About Judith Tizard
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- Date published:
11:53 am, September 21st, 2013 - 125 comments
Categories: labour -
Tags: judith tizard, matthew hooton
A recent tweet by Matthew Hooton claiming that Judith Tizard is getting a position in David Cunliffe’s office was obviously meant to be destabilising spin. There was a quick response that Judith was merely helping out an old friend by helping him move his office. But Hooton’s tweet made me reflect on Judith’s treatment over the past few years.
Because Judith’s treatment by the media and the forces of evil was unwarranted and frankly appalling.
She is from very solid Labour Party stock. Her father Bob was a high ranking member of the Labour Caucus for many years. Her mother Kath was the first Labour mayor of Auckland. Within that family is a huge history of dedication to the party.
My own impression of Judith’s contribution as a Minister in the fifth Labour Government, and it is an impression formed by considerable exposure to her work, is that it was significant.
As Associate Minister of Transport Judith was at the forefront of Auckland based projects. When you think of the revitalisation of the rail system, the tidying up of Spaghetti Junction and the progress in completing the Western Ring Route these were significant projects that required deft handling which Judith provided.
And as the Associate Minister of the Arts I witnessed Judith give some stunning speeches highlighting the important role the creative sector plays. The ongoing loyalty of the artistic classes including musos to Labour is a reflection not only of their appreciation of Helen Clark’s work but also of Judith’s work.
Judith did lose the seat of Auckland Central in the 2008 election. She was struggling with her health at the time and was lacking energy. And the seat is not a safe Labour seat. The rising gentrification of the area has seen to that.
She was mercilessly attacked by the right and made a figure of mockery. But these attacks were unfair. When we tolerate this type of behaviour on one of our own then none of us are safe.
The “Judith Tizard phenomenon” was said to be a factor in the decision on who Labour’s candidate for the Mt Albert by election was going to be. It seems that some within the party had bought into the right wing spin.
We need to be more protective of our own and more appreciative of their work. And we need to counter the obvious attack lines that the Right throw up from time to time.
UPDATE: Matthew Hooton has pointed out that I have Cath Tizard’s name spelt incorrectly and he is right. I prefer not to use her title as my fierce republican nature refuses to recognise its relevance. He is correct that any of us engaging in social media ought to make sure that we are as accurate as possible 😈
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- Release: National must take mental health seriouslyMental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...2 weeks ago
- Referendums for Māori wards a racist step backwardsThe Government's imposed referendum on Māori wards is a racist step backwards for Māori representation, and disregards Te Tiriti o Waitangi. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Job losses at Health not worth it for tax cutsNew Zealand will feel the harm of the National Government’s reckless cuts to jobs at the health ministry for generations, says Ayesha Verrall. ...2 weeks ago
- Press release: No Māori initiatives in Government’s nothing planMāori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...2 weeks ago
- Thirty six point PR spinThe Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...3 weeks ago
- Thirty six point PR spinThe Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...3 weeks ago
- Thirty six point PR spinThe Government’s ‘36 point’ plan for the next three months is as pointless as it is hollow. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Social housing off Government’s to-do listThe Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Less money in most people’s pockets this AprilChanges to minimum wage and benefit indexation means many New Zealanders will get less this year, as the Government gives a big tax break to landlords instead. ...3 weeks ago
- $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
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 ...7 hours ago - Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder listThe 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 ...10 hours ago
- Judicial appointments announcedAttorney-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 ...10 hours ago
- Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in SingaporeEducation 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 ...11 hours ago
- Value of stopbank project proven during cycloneA 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 ...11 hours ago
- Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visitForeign 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 ...12 hours ago
- Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac DayScience, 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 ...14 hours ago
- Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the PhilippinesPrime 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 ...1 day ago
- Government commits $20m to Westport flood protectionThe 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 ...1 day ago
- Taupō takes pole positionThe 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 ...1 day ago
- Cost of living support for low-income homeownersLocal 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 ...1 day ago
- Government backing mussel spat projectThe 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 - ...1 day ago
- Government focused on getting people into workBenefit 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 ...2 days ago
- Clean energy key driver to reducing emissionsThe 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 ...2 days ago
- Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forwardThe 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 ...2 days ago
- Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic PartnershipPrime 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 ...2 days ago
- Government consults on extending coastal permits for portsRMA 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 ...2 days ago
- Inflation coming down, but more work to doToday’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 ...2 days ago
- School attendance restored as a priority in health adviceRefreshed 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 ...3 days ago
- Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sectorOceans 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 ...3 days ago
- Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International CongressAssociate 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 ...3 days ago
- Removing red tape to help early learners thriveThe 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, ...4 days ago
- RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tapeChanges to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...4 days ago
- McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationshipTrade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...4 days ago
- Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister LeePrime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...4 days ago
- PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ tiesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...4 days ago
- Antarctica New Zealand Board appointmentsForeign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...4 days ago
- Finance Minister travels to Washington DCFinance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...4 days ago
- Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlordsThe coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...4 days ago
- Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being consideredState Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...5 days ago
- New Zealand condemns Iranian strikesPrime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...5 days ago
- Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plansHundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...1 week ago
- Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand ChairHealth Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...1 week ago
- Roads of National Significance planning underwayThe NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...1 week ago
- Navigating an unstable global environmentNew Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...1 week ago
- NZ welcomes Australian Governor-GeneralPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...1 week ago
- Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for WinterAssociate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...1 week ago
- NZ and the US: an ever closer partnershipNew Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...1 week ago
- Joint US and NZ declarationApril 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...1 week ago
- NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperationForeign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research. “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...1 week ago
- Rousing farewell for Kiwi doctors flying out to Gaza aid flotilla
Kia Ora Gaza A passionate haka reverberated through Auckland International Airport as a medical team of three New Zealand doctors received an emotional farewell from a big crowd of supporters before flying to Turkey to join the international Freedom Flotilla to Gaza. The doctors, who left Auckland yesterday, hope to ...1 hour ago - Communities Against The Fast-track Heartened By ‘Overwhelming’ Public Response; Disgusted By ‘...
With submissions closing today, Macassey-Pickard says groups around the country have been supporting a huge range of people to make their submissions. ...3 hours ago - Renters Rights To Drastically Reduce Under Landlord GovernmentThe Government’s announced changes around tenancy rules set renters’ rights back by nearly a decade. ...3 hours ago
- NZPI Submission on Fast Track Approvals BillOur response to the new legislation is informed by targeted conversations with practitioners working in the system and through an implementation lens. ...3 hours ago
- Fast Track Invite List Includes Most Destructive Industries In New ZealandThe new ‘Fast-track Approvals Bill’ would give just three Ministers the power to approve or deny development projects. They would avoid the usual checks and balances that are in place to protect rivers, land, the ocean, and communities. ...3 hours ago
- Eugene Doyle: Helen Clark on why AUKUS isn’t in New Zealand’s national interestCOMMENTARY: By Eugene Doyle Helen Clark, how I miss you. The former New Zealand Prime Minister — the safest pair of hands this country has had in living memory — gave a masterclass on the importance of maintaining an independent foreign policy when she spoke at an AUKUS symposium held ...3 hours ago
- Government releases list of organisations shoulder-tapped for fast-track consents
The government's released the list of organisations provided with information on how to apply - just hours before public submissions on the bill close. ...5 hours ago - The Week in Politics: Job cuts surge and Waitangi Tribunal troubleAnalysis - It's been a grim week for public servants, while trouble is also brewing between the government and Waitangi Tribunal. ...6 hours ago
- It never rains but it pours: intense rain and flash floods have increased inland in eastern Australi...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Before climate change really got going, eastern Australia’s flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range. But that’s changing. Now ...6 hours ago
- Watch: Christopher Luxon speaks to media in ManilaThe PM has defended how he's talked up NZ trade on his trip to Southeast Asia, after criticism from his own delegation. ...6 hours ago
- ‘It could be the death of the museum’: why research cuts at a South Australian institution have ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Finkel, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University Sia Duff / South Australian Museum In February, the South Australian Museum “re-imagined” itself. In the face of rising costs and inadequate government funds, CEO David Gaimster, who took the reins last June, declared ...6 hours ago
- Government signs off $41m clean energy deal with Asian Development BankThe government has committed $41 million to clean energy transition at the Asian Development Bank's Energy Transition Mechanism. ...7 hours ago
- Are 2 mid-career AFL retirements a sign Australian athletes are taking brain health more seriously?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, School of Allied Heath, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University, La Trobe University This week, Collingwood AFL player Nathan Murphy announced his retirement, brought on by his concussion history and ongoing issues. The 24-year-old’s seemingly sudden retirement, ...9 hours ago
- Luxon: Waitangi Tribunal comments from coalition parties 'ill considered'Comments from ACT and NZ First ministers about the Tribunal were "ill considered" and "that message will be underscored" to them, the PM says. ...9 hours ago
- Mental Health Foundation Facing Staff Cuts From Govt Funding SqueezeThe Mental Health Foundation provides support and resources for those facing the loss of their job, so it’s wrong in the very week the Government adds another 1000 jobs to its tally of cuts, that this is happening. ...9 hours ago
- I wholeheartedly recommend The President: a brilliant revival of a play of decay, terror and revulsi...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/Sydney Theatre Company Decay, terror, revulsion. These are three of the central themes of Thomas Bernhard’s rarely performed play The President. The Austrian is one of the greatest ...9 hours ago
- How the coolest little capital is shrinkingIt's not the first time a government has targeted public servants for job cuts, but this time Wellington is really feeling it. ...10 hours ago
- Ministers accused of Cabinet Manual breach with threats to Waitangi Tribunal
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says threats by ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour to reform or close down the Waitangi Tribunal were “ill-considered”, as legal experts say the ministers may have breached Cabinet Manual conventions. “I think those comments are ill-considered and we expect all ministers to actually exercise good ...10 hours ago - Many prisoners go years without touching a smartphone. It means they struggle to navigate life on th...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ye In (Jane) Hwang, Postdoctoral Research Associate at School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock You’d be hard pressed to find any aspect of daily life that doesn’t require some form of digital literacy. We need only to look back ten ...10 hours ago
- Good news: midlife health is about more than a waist measurement. Here’s whySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Newton, Professor of Exercise Medicine, Edith Cowan University Pexels/RDNE stock project You’re not in your 20s or 30s anymore and you know regular health checks are important. So you go to your GP. During the appointment they measure your waist. ...10 hours ago
- The Friday Poem: ‘Mitochondrial Problem’ by Evangeline Riddiford Graham
A new poem by Evangeline Riddiford Graham. Mitochondrial Problem I. It was long drive to Kansas for the man and his dog but you have to understand he said She doesn’t fly. Which calls to mind not carsick shitting barking or whining but a dog who chooses not to as ...10 hours ago - The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending April 18The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND 1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38) Hot off the press, this debut ...10 hours ago
- Department of Conservation closing Dunedin centre, but no jobs lostVisitor habits are changing and DOC needs to adapt in a financially sustainable way, its operations director says. ...10 hours ago
- Unions Collaborate With Thousands Of Job CutsWith New Zealand officially in recession, a swathe of mass sackings is currently sending shockwaves through the entire working class. ...10 hours ago
- Watch live: Christopher Luxon speaks to media in ManilaPrime Minister Christopher Luxon is speaking to reporters in Manila after pledging greater defence cooperation with the Philippines. Watch live. ...10 hours ago
- Government sent please explain letter to Wellington City Council over transport disagreementThe contents were revealed in correspondence from Simeon Brown and Chris Bishop to Wellington's Mayor. ...11 hours ago
- Some families push back against journalists who mine social media for photos – they have every rig...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Wajnryb McDonald, PhD candidate in Criminology, University of Sydney Less than 24 hours after Ashlee Good was murdered in Bondi Junction, her family released a statement requesting the media take down photographs they had reproduced of Ashlee and her family without ...11 hours ago
- Mental Health Foundation staff cuts loom, with funding falling behind rising costsChief executive Shaun Robinson said it has not had any government funding cut, but government-funded contracts have not kept pace with rising costs. ...11 hours ago
- The ‘devil comet’ 12P/Pons-Brooks has finally become visible from Australia. What can we expect?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonti Horner, Professor (Astrophysics), University of Southern Queensland Pons–Brooks visible from Utah, March 9 2024. James Peirce/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND If you’re a fan of all things space, you’ve doubtless heard about the “devil comet”, which has been captivating keen-eyed observers in the ...11 hours ago
- Rugby stadiums are sold as an economic asset – but NZ needs to ask if they’re really worth itSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Hamlin, Senior Lecturer in Marketing , University of Otago A multi-billion dollar stadium precinct has been proposed for Auckland, one of three proposals in front of Auckland Council for a new stadium in the city. The council is also considering revamping ...11 hours ago
- Auckland dog attacks: Callouts for attacks on other animals going upRoaming dogs are responsible for more than a thousand attacks on animals each year, and the number is growing. ...12 hours ago
- What access to puberty blockers means for trans young people and their whānauThe Ministry of Health has delayed the release of its evidence brief on the safety, reversibility and mental health and wellbeing outcomes for puberty blockers. While we wait, Julia de Bres speaks to those with firsthand experience. Best practice gender-affirming healthcare is based on trans people’s self-determination and agency. The ...12 hours ago
- NZ and Philippines pledge defence cooperation amid rising tensionsThe commitment came after a sit-down meeting between Christopher Luxon and President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr overnight. ...13 hours ago
- How superblocks can help reimagine city lifeBarcelona’s city streets have gone from traffic-clogged to pedestrian-friendly. How? Superblocks. Ellen Rykers explains. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week I read a great interview with renowned urbanist Janette Sadik-Khan by The Spinoff’s Wellington editor Joel MacManus: “You can reimagine streets, ...13 hours ago
- Fire engineering expertise may take a big hit with job cuts at MBIEThe public sector cuts are poised to take out a big chunk of expertise at the country's building regulator. ...14 hours ago
- “Fast-track Law To Kill Kiwi”: Students Say Fight Against Anti-democracy Legislation Is Only Jus...Student groups ‘Climate Action VUW’, Schools Strike 4 Climate and VUWSA will be on the street in Wellington today, the last day for submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, with a message that the fight against the Government’s ‘War on ...14 hours ago
- ‘We have thousands of Modis’: the secret behind the BJP’s enduring success in IndiaSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sofia Ammassari, Research Fellow, Griffith University Since 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity has grown exponentially – and so has the formidable organisational machine of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These two factors will be key to delivering the BJP a ...15 hours ago
- Online schooling is not just for lockdowns. Could it work for your child?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Professor of Education (Adjunct) & Senior Manager (BCE), Charles Sturt University During COVID almost all Australian students and their families experienced online learning. But while schools have long since gone back to in-person teaching, online learning has not gone ...15 hours ago
- Hear me out: You can shove your reusable period productsYes, they’re better for the environment. No, that’s not a good enough reason for me to use them. Once every 26 days or so, my period arrives, and if struck by an act of God, I am caught red-crotched without products. How, after 17 years of this, do I still ...15 hours ago
- Rip It Up And Start Over – Fast-Track Approvals Bill Needs To Be Scrapped“It will cause significant harm to our environment and communities. It is completely at odds with New Zealanders’ relationship with nature and our need for a low-carbon, sustainable economic future." ...15 hours ago
- Maori Authority Warns Government On Fast Track LegislationThe Chair of the National Maori Authority, Matthew Tukaki, has warned a Parliamentary Select Committee that fast-tracking legislation is a perilous practice that undermines the core tenets of democracy, transparency, and accountability. ...15 hours ago
- Why the government’s haste in changing the health system could come back to haunt itSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Tenbensel, Associate Professor, Health Policy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Since coming into power, the coalition government has adopted a simple but shrewd see-how-fast-we-can-move political strategy. However, in the health sector this need for speed entails ...15 hours ago
- Many suicides are related to gambling. How can we tackle this problem?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Hronis, Clinical Psychologist, University of Technology Sydney Darya Sannikova/Pexels Whether you’re watching TV, attending a footy game, or eating a meal at your local pub, gambling is hard to escape. Although the rise of gambling is not unique to Australia, ...15 hours ago
- Things that go buzz in the night – our global study found there really are more insects out after ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Wong, Forrest Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Have you ever wondered if there are more insects out at night than during the day? We set out to answer this question by combing through the scientific ...15 hours ago
- Why don’t Australians talk about their salaries? Pay transparency and fairness go hand-in-handSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carol T Kulik, Research Professor, University of South Australia IR Stone/Shutterstock In Australia, it’s not the done thing to know – let alone ask – what our colleagues are paid. Yet, it’s easy to see how pay transparency can make pay ...15 hours ago
- ‘Character’ And Its Impact On Immigration StatusThe Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is sounding a warning to migrants, that running foul of the law may see them leaving the country prematurely. ...15 hours ago
- 20,000 more on jobseeker benefits than this time last yearThe government’s plan to get 50,000 people off jobseeker support by 2030 has had a rocky start, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Beneficiary numbers are up – and so are ...17 hours ago
- All of the Raglan Roast cafes in Wellington, ranked from worst to bestRaglan Roast is a staple of Wellington coffee culture. But with five branches across the capital, which one is the best? I am a die-hard Raglan Roast fan. It’s consistently the most affordable cafe in Wellington, and one of the only places you can get a coffee after 3pm. So, ...19 hours ago
- Auckland uni students threaten rent strike over rising accommodation feesResidents of University of Auckland halls are being urged to withhold their accommodation fees from May 1, in a bid to force the university to take student concerns over rent hikes seriously. The University of Auckland is facing a strike from students over the cost of on-campus accommodation. The Students ...19 hours ago
- Warning of death from a million cuts as Oceans Secretariat dissolvedShane Jones says people voted for change, but opponents say small cuts such as ending a special oceans secretariat are starting to add up The post Warning of death from a million cuts as Oceans Secretariat dissolved appeared first on Newsroom. ...19 hours ago
- Defence deal to counter Beijing’s aggression in South China SeaNew Zealand and the Philippines have signed a new maritime security agreement and stated their concerns over activity in the South China Sea, as Chinese vessels continue to flout international law. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Philippines President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos committed to signing a Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement by ...19 hours ago
- Wellington’s ebb and flow of public servantsThe thousands of government “back-office” job cuts are causing widespread pain in the capital city. In today’s episode of The Detail, we speak to three journalists and a think tank researcher, looking at the larger picture around the cuts and what effect it will have on Wellington, a city that’s ...19 hours ago
- New Zealand transport planning has gone off the railsOpinion: The famed American architect and urban designer Daniel Burnham once said, “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood!” Burnham wouldn’t have been referring to the transport plans in Aotearoa New Zealand over the past five years; projects so big they hadn’t the credibility to ...19 hours ago
- Daily crossword, Friday 19 AprilThe post Daily crossword, Friday 19 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...19 hours ago
- Brakes on transport and logistics sector as demand for freight slowsThe transport sector is currently in the slow lane The post Brakes on transport and logistics sector as demand for freight slows appeared first on Newsroom. ...19 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 19 AprilLoading…(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, Friday 19 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...19 hours ago
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It’s Dame Catherine Tizard, not Dame Katherine Tizard. A C not a K.
Yes, yes, the spelling. That’s the real issue.
Fuck you’re a pathetic little kunt Matthew.
Wow, you really showed him Felix ….
…. how small and petty you can be.
Why do it?
It makes any actual arguments you may subsequently have against his positions really easy to marginalise; people tend to ignore those who are frothing at the mouth irrespective of whether or not they are justified.
That said, given he has a significant audience in NZ I find a fair amount of what he does irresponsible occasionally bordering on vile.
He has the courage to post on the standard, so take him to task on his positions.
Here’s a good place to start: http://www.nbr.co.nz/author/44974
Oh gawd just save us from the concern trolling.
No intention to derail or disrupt dialogue, or undermine moral.
I just get sick and tired of the petty shit.
Then feel free to stop being petty and shitty any time you like.
I prefer to think of Matthew haunting the standard rather than commenting on it. One day when he outlives his usefulness here we’ll get in an exorcist.
Hi Naturesong.
Given that you just posted ” people tend to ignore those who are frothing at the mouth irrespective of whether or not they are justified.”
followed almost immediately by “he has a significant audience in NZ” without any apparent trace of irony, I’m going to have to insist that you go fuck yourself.
The language Matthew Hooten uses comes across as very reasonable. It’s not until you look into the ideas he promotes within that reasonable tone do you realise how offensive his world view is.
Combine that with the audience he has via various media outlets, this enables him to influence folks that don’t think too critically as well legitimise those that share his world view.
It makes him a dangerous person.
When you abuse him rather than showing how flawed his ideas are you play into one of his ongoing themes that those who tend toward the left are rabid, frothing crazies.
If calling people kunts or telling people to fuck themselves achieves whatever goal you are after, good for you.
I just think it makes you look small and petty.
Nb. Apologies to Mickysavage for the derail. This is the last one from me on this subject.
Sorry mate, it’s not that you don’t make some decent points, but sounding ‘reasonable, considered and moderate’ against these fucking asshats is not my goal.
Oh fuck off Naturesong you tepid worm. I’m not here to impress you with my manners.
Hooten is the most frothing, screeching, toy-throwing commenter in the public space in NZ. He has become a joke with all those who work alongside him. If you think he sounds “reasonable” then you either a) haven’t heard him or b) are concern trooling to stick up for him.
He’s also a nasty racist, sexist, homophopic bigot who actively and deliberately works to make NZ a worse place for the vast majority of people to live.
I don’t owe him any consideration or respect, not even the faux fawning crawly kind that you exhibit.
CV and felix, you’re putting me out of a job. 🙂
And FWIW, Naturesong: Indeed, we should all discuss things reasonably and honestly and in good faith with no ulterior motives or agendas… but the Goebbels wannabes like Hoots, the Penguin and Whalecum all see such things as weaknesses and limitations to be exploited.
Your intentions are good, but naive concepts of gentlemanly debate and complacency are also our enemies, as was shown so well in that classic film by Powell and Pressburger, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp in which… Oh shit, you’ve made me become pompous again (not that I need any encouragement).
I don’t want to see The Standard turn into “Hard News” – an interminably polite and dull dinner party discussion amongst the comfortable.
…Or pubicaddress
Yeah and we don’t wanna have to clutch our pearls every time someone lends Hooten the words “right-wing narcissistic fuck”.
That’s commendably austere in my book. All power to the point !
For NatureSong: Stephen Fry: There is no right language or wrong language, more than there is any right or wrong clothes…
I think you’ve misunderstood where I’m coming from.
I agree that MH is “… also a nasty racist, sexist, homophopic bigot who actively and deliberately works to make NZ a worse place for the vast majority of people to live”.
Most of the stuff I read of his couches this destructive and offensive world view in quite reasonable language.
PB has helpfully pointed out my ignorance (making today officially a good day; I learnt something new).
Also, I don’t think you owe him any consideration or respect. However it’d be nice if you didn’t give him any ammunition.
Some of us knock on doors leading up to elections. As part of a broader left, having a reputation as being intelligent and reasonable is really, really helpful. https://i.greens.org.nz/values.
I’m also polite because that is my nature.
If you think that I do it falsely or that its crawly, that is your problem. Or to put it in language you may understand; fuck you.
Well, the Left can always do with individuals like yourself who wield a fine sense of diplomacy and utilise a hard to fault communications etiquette.
Just not frakking for me tho 😈
Or to put it in language you may understand; fuck you.
One of us, one of us, one of us…
🙂
(Old movie reference: Freaks )
“Or to put it in language you may understand; fuck you.”
Why thank you kind sir. And a very good day to you.
+1 Felix
That;s exactly what I think of all Tories felix. I’m a bit immune to them at my age but I’m still feel uneasy when they open their mouth and talk about “belt lightning or ‘Im not a racist but!!
The language Matthew Hooten uses comes across as very reasonable. It’s not until you look into the ideas he promotes within that reasonable tone do you realise how offensive his world view is.
Lol.
https://twitter.com/MatthewHootonNZ/status/370009843781734401
Ha, that is funny – he tried to cyber stalk me once, what a hypocrite.
My my how very interesting.
News Flash
Matthew Hooton confirms publicly what we all knew to be true; the contents of the Hollowmen book’s accuracy.
In reference to Mr Hagars excellent investigative journalism techniques Mr Hooton tweets:
“In my life, that commo cunt has violated my privacy as a political activist more than any spook”
People will provide information in order to stop traitors. This is fair and reasonable Mr Hooton, these are the risks you take when playing with mass sabotage of people’s interests. Stop your whinging.
Ordinary New Zealanders do not do such things and do not have such ill-intent and this is why the spooks need to be curbed from a free-for-all of spying.
Traitors, on the other hand, are whom the GCSB are ‘supposed’ to be targeting. And if they were doing their job acceptably, Mr Hooton, you would be top of their list.
Ouch!
Wasn’t aware of that. I’m more familiar with his writing published in the main stream media; NBR etc.
So, yup. I now understand that Felix wasn’t being rude or petty, just describing MH as accurately as he could.
Yeah, the question isn’t “Why are people rude to Hooton?”, It’s “Why do decent media outlets carry a dishonest fuckweasel like Hooton?”
+1 Pascal’s Bookie
Good question.
Because he’s a Tory.brown noser, that’s why.
From what I’ve heard it’s because he pays for the column space, no different to how he would if he were selling shoes.
In celebration of which vindication of Felix we will now in commendably austere unison……….“right-wing narcissistic fuck !”
Well, since Hoots does read this blog and considers it important, perhaps he’d like to justify his “commo cunt” comment as he tried to justify “the Kahui murder is just so fucking hilarious” quip.
Or his long associations with the Sounds Symposia, which Anders Brevik found so inspiring.
Certainly he seems to have isssshyooos with people of the feminine and darker-skinned persuasion.
The fact is, Hoots is a truly sick, evil individual…. and NACT pays him for it.
Yuck. What a creep he seems to be. What lovely people NAct have doing PR for them.
ranting on about how evil Nicky hager was for exposing him as hollow via his own emails.
This from someone who had few problems with the GCSB getting more snoop powers.
why do it? possibly because he is, and pathetic little xxxxx should be challenged at every opportunity.
The prolonged nedua attacks on Judith Tizard over the last decade or so were/are reminiscent of the Oz media attacks on Julia Gillard. Sexist pricks – the lot of them. And M Hooten included in that description.
Jenny K
+1 Don’t know about Hooten though. But he would be making seemingly reasonable points, likely to have a touch of curare on them.
Thanks Jenny Kirk.
Just read the post and I was going to say much the same thing but instead I will elaborate what I know about a very dark period in NZ Labour’s history. That is the 1980s and 1990s.
Who started the attacks on Judith Tizard? The Nats? No. The media? No. Commentators like Matthew Hooten? No. It was a bunch of her former Labour colleagues and their supporters. Yes, and they were the same ones who began the vicious rumours about Helen Clark – rumour and innuendo that eventually became a widely held public perception. I heard some of the more offensive stuff that was doing the rounds (thankfully none of it became public knowledge) and I can tell you some of it was disgusting.
The colleagues of course were Roger Douglas, Richard Prebble, Michael Bassatt and some lesser known acolytes whose names I’ve already forgotten. They saw Judith as a suitable target because of her gender, her outgoing personality and the fact Helen had close ties with the Tizard family. Others in the Labour Party were also targeted because of their association with Helen/Judith including me, although in my case it was only in part related to them.
I hope that one day someone writes the full story of that period and I will gladly assist with the knowledge I possess so that the truth can come out in the open for all to see.
That will be an important addition to the history of the NZLP, and a further reminder to all why democratisation of the party must continue.
Interestin’ stuff, Anne. When I was on Nth Shore City council some high-up Nats supporters tried constantly to undermine Helen C by starting rumours that she was ill (she looked pale on TV) etc which i was able to scotch at that source (Looked after her skin – sunscreen – good complexion, very fit) but I hadn’t realised they might also have been coming from the old Rogernomics blokes . They were/are still very nasty blokes. Probably behind the ABCs re Cunliffe – if we only knew – because their tactics are so similar. They really do not want Labour Leaders to make moves which will benefit all NZers, not just the very rich. Sickening stuff.
@ Jenny Kirk
Not all of them blokes – but the 1 or 2 non-blokes that I know of… weren’t in parliament. These are the ones who started it all, but the rest (Nats, media, commentators etc.) got into the act when Helen’s star started to rise rapidly around the mid 1990s.
Edit: You’re right. the tactics used are similar, but I think it’s more likely some of the ABCers learned the craft by observing the Rogernomes in action in the 1980s.
Anne @ 2.2.2.1 – now I’m REALLY curious, and I wish I knew more. Tryin’ to think back to those years and those people – non-blokes – and starting to get an inkling ….. but memory fades and I’ve got too much else on at the moment – a crowded mind – will have to wait until the subconscious flicks on to illuminate.
A group of Roger Douglas acolytes. Took pleasure in disrupting meetings. Undermined Judith Tizard in the mid to late 80s by disrupting her attempts to chair an Auckland Labour Regional conference. Made headlines up and down the country because they eventually reduced her to tears. Interesting that the media of the day were all in attendance. Somebody tipped them off? Did it again in the 1990s when ACT’s Rodney Hide stood against Judith in Auckland Central. Followed her around and disrupted her public meetings.
Your subconscious will do the rest Jenny Kirk. Some different people involved the second time around but all had been in the Douglas camp for many years.
@ Jenny Kirk
Hope you’re still around because here’s something that should assist your memory. A bit cryptic but…
Three break-ins and a house in Onehunga. All took place in the mid 1990s.
The first break-in at a private residence – nothing stolen as far as I’m aware so apparently no ordinary burglary. The second at the Auckland Central Alliance Party headquarters where one or two tapes (alleged to have information concerning Roger Douglas on them) were stolen. And the third at Labour’s Auckland Central headquarters where a copy machine was used to copy lists of names etc.
Anne – of course ! memory clogs starting to finally tick over ….. thanks for the reminders.
Finally Jenny K – think about the house in Onehunga. Who was spearheading that particular controversy. I’m sure you’ve joined the dots now.
How I know these things is another intriguing story…
Yes AGREE the tirade and campaign against Judith Tizard, was in fact started within the Labour Party, the idiot bloggers such as Hooten and right wing media NEWSTALK ZB etc just rode on the anti Judith labour bandwagon…Labour party’s biggest enemy is from within not the looney rightwingers
Sorry – the non-word “nedua” was meant to be media. Should have checked before I sent it off ! my eyesight must be going ….
+1
Thanks Matthew. Tell me, did you verify the accuracy of the information before tweeting it?
Of course not. He was also on the radio on Thursday afternoon repeating it.
When it was proven live on air that he had been spreading lies, do you think he apologised?
Nah, the nasty bigoted little prick tried to change the lie to ‘Tizzard has now been sacked from Cunliffe’s office’.
Hear, hear!
The right wing spin machine is incredibly powerful BUT the blogs on the Left have elevated the cause of the Left in the last few weeks, with David Cunliffe posting comments on The Standard and doing live interviews on The Daily Blog. I’m sure more people than ever before will be turning to the Blogs, so we on the Left can communicate our own message, loudly and directly.
Meanwhile I see the NBR online is progressing the future of our economy with:
– An attack on the PPTA (Hooten)
– A warning about the dangers of benefits and beneficiary parents (Rodney Hide)
– A test drive of the latest BMW.
Talk about a pack of fucking useless visionless gits.
– A [paid for] attack on the PPTA, no less.
I agree with you Mickey I like your self have campaigned with Judith in the last two elections I have always found her great to work with and a really good team member. In fact I really like having her company during campaigning she’s always happy to do what ever is needed, she’s down to earth which has surprised me, she also has a wicked sense humor (sure sign of intelligence in my view) and of coarse she’s a foody.
I look forward to working with her in the next general election.
It seems that some within the party had bought into the right wing spin.
Possibly/probably, but it could also be symptomatic of Labour’s recent malaise which was that they thought that everyone had bought the right wing spin and they weren’t going to do a damned thing about it, hence Goff’s Pavlovian “Me too!” every time Key farted and Mumblefuck’s insistence that the party’s electoral salvation rested on getting the dead white male vote.
I agree with you wholeheartedly Mickey. Judith Tizard has been treated abysmally by some of the media, with no justification whatsoever.
Yeah re Judith Tizard it’s the dirty bullying side of cowardly fucks in what passes for media in NZ. Known her for getting on 40 years (Jesus!). She’s a good sort. Fuck off the stalking wannabe leafy/trendy suburbs bullies !
Oh Matthew said, Matthew said, who cares and yes Judith Tizard is a good woman.
Well said Delia
Unfortunately some people do, such as lazy people in the MSM, so I think that the sheer toxicity of such people needs to be pointed out and I think that it needs to be shown how propagandists do their work until everyone knows. That hasn’t happened yet, IMO, and not everyone’s got the time to read Manufacturing Consent.
Agree and will read the book, thanks for the suggestion Rhinocrates.
One of the ways that the propagandists work is by repeating a slogan over and over again. Delia, here, provides a counteracting slogan for us.
“Mathew said, Mathew said, who cares.”
There’s a documentary too, which might be on youtube or piratebay.
Indeed, that’s a good one – now if we can get everyone… to not even need to bother saying it, for some MSM creep to say, “Oh yeah, them – but nobody takes them seriously any more… is there anyone else? Hey, I’ve just had this idea! Perhaps we could interview someone who’s unbiased, isn’t in anyone’s pay and actually knows what they’re talking about, even if it isn’t in glib soundbites!”
Well, I can dream.
repeating a slogan over and over again
From Animal Farm comes “Four legs good, two legs bad” followed by “Two legs good, four legs bad”. The principle is that some people think that if it’s easy to repeat it must be true. Remember that when you hear “talking points” being brought up, columns by the likes of O’Sillyvan, talk radio and so on.
Her utter refusal to listen to the ICT sector or anyone other than lobbyists for Big Copyright lost her my respect and that of many other people.
This. Just because people are having a go at her doesn’t mean she’s in the right.
Next thing MH will be reminding us what a ‘grump’ Bob was. Seems to me he had a perfect right to be considering the antics of some of his so-called colleagues busy hijacking the principles of the LP over a number of years.
Slightly better though than MH’s little hissy fits from time to time that even the regular gal Kathryn gets embarrassed by (should that be Catherine – with a C?)
Sometimes I think Mathew has real isssssyooooos.
OMG! OMG! I think I droppped a ‘t’ for tit from Matthew’s name – never mind – have an extra ‘p’ for pillock to make up for it
So what did Tizard do that was so worthy of mockery? Is it that she lost her electorate seat, or is there something more?
She was made the face of S92A, obviously National’s focus groups showed some nerd rage on this so her return became the ever imminent threat that mhootz is always yabbering about.
My negative opinion of Tizard was mostly formed by a couple of her staffers, who took jobs with Labour because they, y’know, wanted to make a difference, and spent their lives arranging for their Minister to attend the opera and go on shopping trips to Sydney.
A scientist should know the value of “anecdata”, surely?
Going to the Opera …..how dare she.
Doesnt she know you are only allowed to go to the rugby… for the networking of course
I only go to the rugby to give my hosts a stern telling off.
Exactly what she was doing to those Sydney handbag stores.
What alot of poop !
is this like his attempt to smear cunliffe over when he moved to herne bay which could have been solved with a quick and inexpensive title search… byt why let facts get in the way of a good smear. still very much the man described in hollow men, mathew.
Tracey! You missed the second “t” and you didn’t use a capital “C” for Cunliffe or an “H” for Herne Bay… and there are so many more mistakes – mostly regarding capitals – that I can’t begin! How dare you! Was that malicious or are you an idiot?! In any case, that renders anything you said meaningless, poisonous nonsense and moreover, shows that I am tremendously witty in pointing it out! Applaud me and slink away in shame!
[lprent: Please assist your moderator (and yourself) – add a /sarc tag. You know that I read what you say rather what you didn’t say. ]
I know that tracey appreciates irony.
I hope so!
lprent: Please assist your moderator (and yourself) – add a /sarc tag. You know that I read what you say rather what you didn’t say.
Yes, I was being sarcastic – no offence meant to Tracey at all, instead I was supporting them. I thought that what I wrote was so self-evidently silly (but like something Hoots would say, which is the same thing), no-one would think that I was being serious.
Hi Tracey – I hope you get my point?
[lprent: When I’m moderating I’m read comments backwards in time and without context. This is done deliberately so that I read what you say without the context. Most of the time that is all I moderate on. You can’t assume the context because (as you’re probably aware) being quoted out of context is not unknown. ]
And you say there’s no sense of humour on other blogs?
Did I? Well, some, like [redacted] are distinctly lacking in humour…
My fault is that I prefer/aspire to satire above straight mockery (though I use that often when I’m lazy) and the very best satire is indistinguishable from the sincerely serious (look at how often stories in The Onion get picked up as “real” news items).
lprent’s being fair enough in demanding clarity, considering the number of right-wing trolls this site attracts.
The right must be scared – the first weekend and the smears are starting.
It takes all sorts of skills to run anything and like all of us Judith probably has more in some areas than others.
It sorta cheers me up when Matty blogs on here, means he thinks the blog is relevent and powerful.
Now let me think where else Matty’s skills could be best deployed.
Writing “Use this side” on toilet paper?
So it’s ok for an labour minister from the old school to spend money on motorways? Just not anyone whom isn’t labour/green/associated left.
Indeed Tighty. If you argue against the merits of a particular roading project, then to maintain consistency you have to pathologically hate all roads and everyone who uses them.
The tidy up of Spaghetti Junction has made a significant difference to it. And Auckland’s rail system is in way better shape than it was in 2000.
Hi Micky Savage,
Of more interest to me is how much is it costing the New Zealand taxpayer for the PR campaigns that Key is setting up with old blondy, Doris, I mean Boris Johnson that those stupid enough to watch TV1 News (such as myself) were afflicted with last night? And the conservative party gathering too?
Do the fees of textor-crosby come out of the Government coffers or are they simply provided for from private purses? How much do these people spend on these propagandists in order to fool NZers to vote against their own interests?
I’m just trying to work out how National manage to clock up as much debt as they do, and how it is that NZers appear to be of the mistaken belief that Nats are more frugal in the regard to debt than Labour when I understand this is very incorrect.
It was excellent to see Mr Cunliffe state this fact re Labour being less debt inducing, so plainly in his speech of the other day in parliament and am hoping this will be something that is made plain to every NZer on a regular basis…ad infinitum wouldn’t be too frequent.
Aye repeat it like a mantra …
Cullen and Labour gave us 9 years of surplusses …
National and Blinglish has given us 4 years of deficits …
You can say that all you like, and then look at this document, signed as accurate by Michael Cullen: http://www.treasury.govt.nz/budget/forecasts/prefu2008/prefu08.pdf
Take a look at figure 2 on page 7 in particular – Cullen announcing the decade of forecast fiscal deficits which was his ultimate fiscal legacy.
…See Micky? You get a bite from the Hooton guy, you know you are saying something damaging….
Someone forecasts bad weather, therefore they caused it. Riiiiight.
Taking the hint Hoots? Who takes you seriously? Just fuck off, stop wasting your time, let the real people talk.
Rhinocrates,
I am sure even you are smart enough to know how stupid that comparison is.
Funny thing Matthew, in that document the deficit never increases beyond 1.5% of GDP. Key and English have steered us to a situation where it is at least twice that size. And that excludes Christchurch.
whoopsie hootsie pulled a cutesy,got shit all over his face…
Heard of the GFC? In any case actually they have steered us into a situation where we are looking likely to get back into surplus in 2014/15.
“But But whatabout the GFC wee wee wee boo hoo!”
Just as well Labour saved for that rainy day, aye Swan, else Nat would look even worse than they do already 😉
You’d have to be a fool to think that.
That Bill English has asserted it, but has subsequently failed to hit virtually any of his economic targets on the way doesn’t give you a hint that he might be bullshitting? A year late on asset sales and returns that are way down on what was budgeted. The revenue growth that was confidentially expected in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 hasn’t come to pass. Virtually every measure that the treasury under his tutelage has been wrong and not in a good way. And you still believe that a statement first made back in 2009 will come to pass in a mythic future?
Perhaps you should explain why your mother brought up such a credulous dickhead – one who thinks with his gonads rather than his brain?
Saved my fingers from having to type much the same,Bill from Dipton has stopped mentioning the fabled surpluses because even He has realized how stupid such a lie is,
This is a surplus under Bill English’s watch,
http://www.nbr.co.nz/…/budget-2013-debt-management-office-trims-3-billion-...
Your link is broken. Here’s the actual one: http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/budget-2013-debt-management-office-trims-3-billion-borrowing-programme-wb-140193
You missed the most blatant one: National brought in 3x annual 3c petrol tax rises to make sure they had a $250m surplus in 2014-2015. A surplus that is within the margin of error for a budget prediction that far out.
Ah forgot about that. Of course with the reductions in liquid fuel usage over the last few years this tax hasn’t increased the revenues as much as was anticipated.
Indeed. Peak oil is proving an interesting time.
You’re an idiot. The GFC was precisely why Cullen’s figures went from surpluses to deficits.
Yes, do take a close look at that chart. The top line that did not predict deficits came from March 2008 budget, the one that announced and had tax cuts in it. That cut the government’s revenue significantly but was based on not having a severe drop otherwise in revenue.
Less than 6 months later in the pre-election forecast, those same taxcuts combined with a worsening business and employment situation had pushed into a forecast of deficits from lack of revenue and higher expenditures until 2018.
Any responsible fiscal management like the one that Cullen ran would have reviewed the taxcuts and done what was required to perform prudent fiscal management in the following years budget.
Rather than Cullen, we had a fiscal fool in charge who increased the taxcuts and announced that this would cause growth – which naturally it did not. So we are still limping along and looking at fiscal deficits that are likely to last until the mid-2020s when the cost of servicing the debts will be in a race with the rising costs of superannuation to be the largest cost on the government’t coffers.
That is currently the Bill English and John Key legacy… Having the government with the record amount of debt and it is still increasing.
BTW: Lying with numbers is easy for anyone to do – not just a skill you possess. All you have to do is to leave out relevant factors.
Come on Matthew, you really are a major bull shitter, even Bill English acknowledged the legendary job that Cullen did in charge of the Finances. Of course you are very aware of that.
But there are some big question marks over the way National are running things: National have done their best to tank the NZ economy post GFC…EVEN THOUGH since 2008 NZ has had record dairy payouts in 2009, 2010, 2011,2012 and another coming up in 2014 (Its a commodity so zero to do with the National Govt)…a Christchurch earthquake bringing in billions in insurance payouts, selling assets that would have provided a bigger return than money saved in financing costs avoided…National have chosen to divert billions into useless highways (think useless highways in Hamilton and Tauranga) that benefit large trucking organisations but really are of only marginal benefit to the economy if any, alternatively if this ROAD money was diverted into social spending, education or health we would have seen material differences in our growth rates, not the pathetic 0.2% we saw in the last quarter. National are not good at running the economy, lets be honest they are fucken useless and you know it. You’ve been able to bullshit a compliant and economic illiterate msm (John Armstrong really is a joke)…but Labour has a very different team in charge now, both Leader and Deputy who I would rate ahead of Cullen, particularly in the area of economic development (an area that National score a big fat ZERO)…I reckon National wont come close in election 2014, even with you spinning your bullshit in overdrive.
Ooooh, a Treasury forecast, there’s a reliable document.
ms
With a few adjustments blinglish could turn us into bangladish.
“She is from very solid Labour Party stock. Her father Bob was a high ranking member of the Labour Caucus for many years. Her mother Kath was the first Labour mayor of Auckland.”
I’m sorry, but this kind of thing makes my blood curdle. There isn’t, and never should be, a Labour party aristocracy. Rightly of wrongly, J Tizard became a symbol of entrenched interests and the professionalisation of politics. She was hardly an Ernie Bevin and the fact that, post de-election – she spent her time attending funerals and chronicling her dynastic history instead of being in gainful employment didn’t help that perception.
The people didn’t like that and it’s healthy for them not to. Ultimately, politics has to be about more than the individuals in it.
I think if this was about aristocracy rather than environment, mention might have been made of that other job her mum had for a while.
“She is from very solid Labour Party stock. Her father Bob was a high ranking member of the Labour Caucus for many years. Her mother Kath was the first Labour mayor of Auckland.”
I’m sorry, but this kind of thing makes my blood curdle. There isn’t, and never should be, a Labour party aristocracy. Rightly of wrongly, J Tizard became a symbol of entrenched interests and the professionalisation of politics.
My sentiments exactly. Frankly I was pretty horrified to read those first two sentences in a blog from you Mickey.
There have been far too many examples of this in the Labour Party. Labour “dynasties” have produced some outstanding socialists, but frankly, also some entitled princes and princesses complete with silver spoons and rank hypocricy.
By all means sing her praises, tell us of her left-wing credentials, her outstanding work, her razor sharp intellect, her tireless championing of those with less privilege – well away from the cameras and the kudos….. but leave her ‘bloodlines’ and high-faluting connections out of it.
You’ve done her absolutely no service in the way this has come across. In some ways you’ve countered your own argument.
Sorry just saying and Ramsay, but I think you are both misinterpreting what ms actually said. Where does he talk about “aristocracies” and dynasties”? He merely mentions the truth. Judith comes from solid Labour stock. Recently at a memorial service, Bob Tizard talked of his solid working class back-ground. Guess what. He’s proud of it.
Funnily enough, the “dynasty” label originated from the Tizard/Clark detractors that I talk about at 1.2.2
Sounds like you may have fallen for it but you’re far from the only ones.
No I’m not Anne. Mickey mentions that she comes from solid Labour stock and then goes on to list a particular pedigree. If he wanted to merely say she grew up Labour the first sentence would have stood alone.
I would point out that while Judith’s father may have come from a solid working class background, Judith most certainly did not.
I’ve said nothing whatsoever about Helen Clark, please don’t imply that I have.
And yes, I don’t like Judith Tizard, but for reasons related to things I’ve heard related to her time down my way, as well as what I saw for myself of her public face.
You read too much into it. I did not mention the GG stint because I did not think it was relevant. Bob’s stint as an MP and Cath’s as a mayor were welcome contributions to the progressive movement. Dynasty was probably the wrong word to use, I wanted to emphasise the Tizard tribalism.
I hardly think it should have much to do with anything. There are plenty of rock ribbed Labourites who grew up in National voting environs. Ian lees galloway?
Rhinocrates
he does get his undies quite knotted if anyone leaves out the ‘t’.
its amazing to me that anyone can be paid to make up shit for a living and not be employed by womens day.
That’s unfair. There are a number of good honest journos writing for the NBR.
“2” is a number, for example.
hooton thinx spellin mattas?
Maybe it was the honorific bit.
The Nats luv brown nosing British Royalty.
Speaking of the Tizards, I quite liked Bob.
I thought this was rather good at the time.
“Veterans have demanded that their governments boycott the funerals. New Zealand’s Defense Minister, Bob Tizard, said Hirohito ”should have been shot or publicly chopped up at the end of the war.””
http://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/13/world/tokyo-funeral-forces-choice-by-old-foes.html
MacArthur had a look at Japan at the end of the war and saw two possibilities – a takeover by local Communists or the entrenchment of feudal property rights and the rehabilitation of Hirohito. He chose the latter.
I agree with Bob Tizard on this, or maybe life imprisonment since I’m not a fan of capital punishment, but I do wonder if GG Cath would have also agreed. She came across as a bit too much of a fan of all the royal rubbish for my liking.
Just another episode of the daily opera our ego driven narcissistic Prim minster.
Who,s writing the The Outrages Fortune script Hooten and Joyce.
Just beware of the Wolf in sheep clothing!
Anne at 1.22 writes:
“Who started the attacks on Judith Tizard? The Nats? No. The media? No. Commentators like Matthew Hooten? No. It was a bunch of her former Labour colleagues and their supporters.”
This is no different from what has been going on for the past five years with regard to Cunliffe. We now have a strong Labour Leader who has to fight against lies fed to the media by Mallard, Cosgrove and Robertson.
The Labour party should NOT forgive that group of arse wipes and their acolytes. Flush them into lowly rankings and de-select them at conventions.
Judith Tizard was a guest at our Cambridge Branch pot luck dinner .She was a delight and a great speaker. She has never forgot my wife and I even though it was many years ago.
The Crosby-Textor led Tories will attack anyone who is Labour if they think they can get away with it.We need to answer every slur and do a bit of attacking them instead of our own .The Tory dirty tricks brigade through Crosby -Textor will be working full time to make sure Labour does not win the next election. Just what do you all think was discussed behind closed door with Crosby and a 100 Rank Tories including Key , How to win the two coming elections for the Right that what !and by all means
Crosby-Textor ARE working full time.
Does anyone really care about Hooton’s tootin? If the best he can do be way of insulting Cunliffe is to make a vague reference to the rather harmless Judith Tizard then I’d venture to say he’s pretty much run out of ammo and has resorted to throwing very small non lethal stones. Its all a bit pathetic really.