Labour – “Ready to Win”
Written By:
- Date published:
3:10 pm, August 10th, 2014 - 135 comments
Categories: david cunliffe, election 2014, labour -
Tags: campaign launch
E rau rangatira ma
E te whanau o te roopu reipa
Piki mai, kake mai haere mai
Te tangi a te pipiwharauroa
Te Po
Ka Awatea!
Whiti ao – whiti ao – whiti whiti Ao
Hello Labour
Hello New Zealand
Today is about you. It is about the launch of your future, your vision, your belief in creating a better New Zealand.
This election is going to be about a choice – probably one of the clearest that we have had as a country in a generation.
And it’s not just about two leaders, or even a contest between two parties.
This election is fundamentally about two very different pathways to two very different futures for New Zealand.
It’s a choice between prosperity for all, or only for a few.
It’s a choice between a new path to a higher value, more sustainable future, where every person matters. Or the current path of selling ourselves short and deepening the divides.
I believe – every one of us in the Labour Party believes – that it is people that matter most.
That, at the end of the day, we are all worth exactly the same.
And I believe that our people are a community, and are not commodities.
I believe that when the least fortunate of us does better, we all do better.
I believe that in this country nobody should be left out or left behind.
But I also believe that New Zealand has lost its way.
That after another 3 years, heading in the direction we’re heading, we just won’t know this country.
Our rivers will be dirty. What’s left of our assets will be sold. And so will vast tracts of our land. We will be tenants in our own country.
Is that the choice we want to make?
I don’t think so.
Labour refuses to stand by and let this generation of young New Zealanders become the first to do worse than their parents.
It wasn’t that long ago that we were considered to be the small, smart jewel of the South Pacific.
A creative, plucky country punching well above our weight. Where everyone could dare to dream the Kiwi dream, where if you worked hard and played by the rules – everyone, not just some, could get ahead.
We need to reclaim that vision, and make it our own again.
We can and we will.
We will do it for the mother of two teenage boys who works 60 hours a week cleaning and cannot sleep from worry that she doesn’t have enough time to keep them on the rails.
We’ll do it for the little kid in West Auckland admitted to Starship because of respiratory disease caused by the black mould growing in the bedroom in his cold, damp home.
We’ll do it for the professional couple in Christchurch who’ve been waiting for three years for the insurance cheque that means they can finally move on with their lives.
And for the grandmother who sits in her cold flat wrapped in blankets because she cannot pay both the power bill and the doctor.
We’ll do it the small manufacturer who is laying off workers – his own mates – for the third time as his business slowly, but surely, goes under, due to the high Kiwi dollar.
A Labour government will make New Zealand a fairer place, and a better place.
By strengthening the right of every New Zealander to have a warm, dry, comfortable home.
By strengthening, not neglecting, support for our schools, hospitals and universities.
By building, not deferring, a high-value, high knowledge, sustainable economy that will create good jobs.
It’s called a better New Zealand.
Decent jobs are at the core of any decent society. It’s what we in Labour have always stood for.
And with decent jobs come decent homes. Strong and stable communities.
Where Kiwis can bring up their families – where they can thrive.
Work.
Home.
Family.
It doesn’t get much more basic than that.
That’s what matters to New Zealanders. That’s what matters to us.
The Government I lead will put people first. It will make sure every single person matters. That together we all do well.
We want jobs for all New Zealanders, not just some. We want good schools for all New Zealand kids, not just some. We want decent healthcare for all New Zealanders, not just some.
Jobs
Nowhere is the choice we face clearer than in the economy, and the jobs it creates.
The world is recovering from what is probably the largest global financial crisis of our time.
You were told that everyone had to tighten their belts – and that everyone would get their fair share of the so-called “rock star” recovery.
In fact, that party was short and not everyone got invited, but the hangover will be experienced by the vast majority.
Dairy prices are plummeting. Interest rates, mortgages and living costs are rising faster than incomes.
A few did live like rock stars: the top 10% now owns 90% of the wealth.
The wealthy got massive tax cuts that they didn’t need, while GST was raised on everyone – even though they said they wouldn’t.
The IRD tells us half the richest 100 Kiwis aren’t even paying the top tax rate.
Privatisation made inequality worse. They sold half of your energy companies even though you said no. Now only a few New Zealanders own those assets that we all paid for.
Now they want to sell our land from under us too: over a million hectares have been approved for overseas sale by the current government – sixteen times the size of Lake Taupo!
What’s going to be left if they get another three years to sell off and sell down our future?
Safe hands, clear thinking
New Zealand needs a clear plan for a prosperous, sustainable future where the benefits actually do flow to all New Zealanders.
Only Labour has that plan.
A coherent and future-focused economic upgrade that is built on firmer foundations than milk prices and insurance cheques.
We have a robust fiscal plan, that will run surpluses every year, that will pay off National’s record debt in our first two terms, and will get unemployment down to 4% by the end of our first term.
Labour is being open and transparent about what we are doing and how.
We’ve released our fiscal strategy early. It’s clearly costed and affordable – thank you David Parker.
Our policies are all banked and paid for.
In our alternative Budget, we showed that we had more policies costed and ready to roll out during the campaign – including the ones we’re announcing today.
And we’ve got some more important ones still to come.
You can afford to do a lot of good in government when you’re not spending all your cash on tax cuts for the very wealthy.
And when you back New Zealand and New Zealanders to create wealth.
And Labour will.
We will drive investment, we will drive innovation.
We will back industry on its journey from volume to value.
Universal KiwiSaver will build investment in our businesses.
Our monetary policy will make our exports more competitive.
Enhanced research and development will boost innovation.
We will back Kiwi businesses with pro-growth tax reform
We will back them by getting government to Buy Kiwi Made.
And by growing New Zealand’s wealth and opportunities.
And we’ll back every region and every sector in this country.
That’s what our $200 million regional development fund is for.
To boost infrastructure to create jobs.
And with Labour’s economic upgrade, all New Zealanders will benefit – not just the privileged few.
We will raise the minimum wage by $2 an hour to $16.25 in our first year of government.
That will put another $4,000 a year into the pockets of hardworking Kiwis. And that means more money in circulation to rebuild local businesses and our economy from the ground up.
It will raise the living standards of a quarter of a million New Zealanders and their families.
We’re also going to restore those work rights that this government has taken away. Rights that give Kiwis the ability to negotiate a decent deal.
You know what? The Government has made it very clear that one of the first things they want to do if they get back is take away your lunch break and your smoko!
Homes
Right now there’s a housing crisis in New Zealand. We have the lowest home ownership in 50 years, and rents are outstripping incomes.
For a whole generation of New Zealanders, the Kiwi dream of home ownership is slipping out of reach.
Talk to any young New Zealander these days, and they’ll tell you that no matter hard they work and how hard they save they’ll never own a home like their parents did.
Our plan means putting people to work building 100,000 affordable new homes with KiwiBuild.
That will give so many young families an opportunity they don’t currently have to get into a home of their own.
Education
On the current path Education is being undermined.
Undermined by charter schools.
Undermined by league tables.
Undermined by fiascos like Novopay, like unlawful school closures, like paying hundreds of millions of dollars to take good teachers out of their schools and turn them into middle management.
We know the best education is critical. That’s why we stand for a strong, affordable, world-class state education that is there for every Kiwi kid.
To achieve that we’ll ensure our kids have access to digital devices and 21st century learning spaces.
We’ll offer schools $100 per student so that parents – and even kids – are no longer pressured to pay so-called “voluntary” donations.
And we will make sure that class sizes are smaller and kids have more one on one learning by hiring 2,000 more teachers.
Our education policies are about excellence, opportunity and fairness.
We’ll make sure that every student, no matter where in the country they are from, or how wealthy their parents are, gets the education they deserve.
That’s how we will get the society where everyone can have opportunities to get ahead.
Health
But we all know kids don’t leave their lives at the school gate. They can’t learn if they’re hungry. They can’t learn if they don’t have a warm, dry home, or if they’re sick.
Our health – and the health of our families – is our greatest treasure.
But right now our health system is forced just to be the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff, because too many people can’t afford to get the care they need.
We will take a different path. We want people to be healthy, and to make sure they can access the best care when they get sick.
It’s why we won’t just pay to treat diseases like rheumatic fever; we’ll actually deal with the overcrowding and the cold, damp housing that causes it in the first place.
That’s why we’ll make sure every rental is warm and dry with our Healthy Homes Guarantee.
That’s why we’ll bring in the Best Start payment. $60 a week so new parents have enough money to look after their babies’ needs. And we’ll tackle child poverty by increasing the minimum wage.
It’s a Kiwi value, a Labour value, that it is your need that should determine the healthcare you get, not the size of your wallet.
I know this first-hand. When I was growing up, my Dad got desperately ill. He had a series of heart attacks starting when he was 55.
Dad got great care from our public health system and that meant he could go on caring for me, for my family and others for another two decades.
That drove home to me how important strong public healthcare is to making sure we get well and stay well.
But that is being lost on the path the current government is on.
Despite what they will tell you, health funding hasn’t kept up with population growth and inflation.
There’s been a real cut of $200 million per year since 2008.
Last year more than half a million New Zealanders needed to see a doctor, but couldn’t afford an appointment. That is a disgrace.
And a quarter of a million New Zealanders didn’t fill their prescriptions because they couldn’t afford it.
These are people who went to the doctor, who were found to be sick and needing medicine, but who didn’t get treatment because they didn’t have the money.
This is not the New Zealand we believe in. We’re a better country than that.
The Labour Government I lead will back quality, affordable, universal healthcare for all.
We’ll make sure the health budget keeps up with rising costs and our growing population with a billion dollar annual increase for health and education.
That means any new funding we announce is real money that will make a real difference in New Zealanders’ lives.
For example, last week I announced a $60 million boost for primary healthcare.
That will give 700,000 more New Zealanders free or heavily discounted GP visits.
Because getting to the doctor early means not waiting until things get desperate.
Building on that, today I’m going to lay out a step-change in our health system.
We are going to radically reduce the cost and improve the quality of healthcare for hundreds of thousands more New Zealanders.
And we’re going to focus most on those who are most in need, because that’s the right thing to do.
That’s why I’m proud to announce Labour will make doctors’ visits and prescriptions free for all New Zealanders aged 65 and over.
These are the people who’ve paid taxes all their lives, who face some of the greatest health needs and who are most likely to have fixed incomes.
It’s not just the right thing to do, it’s also the smart thing to do – getting early care can stop a lot of harmful and expensive problems down the line.
Free doctors’ visits and prescriptions for over 65s will make a real difference in the lives of nearly 700,000 older New Zealanders.
Labour will also make GP visits, prescriptions, and dental care free for all pregnant women.
International evidence, including Sir Peter Gluckman’s work, shows a direct link between the health of expectant mothers and that of their children.
Investing in good maternal health will pay dividends throughout the life of a child.
But our highest health needs are not just limited to the young and the old.
Labour will be there for New Zealanders who have long-term health conditions.
On the current government’s path, it’s just not fair that those with the highest health needs have to pay the highest bills. So we’re going to change that.
We’re going to bring a quarter of a million Kiwis into Care Plus and give them four free GP visits a year – and free prescriptions too.
Labour will also make GP visits and prescriptions free for children aged under 13, and increase funding for youth health centres.
The Labour government I lead will invest to make doctors’ visits and medicine free for the Kiwis that need it most – our children, our mothers to be and our senior citizens.
All up, Labour’s health package will give nearly 40% of New Zealanders free doctor visits and prescriptions.
These policies, like all our policies, have been carefully costed as part of our fiscal plan.
It’s budgeted, it’s paid for, it’s there in black and white.
So when our opponents try to claim that we can’t afford better healthcare for New Zealanders – and they’ll try – they won’t be being honest with the public.
And they know it.
Labour’s vision for New Zealand is to build the fairest, most decent society in the world.
The choice to come
What this election is fundamentally about is a choice. And it’s all of our choice.
New Zealanders, we can choose decent jobs for all.
We can choose great education for all.
We can choose kids growing up healthy, warm, and well fed.
We can choose an economy where people can pay their bills, and meet their mortgages and get ahead.
And of course we can choose decent healthcare for those who need it.
Together we can choose to build a society where there is fairness for all New Zealanders, not just the top few percent. Where everyone has the opportunity and aspiration to reach all our potential.
But, sadly, the path our country has been on won’t get us there.
It cannot. It will not.
The current path doesn’t live up to the truest Kiwi values of fairness, decency and respect. Those values that made our country great.
We need to apply those values to the new world of the 21st century so we can build a future where we all succeed together.
I know it’s easy to be cynical about elections. About the sideshows, about the relentless negativity.
And every election we hear voices telling us that there is no alternative and nothing will ever change.
That the problems are all someone else’s fault, or they’re all too hard to solve.
That we should just be happy with what we’ve got because fairness and decency is too much to ask for, and we shouldn’t rock the boat.
We’ve seen where politics as usual gets us.
We’ve seen more children in poverty, more people locked out of home ownership, more families finding their incomes cannot keep up with the rising cost of living.
We know that we can do better. We know we can deliver change for a better New Zealand.
In this election, we can change all of that together.
This election is going to be very close. The choice is here, the choice is now, the choice is real, and it’s ours to make, starting today.
If we want to change the path our country is on, we have to change the government first.
In this election we can chose to lift kids out of poverty, to put our people back to work, to create new businesses, to harness new technology. We can choose to build new homes, support our families and, together, build the fairest, most decent society in the world.
We can choose to do this. We can do this together.
If you want to build a better future for your family and your country.
If you want an end to politics as usual and to build a New Zealand that works for everyone.
If you won’t settle for the past and you want to reach for the future.
Then it’s time to vote for change.
It’s time to Vote Positive.
It’s time to Party Vote Labour.
Thank you.
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On November 1, 2024 we announced the publication of 33 rebuttals based on the report "Rebutting 33 False Claims About Solar, Wind, and Electric Vehicles" written by Matthew Eisenson, Jacob Elkin, Andy Fitch, Matthew Ard, Kaya Sittinger & Samuel Lavine and published by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia ...6 days ago
- Join us for a pop-up Hoon at 5pm on HYEFU
6 days ago - ‘Ideas Worth Saving’: A Call for Papers
Some years ago, I found myself pondering the power of literature to endure. Or at least the power of some of it to endure, while the rest vanishes in mere decades: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2019/08/07/look-on-my-works-ye-mighty-and-despair-the-literary-future/. I have similarly had fun with the subject in some of my short stories, such as Another Alexandria ...6 days ago - Corrections is torturing prisoners again
In 1998, in the wake of the Paremoremo Prison riot, the Department of Corrections established the "Behaviour Management Regime". Prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, with no fresh air, no exercise, no social contact, no entertainment, and in some cases no clothes and ...6 days ago
- HYEFU and BPS data shows New Zealand is way off track
New data released by the Treasury shows that the economic policies of this Government have made things worse in the year since they took office, said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney. “Our fiscal indicators are all heading in the wrong direction – with higher levels of debt, a higher deficit, and ...6 days ago
- “Better economic management”
At the 2023 election, National basically ran on a platform of being better economic managers. So how'd that turn out for us? In just one year, they've fucked us for two full political terms: The government's books are set to remain deeply in the red for the near term ...6 days ago
- Shameless, clueless
AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...6 days ago - Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...6 days ago
- Crazy ’bout a Sharp-dressed Man
Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...6 days ago - How much should you worry about a collapse of the Atlantic conveyor belt?
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob Henson In this aerial view, fingers of meltwater flow from the melting Isunnguata Sermia glacier descending from the Greenland Ice Sheet on July 11, 2024, near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. According to the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE), the ...6 days ago
- 8% ACT Party Creates One Ring To Rule Them All
In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...6 days ago - When austerity worsens public debt & cuts GDP
Willis is expected to have to reveal the bitter fiscal fruits of her austerity strategy in the HYEFU later today. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/TheKakaMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, December 17 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast ...6 days ago
- Govt to double number of toll roads
On Friday the government announced it would double the number of toll roads in New Zealand as well as make a few other changes to how toll roads are used in the country. The real issue though is not that tolling is being used but the suggestion it will make ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s pre-emptive strike
The Prime Minister yesterday engaged in what looked like a pre-emptive strike designed to counter what is likely to be a series of depressing economic statistics expected before the end of the week. He opened his weekly post-Cabinet press conference with a recitation of the Government’s achievements. “It certainly has ...6 days ago
- Gordon Campbell On The Coalition’s Empty Gestures, And Abortion Refusal As The New Slavery
This whooping cough story from south Auckland is a good example of the coalition government’s approach to social need – spend money on urging people to get vaccinated but only after you’ve cut the funding to where they could get vaccinated. This has been the case all year with public ...6 days ago
- More public service contempt of parliament
Back in 2023 the New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties raised concerns about the inherent conflict of interest involved in public service agencies supporting parliamentary select committees. Our parliament is run on a shoestring, so depends on the public service for advice. But public service agencies work for Ministers, not ...7 days ago
- If There Is A God
And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...7 days ago - A Lipstick Government
Here’s a quick round up of today’s political news:1. MORE FOOD BANKS, CHARITIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS AND YOUTH SOCIAL SERVICES SET TO CLOSE OR SCALE BACK AROUND THE COUNTRY AS GOVT CUTS FUNDINGSome of Auckland's largest foodbanks are warning they may need to close or significantly reduce food parcels after ...7 days ago - NZCTU open letter to Treasury on undue restrictions on restricted briefings
Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...7 days ago
- Why you won’t hear me advocate for electric cars
This is a guest post by Tim Adriaansen, a community, climate, and accessibility advocate. I won’t shut up about climate breakdown, and whenever possible I try to shift the focus of a climate conversation towards solutions. But you’ll almost never hear me give more than a passing nod to ...7 days ago
- Coalition forced to back down on tolling Pahiatua track
A grassroots backlash has forced a backdown from Brown, but he is still eyeing up plenty of tolls for other new roads. And the pressure is on Willis to ramp up the Government’s austerity strategy. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy ...7 days ago
- Thank You
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...1 week ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #50
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 8, 2024 thru Sat, December 14, 2024. Listing by Category Like last week's summary this one contains the list of articles twice: based on categories and based on ...1 week ago
- Making Gravy
I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...1 week ago - Nothing here but the shadows
Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...1 week ago - The United Right: the FSU’s Continued Efforts to Undermine Academia
The collective right have a problem.The entire foundation for their world view is antiscientific. Their preferred economic strategies have been disproven. Their whole neoliberal model faces accusations of corporate corruption and worsening inequality. Climate change not only definitely exists, its rapid progression demands an immediate and expensive response in order ...1 week ago
- Showing the Americans how to do it
Just ten days ago, South Korea's president attempted a self-coup, declaring martial law and attempting to have opposition MPs murdered or arrested in an effort to seize unconstrained power. The attempt was rapidly defeated by the national assembly voting it down and the people flooding the streets to defend democracy. ...1 week ago
- 2 Men, 1 Haircut
Hi,“What I love about New Zealanders is that sometimes you use these expressions that as Americans we have no idea what those things mean!"I am watching a 30-something year old American ramble on about how different New Zealanders are to Americans. It’s his podcast, and this man is doing a ...1 week ago - Chris Penk’s Hate Parade
What Chris Penk has granted holocaust-denier and equal-opportunity-bigot Candace Owens is not “freedom of speech”. It’s not even really freedom of movement, though that technically is the right she has been granted. What he has given her is permission to perform. Freedom of SpeechIn New Zealand, the right to freedom ...1 week ago - Tell me a story
All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...1 week ago
- National’s Greatest Misses 2023-4
National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...3 days ago - Release: Minister’s plan for tertiary sector a backwards step
Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...3 days ago
- Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
- Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...3 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...4 days ago
- Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...4 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...4 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...5 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...5 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...6 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...6 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...6 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...6 days ago
- Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
- Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...7 days ago
- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...7 days ago
- Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...7 days ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
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 ...20 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
- Review recommends ECE regulation shakeup
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
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Seems like a great speech, great policy, and a great Auckland campaign launch.
Now if the Warriors win my day will be complete…
Good stuff from the next PM.
Lots of snappy soundbites, if not quite up there with JFK, MLK, and Churchill… we still have a mountain to climb, brothers and sisters!
A very uplifting speech. Gives me hope that the Labour led Cunliffe government will make a massive change to the future direction of NZ to help make NZ a much better, fairer, affordable and prosperous country for ALL the people in society, and not just for a small percentage of the wealthy at the top as is happening under this Key led National government.
Bring back Labour, I say!
fishy the sort of 3 way hand shake with jamie whyte unity.
Koch a bully! you must be worried or you wouldn’t be posting!
National have only to loose 10’000 votes and your Koch a hoop bully boy superior smugness will lead you to despair!
Following the Brain Fade leaders lies without question without hard evidence is going to bring you unstuck!
Show us the 16 billion where it is what it is and when is it going to be spent your leader has told you one big fat Lie.
Like a good little Fishyanal you have fallen for it hook line and sinker!
The longest suicide note ever. No vision no sense and no unity.
saying it doesn’t make it so
The Cunliffe said it. You are right -It doesn’t make it so.At the height of Labour’s 2008 election bribery, spending increased by $7b in one year. So far they’ve already promised an extra $16billion!
Now that is truly a suicide note.
Cunliffe -Fantastic-new -innovative!
Fis- yaaawwwnnnn same old…
Cunliffe is a fuckload more reliable than you will ever be.
and the last five budgets have been execution warrants for too many NZers. We need a change.
$16 Billion bribes so far from Labour with nearly six weeks to go. Add in the demands of the Taliban Greens Winston First and Internet Mana needed to cobble together an unholy alliance of losers and the bribe bill will be a whopping $65 Billion.
Rather that than it all going to your small circle of friends, Fisiani. Share and share about, I say.
Share in the debt you mean. A Labour led Davy and the Gimps would cost each and every man woman and child $14,450. That’s the appalling price of failure to Party Vote National. I ask the sensible readers to realise how disastrous that would be and show that you love New Zealand by eschewing your prejudices and like the ABC’s secretly vote for National.
Don’t you mean “That’s the appalling price of failure by voting National”?
Yes, that must be it – surely you don’t mean…no…. it must be an error.
If you love New Zealand – you are supposed to vote Green, Fis; that is their slogan, not National’s. National’s is Working for America if I remember correctly, hang on, I might have got that wrong – it might have been Working for the Devil….or…. Working against New Zealand – something like that anyway. .. Working to Sell NZ…they are very corporate, their hoardings, at any rate – so perhaps it was Working for the Corporations? Not a party I would vote for anyway – they are a bit too behind the times for me.
Show us the money and where it is spent or shutup Fishyanil!
$65billion thats $60’000 for every man women and child National have left the debt legacy so a few well heeled can live it up even more!
“$65 billion” I think you have become confused with how much crown debt National has got us in.
The debt accumulated since 2008 was largely predicted by the Treasury in the 2008 PREFU and was as a result of the fiscal situation left by the last Labour led government.
Exactly how much better could have Labour have left the finances?
It couldn’t have had anything to do with a Global Financial Crisis affecting our trade and thereby reducing revenue.
Or some irresponsible tax increases that National forced Labour to do, and which National then distorted and extended towards the already wealthy after the 2008 election?
Rather than focusing the tax increases into consumption as Labour intended. National largely focused them on to a tiny people who could afford to pay personal debt and proceeded to do so. Effectively in economic terms they wasted it.
As I remember it, Cullen said after the election that his tax cuts from the start of the year were unsustainable in terms of government revenue and costs by the PREFU. But that was the different between budget time and election time. It is a pity that National didn’t stop their planned tax increases until 2 years later when they realised they were ineffectual.
You really are a dumb hypocrite….
and that is without starting in on the smoke and mirrors surplus
I find it hilarious you think National forced Labour into doing anything let alone Tax cuts (which I presume you eroneously called increases). Regardless the biggest impact on the fiscal deteriation was likely the 7 Billion worth of additional spending that Labour put in place in the 2008 budget. This was unsustainable at the time and would have been so even without the impacts of the GFC.
what Bullshit again Gosman so the $ 2.5 billion a year in tax cuts to the already well off were nuetral were they goose no bill english had to raise GST and still has’t balanced the budget = no contributions to the Cullen fund at 2and1/2 billion a year wasted by National on buying upper middle class votes.
Without the huge surpluses from both the Cullen Fund and the ACC fund which National are taxing us by stealth . National would be billions down the gurgler!
So Why has National got a massive hole in its budget after saying tax cuts for the well off will have a tricledown effect (No trickling yet just pissing on peasants from high up). with record milk prices still $700 million down except for ACC grab it would be far worse!
The actual hole would have been bigger if the policies put in place by Labour were not altered in anyway. That is not to suggest Labour wouldn’t have made changes however they seemed very reluctant to reduce any spending over this period.
Fishy Business that $16 billion dollar surplus is arrived at by taking the $14 billion of Nationals promised extra spending and adding the $2 billion extra labour is spending over 4 years to make the figure look bigger than it is !
pure spin and propaganda that is only $500 million more a year than national are spending!
Tax on those like you and me who are going to pay for it you don,t want to pay more tax even though we have had ACC increases and GST increases by National the Party of read my lips no tax increases J ohn Brain Fade Key!
You mean the $14 Billion that is accrued through vehicle licensing, fuel and road user levies allocated to be spent on the roading that the tax was collected from?
If they are stealing all of that funding as you state, who is going to be paying for the maintenance of the roads we have?
Or are you just buying the “pure spin and propaganda” that it is “only $500 million more a year than national are spending” and our existing roading will magically remain safe and well maintained all by itself?
Fishy make it up as you go along.
fisiani, since you are constantly putting down Labour’s policies and throwing around numbers, can you honestly tell me how much the tax cuts bribe alone, that primarily benefited the wealthy, have cost SO FAR for the LAST six years and how much they will cost for the NEXT six years if National were to regain power? Don’t bother about the BS about the GST increase as that primarily punished the poor the most. I am talking here about the National’s TAX CUT BRIBE benefiting primarily the better off in society.
Does that $16b include the $70b Key and Joyce have borrowed and spent since 2008?
Nice.
Fisiani,
A Labour lead Government will be returned this year now the word is out that nat’s have borrowed far more than they are admitting.
You are a troll, why not tell the truth.
Did you not know that since the Nat’s have been in Government they have borrowed from overseas banks an incredible amount of money to pop up things like Roads of National Importance and many other pet projects.
This extravagance has now increased our Crown debt ratio from a low 6% ratio related to GDP up to a staggering 26% ratio to GDP. (treasury figures)
But you bang on about Labour not being “fiscally responsible!!!
Tell the whole story before you all leave.
How can a promise to extend access to health care be a ‘suicide note’?
Unless you like the USA system…
It is all about stating black is white, Millsy – I guess you know that though…
fisi and his paid-for party of the privileged
pretending that business as usual is good enough
doing nothing, helping nobody but themselves
Unity, community, and families is what Labour and the wider left is all about. The current government has split communities, encouraged childcare over parenting, uprooted the unemployed and unemployable, and created an increasingly part time and insecure workforce. There’s plenty of vision for change. Change for the betterment of all New Zealanders.
Don’t cry my baby. Go to Hash-Key. He loves you lots darling!
I was there ,very up lifting very very positive really good policy announcements ,as for Steven Joyce nz cant afford it everyone of labours policy’s has been fully costed and budgeted for by David Parker
dave – forget steven joyce- all he can do is sneer, and sneer,again. He was born that way but thinks it’s born to rule.
Isn’t it sad piseearnie only has here to amuse himself – living alone too long does that.
He turns up here day after day making deluded comments that only right wing wankers believe – and where does he come? He comes here like a lone dog wanting a meal.
and benificiaries will have to stick to their thin gruel…
..once again/still..they were/are the unmentionables..
This delusion and paranoia was brought to you by the letters T, H, and C
i just read thru the speech..have you..?
..if so show me where i missed it..
..and if incorrect i will apologise..
Read and watched.
The word “beneficiary” didn’t come up but neither did “accountants” or “farmers”.
Guess you missed the bits about “fairness and decency”, “universal healthcare” healthier homes, and more state housing.
What about the story about the kid with respiratory problems and black mould in his bedroom? Poverty is a strong theme and a huge motivator for Labour supporters.
So put on your dunce hat and go stand in the naughty corner.
Just recognising that there’s not much benefit of the doubt remaining in reserve re: Labour and unsustainably low benefit levels.
unsustainably low benefit levels, punitive regime, policy and legislation within WINZ. All those need to change in addition to the good things Labour intends to do about health care, housing etc.
+1
we need every person in this country feeling supported, in good morale, and able to contribute what they can to their communities and families. Not dispirited, deconditioned, feeling abandoned and without a place or a role in wider society.
oh..y’know ropata..!
..when the ‘b’-word is never ever mentioned by labour..
..like..’never’..
..then you don’t really have to wonder..
..they really are ‘the unmentionables’..
..both philosophically..and in real terms..
Labour stands for all NZers not just benes… the words “poverty” and “inequality” are bandied about quite freely…
“..Labour stands for all NZers.. (just not) benes..”
there you are..!
..corrected it for you..
Certainly missed the bit about more state housing. Looks again. Nope, still not there. There was the bit about affordable housing for the middle classes though.
I did see the other stuff, but I didn’t see anything about “more state housing”. This is something I have been looking for from parties. Mana and The Greens have policies to build more state houses.
It is a very good left wing speech from Cunliffe, with some very good and strong policies.
However, I’m still waiting for any polcieis specifically on state housing and social security. Maybe they will add polciies on these things at a later date. however, the lack so far, means I really feel the parties that support Labour in government, need to be there to hold Labour to account on such things.
So this statement from Cunliffe:
I disagree with the “only” in the last sentence.
I do think Cunliffe has the makings of an excellent PM. He does do a great speech.
kiwi build, 100 000 houses, all going to the highest bidder? nary a state house on the horizon? methinks ’tis unlikely.
still a far preferable policy to jk’s profusion of holiday motorways that save aucklanders 5 minutes on a long weekend
Ropata so John Key can drive up to his holiday home .
There’s no spending left Karol – only a couple of hundred million in the self-imposed budget straightjacket remain.
This was Labour’s big roll of the dice.
And free health-care for the over 65s is an incredible waste of cash. Poorly targetted, largely unnecessary, and incredibly expensive.
It’s a naked vote grab for the vote-rich elderly demographic, subsidised by the working poor. Workers who will get their superannuation taken away from them until 67.
Labour had a real mandate for bold change, and this is what they served up. I’m disgusted and appalled.
This is shameful.
How the hell can any Labour activist try and sell this to a working age person?
All working age people do get old some day.
What do you think Labour should do? Give free medical care for all working age people too?
Ropata got you there hippy dope-fiend. 😉
“This delusion and paranoia was brought to you by the letters T, H, and C”
Laugh out loud moment 🙂
May be free dope for dopes will fix everything.
Funny. Let’s keep Bennett’s drug testing for benes only then shall we?
“Funny. Let’s keep Bennett’s drug testing for benes only then shall we?”
Who else should msd drug test?
Students, backpackers, protestors, and all users of public transport
IMP supporters, and anyone walking around in bare feet should be invasively body-searched
got to sort out the riff raff…
“Who else should msd drug test?”
Why should they be testing anyone?
Accountability, like drug testing in the work place.
I’ve no problem with being tested for drugs on a benefit because I spend mine on paying the bills and eating etc… What the safety net is designed for.
Only those people that spend their benefit money on drugs should have concerns. If they waste it on pot, they don’t need as much as their getting. If it’s bad lifestyle decisions, then they need budgeting controls imposed upon them.
Of course you can argue, which you probably will, that dolies should be able to spend their money on drugs if they like, but good luck convincing 99% of the population that’s a good idea.
It’s those selfish shits that ruin the system for the genuinely needy, and play no small part in fueling bene bashing.
what bites my balls is that even if some drugs didn’t literally grow in the garden for free, some folks like yourself think that being on the dole means that a person has no right to any recreational pleasure, ever.
why do drugs when you can be puritanical (about other people)?
It’s not restricted to drugs – I’ve heard people criticise beneficiaries for movies, any food that isn’t the most basic, keeping rather than selling books (let alone buying books), even having a pet (even if they had the pet before needing income support).
The slightest bit of comfort for a beneficiary makes some people outraged. I’ve never really understood it.
Quite. Al1en’s argument seemed puritanical. Other people seem like they just need someone to bash, either because they’re having a hard time or because they’re just mean. Then there is the neighbour of the painter on the roof.
“some folks like yourself think that being on the dole means that a person has no right to any recreational pleasure, ever.”
With hand on heart I can honestly say that’s not what I’ve stated at all, anywhere. Spending money on drugs isn’t part of the welfare agreement, literal or otherwise. If it were there’d be a box to tix on the special needs form.
“Quite. Al1en’s argument seemed puritanical. Other people seem like they just need someone to bash, either because they’re having a hard time or because they’re just mean. Then there is the neighbour of the painter on the roof.”
Piss off weka, there’s a love. There’s nothing puritanical about calling out selfish shits. The struggles some endure while on benefits, who we rightfully rally behind, are ridiculed by the actions of some benes who somehow manage to fund drug habits.
“Spending money on drugs isn’t part of the welfare agreement, literal or otherwise.”
What agreement are you talking about? There is no agreement that says that benes have to spend their benefit on anything in particular unless they are asking for extra assistance, and even then extra assistance is dependent on context. The base benefit is theirs to do what they want with. Your view is very puritanical because they assume that all benes are basically the same, and that someone on high has said that while they are a bene they are only allowed x, y, z in their lives, and those things just happen to exclude things that are recreational. Shit, not even the current lot at WINZ agree with that.
So beneficiaries should have absolutely no discretionary income whatsoever?
Piss off.
“So beneficiaries should have absolutely no discretionary income whatsoever?”
I’ve not said that at all, indeed I’ve stated a position that beneficiaries should have extra discretionary income to make them less alienated from society. Should they be allowed to spend state handouts on fags, booze and dope, in my opinion, no they shouldn’t, but feel free to disagree, it is your right.
“Piss off”
As stated, your interpretation of my clear comment is false, so suck your wee back up through a straw and have a pint on me. 🙂
so you hold thet they should have some discretionary income, but it’s not up to them how they spend it.
🙄
I’m arguing they should be allowed extra cash for treats and luxuries taken for granted by everyone else… Except for drink, drugs and cigarettes as one is illegal, one is a huge cause of social problems and domestic violence in NZ, and one kills you, even if it is a slow suicide.
You’re arguing for beneficiaries to be able to drink, smoke and do drugs because it’s unfair that right be denied them. Lulz
So basically people should get a certain level of discretionary pocket money that they’re only allowed to spend on recreation that you approve of.
I suppose prostitutes are out, too. What about fetish cosplay? What about cosplay at comic book conventions?
Why should beneficiaries be restrained by your personal prudishness?
refined sugar kills people too, is that off the acceptable list for benes?
how about gambling? Casual sex? Video games? Violent movies? Reality TV? Seriously, why pick on drugs, alcohol and ciggies? (which many people enjoy without the serious problems).
“You’re arguing for beneficiaries to be able to drink, smoke and do drugs because it’s unfair that right be denied them. Lulz”
Unfair? I was thinking it’s discrimination. Someone isn’t allowed to have a beer, because they’re on sickness benefit, but their flatmate is, because they’re a student. Sorry mate, that’s just weird.
Besides which, drugs, alcohol and cigs can all be consumed without significant negatives. Why deny the good aspects to only benes?
Did you enjoy your pint?
was that your way of saying you didn’t understand a particular comment?
who?
If beneficiaries aren’t allowed booze drugs and parties then nobody should be allowed them.
What is the basis for your discrimination? Sounds like a pile of shit to me mr al1en
lolz vto. Benes should just stay at home then and not go out. Can’t go to the pub or a party, because not smoking, drinking or getting stoned will make all the real people uncomfortable.
Tool 😆
Say it loud and long enough and someone will believe you 🙂
“If beneficiaries aren’t allowed booze drugs and parties then nobody should be allowed them.”
Technically no-one is allowed to use illegal drugs. Whether on a benefit or not.
Just sayin…
I think we are all aware of that technicality. Not sure how relevant it is to the conversation, apart from as you point out it’s illegal for all people not just one particular class of people. Illegal drugs that is, not legal ones.
According to your argument and worldview, benies that grow their own should be exempt from drug testing. Feel free to make the suggestion to the MSD.
I hadn’t picked you for such a moraliser Al1en. You are in good company then with Bennett. Her rationale is that it’s to prevent benes from failing job applications, but I believe there is a fair amount of moralistic shit in her views too.
Nothing wrong with smoking cannabis recreationally. And if NZ wants to force people to live in poverty, which it seems to, then it can hardly expect them not to self-medicate.
Anyhoo, all that aside, my point was about not singling out benes. If you want to force people to not take drugs so that it doesn’t cost the state, you should cast a wider net. Forcing benes is class discrimination.
“benies that grow their own” – Are engaging in a criminal act.
Argument and world view – Typical weka twisting. 🙄 just like the monster jibe is typical divert and attack.
“Nothing wrong with smoking cannabis recreationally”
Apart from being illegal, technically I’d agree with you, but only if you’re paying for it with money that hasn’t been given by the state for the sole purpose of keeping you accommodated and fed. If you can afford pot, you’re getting too much (which we know for most that’s not the case), or you’re spending unwisely in which you case you need help budgeting.
Seriously, your argument won’t fly with 99% of the populace because it’s a shit, selfish one which craps all over the good intentions of the welfare state and most of the people who have to rely on it.
Sure, if you want to spend your dole money on drugs, go ahead and self medicate, but if you get caught, then face the music like a man and don’t come up with bullshit anti beneficiary arguments and rhetoric to hide your shame.
I call right on lefty bull for the sake of it shit.
You’ve got to watch moralising over small sums of benefit money. It leads to typical Tory style demands to be able to control every aspect of peasants lives, while they themselves splash out on all kinds of shit like royalty.
You get the benefit? Right, no drinking for you. No smoking. No lotto tickets. No buying meals out. Unnutritional soft drinks and snacks? Banned. Maybe you can spend a bit of benefit money on fish and chips – once a month.
At the root of it all is limiting the agency and controlling beneficiary individuality in society.
Etc
“You get the benefit? Right, no drinking for you. No smoking. No lotto tickets. No buying meals out.”
For a few more days, and yes it’s like you describe and not very nice at all.
“Unnutritional soft drinks and snacks? Banned.”
Sadly, nutritional food isn’t cheap and low quality becomes the mainstay of a dole diet. Okay if you have a garden and skills to supplement, but not everybody does.
“Maybe you can spend a bit of benefit money on fish and chips – once a month.”
I’m all for increasing the benefit levels and targeting some of the extra towards good food. No reason why we shouldn’t have good food in our bellies just because we aren’t in work or our kids suffer as a result.
But just like when, if you’re lucky enough or jump through hoops to get an emergency food grant, alcohol and ciggies should remain on the banned list. Providing for them doesn’t reduce anyone’s poverty.
I’d like to see some ‘happy money’ made available to beneficiaries so they can remain part of society and not find themselves detached and isolated, as can easily happen, fish and chips and cinemas yes, but drugs. which remain illegal for in the workplace, no way. That’s just lefties gone mental.
“You’ve got to watch moralising”
Appreciate the advice, but it’s not really moralising, more common sense, especially politically, by those who make political comment.
I’m happy for those who disagree to openly campaign for drugs for dolies and see how they get on.
“but only if you’re paying for it with money that hasn’t been given by the state for the sole purpose of keeping you accommodated and fed.”
citation needed that the benefits are paid for the sole purpose of keeping one accommodated and fed. Unless of course it’s you that believes that, in which case please clarify.
““benies that grow their own” – Are engaging in a criminal act.
Argument and world view – Typical weka twisting. 🙄 just like the monster jibe is typical divert and attack.”
Why not go back and reply to my actual point? You argued that benes taking drugs was wrong because they were spending their benefit on it, therefore it was right that benes should be drug tested. You didn’t say taking drugs was wrong full stop. I said, ok, benes who get free drugs should be exempt by your reasoning, because you believe that the problem with taking drugs is the use of money. If that’s not true, why not come out and say what you really mean?
“citation needed that the benefits are paid for the sole purpose of keeping one accommodated and fed”
You’re as bad as bad at arguing, all twisty turny and pedantic to the nth degree. 🙄
Tell me, and cite all you like if that’s the name of the game, wtf is the purpose of dole, the welfare safety net, if not to house and feed those on it? I’ll wager it’ll say nothing about state funded dope smoking.
“Why not go back and reply to my actual point?”
Despite whether you think it unfair that benes should face some accountability and uphold their end of the deal, I say the same – Who else should msd drug test?
Social Security Act 1964:
Nothing in there about making people live like Spartans, either
Nothing from me that says they should live like ‘spartans’, but worth noting there’s nothing there advocating drugs for dole.
Should you want to change that, contact mana, it’d be your best hope.
Here’s what you said:
“Apart from being illegal, technically I’d agree with you, but only if you’re paying for it with money that hasn’t been given by the state for the sole purpose of keeping you accommodated and fed.”
Maybe it’s miscommunication but you seem to be saying that people on the dole shouldn’t spend their money on things that bring them relief, fun, joy. The benefit is for far more than just keeping people accommodated and fed. Look at your statement and the use of the word ‘sole’. It’s there, and in your other comments are similar statements, and they make me think you believe that benes shouldn’t be spending money on other things than survival.
Further, you have this idea that there is some inherent contract that benes have to live up to. Some benefits do have requirements on them (eg being work ready), but there is no contract in the way you have been implying apart from in the minds of people like you. Who I might add are aligned pretty closely with Paula Bennett’s discriminatory and demeaning reforms. Despite Bennett’s best efforts, there is no contract between a beneficiary and the state that says what they are allowed and not allowed to spend their base benefit on.
You said: “Spending money on drugs isn’t part of the welfare agreement, literal or otherwise.”
I’ve asked you to supply some evidence of this agreement, and instead you’ve just come back with ad hominems. The agreement is something you obviously want, but it’s not actually a real thing. The only thing at issue is the legality of cannabis, and that’s another kete of ika altogether.
You seem incapable of distinguishing between someone who has a smoke on the weekend socially and someone who is out of it all the time using their benefit on weed instead of things like housing and food. Or maybe you simply just disapprove of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, all things commonly used by many people to make their lives more pleasant or manageable.
btw, calling a benefit a ‘state handout’ also strongly suggests that you really think that benes are second class citizens, rather than the social security system in NZ being about making sure that everyone is ok irrespective of what we might thing about them.
All the above, like I said, puritanical.
“you seem to be saying that people on the dole shouldn’t spend their money on things that bring them relief, fun, joy.”
Nope, just drink, drugs and fags.
“in your other comments are similar statements, and they make me think you believe that benes shouldn’t be spending money on other things than survival.”
You misrepresent me, have not read (or ignored) the bits about discretionary spending, so you have it wrong.
“calling a benefit a ‘state handout’ also strongly suggests that you really think that benes are second class citizens,”
That’ll be you misrepresenting me and allotting me a monster mask, probably because you’re on one for effect like you do from time to time.
How dare he say a bad word about the shitty pot smoker dolies, he must think all dolies are the same. Crud logic, my dear. Fu*k, I thought you were one of the smart ones. Seems you’re just as emotive, self serving and laughable as some of the other munters.
“like I said, puritanical.”
Like I thought, right on for the sake of it lefty.
Pulp’s common people always reminds me of you. 😉
“Nope, just drink, drugs and fags.”
Genuinely curious, why those three?
“calling a benefit a ‘state handout’ also strongly suggests that you really think that benes are second class citizens,”
“That’ll be you misrepresenting me and allotting me a monster mask, probably because you’re on one for effect like you do from time to time.
How dare he say a bad word about the shitty pot smoker dolies, he must think all dolies are the same.”
Actually no. My objection to your statements about dope smoking is that you keep talking about dope smoking benes as if they are all the same. It’s pretty simple, if you’re not talking about all dope smoking benes, just qualify your statements a bit 🙂
Unless you really do think that all benes who smoke dope have something wrong with them? I’m still confused as to why. Originally it was because they were mispending state money, but even the ones who grow their own have something wrong with them, so it’s still not very clear.
Other than that, it’s not your criticism of dope smoking that made me raise my eyebrows at ‘state handout’, it was the many things you have said in this conversation, including the bits about this contract you think benes have, and how the sole point of the benefit is food and shelter.
“one is illegal, one is a huge cause of social problems and domestic violence in NZ, and one kills you, even if it is a slow suicide.”
If you want to make the case for beneficiaries to be paid to drink, smoke and do drugs go ahead – The floor is yours.
“paid to”? You still seem to have this idea that the money paid to benes isn’t really theirs and comes with conditions attached. That’s straight out of Paula Bennett’s philosophy.
For all the huge cost associated with drug testing only handful have tested positive less than 1% tested positive i bet if we tested National MP’S the results would be much Higher sarc!
The Myth that benes are on meth is just a Myth which the right perpetuate for bene bashing!
@ that ben..
it wouldn’t hurt..
lol
that, and the irony of a vegan talking about others being fed a thin gruel.
no ‘thin gruel’ here..
..big jammed vegan-burgers…(avo/hummus..!..drool..!..)
..(the delights of fast-food..but healthy..!!..)
I could have sworn I heard the message ‘all New Zealanders need to be treated fairly’ in that speech.
I would be truly surprised if this wasn’t meant as a positive message for those surviving on thin gruel.
It is certainly how I received it.
It is a far cry from ‘bene on the roof’ type comments and I personally really appreciate the shift in focus from bene bashing to fixing the reasons so many are on welfare in the first place.
I acknowledge, though, there has yet to be anything said to directly address the problems occurring for those currently on welfare (apart from those with children).
Ok, so still some benefit of the doubt.
“The Government I lead will put people first. It will make sure every single person matters. That together we all do well.”
Am tempted to say we’ve heard it all before, but instead how about we agree to hold him to account for that, eh?
Yes, good idea and that may be done by this leopard by voting for a party that is likely to pressure them in such a way.
Have to wait and see what further policies are revealed before I make up my mind on that course of action.
I like a lot of the policies that Labour are rolling out. I like the way they have thought of a wider plan and I do support Cunliffe because of the way he was voted in by so many people in the Labour membership and Unions – however I guess policies are going to end up deciding the day for me.
Placing pressure on the Labour caucus and leadership to ‘do the right thing’ is definitely a good plan. And with strong support and pressure, it actually gives them political ammo to go left.
and benificiaries will have to stick to their thin gruel…
Well, until we’ve managed to strip out the lazy shites who should be working for a living, yes. As long as people get to conflate ‘beneficiary’ with ‘lazy shite’ and have a reasonable number of examples to lend that stereotype a superficial credibility, political parties are going to have be very careful about promising stuff to beneficiaries.
Chicken and egg. Unless you improve the lot of the people cycling through welfare or there permanently, there will always be accusations of bludger.
I would have settled with putting dentistry on the public health – something we still don’t have but desperately need.
Agreed, Populuxe1.
I remember one Saturday (or Sunday) a U.S. medical doctor who had written a book called ‘A short Guide to a Long Life’ being interviewed on RNZ National.
He mentioned a survey of elderly people which had asked them what they would have done differently in terms of their health. Two things easily topped the list: Looked after their feet; Looked after their teeth.
Of course, to look after both you actually have to live far healthier lives – but you also need good health services support.
There is considerable evidence to suggest a link between poor oral health and a number of serious medical conditions
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/oralhealth/Topics/HeartDisease/
Easy to see the influence of Dr Elizabeth Craig (Clutha Southland candidate) and Dr David Craig in all this hard core public health spending policy. They have been tracking precisely this kind of corollary for nearly a decade now for all our District Health Boards. I could be wrong of course, but this was no lolly scramble. It was policy targeted at not merely alleviating but preventing suffering.
It’s a pretty pathetic indictment that National’s health system are running a scare campaign on Rheumatic Fever with a boy who’s had his heart cut open showing his scar. Grisl, morally screwed and irresponsible scaremongering. Labour is reminding us that media campaigns about preventable diseases emerging from poverty and overcrowding like Rheumatic Fever are evidence of policy failure on behalf of the entire health system and the entire housing system, not one parent’s fault about missing a cough.
Nonetheless free dental care for pregnant women is insufficent and a bit beside th epoint because yu are hardly likely to have major dentalwork with anesthetics undertaken while you are pregnant.
Even merely affordable dental care for all New Zealanders would greatly benefit health and productivity across the board. It’s a no brainer.
Even though Doctors visits for the under 6 age group are free it has made no difference to the number of children with bad health because of transport and prescription charges children are not getting the help they need to be in good health.
That was one of the things I liked about living in Germany – dental was covered by the compulsory medical insurance, so I got as much done as I could before moving back here. Funnily enough, the dentist was an Aussie who’d married a German – took one look in my mouth and said “Jesus, another one with Kiwi dental nurse teeth” ie a mouthful of amalgam. They weren’t shy about using us for practice back in the 60s.
‘In case you missed it – Labour are rolling out well thought out policy’
By Martyn Bradbury / August 8, 2014
…. some news oxygen for Labour’s impressive roll out of policy this week…
Disarmament
Youth Employment policy
Small Business policy
State Services
Health
Water
Arts, Culture and Heritage
ACC
Labour will not sell ACC, we will make compensation fairer for people who are injured before they can start earning, and we’ll reduce levies as we can
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/08/10/votepositive-labour-election-launch-2014-someone-tell-hooton-not-to-order-the-champagne-yet/
‘In case you missed it – Labour are rolling out well thought out policy’
Yeah, but National are rolling out… er… well, there’s… um… Go #TeamKey!
+1 lol
Smile and wave, she’ll be right.
Christchurch… please look the other way
Inequality… not in polite company
GCSB… can neither confirm nor deny anything
Am I overly cynical for suggesting that after we’re now at the point of wanting to prevent young New Zealanders from being the second generation to do worse than their parents? Anyone born from the mid-1970s onwards would have run into the nastiness of user pays and the student loan system.
good point.
40 campaigning days to go and Labour launch their unaffordable bribe fest. Trouble is that the phone is still off the hook 40 days out. A case of premature ejelection. National wait another two weeks and have a Polynesian love-in. Looking good. Really good for three more years.
National are polling ten points behind what they were when they just scraped their only real policy through with the help of an election fraudster.
It looks like they might get thoroughly polled by the electorate next month.
I will be very very surprised if National get over 44% in this coming election. Damn racist card Winston Peters is the best (only) hope of National forming a government now.
Unfortunately that is a strong hope for the bastards.
Nats with 43-44% plus Winston with 5% get them very close to where they need to be.
I think our best hope is Winston sucking up 4.9%. Conservatives sucking up 3% and Goldsmith winning Epsom.
That will leave Key stranded with about 55 MPs
FTFY
The rest of what you wrote has me wondering just WTF you’re smoking – it’s obviously killing your last brain cell.
youre starting to sound a little tired fisiani
worried about your next monthly paycheck & not sleeping properly ?
National supporters looking increasingly impotent each day
national supporters are just so negative.
it must throught of all those unpaid taxes catching up with them.
Interesting stuff from Labour’s leader, of the areas that deeply interest me, those that Do sway my votes, Labour with its ‘Best Start’ program scores highly as in the future this program directly addresses the heart of the child poverty issue,
i do not propose to address at all any negative concerns i have about any of Labour’s policy, the time has long passed where there is any useful point in doing so, the election being upon us and where possible a solid front needs to be presented to the electorate from across the spectrum of the left,
The politics inherent in David Cunliffe’s opening ambit to the ‘official campaign launch’ tho are of interest, it is obvious that the Labour leader has no plans to wake up on the morning after wondering ‘what if’,
The proposal for the free doctors visits for over 65’s may yet hold special meaning for the shape and makeup of the next coalition Government and i should imagine that Winston Peters must be quietly seething at today’s announced policy,
NZFirst, credited in the public polls thus far as either below or just at the required 5% of public support is now in danger of losing votes on three fronts,
1), Being the 2011 tactical voters who are for obvious reasons highly unlikely to entertain voting for NZFirst in 2014,
2), Being Colon and the Colonics, perhaps laughably anal retentives all in need of a Colonostrophy directly targeting the NZFirst vote,
3), Being the ‘new’ Labour policy of free doctors visits for over 65’s, while probably not having a huge effect on the Grey Power set where in their droves there will be a mass exodus from NZFirst to Labour from within this demographic, such a policy has the ability to chisel off from NZFirst a small but hugely significant minor % of their vote,
My belief is that electorally NZFirst was on very shaky ground even befor today’s opening salvo from the Labour leader, the free doctors for over 65’s policy might just be the straw that did unimaginable and unprintable things to the poor old NZFirst camel…
Good thinking, we are in interesting times indeed.
Wouldn’t it be swell to have an election night result that says…
ACT out!
SEYMOUR out!
UF out!
DUNNE out!
NZF out!
PETERS out!
CONS out!
CRAIG out!
MAORI PARTY out!
FLAVEL out!
KEY OUT!
NATIONAL out!
Instead,….
LABOUR in!
GREENS in!
IMP in!
Oops, I better go back to dream. It is 1:20 am!
Great speech!
Good examples of real world life struggles and how lives can be improved with the right policy. Something Key knows nothing of. Labour along with coalition partners will bring a compassionate and socially engaged government, in stark contrast to our current disinterested self serving socially destructive government.
Until Cunliffe came along and the Labour Party in general gave itself a good dose of caffeine I wasn’t sure if I would ever be saying this again, but I can – I am proud to be voting two ticks Labour.
I will also be giving my two ticks to Labour. Although it would be unusual for National to miss out on a third term, you could frame this election as a battle between actual politicians and PR constructs. All of the political leaders on the left are politically educated and engaged, whereas it is safe to say that NONE of the current leaders on the right are. On the right, they are all the front-of-house for whoever is financing them, directing their pitches toward a range of political markets. National of course does have actual politicians among their number, but I am talking about the leadership. Not only do I want to see the left win with Labour under Cunliffe’s leadership, I want to see this experiment in replacing proper politicians with biddable frauds come to an end.
Well said Olwyn.
One can only hope that voters have learnt over the last 6 years that the government they brought in is a cardboard cut out of a government, one with vested interests, and that those interests exclude the common good.
6 Years of our country being run by a PR company has to come to an end, I agree.
Heartening to see that people are getting it after all this time and expressing their understanding of our leader in their hoarding “art”. Two new ones in the wgtn region “working for myself” and “working for my rich mates” plus other assorted “corrections”. Such reworkings of National hoardings wasn’t as prevalent in 2011.
“In moderation”. Sorry Lynn/mods, just messing with ya. I am playing with my handle, as she is a blank field these days…………..
Thanks Rosie/Rosa – I agree re the hoardings. The Nat PR machine has been less successful at dismissing critics this time around. People are finding their voices again.
I did reply to you Olwyn in support of your view but my comment has disappeared, most likely due to my changing my handle/name. I’ve been getting a blank field for my name and email for several weeks and this time is was too tempting to use my usual handle…………