Kia Kaha

Written By: - Date published: 1:57 pm, June 21st, 2014 - 132 comments
Categories: labour - Tags:

David Cunliffe’s message to members and supporters (repost from email)

It’s been a tough couple of days for everyone in Labour, but I have been greatly heartened by the messages of support that my Caucus and I have received from members and supporters.

As I’ve stated in many media interviews over the last 24 hours, I stand by my word and we will not be distracted from our mission to help build a better New Zealand for everyone.

What has been made very clear by our opponents is that this will be a tough election campaign. They would like nothing more than for this election to focus on smears and insinuations. However I have immense faith in the people of New Zealand to recognise what really matters in this election and to vote for positive change.

That’s positive change that only a Labour-led government can deliver. It means making sure every New Zealander has the opportunity for a secure, well-paid job, that every Kiwi has a warm dry home and has home-ownership in reach, and that our kids are given all of the opportunities they need to thrive and prosper.

Our party has been galvanised by recent events. National’s attempts to destabilize us have failed – our Caucus has been unified and resolute and party activists have stayed on the front foot making phone calls, knocking on doors and getting Labour’s message out to the public.

We know that we have a hard road ahead of us, but we also know that this election is shaping up to be down to the wire and that every vote will count. We cannot afford, New Zealand cannot afford, for us to be distracted from our duty of making real fundamental change for good.

I know we can do it this September. Together.

Kia kaha,

David Cunliffe
Labour Leader

PS, we’re preparing for the biggest, best Congress ever. There are still tickets available. To reserve your seat, click here.

132 comments on “Kia Kaha ”

  1. karol 1

    Thanks, David.

    I have my criticisms of some aspects of Labour’s policies, and of the way some things have been handled in the past.

    However, I have been impressed with the way you have fronted this week and, along with your caucus, stood strong against, what are unfounded smears aiming to destabilise Labour and the left generally.

    You say you are learning, but you and your team seem to be learning quite fast.

    • Ronnie Chow 1.1

      Millionaire businessman Donghua Liu spent more than $150,000 on the previous Labour government, including $100,000 on a bottle of wine signed by former prime minister Helen Clark at a party fundraiser.

      The embarrassing revelations are contained in a signed statement from Liu, which the Herald on Sunday has obtained.

      God Cunliffe is clean as a whistle.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 1.1.1

        It’ll be listed in his accounts as a donation to charity. Show me the money.

  2. Clemgeopin 2

    A good letter.

    It is time for Lanour to release policies one by one and give plenty of publicity for all the previous and coming policies; Policies that will make the voters sit up and take notice; Policies that will benefit all the voters and the country; Policies that are fair to all and for the long term good of the country economically, socially and environmentally; Policies that negate the negative policies of this present narrow visioned stupid government; Policies that will make New Zealand a trail blazing independent, visionary and great nation once again; Policies that help reduce the evil of the ever increasing wealth and income gap; Policies that will make us all selflessly batting for each other in society; Policies that help us become truly happy, proud and patriotic to the country.

  3. vto 3

    Good for you Mr Cunliffe..

    You know one thing on people’s minds in cold mid-winter Christchurch – power prices and power outages. How are people supposed to keep warm when the power goes out or people cannot afford to heat their homes sufficiently?

    How do they keep warm? What happens is that they don’t keep warm, and then they die prematurely or suffer avoidable health problems.

    It is appalling that the responsibility for keeping them warm has been tossed into the hands of people whose sole concern is profiteering, namely the investors who bought the power companies. How on earth are those interests supposed to line up? Eh? …

    … the interests of people who merely want to make profit and the interests of people who are forced by law to use electricity to warm themselves in winter do not line up. The system is fatally flawed.

  4. swordfish 4

    Vicious smear campaigns can often backfire. Let’s hope there’s a backlash among decent people against this carefully-orchestrated hysteria of the last few days. Already, the reputations of one or two journalists lie in tatters…

  5. infused 5

    The only reason they are standing behind you is that there is no point rolling you before the election. It’s already game over.

    • felix 5.1

      The only reason they are attacking you is because they know you can win.

    • vto 5.2

      Its game over for those who cannot afford to warm themselves properly over winter because of the policies of your sick lot. Do you even care about that?

    • Skinny 5.3

      The game will be over for you wingnuts infused. I predict 200-250,000 previous non voters will be coming out in Sept.

      How do you think the anouncement of a 19% rise in power prices is going to go down?
      Also Key pushing for a smaller group from the original TTPA countries. Your great leader is sucking up to the Yanks by towing this line and promoting an American view, who know getting agreement from the likes of Japan simply won’t happen.

      What a suck arse slimy Key is. It wouldn’t surprise me if he had dual citizenship, what a disgusting corporate sellout!

      • Will@Welly 5.3.1

        Obviously a monumental cock-up in MBIE, releasing that figure. 19% increase in electricity is something National just can’t explain away, and given that ‘returns’ are set to soar under market forces, this does not bode well for the average household.

        • Skinny 5.3.1.1

          As winter bites so will the backlash (especially if there is a few cold snaps) when power consumers really notice higher prices due to our assets being flogged off.

          During the assets sales petitioning I had plenty of people signing and saying they had voted National but not this election due to our asset sales. Couple that with those people who despise America unpopular habit of pushing spy legislation, invading other Countries and American multi national corporates trying to force trade agreements. John Key has really messed up by floating the idea of a smaller TPPA. Labour need to come out strongly opposing any such brainless notion of pandering to ‘America’s oneway corporate agreements.’

      • infused 5.3.2

        How much did the price of power go up under the last Labour govt? What did they do about that?

        • Skinny 5.3.2.1

          That was so yesteryear fool!
          ‘Former National voters remember the last time this shit happened.’
          The power shop is an idea people like, and Winston Peters is talking a complete buyback. So you sit back and enjoy the rugby and just think England is National and cry in your drink to the hammering they are about to get 🙂 Give it to them the AB’s !

          • infused 5.3.2.1.1

            So yesterday huh. Labour wonders why they don’t connect with voters.

            Don’t watch rugby either.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 5.3.2.1.1.1

              Did wage inflation match power price rises? I’d hate to think you were only presenting one half of the equation as a feeble attempt to muddy the waters.

    • Clemgeopin 5.4

      They are standing behind him because they know he will make a good and strong Prime minister who will implement many great Labour policies of vision and fairness for all in society and not just for the wealthy and privileged which is the real agenda of National and ACT with token social fooling policies for political expediency. Come over from your dark side and be a part of the coming change.

    • Nakiman 5.5

      Mike Williams says Cunners will be rolled after the election, nobody wants the job before the election.

      • infused 5.5.1

        Rinse and repeat of Shearer.

        • felix 5.5.1.1

          Shearer never fought an election. You guys just really really wanted him to.

          • McFlock 5.5.1.1.1

            nope.

            No matter who it is, tories want people thinking the Labour leadership is incompetent and being plotted against by the Labour caucus. And if the tories can encourage self-loathing labourites to cause enough internal aggravation that the leadership make more mistakes, all the better for the tories.

            Tories would throw the same drivel at Jesus if he were leader of the Labour party. Friendly relations with a roman centurion, lots of guys hanging around, no documentation that the lepers weren’t faking…

      • poem 5.5.2

        Not true Nakiman.

  6. fisiani 6

    Iceberg??? What iceberg?

    • vto 6.1

      The icebergs formed inside the homes of people who cannot afford to heat their homes thanks to the nasty mean and callous policies of you and your arseholes. Do you even care about that?

      • fisiani 6.1.1

        The newly insulated state homes homes you mean? Insulated by a benevolent government.

        • vto 6.1.1.1

          Fail.

        • The Al1en 6.1.1.2

          Especially the ones insulated by landlords, who now factor in the cost of their contributions to the tenants,who can’t afford to turn on the 2400 heat pump because of it.

        • Tracey 6.1.1.3

          glad to see you and national support green party initiatives. hope for you yet

        • redfred 6.1.1.4

          19% Yes National are paying off their rich mates that brought Electricity companies. Mum ada my ass, rich fat cats.

          19%!

    • felix 6.2

      Good to see you’re still putting so much time and energy into the anti-Cunliffe effort.

      It must be very important to you.

      • fisiani 6.2.1

        Cunliffe is just the captain. I don’t think changing the captain at this stage would save Labour.

      • fisiani 6.2.2

        Cunliffe is just the captain. I don’t think changing the captain at this stage would save Labour. When a poll starts with a 1 in the next few weeks will you start counting the seats in the lifeboats. Ladies first as per the secret man ban thus bye bye male list mp’s even David Parker

        • swordfish 6.2.2.1

          @ Fissy

          Hush up now, Honey-Child. You know very well that a public backlash against your utterly corrupt, sinister, Machiavellian* little Party has begun.

          As for the latest Fairfax/Stuff-Ipsos, I notice even the Dominion Post editor has dropped a broad hint that she believes it may be an outlier / rogue. Meanwhile, the Roy Morgan released on the same day continues to be assiduously ignored by Tory Tr*lls and MSM alike. The RM suggests the Nats are down 3 points, combined Lab+Green up 2, broader Left Bloc up / Right Bloc down.

          *(Well, I say Machiavellian, but that implies a cleverness that this nasty little smear campaign quite frankly just doesn’t possess. Inept might be a better word).

    • swordfish 6.3

      The Iceberg, Fissy, of a public opinion backlash – a backlash against a vicious and rapidly unravelling Tory Black Ops Smear Campaign.

      Can we assume you’ll go down with the ship ?

      • Colonial Viper 6.3.1

        I think the furious back peddling in the MSM is due to snap internal polling showing the NATs that the public was not liking their approach at all

        • swordfish 6.3.1.1

          Yep, Own Goal territory. Key makes a habit of scoring a particularly spectacular one each Election…2008 Tranz Rail,….2011 Cup-of-Tea Saga,….2014 Counter-productive Black Ops Campaign that’ll come back to haunt him. The fucker will never learn.

          • Colonial Viper 6.3.1.1.1

            Gotta hand it to Key and his minions though, all timed for when he was out of the country, organised with the most possible upside for National all going well, but the least possible downside for him if the plan went south, which it has.

            Got to appreciate competence and risk management in play.

            • David H 6.3.1.1.1.1

              “Got to appreciate competence and risk management in play.”

              But as usual when getting ahead in the ‘game’ TricKey just couldn’t shut the fuck up and stop gloating. And makes English Look like a fool. Then Woodhouse disengages what little brain he has opens his big mouth and inserts both feet 3 times. No wonder the country has gone to hell in a hand basket!

        • The Al1en 6.3.1.2

          I’m looking forward to the next couple of weeks with interest. I’m particularly looking forward to JK reverting to form, saying he doesn’t recall seeing that particular emal/letter/memo/report and he can’t recall meeting/speaking/calling/lunching/golfing with anyone who could have given him the information about over a hundred thousand dollars from Liu. That will be funny.

          Of course, his highness has been in Washington playing politics at our expense with many a free meal and down time to get his routine ready for next sitting days question time. If he’s got anything I’d expect it will come out in response to Q1 under parliamentary privilege. If DC is teflon, then the exchange could well be the election result right there. Who ever comes out on top will win it September. DC wins and not only does he have credible back in buckets, JK’s last days end up with his in tatters. Coordinated attack from from the Greens, mip and winston if he’s not had one too many for lunch, and a couple of patsy questions from tim macendope aside, it’ll be riveting stuff.

          But then JK could have nothing and he’ll have to claim he heard a whisper but can’t remember from who.
          Win win for me.

          • ffloyd 6.3.1.2.1

            Chinese whisper?

            • The Al1en 6.3.1.2.1.1

              I think what has really happened here is somebody in the nats got all 08 Williams with themselves, like when he went to Australia to get the dirt on honest John and returned home with nothing.

              If there isn’t a game called Chinese rumours there should be.

  7. ffloyd 7

    It was evident immediately the letter was published that this was a beat up and a smear campaign. Key totally dismisses the intelligence and political nous of the average New Zealander such is his monumental arrogance. And he forgets that we have all seen this before in his orchestrated attacks ably assisted by the majority of the media against Phil Goff and David Shearer, so this has been expected that this is the way key would attack again. This time it is not working. Even a couple of Herald journalists are actually doing their jobs properly and not buying into this. Now the country can see key for what he really is and DC and the Labour Party for what they stand for, which is rescuing NZ from the septic tank that key has dropped us into. DC and Labour are getting some brilliant air time and they are using it superbly. It is said that ‘if it doesn’t kill you it can only make you stronger’. Well Labour is looking strong!!! Well done.

  8. Will@Welly 8

    David, if we appear to be critical, it is because we expect better.
    Six years of being held ransom, lied to, the hopes and dreams of a once proud nation being stolen away. What the people want is their trust restored.
    Michael Joseph Savage, Peter Fraser, Norman Kirk, offered people hope.
    Deliver that, offer them a ray of hope, that there are jobs, real jobs, better pay, decent, affordable housing, then maybe people will believe in you.
    When it comes to education, only the rich want charter schools. And as for health services, no cuts to frontline services – yeah right – ask those on waiting lists who keep ‘dropping off’.
    Key & co will lie and attempt to tarnish you right up until election day – that is a given. The best reaction is to tell snake oil to put up the evidence – repeat that mantra enough and people will soon realise who the liar is.
    We desperately need change. Three more years of this administration, and New Zealand will no longer belong to those born here.

  9. Colonial Viper 9

    Time to force Labour off centre and towards the left, methinks. He’s got to come firing back with strong gutsy controversial policy and an alternative narrative to National.

  10. ianmac 10

    Good wishes David because when you go well so will all those on the so-called left. I too like the way that you stood firm against a wicked onslaught.

  11. chris73 11

    I realize now that I’ve been wrong, I thought the low polling of Labour was a good thing for National but now I see that its ackshully a good thing for Labour

    http://imperatorfish.com/2014/06/19/victory/

    • swordfish 11.1

      Oh, I see, it’s my fault, is it ? Ohhhhh, of course. There I was thinking it was your fault because you’d been left in charge, or Manuel’s fault for not waking you, but all the time it was my fault ! Oh, it’s so obvious now, I’ve seen the light. Well, I must be punished then musn’t I ? You’re a naughty boy, swordfish, don’t do it again !.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKaQLYPf5hM

  12. Jack 12

    It was a Smear Campaign from wow to go however the average kiwi only gets half the story and only believes what the press tells them, it is a particularly nasty dangerous form of politics National and Key are playing at with the NZ Public.

    Unfortunately the average New Zealander does not have the time or the ability to read between the lines of all this nonsense and drama going on in the media.

    When are we going to get some responsible Press who are going to analyse policy properly and give us some accurate professional reporting rather than their own personal dribble depending on the colour of their cloth?

  13. anker 13

    I have total faith that David Cunliffe will make one of our best PM’s ever.

    I hope this dirty smear back firers and NZ see it for what it is.

    John Key and National have no vision to improve the lives of ordinary NZders. John Key just does deals and he will and has sold decent people short. David Cunliffe has a fantastic grasp on the issues and how the economy works. John Key does……………deals and more deals. There is no real vision to make this country great again. Our great moments like being nuclear free and standing up to the American’s (Lange) are gone with this govt. Key has weakened and agreed to whatever the Americans want.

  14. Jim47 14

    The backlash has surely come as it was labour who started the smear attacks went on and on now the chickens have come home to roost.
    And to make statements like I have seen on this post by some of you that the average New Zealander hasn’t the intelligence to see what is happening is surely going to encourage them to vote labour.

    • mickysavage 14.1

      But Jim do you understand the difference between a Minister interfering in a police prosecution and an MP forgetting that he had written a letter 11 years ago?

      • Clemgeopin 14.1.1

        And that too was on behalf of a new immigrant that was going to invest heavily in New Zealand. Cunliffe was just an ordinary constituent MP then and not a minister. Cunliffe did nothing wrong or illegal his office spelling the name of the new immigrant as Lui in lieu of Liu.

        The curious doings of cabinet ministers Judith Collins and Maurice Williamson are serious conflict of interest and dodgy and questions definitely deserved to be asked. In fact, they were so serious that the Prime minister asked one of them to go away and keep a low profile for a while and the other fellow was asked to resign! Serious? Yes, definitely!

      • poem 14.1.2

        No Jim and those like him dont understand, he cant see past pinoKEY’s nose.

      • realist 14.1.3

        Yes I think most get that.. What is on show here is the hypocrisy of it all.. Had Labour have stuck to the point way back when, and not try to play pretend that they are as pure as the driven snow then this wouldn’t have eventuated..

        This “smear” is but a retaliation… those that draw the comparison between Maurice and David do so out of ignorance or they do it to try and discredit just how murky their dealings have been (and presumably still are)..

        This site is here for you all to reinforce your own strongly held believes, no matter the truth.. there is a lack of perspective that runs through these pages that is beyond belief.. You will of course find the same on the pages of the right leaning blogs.. The saddest part of all of that is that the “common people” that you tend to all moan about being ignored are as much ignored by Labour as they are by National. David is as much of a “Rich Prick” as John is.. but of course you dont want to see it/admit that it is so.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 14.1.3.1

          So now you’ve demonstrated your feeble grasp on logic by attacking the messenger, you can always redeem yourself by voting on policy instead.

          • realist 14.1.3.1.1

            the messenger? this is beginning to sound more cultish by the second.. are you suggesting that you (the left) have the exclusive grasp of the truth here? If anything I am what you would call a swing voter..

            Labour have not to date given me any confidence whatsoever to vote for them.. Love to vote on policy.. still waiting really, on either side

            • One Anonymous Bloke 14.1.3.1.1.1

              You attacked the messengers on both sides. Hence the option of judging on policy rather than superficialities.

              Can’t you find any policy statements from Labour or the other left-wing parties? Try their websites: Google is your friend. Unless your entire contribution is offered in bad faith, that is.

              • realist

                oh how witty…

                • One Anonymous Bloke

                  Oh how insincere. You almost come across as one of those messengers you were bagging a few moments ago.

                  I tell you what, I’ll be charitable and give you some help.

                  Green policy.

                  Labour policy.

                  Mana policy – you may have to cross-reference that with IP policy.

                  There you are, lots of substantive details to sink your teeth into with that shiny good faith curiosity of yours.

                  I would have included National Party policy, but there isn’t any detail (sad but true), because they know what a vote-loser it would be (true).

                  • realist

                    true because youve said it so it must be right?

                    fact is I have been through Labours policy.. I wont bother with the other two as im not that extreme in my beliefs.. In DC Labour dont have a leader to bring about an election win (sad but true) my fear is that they dont have anyone else within the ranks that would deliver them one in 2017 either… time will tell

                    The other issue for Labour is that the Polls suggest that whatever way a Labour win would be cobbled together that they would have to give too much say to the Greens and also now Mana/Internet… that scares the hell out of middle NZ. (true) if Labour could poll in the high 30s and push into the 40s and be a credible opposition then the minority parties would wield less influence and perhaps be palatable as an option.. at present they are not… that leaves me with the decision of who to vote for… John Key or in reality not Hone and Kim…

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      ….still waiting…

                      …I have been through Labour’s policy…

                      You see? It took you less than an hour to reveal your true nature: insincere, dishonest, manipulative.

                      A perfect expression of National Party values and zero personal responsibility. Contemptible.

                    • McFlock

                      You you don’t read their policies, how do you know a party is extreme?

                      If you’re prepared to vote for Key, why do you “fear” Labour might not have a leader to win in 2017 (lol)? You do realise that if party policies were interchangeable, there’d be no point in voting regardless of who was leader?

                      🙄

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      Both the statements I quoted are lies: the mendacious wretch hasn’t read the policy at all, and still knew it existed.

                      A horrible thought just occurred to me: what if there are no better wingnuts? 😈

                    • freedom

                      ” I wont bother with the other two as im not that extreme in my beliefs”
                      thus proving how insincere you are in talking about truth

                      realist, you seem to be a card carrying member of the ‘i want to know new things but won’t do anything that helps me learn’ club

                      let me tell you a little tale

                      I have had one particularly nasty thorn in my friendship paw for many many years and he is an old hard arsed bigot and it is always a hell of a battle any time we meet up, but over the last few years I have been giving him no free passes and calling him up on the bs he spouts about politics and people and all the associated crap we all deal with. He is very free with his opinions about what he wants and who he thinks is at fault and if you are brown or different chances are you copped responsibility for all of it.

                      Despite this I would persevere because in his heart he is actually a decent guy. He had plenty of good ideas about how it should be but still he drank from the kool aid every single day.

                      I would keep telling him that there is one party in particular that has all the policies he personally called for. So after getting sick of my badgering he finally went and read the policies I had repeatedly pushed on him and to his absolute stunned mullet amazement, he is now a proud supporter of the Mana Party.

                      He is a retired gent of hardcore attitude but as I just said, he is now a Mana supporter. Why? because he read the policies instead of regurgitating CT stained propaganda.

        • Clemgeopin 14.1.3.2

          I am a Labour party supporter and I am not against rich pricks per se, but against rich pricks and rich prick parties like National and ACT that have policies that help to keep increasing the income and wealth gap between the wealthy and the rest, policies that favour the rich and the powerful at the expense of the rest in society, policies that make it harder for the poor and the less privileged able to look after their families with meeting even basic needs or hope of truly improving their lot. It is both amazing and sad that you and about half the people in this country do not see this in their pursuit of their selfish greed and callous attitude.

  15. fisiani 15

    Bring back Shearer.

    • felix 15.1

      Yeah he was much easier for you guys.

      • poem 15.1.1

        Thats why the nats want him back. I dont think john key is looking forward to the debates with Cunliffe.

        • felix 15.1.1.1

          Yep, and Key knows he can’t get away with all the ugly screeching and spitting that he does in parliament where no-one much is watching.

          • poem 15.1.1.1.1

            Exactly, hence the latest smearmongering campaign to discredit and undermine Cunliffe.

    • swordfish 15.2

      Bring back The Gormless Fool formerly known as oleolebiscuitbarrell.

      He may have been a Tory, but at least he was a bit of a laugh. Tory Tr*lls just aint what they used to be.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 15.2.1

        +1

        We need better wingnuts. These ones are nothing more than a chorous of tiresome parrots all trying to get their lines out first.

      • David H 15.2.2

        Yeah Ol’ gormless was a Tory, but at least he had 2 things going for him.

        1. He was funny.
        2. He could string a few words together and make a coherent statement, unlike the Trooools we get now.
  16. Jim47 16

    Micky savage
    It has nothing to do with the letter it has to do with cunliffe and labour going after national for accepting donations from a rich man from china when they themselves did the same .
    Hypocrisy .
    That’s the talk in the street.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 16.1

      No, that’s you putting your ear to the dogshit on the pavement. Labour went after National when Judith Collins failed to declare a massive conflict of interest, diverted Ministerial resources for personal gain and tried to cover it all up. Then Labour went after National because Maurice Williamson interfered in a police investigation, and John Key accepted that he had to resign.

      No doubt you will either be able to link to “labour going after national for accepting donations from a rich man from china”, or you’ll take personal responsibility for your deceitful behaviour and withdraw and apologise.

      (Nah – I made that last part up – you have no personal responsibility and your ethics are in the gutter, because you’re trash).

    • Tracey 16.2

      yea make sure you are clear jim its not about ethics honesty or integrity cos you guts abandonedcthat in 2005

    • Tracey 16.3

      are all john keys neighbours on the street? a party?

  17. Tracey 17

    key words david

    labour led govt. your united caucus is a start. for the sake of all tge left parties who want this govt gone

  18. Jim47 18

    Your reply is typical of what labour has to offer.
    Personal abuse .
    No substance.
    For goodness sake say something that would make me want to vote labour.
    I was brought up labour.
    My grandfather helped establish labour.
    He would have nothing to do with it today.
    The person that sighns on as mickysavage is so far removed from the man my grandfather who new Savage talked to me about.

    • mickysavage 18.1

      Jim if you are going to troll the site please learn to post your comments in the right place. If I had a dollar for every right winger who said they were brought up labour …

      • swordfish 18.1.1

        It’s amazing how many Tory trolls have trouble understanding the complexities of using the Reply button. Still, I guess they need to learn to walk before they can run. Clearly, for them it is, indeed, Rocket Science.

        • Anne 18.1.1.1

          A brief, simple version for their almost non existent attention spans and low level cognition.

          rightwingers are less intelligent than leftwingers

          • David H 18.1.1.1.1

            So that’s why the do the same ol’ same ol’ year after year.

          • fisiani 18.1.1.1.2

            I take it you do not understand that National are NOT RIGHT WING. This is an American study and NATIONAL fits happily within the Democratic tradition.

            • Clemgeopin 18.1.1.1.2.1

              Bull Shit. National are very much a right wing party with Tory agenda of primarily being for the welfare of the wealthy, the corporates, the bankers, the casinos, the Hollywood mugfuls, the monopolies and the millionaires. Look at their recent track record in Asset sales, Tax cuts of billions of dollars each year to primarily help the wealthy, the increase in GST that affected the poor the most, the rampant disregard for freedom and privacy laws, the GCSB snooping, support of USA for illegal non UN sanctioned wars and methods of war, the increasing gap between the wealthy and the poor, the callous environmental policies to name a few.

              Why do you think that the big corporates, big vested interests and the wealthiest in the country give big donations to National while Labour gets only small donations from ordinary people and occasionally some bigger donations from a few wealthy people if it is lucky.

              Don’t be fooled by their keeping some of the excellent social policies of the previous Labour government’s for political expediency to fool the gullible to think of them as ‘nice’ non rightists. Hope you are not one of those gullible fools that has fallen for their trickery.

            • Francis 18.1.1.1.2.2

              Says more about the American Democrats than it does about National.

              • Colonial Viper

                Correct – secret courts, secret law, mass surveillance, drone strikes, guantanamo bay, banker bailouts, actions against journalists and whistleblowers the list goes on and on.

        • freedom 18.1.1.2

          The reply button is a pretty complex action without thumbs and they have to wipe all the spittle of their screen to see the mouse but of greater concern is how many of them simply cannot spell.

      • Clemgeopin 18.1.2

        I can kind of believe that a lot of these selfish tory-minded RWNJobs were once Labour voters when they NEEDED Labour policies to help them progress. But then once they get some wealth, some of them lose their noble values, get selfish, ungrateful, disloyal and drift towards National and ACT. And not only that, these bastards want to pull the ladder up so that other less fortunate or less privileged in society can’t progress.

        • Anne 18.1.2.1

          Paula Bennett

          • Clemgeopin 18.1.2.1.1

            May be..
            Judith Collins and/or her family?
            John Key and /or his family?
            Roger Douglas and/or his family
            Richard Prebble and/or his family

        • David H 18.1.2.2

          Key got his start in life, education, housing, and all at the expense of the Taxpayer and his was an Immigrant family.

          Bennet ? was just another loose woman who got caught. (fell pregnant) Solo Mum, but was clothed, housed, and educated, at the Taxpayers expense.

          Maybe the taxpayer should send them a bill for all this largess. Now that they can afford to pay for it.

          • Clemgeopin 18.1.2.2.1

            And the Maori party Labour turn coats who are now disgracefully supporting, propping up and kissing the backsides of National. What a shame!

    • One Anonymous Bloke 18.2

      Jim47, why would I want you to vote Labour?

      You got called out for telling lies: if you really wanted to get back at me you’d post the link I challenged you to, but you can’t, and what’s more, you can’t even take personal responsibility for it.

      I apologise for letting my insults detract from your pathetic demonstration of National Party values.

      PS: speaking of National Party values, your grandfather may have passed on some good traits. One or more of your other ancestors obviously carried the low-IQ distended amygdala genes though.

  19. Jim47 19

    I did wouldn’t publish.
    So did it the other way.
    Typical left.
    Dosent work

  20. Ronnie Chow 20

    Good God , it must be that new short back and sides with the Brylcreem cowlick.He sounds convincing . To quote Lenin. in front of whose preserved remains I have personally laid a wreath ,
    “To accept anything on trust, to preclude critical application and development, is a grievous sin; and in order to apply and develop, “simple interpretation” is obviously not enough”

  21. Charlieboy 21

    Wouldn’t you love to see what Obama would do if Labour won the election. No golf with Jonny, bugger! Worth a vote for Labour just to see the back flips, and u-turns in the U S state department.Visit, what visit.
    And don’t forget the GCSB paper shredders running white hot into the night.Ah the panic.Go on,vote Labour and let the gnashing of Tory teeth and the tearing of toupees begin,wot fun.
    Take back our country!

    • Clemgeopin 21.1

      How true and exciting!

      Would be fun to watch Key frantically clearing his ‘top drawer’ and other ‘dirty tricks’ files.

    • David H 21.2

      And for that reason alone some NACTS would probably vote Labour just for the fun.

  22. freedom 22

    one more step of the journey done
    another step ahead

    after all, that is how you reach new destinations

    Kia kaha Mr Cunliffe

  23. Wyndham, George 23

    Kia kaha David Cunliffe
    Tories will do everything and anything to hold onto power.
    Has always been that way. Will always be that way.
    Keep doing the right thing.
    Your job is to give a vision of a future led by a Labour Government.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • A crucial week starts as early voting opens in the NZ Elections … it’s been a ride so far. Are y...
    Chris Hipkins down with Covid, at least for 5 days isolation, National continue to obfuscate, ACT continues to double-down on the poor and Winston… well, he’s being Winston really. Voters beware: this week could be even more infuriating than the last. No Party is what they used to be ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    7 hours ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 24, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 30, 2023. Story of the Week We’re not doomed yet’: climate scientist Michael Mann on our last chance to save human civilisation The renowned US ...
    16 hours ago
  • Clusterf**ck of Chaos.
    On the 11th of April 1945 advancing US forces liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald near Weimar in Germany. In the coming days, under the order of General Patton, a thousand nearby residents were forced to march to the camp to see the atrocities that had been committed in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    21 hours ago
  • The party of business deals with the future by pretending it isn’t coming
    Years and years ago, when Helen Clark was Prime Minister and John Key was gunning for her job, I had a conversation with a mate, a trader who knew John Key well enough to paint a helpful picture.It was many drinks ago so it’s not a complete one. But there’s ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    22 hours ago
  • 2023 More Reading: September (+ Old Phuul update)
    Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
    1 day ago
  • Losing The Left.
    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    2 days ago
  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    2 days ago
  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    2 days ago
  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    3 days ago
  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    3 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    3 days ago
  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago
  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    4 days ago
  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    4 days ago
  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    5 days ago
  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Old habits
    Media awareness about global warming and climate change has grown fairly steadily since 2004. My impression is that journalists today tend to possess a higher climate literacy than before. This increasing awareness and improved knowledge is encouraging, but there are also some common interpretations which could be more nuanced. ...
    Real ClimateBy rasmus
    5 days ago
  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    5 days ago
  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    5 days ago
  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    5 days ago
  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan  – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
    As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago
  • Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
    Voters  are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris  Hipkins’  valiant  rearguard  action.  So  where  are they  heading?  Clearly  not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that  the  outcome  will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a  few weeks  ago  was ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago
  • GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
    Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes –    With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
    As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
    6 days ago
  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
    ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
    6 days ago
  • September-23 AT Board Meeting
    Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
    6 days ago
  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
    Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Big money brings Winston back
    National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago
  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
    As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    6 days ago
  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • A pallid shade of Green III
    Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • A coalition of racism, cruelty, and chaos
    Today's big political news is that after months of wibbling, National's Chris Luxon has finally confirmed that he is willing to work with Winston Peters to become Prime Minister. Which is expected, but I guess it tells us something about which way the polls are going. Which raises the question: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago
  • More migrant workers should help generate the tax income needed to provide benefits for job seekers
    Buzz from the Beehive Under something described as a “rebalance” of its immigration rules, the Government has adopted four of five recommendations made in an independent review released in July, The fifth, which called on the government to specify criteria for out-of-hours compliance visits similar to those used during ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago
  • Letter To Luxon.
    Some of you might know Gerard Otto (G), and his G News platform. This morning he wrote a letter to Christopher Luxon which I particularly enjoyed, and with his agreement I’m sharing it with you in this guest newsletter.If you’d like to make a contribution to support Gerard’s work you ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Alarming trend in benefit numbers
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  While there will not be another quarterly release of benefit numbers prior to the election, limited weekly reporting continues and is showing an alarming trend. Because there is a seasonal component to benefit number fluctuations it is crucial to compare like with like. In ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago
  • BRIAN EASTON: Has there been external structural change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase.   Brian Easton writes –  Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago
  • CRL Progress – Sep-23
    It’s been a while since we looked at the latest with the City Rail Link and there’s been some fantastic milestones recently. To start with, and most recently, CRL have released an awesome video showing a full fly-through of one of the tunnels. Come fly with us! You asked for ...
    7 days ago
  • Monday’s Chorus: Not building nearly enough
    We are heading into another period of fast population growth without matching increased home building or infrastructure investment.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Labour and National detailed their house building and migration approaches over the weekend, with both pledging fast population growth policies without enough house building or infrastructure investment ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago
  • Game on; Hipkins comes out punching
    Labour leader Chris Hipkins yesterday took the gloves off and laid into National and its leader Christopher Luxon. For many in Labour – and particularly for some at the top of the caucus and the party — it would not have been a moment too soon. POLITIK is aware ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago
  • Tax Cut Austerity Blues.
    The leaders have had their go, they’ve told us the “what?” and the “why?” of their promises. Now it’s the turn of the would be Finance Ministers to tell us the “how?”, the “how much?”, and the “when?”A chance for those competing for the second most powerful job in the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • 100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
    The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • Government invests in Greymouth’s future
    The Government has today confirmed a $2 million grant towards the regeneration of Greymouth’s CBD with construction of a new two-level commercial and public facility. “It will include a visitor facility centred around a new library. Additionally, it will include retail outlets on the ground floor, and both outdoor and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • Nanaia Mahuta to attend PIF Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Suva, Fiji alongside New Zealand’s regional counterparts. “Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply committed to working with our pacific whanau to strengthen our cooperation, and share ways to combat the challenges facing the Blue Pacific Continent,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • PREFU shows no recession, growing economy, more jobs and wages ahead of inflation
    Economy to grow 2.6 percent on average over forecast period Treasury not forecasting a recession Inflation to return to the 1-3 percent target band next year Wages set to grow 4.8 percent a year over forecast period Unemployment to peak below the long-term average Fiscal Rules met - Net debt ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • New cancer centre opens in Christchurch
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall proudly opened the Canterbury Cancer Centre in Christchurch today. The new facility is the first of its kind and was built with $6.5 million of funding from the Government’s Infrastructure Reference Group scheme for shovel-ready projects allocated in 2020. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2023-10-01T15:14:38+00:00