Judith’s last stand?
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8:04 am, August 4th, 2021 - 43 comments
Categories: david seymour, Judith Collins, national, same old national, uncategorized -
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So yesterday as news of a rather large drop in Labour’s support washed through Judith Collins and National put their thinking caps on. What issue could they raise to really sock it to Labour and prove to the electorate that National is indeed born to rule.
Judith had been fending off allegations that she had said that some people wanted to bottle Police Minister Poto Williams. I don’t know why anyone would think that. Poto is one of the most decent and dedicated politicians I have ever met. Using clumsy language that could be interpreted as a suggestion that violence should be used against her is not something that any politician should ever do.
But Judith and National decided to go full culture war on it and allege there has been this conspiracy to rename Aotearoa New Zealand Aotearoa New Zealand. The response on Twitter was swift and brutal. It was highlighted that under the last National Government the use of “Aotearoa” had occurred regularly.
Of course back then they relied on the Maori Party for confidence and supply. So it was Aotearoa this, Aotearoa that. Even from the Minister of Ethnic Affairs who happened to be Judith Collins used the phrase.
And if you want to see how widespread the use was just check your passport.
But now it is an example of left wing woke identity politics and a woke justice purge of all European names. Better that we name our country after a small Northern Hemisphere country which happened to be the birth place of one of the sailors who “discovered” the South Pacific many centuries after it was actually discovered by Pasifeka than use a descriptive name rooted in history.
I could not believe the timing. Because this week seems to be a really bad week to diss Te Ao Maori.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLwN0klNxH4
Te Ao Maori is becoming so ingrained in what we do, how we interact, and how we celebrate.
Collins and the National Party are stuck in a time warp thinking that Don Brash’s 2004 racist Orewa Speech will again swing the electorate back behind them and return them to the dominant position. They do not understand that the country has moved on.
The other weird aspect of this matter is that National is demanding a debate to ban a word that is in wide usage. These free speech warriors who have gone all cancel culture on it.
If David Seymour wants to make a name for himself he should adopt policy to support Aotearoa being one of the country’s official names and give his party a Maori name. National’s liberal wing, whatever is left of them, would start to dissolve his way.
Judith’s grumpy reactionary approach to politics is failing big time. She has shown herself to be rooted in the past when the country is looking to the future and for leadership. I hope she remains leader for a long time. But somehow I don’t think so and her days as leader must be numbered.
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The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
- Greyhound racing industry ban marks new era for animal welfare
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...2 weeks ago
- Rangatahi voices must be centred in Government’s Relationship and Sexuality Education refresh
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt introduces archaic anti-worker legislation
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...2 weeks ago
- Winston Peters – Kinleith Mill Speech
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...2 weeks ago - Swarbrick calls on Auckland Mayor to end delay of revival of St James Theatre
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...2 weeks ago
- He Ara Anamata: Greens launch Emissions Reduction Plan
Today, the Green Party of Aotearoa proudly unveils its new Emissions Reduction Plan–He Ara Anamata–a blueprint reimagining our collective future. ...2 weeks ago
- Internationally-trained doctors jump at chance to boost health workforce
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...21 hours ago - PM appoints business leader to APEC Business Advisory Council
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...3 days ago
- New intelligence oversight appointments
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...3 days ago
- New housing developments able to progress more quickly
Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...3 days ago
- Actions to speed up air travel delivering results
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...3 days ago
- Ending contracted emergency housing in Rotorua
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...3 days ago
- Vocational education and training decisions support return to regions
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...3 days ago
- Reducing the environmental impact of synthetic refrigerants
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...3 days ago
- Ngāruawāhia section of Waikato Expressway back to 4 lanes for Christmas
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...3 days ago
- Appointments to the ENZ board
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...4 days ago
- Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...4 days ago
- More gangs added to Gangs Act list
Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...4 days ago
- Judicial appointment announced
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...4 days ago
- GDP data highlights importance of growth
The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...4 days ago
- Strengthening Free Speech in Universities
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...4 days ago
- Launch of Emergency Cellular Priority Service
Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...4 days ago
- Minister reopens Mangamuka Gorge
State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...4 days ago
- Funding confirmed for second Ashburton Bridge
The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...4 days ago
- Government boosts support for avian influenza response
The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...4 days ago
- Levelling the playing field for media advertising
Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...5 days ago
- Inspector-General of Defence appointed
Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...5 days ago
- Fire and Emergency New Zealand final levy rates confirmed
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...5 days ago
- More AML relief on the way for Kiwi businesses
The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...5 days ago
- Hawke’s Bay Expressway moving at pace
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed further progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS), with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board approving funding for the detailed design of Stage 1, paving the way for main works construction to begin in late 2025.“The Government is moving at ...5 days ago
- Government seeks partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned-land
The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...5 days ago
- Wide ranging legislation to make justice system more efficient
Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...5 days ago
- Diverse skills in community trust appointments
A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...5 days ago
- Torture redress for survivors of the Lake Alice Unit
The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...5 days ago
- A busy year in the House
It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...5 days ago
- Consultation opens on working with engineered stone
“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...5 days ago
- Greater reporting on Treaty settlement commitments
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...5 days ago
- New appointments to the Charities Registration Board
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...5 days ago
- Building consent processing times improve
More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “In the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...5 days ago
- Faster access to support through Innovation Fund
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...5 days ago
- New Zealand to assist Vanuatu on earthquake response
New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...5 days ago
- Government takes steps to reduce card fees for Kiwis
The Government welcomes the Commerce Commission’s plan to reduce card fees for Kiwis by an estimated $260 million a year, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.“The Government is relentlessly focused on reducing the cost of living, so Kiwis can keep more of their hard-earned income and live a ...5 days ago
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Regulation Minister David Seymour has welcomed the Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory review report, the first major report from the Ministry for Regulation. The report makes 15 recommendations to modernise and simplify regulations across ECE so services can get on with what they do best – providing safe, high-quality care ...5 days ago
- Offshore Renewable Energy Bill passes first reading
The Government‘s Offshore Renewable Energy Bill to create a new regulatory regime that will enable firms to construct offshore wind generation has passed its first reading in Parliament, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand currently does not have a regulatory regime for offshore renewable energy as the previous government failed ...5 days ago
- Local Government (Water Services) Bill passes first reading
Legislation to enable new water service delivery models that will drive critical investment in infrastructure has passed its first reading in Parliament, marking a significant step towards the delivery of Local Water Done Well, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly say.“Councils and voters ...5 days ago
- Gene Technology Bill passes first reading
New Zealand is one step closer to reaping the benefits of gene technology with the passing of the first reading of the Gene Technology Bill, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins says. "This legislation will end New Zealand's near 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab and is ...5 days ago
- Māori ‘under siege’ in 2024, must fight back in 2025 – Ngarewa-Packer
Te Pāti Māori has had to adopt a new way of debating, operating and even thinking in Parliament in response to the Government’s “onslaught” against te ao Māori, co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says.In an end-of-year interview with Newsroom, the Te Tai Hauauru MP reflected on how 2024 has differed from her ...1 hour ago - The real story behind the Government’s maths narrative
Opinion: The latest Trends in International Mathematics and Science report was announced earlier this month, yet it didn’t get the flurry of media attention and political hand-wringing that typically accompanies these announcements. This might be because it presented good news, or you could argue, no news; the results paint a ...1 hour ago
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- Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 23 December
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('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, Monday 23 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...2 hours ago
- Govt walks away from infrastructure alliance
The Government’s social housing agency has backed out of a billion-dollar infrastructure alliance that would have built about 6000 new homes in Auckland – less than 18 months after signing a five-year extension.Labour says the decision to rip up the contract and sell off existing state houses could lead to ...2 hours ago
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MONDAY“Merry Xmas, and praise the Lord,” said Sheriff Luxon, and smiled for the camera. There was a flash of smoke when the shutter pressed down on the magnesium powder. The sheriff had arranged for a photographer from the Dodge Gazette to attend a ceremony where he handed out food parcels to ...2 days ago
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The only issues that matter to Judith and National are wedge issues. It is the exact same with David Seymour and ACT on his whistle-stop tour of Aotearoa-New Zealand where he uses sentiments from one meeting as talking points at the next. Judith wants the ‘debate’ that David is manufacturing.
What is “demand the debate” translated into Te Reo?
Yep – MS is right to point out the inconsistency in the Nats' earlier embrace of the word 'Aotearoa' and their current dark hints about it replacing 'New Zealand'. But to expect consistency from Nat/ACT is to completely misunderstand them. They don't operate from coherent principles – their purpose is power, and once they have it, they use it to grease the path of private sector profitability and the upwards transfer of wealth. And it may be that these little culture war skirmishes don't resonate like they did in the days of the Don, but they also don't alienate anyone who might consider voting for them.
They demand free speech. English speech.
"The Queen's English was good enough for Jesus Christ, and it's good enough for me."
– Quoted by Don McGlashan
Micky is correct that Aotearoa/NZ is moving on, but perhaps not definitively “has” just yet.
With every boomer funeral–stereotypes notwithstanding–the generational replacement voters grow in number. Will the 50% that own just 2% of the wealth, and generations rent and student loan, and school kids into climate action really support her view of the world in 2023 and 2026?
I am a 4th gen pākehā New Zealander and my son has one close Euro friend, the rest are Korean, Tongan and Māori. He saw the “Tractor/Ute” protest as an absolute joke and hypocritical.
Judith’s husband got away with some nasty innuendo too…have omitted the grubbier meme he posted.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/judith-collins-husband-david-wong-tung-criticised-for-sharing-anti-jacinda-ardern-memes/EIGJ33E7PWHOLN4CA4KER6QRQ4/
Judith’s tide is going out.
The fact of the matter is that everyones tide is going out.
On a long enough time line all survival trends to zero … apparently even the sun
and the defeatist, existentially tinged, comment of the day so far award goes to…
"If David Seymour wants to make a name for himself he should adopt policy to support Aotearoa being one of the country’s official names and give his party a Maori name. "
ACT Party Principle (a)
All people should be equal before the law as guaranteed in Article III of the Treaty of Waitangi, regardless of race, gender, sexuality, religion or political belief.
ACT Party Policy
Remove the Māori seats. The seats are an anachronism and offensive to the principle of equal citizenship. Māori New Zealanders have shown they can be elected to Parliament in general electorates or on party lists without assistance.
Just don't mention Article 2, ok.
Cherry duly picked…
At the risk of being accused of being an ACT supporter (I am not), I thought David Seymour gave both Collins and the government a clever serve with this comment:
"Personally, I say New Zealand, I'm not interested in going out and policing what other people say, and I know a lot of young people out there who say look, you can call it Timbuktu if you like, so long as I can afford a house there. I just think there are some bigger issues for most people." Seymour said the more important issue is solving the housing crisis.
Don't just take Mickey's word for it, here she is, in the flesh.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018806750
Complete with the mangling (crushing?) of Are-te-rower.
Jumping on people because they cant nail pronunciation is the biggest barrier to people using Maori , to most of us Maori is a akin to a foreign language.
If I attacked an asian immigrant for not pronouncing english perfectly I'd be slayed on this blog , ( quite rightly)
Dont let perfect be the enemy of the good .
IMO, it is not a matter of can't nail the pronunciation, more a matter of being disinclined.
Collins aspires to leadership in Aotearoa, that is all of Aotearoa, not just the red necks.
Picking on a migrant and criticizing Collins are two totally different things.
Punching up for example
Na your wrong, any second language not learnt when young would be difficult and time consuming to master , and harder the older one gets. Of all collins faults this is petty..
Take a chill pill on this you pedants, encourage all use if you want the language to thrive .,otherwise itll be a musty old thing like latin.
Funny that, Latin lives on in many languages, including English.
Hmm I wonder if a 2000 year old latin speaker would recognize the pronunciation of today's latin words on any to day use.
No, unlikely, but reading and recognising many words, yes, likely.
jeez, from what I heard of that she was really pushing the "rurals are rednecks" approach.
ACT is more extreme than National on these matters. It is the natural home of the Don Brash era 'kiwi iwi' folk. Act's rise to outright thrird is the polls is spooking National. That is why they are going after that vote.
Māori and NZ sign language are official languages of NZ, alongside English. There is no need to have any kind of vote or referendum, it was all done and dusted with the 1987 Maori Language Act.
English is not an official language.
It is a defacto language being the predominant language.
Māori and NZSL are the only two official languages with legislative status.
Putting aside the fact that Judith is racist dog whistling, “the response on Twitter was swift and brutish”
as if National give a flying fuck about the Twitter mob calling out racism.
I seem to recall the support on Twitter for the cycle bridge being strong and unstoppable.
snapshot politics doesn’t offer much insight to the general populace’s feelings on a matter.
Neither do single political polls, yet look at the assumptions..
I am beginning to wonder if National are employing a cunning tactic: leave Judith Collins there as long as possible with current unpopular style, then, closer to election time, introduce new leader whoever-it-is with a fanfare of new, friendlier attitudes, etc – something that our news media (friendly to the Right) will willingly propagate. Our sheeple are so easily influenced by such tricks..
This is the only way I can make sense of the current situation, unless National really are as bereft of intelligence and talent as they seem. (Labour seem to be starting to compete with them in this area, sad to say..)
Well, that was their whole strategy with Simon Bridges, if you remember back to the start of his term. It was always supposed to be a suicide mission. Then he started to believe his own bullshit, which was the first mistake…
It could work, but only if JC sticks to that plan. Didn't go so well last time. Quite the opposite.
(mods: oops sorry about username, will amend)
– Judith Collins
Welcome to the world of the bottom 50% since forever, you poisonous old Tory.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/08/feelings-are-hurt-judith-collins-insists-she-s-fine-with-aotearoa-but-others-are-feeling-left-out.html
Wow. Now she's trying the Key trope:
Collins was stuffed the moment she disingenuously said, "People are saying …." Time she moved on, well away from Parliament.
You reap what you sow.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/08/judith-collins-says-people-are-being-malicious-and-nasty-after-she-said-people-want-to-bottle-police-minister-poto-williams.html
Agree the aotearoa thing is hilariously dumb even though a lot of labour voters are slightly irritated by it. A true national opposition would be focusing on the debt, housing and failures in health and mental health but this opposition is busy trying to start a us style culture war
However "the response on twitter was swift and brutal" and here lies the problem with the left. Twitter isnt the public. Twitter is the opposite of public opinion it's used by 3% of kiwis most of them extremely left or liberal and in art,media, political arenas
If you go in twitter you'd think there's been some kind of public reawakening and that the left are in assention around the world. There hasn't been and it's not. Labour won 2020 because of its exceptional handling of covid and had Winston gone with national and national done as well with covid we'd be in a fifth term of national.
If you listen to twitter the bike bridge is insanely popular. 81% of the country despise it.
If you listen to twitter act is not some libertarian neoliberal hodge podge it's a fascist party and the labour voters drifting to act over hate speech are Nazis
Forget twitter go to a working class pub and see how people feel and you'll get a true grasp of the electorate.
Media and politicals need to stop pretending twitter is anything other than a medium for people in the in club to share their views with people who agree with them.
As for attacking Poto, that was a disgraceful comment from Judith and as a woman in politics whose had threats of her own safety and a leader of the opposition she should have apologized, politics aside female politicians get loads of hate whatever their ideology and it'd be nice for you know human decency but that's beyond the current national party.
My anti twitter rant isn't about me being anti left it's about me being anti the left thinking twitter is the electorate and pandering to twitter audiences in policy and going well twitter thinks it's ok so we're winning public opinion. No. That's the kinda thinking that loses elections.
Nothing "left-wing" about the bourgeois Woke Identity Politics of narcissistic Upper-Middle Professionals.
Agreed. It's a tedious load of wank.
Collins is reading from PR script written by not very well informed PR writers.
Well within living memory to say some one, some thing ought to be "bottled" was and still could be complimentary. It meant worth keeping, preserving.
Think pickles, fruit, wine, whisky.
As usual the mainstream chattering class have to look for a "shock, horror, headline.
Politically it is a storm in a thimble.
Depressingly it is yet another sign of the media pack's inability to be knowledgeably literate.
Bottle does have to mean thuggery.
Genie is not common NZ parlance.
The defence of the use of “bottle ” is very questionable. Just by chance it gave J Collins the opportunity to assail the Minister of Police.
How very conveniently coincidental.
The media pack fell for it.
Sigh.
If you want a name.rooted in human history it doesn’t get better than Zealand
After. holding out against Spanish Catholicism in the eighty years war. Zealand declared itself the first Republic in Monarchist Europe .
Tasman didn’t name our land that was done by the board of the Dutch East India Company in Conjunction with the Dutch government
And as for poetry Sealand matches Land of the long white cloud any day
Our country was named in honour of a hero state and for most of us it still feels that way
Why yes, at the local public house tonight 'twas nothing upon our lips but ale and discussions of Zealand's heroism in the Eighty Years War. /sarc
Have to admit, that's one European war I'm not sure I'd ever heard of before. There'll be loads of others, though.
The name was chosen by a company from the same nation of a dude who didn't even set foot here? I'd thought at least it had been applied by someone who'd actually at least seen the place and thought maybe "wow, that totally reminds me of the island my aunt is from" or something.
Hey, it's nice enough as words go. It's not "fartland" or something. But I've usually thought of myself as a "kiwi" rather than a "New Zealander".
In reference to M Savages claim Aotearoa is a “descriptive name rooted in history“
Just as New Zealand is
At least you now know why Zealand was famous in Europe in the 16th century
the fact of the matter is that Aotearoa is a neologism invented by William Pember
Reeves and like other polynesian, melanesian and micronesian pidgin languages te reo will die a natural death sooner or later.
Thanks for. this useful post
I was hoping Standard contributors would take the topic of changing our countrys name a little more seriously than simply repeating woke memes as some ;have done
as stalin said the purpose of propaganda is not to change anyones mind but to check on who is toeing the party line
Quite so
But through their actions the people will judge them
The problem for the govt is that thousands of party supporters – Including myself are either opposing or deserting it – propaganda is partially to blame –
The question I am wanting Judith to answer is this, what position would she expect in a David Seymour lead Act/National government. Would she insist of being Deputy PM or would she be realistic and take a mid table cabinet position like small business or veterans affairs.