse fairy.Must go the warden needs his computer.
D4J – This from someone who takes Ian Moon Landing was Faked Wishart seriously.
Have they found where the Hager alien was hatched on planet Mars yet?
Sorry must go lockdown is well overdue. Cell 666.
D4J: Performance art.
L
Hide has it right. Saying the same in private as in publis IS the answer. Obvious to everyone except the clever-clever types who disrespect the voting public by misleading them.
If they told the truth, they would lose votes. They know it….so are “forced” to cheat.
With ethics like that, they shouldn’t hold public office. I’ve been saying that about the worst Nats since 1983….and about Richard Prebble since he signed up to ‘the public must be lied to for their own good’ brigade.
The odious Mark Ellis had a wee rant on his sports show last night about -a desperate Labour Govt. using entrapment- mirroring the Key diversion line of earlier in the day. How do this motley television crew (Breakfast, Gone Fishing even, with its fawning recent recommendation of Key) repeatedly get away with this stuff?
It sure seems to be working with a certain type of kiwi bloke.Go the Standard! lets deny these willfully uninformed oafs their electoral prize.
I’ve had it with all this crap from the mainstream and others about who was behind the taping of Nat MPs.
Two points.
1. A wee while age I suggested in a comment that someone should bail up to one of these guys with a tape recorder and pin them on a few issues. Now, if I can think it’s a good idea so can countless other individuals. So well done that man for having the wherewithal to follow through on his idea.
2. JK appears to have transferred the nastier aspects of individual corporate success strategies to our electoral process. While it might be okay for individuals to employ subterfuge for their personal gain within a party, is it okay for an entire party to practice it within the context of an election bid? Of course it is (sadly), but not if you are caught out.
So excuse me as I dream a while on the long odds of the two shibboleths of NZ politics burying each other in enough slung mud to hand us a “Green November”. Yeah, yeah, it’s a very long shot, but we deserve to be completely rid of neo-liberal economic policies and parties. (Labour with their occasional lifebelt tossed over to prevent a few drownings and Nat with their ‘no lifebelts’ policy).
Back to the point. ‘The punters’ applaud you, whoever you are.
Hey, be careful what you wish for, guys. If what Rodney Hide said was the main thing that mattered, he’d be PM and ACT would be the government…….
Incidentally, if anyone has a clip of that Gone Fishin’ episode `A Day on the Water With John Key’, I’d love to see it. Aired Saturday July 12 at 1730 on TV3.
L
good luck! ha