Labour’s list – diversity and renewal
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- Date published:
7:01 am, May 3rd, 2017 - 112 comments
Categories: election 2017, labour -
Tags: labour, list
Labour has delivered a list of diversity and renewal. Good to see it getting the recognition it deserves.
Little focuses on diversity, not division at Labour list announcement
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Speaking at the party’s Wellington headquarters, Little said he wanted a list “that was as reflective and representative of New Zealand as possible”, including those from the Chinese and Indian communities.“We made the big mistake last time of having them too far down and we’ve been in the embarrassing position up until recently of having no Chinese or Indian MP for the Labour Party – that won’t happen again after 2017.”
Asked why there were no Māori MPs in the top 15 spots, he said Labour would have “one of the biggest levels of Māori representation in the history of New Zealand politics” between its list MPs and those running only in the Māori seats.
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He denied Labour’s constitutional requirement for a caucus of at least 50 percent women had led to difficulties, and insisted that female candidates chosen were there solely on their ability. …
Simon Wilson at The Spinoff:
It’s not just about Willie: sizing up the Labour Party list
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But the big takeout from the Labour list … is really that the newbie candidates likely to become MPs are, on the whole, an impressive bunch. Labour has moved to fix a problem at the last election, when they failed to renew well. On RNZ today Andrew Little said they were “rubbish” at it in 2014, and the consequence is that the party is a little short of talented and experienced MPs this time round. But then, you could say that about all the parties, including the government incumbents.
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…Labour now has a 50:50 gender rule. The party looks at its likely electorate winners and uses the list to try to even out any imbalance. That means, this year, more women are on the list in the winnable higher spots than men.No, it’s not a “man ban”. Men are obviously not banned. It’s gender balancing to reflect the party’s desire to overcome unconscious and historical biases, and if you’re worried about that ask yourself if there’s a better way of getting roughly equal numbers of men and women in Parliament.
Yes, it does frustrate the ambitions of some male candidates and their supporters. But it will also delight some women candidates and their supporters. And is there anyone who wants to argue our Parliament will be worse off for having more women in it? Didn’t think so.
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One thing that should be very clear: Labour desperately wants to form the next government. They really hate being in opposition. Its party list is full of people who are, on the whole, determined to do their bit to help the party succeed. Andrew Little might not have succeeded in having Willie Jackson placed as high as he wanted, but he was never going to allow Jackson or anyone else to push the party around once it was decided. The determination remains, and there’s a little lesson in that for Jackson.
Labour list promotes women among likely new MPs – but Jackson stalled at 21
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Little said he was “excited that Labour will take into the General Election a strong caucus supported by a fresh team of candidates who reflect New Zealand’s diversity”. “I can’t wait to hit the campaign trail with them.”
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As part of a clear push to expand the racial diversity of the caucus, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, who is standing in the semi-marginal seat of Maungakiekie is ranked 11 and list MP Raymond Huo is at 12.Tauranga candidate, primary school principal Jan Tinetti is at 14 followed by the two highest-ranked Maori candidate on the list; Northland candidate, councillor Willow-Jean Prime at 16 and East Coast candidate, lawyer Kiri Allan at 20 just ahead of Jackson. …
Even 8 year old Patrick Gower sort of gets it:
Labour’s list is about Willow-Jean Prime, not ‘sooky-bubba’ Willie Jackson
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Rather than Willie’s falling star, the story should be about Willow-Jean’s rising one.This should have been a story about how Willow-Jean Prime was an outstanding new candidate with a high list spot.
She is a lawyer, young mother, a Far North district councillor. She does it all – and has got it all.
She is Māori, likeable, she fights for the North, is battle-hardened after the Northland by-election – and most importantly, she’s real.
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This should also have been a story about the other great female candidates like top-flight lawyer Kiri Allan or policy analyst Priyanca RadhakrishnanBut Labour being Labour and Willie being Willie the story was all about his ego and him trying to bully his way up list and some standard shambolic political management. …
Actually, given the fact of Jackson’s outburst, the management was very effective. Anyway, here’s the plain spoken I/S at No Right Turn:
Labour’s list
…The most obvious feature is the generational shift within Labour – the old guard time servers are out, retired or shoved down, while MPs elected at the end of the Clark years are firmly in charge. There’s also a greater emphasis on new blood rather than incumbent protection, which should help overcome the stale feeling of the party. And with more women in winnable slots, Labour should make real progress towards the balanced caucus required by its constitution….
Labour has a page up with background on some of the new arrivals: Meet some of Labour’s fresh new faces!
National’s list will emerge from its smoke-filled rooms in due course. It will be interesting to compare the two.
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Cyclone Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell and Transport and Local Government Minister Simeon Brown, to meet leaders of cyclone and flood-affected regions in the Hawke’s Bay. The visit reinforced the coalition Government’s commitment to support the region and better understand its ongoing requirements, Mr Mitchell says. ...2 days ago - New Zealand condemns malicious cyber activityNew Zealand has joined the UK and other partners in condemning malicious cyber activity conducted by the Russian Government, Minister Responsible for the Government Communications Security Bureau Judith Collins says. The statement follows the UK’s attribution today of malicious cyber activity impacting its domestic democratic institutions and processes, as well ...2 days ago
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- Minister sets expectations of CommissionerToday I met with Police Commissioner Andrew Coster to set out my expectations, which he has agreed to, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. Under section 16(1) of the Policing Act 2008, the Minister can expect the Police Commissioner to deliver on the Government’s direction and priorities, as now outlined in ...4 days ago
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- Collins leaves for Pacific defence meetingDefence Minister Judith Collins today departed for New Caledonia to attend the 8th annual South Pacific Defence Ministers’ meeting (SPDMM). “This meeting is an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security matters and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the Pacific,” Judith Collins says. ...6 days ago
- Working for Families gets cost of living boostPutting more money in the pockets of hard-working families is a priority of this Coalition Government, starting with an increase to Working for Families, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “We are starting our 100-day plan with a laser focus on bringing down the cost of living, because that is what ...6 days ago
- Post-Cabinet press conferenceMost weeks, following Cabinet, the Prime Minister holds a press conference for members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. This page contains the transcripts from those press conferences, which are supplied by Hansard to the Office of the Prime Minister. It is important to note that the transcripts have not been edited ...6 days ago
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- NZ welcomes further pause in fighting in GazaNew Zealand welcomes the further one-day extension of the pause in fighting, which will allow the delivery of more urgently-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of more hostages, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said. “The human cost of the conflict is horrific, and New Zealand wants to see the violence ...1 week ago
- Condolences on passing of Henry KissingerForeign Minister Winston Peters today expressed on behalf of the New Zealand Government his condolences to the family of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who has passed away at the age of 100 at his home in Connecticut. “While opinions on his legacy are varied, Secretary Kissinger was ...1 week ago
- Backing our kids to learn the basicsEvery child deserves a world-leading education, and the Coalition Government is making that a priority as part of its 100-day plan. Education Minister Erica Stanford says that will start with banning cellphone use at school and ensuring all primary students spend one hour on reading, writing, and maths each day. ...1 week ago
- US Business Summit Speech – Regional stability through tradeI would like to begin by echoing the Prime Minister’s thanks to the organisers of this Summit, Fran O’Sullivan and the Auckland Business Chamber. I want to also acknowledge the many leading exporters, sector representatives, diplomats, and other leaders we have joining us in the room. In particular, I would like ...1 week ago
- Keynote Address to the United States Business Summit, AucklandGood morning. Thank you, Rosemary, for your warm introduction, and to Fran and Simon for this opportunity to make some brief comments about New Zealand’s relationship with the United States. This is also a chance to acknowledge my colleague, Minister for Trade Todd McClay, Ambassador Tom Udall, Secretary of Foreign ...1 week ago
- India New Zealand Business Council Speech, India as a Strategic PriorityGood morning, tēnā koutou and namaskar. Many thanks, Michael, for your warm welcome. I would like to acknowledge the work of the India New Zealand Business Council in facilitating today’s event and for the Council’s broader work in supporting a coordinated approach for lifting New Zealand-India relations. I want to also ...2 weeks ago
- Coalition Government unveils 100-day planPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has laid out the Coalition Government’s plan for its first 100 days from today. “The last few years have been incredibly tough for so many New Zealanders. People have put their trust in National, ACT and NZ First to steer them towards a better, more prosperous ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade AgreementA significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...2 weeks ago
- Tobacco researcher: New Zealand's reputation 'now pretty tarnished' amongst scientist...
A public health academic says New Zealand's rowback on smokefree legislation is "very embarrassing" and has tarnished our reputation. ...2 hours ago - Why does some popcorn not pop?
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- Ngāpuhi hapū gather to receive Tribunal report on Treaty grievancesA landmark Waitangi Tribunal report into injustices suffered by Ngāpuhi will strengthen the iwi's case as it looks to restart its stalled Treaty settlement negotiations, a hapū leader says. ...18 hours ago
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- Rod Oram: Words, crowds and Kiwis at global climate summitSearching widely for ways to overcome deep opposition by fossil fuel nations to a phase-out of their products, the President of COP28 enlisted an ally while negotiators sought subtler language yesterday. “We have been asked by the UAE presidency to help find common language that will be acceptable ...1 day ago
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- Long Read: The grief birdYou can read the full story, plus see photographs from Craig McKenzie, in the November-December issue of New Zealand Geographic magazine, or on their website. The bittern’s eerie, booming call sounds like a lament, a tangi ringing across the marshes. Now, the birds themselves are in trouble. ...1 day ago
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- Short story: Beautiful Isolation, by Catherine Chidgey1. In the evening and in the night, I sit on the balcony and think of you. I can’t see the water but I know it’s there, soft and slow. We bathed in it that last day, you and I, when the dusk hung heavy as cloth of gold ...1 day ago
- Togs, togs, undies: The story behind NZ’s most iconic summer adAlex Casey unearths the origin story of an New Zealand icon – featuring a surprise cameo from an international comedy megastar. At first glance, the Facebook post from a Waipu cafe reads like any other heartfelt change in ownership announcement. “George and Amber have reflected on their involvement in our ...1 day ago
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- Government rocked by second leak in five days, ministers suspend analysis of repeal proposalsThe new government has been rocked by the leaking of another confidential paper to the New Zealand Herald - the second to spill in just five days. ...2 days ago
- 'He gets it' – Christopher Luxon impresses locals on first visit to cyclone-battered...Luxon drove the crumbling SH2 with a handful of MPs on Friday morning to reach the small town, gauge progress of its recovery, and learn what it needs from the new government. ...2 days ago
- Israel’s AI can produce 100 bombing targets a day in Gaza. Is this the future of war?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bianca Baggiarini, Lecturer, Australian National University Last week, reports emerged that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are using an artificial intelligence (AI) system called Habsora (Hebrew for “The Gospel”) to select targets in the war on Hamas in Gaza. The system has ...2 days ago - Frank and far-reaching: Senate report recommends shake-up of the way freedom of information is handl...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Johan Lidberg, Associate Professor, School of Media, Film and Journalism, Monash University The most significant recommendation in the Senate inquiry report on the functionality of the Commonwealth FOI system is this: move the federal Freedom of Information (FOI) function from the Office ...2 days ago
- Week in Politics: New government survives first Question TimeAnalysis: The government was under attack on multiple fronts during a week of relentless criticism and then faced its first Question Time in Parliament, Peter Wilson writes. ...2 days ago
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- Taken together, the NDIS review and the royal commission recommendations could transform disability ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Di Winkler, Adjunct Associate Professor, La Trobe University Shutterstock A home – in the physical and emotional sense – is foundational to living an ordinary life with a feeling of inclusion. National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants with the highest ...2 days ago
- Fire ants are on the march. Here’s what happens when they stingSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Darren Roberts, Conjoint Associate Professor in clinical pharmacology and toxicology, St Vincent’s Healthcare Clinical Campus, UNSW Sydney Veronika Kunitsyna/Shutterstock Red imported fire ants are a particularly nasty type of ant because they are aggressive, and inflict painful stings that may ...2 days ago
- Watch: Luxon on Hawke's Bay cyclone recovery: 'We don't want to turn all that upside ...Christopher Luxon says the new government is going to continue everything that the previous one put into place to help with the recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle. ...2 days ago
- Waka Kotahi to use its English name first after pressure from governmentWaka Kotahi will begin referring to itself using its English name first after pressure from parties in the coalition government. ...2 days ago
- Investigation into alleged vaccine data breach ongoingTe Whatu Ora is continuing to investigate after a data breach that saw vaccine-related information shared online last week. The agency is liaising with the Privacy Commissioner and said it will make “any appropriate notifications” if individuals were impacted by the breach. “Alongside the work to identify the material allegedly ...2 days ago
- Watch – Christopher Luxon visits Hawke's Bay to see cyclone recovery progressLive - Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has been in Wairoa this morning to gauge progress of the town's recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle. Watch a media conference with him here. ...2 days ago
- XYZZY is a buzzy good time at the StardomeSam Brooks reviews a new immersive film experience at Auckland’s planetarium. Journalists get invited to review things all the time. Books, films, shows, exhibitions, all of it. I say yes to a lot of them and “no, sorry” to a bit more. Very rarely do I go, “Absolutely I need ...2 days ago
- Waka Kotahi back to being NZTA, board members quitWaka Kotahi has begun the process of re-adopting its former name, the New Zealand Transport Agency (or NZTA). It follows a directive from the new government that public agencies should have their primary name in English and not te reo. This came as part of the coalition deal between National ...2 days ago
- Yes, landlords gain from the repeal of interest deductibility rules – but it was a flawed law from...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Pavlovich, Senior lecturer in the School of Accounting and Commercial Law, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington The new coalition government has announced a suite of tax reforms, including reintroducing the ability for property investors to deduct the interest ...2 days ago
- The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending December 8The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND 1 The Bee Sting by Paul Murray (Hamish Hamilton, $37) The runner-up for the 2023 Booker Prize ...2 days ago
- The Friday Poem: ‘a retreat’ by Jasmine O M TaylorA new poem by Ōtepoti poet Jasmine O M Taylor. a retreat if you find a chance before they’ve all melted into the air find time to get on a glacier and find a cave in the glacier and go inside the cave inside the glacier it will speak to ...2 days ago
- Gone By Lunchtime: Do Te Pāti Māori-led protests set the tone for the term ahead?Our award-winning podcast assesses the opening stanza of the Luxon-led government. After the long, serene political gap as coalition talks went on, politics has roared back with plenty of shouting and not so much rizz. Toby Manhire, Ben Thomas and Annabelle Lee-Mather assess the early exchanges, including Winston Peters’ ...2 days ago
- The Amalgamated Workers Union Calls On The Government To Give Fair Pay Agreements A Fair Go
“The new government has a clear choice to make before Christmas. Do they live up to their stated intention of governing for all New Zealanders, or do they dash the hopes of tens of thousands of kiwi workers by unilaterally abolishing Fair Pay ...2 days ago - What does El Niño do to the weather in your state?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kimberley Reid, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Atmospheric Sciences, Monash University titoOnz, Shutterstock You’ve probably heard El Niño brings hot and dry weather to the eastern states, but what about the rest of Australia? Are we all in for a scorcher ...2 days ago
- Australia’s first mobile cooling hub is ready for searing heat this summer – and people who are ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane Currie, Professor of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology Shutterstock Heatwaves are a major public health hazard. Socially disadvantaged people are especially exposed to extreme heat and other impacts of climate change. Many people experiencing homelessness – more than 120,000 ...2 days ago
- Free Speech Union Releases Briefing To Incoming Government, Outlining Key Areas Of Policy To Protect...The Free Speech Union has sent 14 Cabinet Ministers a comprehensive Briefing to the Incoming Government, outlining five key areas of policy that the Government must address in order to protect and expand Kiwis’ speech rights. We look forward to ...2 days ago
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- BBC host denies she was ‘flipping the bird’ after live faux pasAccidental Partridge is one of my favourite Twitter (I am never going to call it X) accounts, and given today is the last day of live updates I think it’s absolutely fair I include a video from it. If you don’t know why it’s called Accidental Partridge, go watch all ...2 days ago
- National Trying To Rewrite History By Removing App Tax Website And Press ReleaseThe Taxpayers’ Union is calling on the National Party to front up to consumers who will face 15% higher prices for some services from the likes of Uber, Airbnb and food delivery apps after their app tax U-turn rather than trying to erase all ...2 days ago
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Well, I think the more democratic process has delivered a damn good list. It’s particularly pleasing to see such strong new faces and to see a list that looks like NZ. True, there could have been more emphasis on high ranking for Māori, but there’s going to be a real push to win those seats again and that should help to balance things out. It’s great to see such talented people standing up and wanting to make a difference through the Labour Party. Little and the party organisers deserve recognition for gathering together this group of candidates.
I was just impressed that the new list selection process was (eventually and despite whining by Willie) got adhered to.
The rationale for bringing new blood into parliament happened. The provincial areas where Labour is weak gets more representation. And the list generally balances between the need to have experience in parliament with the need to keep turning over the MPs. I particularly like the skills that likely new MPs are going to bring into parliament.
Sure some of them won’t work out. After all if you are competent in what you do, then who’d want to be MP? Some candidates will be there because of a sense of excess civic duty. Others because they just like the limelight. Some will just have problems with the byzantine culture of the political and bureaucratic space. Bloody hard to figure out some of this in advance.
But I’m pretty sure that the new selection system is going to be better at weeding out the deadweight than the old one was.
That the female representation will probably increase in Labour and the Greens is merely a reflection of where the politics operates. 50+% of the voters are women. A greater proportion make up the members of political parties. I guess that is why we get dickheads whining about it so much. God knows why. Talent rises where is arises and appears to have bugger all to do with gender.
Of course I’m not happy with the list. But I’m always interested in improving process and seldom happy with anything. However I think it was a pretty good try and capable of being built on next time.
National has been doing all of these things for quite some time but from a much shallower and inadequate talent pool. It is about time that Labour caught up a bit.
Willow-Jean is a standout, she is everywhere in the North, and supported the Idea Services/IHC strike and picket in Whangarei last week too–never trust an MP or aspiring MP that does not attend workers union actions!
when Winston retires she will hopefully go all out and take the Northland seat, voting blue in the marginalised Far North is a bad habit that can be changed and must be changed
Yes looks like a good Government…. Willie is a hard worker and motivated, a good spot for him.
pretty good list – well done labour – I’d like more Māori higher on the list to reflect the partnership of the treaty. The reasons given for that not to be the case are unconvincing to me – sure hope the Māori Labour MP’s can get up to the mark and get their seats.
Labour will get all the maori seat bar one marty mars many of our people are sick and tired of the maori party and gnats
We will see.
Yep that is my only criticism as well.
I would have preferred some higher ranking Maori candidates, even if they are at number 21 in place of Jackson who has a rather inflated opinion of his own importance.
Be interesting to see if the National List gets the same scrutiny later in the year.
Did Willie have a “hissy fit”? Is Willie a “falling star”? How did the world know that Willie was “upset”?
Have a listen to Willie’s interview on Checkpoint last night.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/201842381/willie-jackson-on-standing-for-labour,-and-his-list-ranking
He didn’t fly to Wellington in a “hissy fit” but was down there for a Māori Language Board meeting. He also wanted to talk to Labour about his role as Māori Campaign organiser, which wasn’t given to him as a consolation prize as some in the media suggested. It was decided weeks ago. Yes, he was disappointed that he wasn’t in the top 10 but accepts the decision and, as he says in the interview, he wants to be in government which means Labour getting a share that would guarantee him a place.
Thanks Karen. So Paddy and Soper and the Awful Mike were just speaking false truths.
Dirty Tricks still alive and well?
Yes… and it hasn’t even started properly yet.
Lol yep it never happened it was completely made up unless you apply the salve of non partisan vision to it. Remember Jackson is known for doing stuff he later regrets. Anyway it is all a sideshow albiet entertaining and I don’t just mean Jackson.
I’m not a fan of Willie Jackson, but I can’t see what he has made up – everything he said is verifiable. He has admitted being disappointed and questioning his position. What is incorrect is the media claims that his only reason for being in Wellington was his disappointment at his placing and that his (unpaid) position of Māori campaign organiser was some kind of bribe. Various people have confirmed the job had been decided well before the list was announced.
Like you (and Willie) I would have liked the Māori candidates to be higher on the list but the main thing is that there will (hopefully) be 12 Māori MPs in the Labour caucus and they will be a strong influence on policy.
This is Meka Whaitiri on her Facebook page:
“Labour’s 6 Maori MPs opted off this year’s party list to enable other Maori candidates to come through. On current polling of 30% and if every Labour Maori MP retains their seat, election 2017 will produce 12 Labour Maori MPs – a political first!
Don’t get distracted by party list rankings or humbug comments about Labour not valuing its Maori members. The party list is not how we are ranked in caucus. The caucus list is what matters.
Current caucus rankings have Davis 7, Mahuta 11, Whaitiri 13, Henare 18, Rurawhe 22 – all 5 in Labour’s shadow cabinet which positions Maori MPs well for cabinet positions.
I have no doubt these rankings will go up when we turn out the votes. Party vote Labour, candidate vote your local Labour Maori MP and see 12 Maori MPs come to parliament and the highest number of Maori MPs in cabinet.
We have done our bit within Labour the rest is up to you!”
Opting off the list so more Māori could come through is a fail. As I said the other day, a double whammy for those Māori Labour MPs. Everyone is singing from the same songsheet so that is good.
Jackson is a dick, but I doubt they scheduled a MLB meeting just in case he wanted to be a massive, party-damaging dick over the list selection.
In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the emergency meeting or whatever last night was purely to hammer out a response to the media bullshit that he was flying down to complain. If it occurred at all.
Nothing happened it’s all fabricated – move along please nothing to see here
Well, if it’s not fabricated, it seems to have been beaten up.
There’s a big difference between “being in town and moaning and seeing if the list can be changed” and “flying down just to moan and trying to get the list changed”, no?
Please no no stuff – can’t stand that.
I’d imagine there could be multiple reasons he had booked or did book to go. One of them likely related to the list – be interesting to know who told him and what he did after he was told. I suppose THAT is the msm story.
But whatever, water passed, now new things to mull over.
You may be right, but here’s another angle. Let’s assume Jackson was unhappy with his list placing. What, then, is so wrong with Jackson expressing those concerns with his party hierarchy? This is just another beat up by desperate media.
Well, the issue is that the hierarchy isn’t able to overrule the selection committee in the first place. WJ should know that. And for all we know, he did, and took his lump for a very electable position.
True, but to be fair to WJ, when a party leader makes chirpy sounds to a candidate that they can expect a high list position, that candidate surely has the right to expect that party leader to be able to deliver on that promise. On current polling, WJ’s list placing is not a ‘very electable position’.
Not if he understands the party he’s considering joining.
And if WJ can’t help Labour improve its position, what the fuck is he good for anyway?
Well, he got Mordecai all up on end, so he can’t be that bad 🙂
Ok, so WJ is an idiot. He should have sought an assurance from AL that he could deliver on his promises, and not just take the leader of the Labour Party at his word. That is clear now.
Like a true tory, you are having difficulty with the concept of “democracy”.
On the other hand, WJ was indeed familiar with it, despite all the media’s bluster.
“Like a true tory, you are having difficulty with the concept of “democracy”.”
No. You have admitted that Little cannot be trusted. You’ve even suggested that WJ was stupid to take him at his word, because the party rules contradicted his word. It seems to me the problem here is with both WJ (who trusted Little and, as you point out, should have known better) and with Little (who made a commitment he knew he couldn’t keep).
Well, when everything came out of the woodwork the next day it showed that WJ understood Little’s comments were in the context of a democratic organisation, WJ has a very electable position, and the only confusion on the matter is yours.
And WJ’s flight down had been booked well in advance for a completely different event altogether.
Your really have nothing to stir with.
“Well, when everything came out of the woodwork the next day it showed that WJ understood Little’s comments were in the context of a democratic organisation,”
One that Little claimed he could influence.
“WJ has a very electable position”
That’s not what Little promised. And it certainly isn’t what he delivered.
cite pls and quote.
“high position”, wasn’t it (I’ll let the “promise” bs slide)? He’s high enough on the list to get elected
Yes it is, if WJ is going to help Labour improve its vote.
Or willie is spinning the situation
Thanks Karen. The whole thing looked like third rate shit-stirring from the MSM drama addicts.
Any farmers on the list?
Any “so called farmers” in NZ?
huh??
Proper farmers. Not just polluters.
so i take it you don’t buy any food, drive use any fossil fuels and live in a shack made from bark , because if you do you are as guilty as the rest of use ya dick
Points taken. I get my food given to me, city mission etc. Car- not drivable,, but live in it.
Mate farmers are enemy cos they vote gnat – end of. Pollution, outrageously high herd numbers, destruction of rivers via irrigation ignore if farmers vote lab.
o well if i’m the enemy i may as well go vote nats
If you vote gnats you may be deluded. Plus i was being facetious with the enemy line – i thought you may have found it funny 😨
Yes. Janette Walker, No 44 on list, candidate for Kaikoura has been a farmer.
She is standing in a rural electorate against a National MP who was bested by Damien O’Connor in a farming debate according to a Federated Farmers’ commentator cf The Press 15 April article titled “Jubilation after Rains”.
And Janette is a great worker and advocate so the talent above her on the List must be pretty good for her to be No 44. She cannot win against the passive sitting National Electorate MP who as a suit attends all the upmarket events but steers well clear of controversy and the needs of ordinary NZers. Pity.
+1 Janette Walker is an excellent candidate who has driven several issues. Homelessness in Blenheim -proving housing is an issue across the country. She is a good fighter for workers in horticulture and wine sectors too.
It is a shame she could not be higher on the list. I suppose it is the nature of the list beast. Good people miss out….
This was an editorial comment in the Marlborough Express today- “It’s been two years since we started reporting on the emergency accommodation situation in Marlborough. And two years down the track, not much has changed. In fact, if anything, it would appear the situation has worsened drastically.”
Janette Walker is on the front page of the Express. ‘The solution was simple: the Government, which had “completely ignored there was a housing crisis in this country”, needed to build more bloody houses”, she said.’
The situation in Marlborough, with 1% of NZ’s population, is that the number of social houses has dropped from 434 in 2012 to 405 in 2017, the number of Priority A applicants for housing is 45 and Priority B were 18, totalling 63. In September 2015. only 13 were on this register.
Janette Walker had probably herself found placings for 80% of those who had been assisted with Emergency Housing Special needs grants. $100,000 per month spent in Marlborough on motels for this purpose.
Yes, Brendon Harre, and ianmac, you’re both right.
And here is an editorial written by Janette advocating for a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work in the wine industry.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/opinion/84887254/opinion-a-fair-days-pay-for-a-fair-days-work
https://www.greens.org.nz/candidates/john-hart at #12 Should get in on current polling.
oops, wrong party 😉
We’ll also have to see if he stays at #12 after the ranking vote (which will end midday friday) and the executive re-shuffle of its results so that it preserves diversity in the list, although I think it’s likely as the party knows it needs to appeal to rural environmentalists too. I voted him at… *checks* Ah, #13, so I thought they had him positioned correctly, I just needed some space to fit in people above him that really deserved a higher rank than they got in the initial list. 🙂 *cough Golriz cough*
hmm, I wasn’t going to bother voting but I might now, thanks.
You haven’t got long, but yes, you (and any other Green eligible members on this site who haven’t yet) should definitely vote before noon tomorrow. There are a lot of talented new candidates that might deserve a bump into a more electable position. I was particularly looking at Golriz, Leilani Tamu, Teanu Tuiono, Elizabeth Kerekere, Julie Zhu, Hayley Holt, and Ricardo Menendez-March, although some of them I didn’t find an electable position to bump them into because there’s so much talent in the Party this election.
And even if you’re mostly happy with the initial list, you should still vote for it as given, (or close to) so that you’re giving weight to the MPs who were ranked highly in the initial list and they don’t get dragged too far down the list unless the party has overlooked someone really popular.
You do have to click 42 boxes, but if you have the initial list open at the same time, then it’s relatively easy to just view it as making a couple tweaks and then going off the initial list where you think it’s correct or you just don’t know the candidates well enough.
Barring David Parker, there isn’t a single person in the top 30 that is either experienced or competent to run a department.
[lprent: So you are arguing that the 5th National government were inexperienced and incompetent? Bil English was the ONLY cabinet minister that transferred between the 4th and 5th National governments.
Basically if you want to astroturf a meme, then I suggest that you aren’t postulating that you are a pig-ignorant fuckwit of a troll. Put up links or explanation s. This is will be your only warning. ]]
When Parker is the only person with Cabinet experience that is asking NZ to put their trust in hope rather than in experience. This problem will get even worse in 2020 when Parker retires after 12 fruitless years in Opposition. The talk of renewal is reminiscent of talk about were to place the deckchairs on the Titanic. I love the optimism here. It could power the National Grid.
[lprent: Ok – enough, You know better than to try to use this kind of factless astroturf here. Banned until 1 month after the election. ]
Rather than National who cannot even run a coal company.
It has been suggested that Trump would have done more damage to that Syrian airport ,if he had been put in charge of “running it as a business”.
Given past experience, that also applies to all of ACT and National.
How many are dumb enough to give ministerial signoff to phrases like “seven out of eight mission-critical issues have been resolved or are near to being resolved” and authorise live launch of a payroll system? Because the nats have three, at least.
john & fisiani..
Pretty much exactly what I said about National in 2008…
I think it was Bill English in cabinet and if you were stretching a point and had very low standards – Nick Smith. Ah nope just English. Smith would have been a hanger on.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_National_Government_of_New_Zealand#Cabinet_Ministers
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_National_Government_of_New_Zealand
Your point is?
That you are a ignorant political fool?
Growing economy, falling unemployment, ahead of international norms, passing Australia.
The problems we have are first world problems.
So the success of the National govt. is evident to ALL in this WORLD,(where the praise is coming from) except to the delusional poster on this blog.
It’s not what you say you’ll do, or what legislation you pass…….it’s what impact it has on the people. We have record numbers of Kiwi’s returning home (over the past 3 years)…the exact opposite of under Auntie helen.
Reply to moderator…….why…..did you?? Put up links etc…no…meaning this is a free speech opinion piece.
“free speech opinion piece”
lol. Also known as “unsubstantiated bullshit”.
Fine and that is your opinion, thanks for expressing it…..Promise genuine NO sarcasm.
Thing is, both experience and competence are demonstrable characteristics in their existence or their lack.
In addition to Parker, ISTR both Dyson and O’Connor have held ministerial portfolis. So your “opinion piece” is objectively wrong from the get-go, even if we exclude both associate ministers or spending years as portfolio spokespeople from being relevant experience towards running a department.
Both were incompetent in those rolls (Dyson and O’Connor)
Well, semantically you made an “either/or” claim, which is demonstably false.
As to competence, can you point to any particular act or group of acts which demonstrates or exemplifies their incompetence as ministers?
Dyson Drink driving before she had even been in the job a year
Minister of social Development….over saw a mess there.
O’Connor…Minister of Tourism…….WOW the difference between non existent to john Key….massive growth.
Also Minister of Immigration, under the years of MASSIVE Emigration from New Zealand. That have now been coming back in their 10’s of thousands for years now.
Um, you do realise that net migration of NZ citizens is still negative, right? We’re losing 1700 odd a year, which is the lowest figure since 1984 or so, but it’s still a loss.
As for the people who, unlike recent migrants, have lived here long enough to know the difference, we can see how the ‘brighter future’ is panning out for the most vulnerable members of our community.
Increasing numbers of Kiwis can’t even afford to leave any more.
Dyson’s dui wasn’t a ministerial function. And after that, she spent several years as a competent minister anyway.
As for the others… so, you need to ignore the GFC and all sorts of geopolitical stuff in order to argue that key was better than O’Connor, and it still doesn’t mean O’C was incompetent.
Basically, you have nothing that points to actual ministerial incompetence, do you? Just your desire to fellate key’s political corpse.
Come on…really the GFC happened at mid- end of 2008 after Labour was already going out the door.
They had already put us into a “technical recession” one year before the GFC….incompetent is a polite word for the way all labour ministers behaved.
You misunderstand – the GFC was “global”. Your so-called “technical” recession was still leaving us in a better position than much of the planet, hence your immigration figures.
But you still haven’t given an example of actual incompetence, like maybe signing a lease renewal and forgetting about signing it and claiming the previous government was responsible. Or having to return to the House and correct a previously firm statement to say you don’t remember. Those would be pretty stupid things for a minister to do, eh.
Well, if we’re taking personal assessments of competence into account, my assessment is that most of National’s Cabinet are incompetent in their roles, so there’s no disadvantage to swapping them out for a Labour Cabinet.
Opinion not assessment.
After all, the economy is growing at levels that rate highly on international comparisons, unemployment is down, labour participation is up, inflation is still low, so incompetent is NOT a word that comes readily to mind.
I am not saying I agree with all they do, or that they can’t do better. We should always expect more.
But Labour/Greens/ NZ First are NOT the answer.
Here’s my assessment of your opinion:
Economic growth:
If measured on a per capita basis GDP doesn’t look great.
Unemployment is down:
Underutilization of the workforce is up. The casualisation of the workforce is likely at play here.
Labour participation is up:
While this may be true so is underutilization. More people working but not working as much as they’d want to.
Inflation is low:
CPI does not include house price growth and in it’s current form is a crappy means of measuring ‘inflation’ IMO.
The few things I can think of that National are really competent at are:
-Taking orders from their paymasters
-Fund raising (cabinet club dinners)
-Focus group / Poll based policy formation
-Locating Narcissists to become National MPs
-Increasing national debt
-Convincing their supporters to vote against their best interests
Can you honestly say that Gerry Brownlee is competent for example? How about Paula Bennett? Simon Bridges? Todd Barkley? Remember Aaron Gilmour?
You think a tired 4th term National government IS the answer?
You spin any more you’ll fall off that sanctimonious perch you’re on.
I am not just quoting my opinion, I am backing it up with international opinions, of people who are envious of us.
RESULTS, not airy fairy theories of 160 year old hacks who have been proved wrong at every turn, example and application….ie Marx and socialism.
By almost any measure, the NZ economy is faring well by comparison with other OECD economies. We can argue about how we share the rewards of that success, but arguing the reality of it is really an extreme form of denial-ism.
+1 excellent points Liberal Realist.
john and mordecai obviously have their fingers in the pie and don’t give a shit about the majority of Kiwis who have gone backwards under the divisive greedy Nat machine
some links for you RW idiots to think about
MPs heavily invested in the property market
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2017/05/08/25357/kiwis-private-debts-put-the-country-at-risk
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/nights/audio/201842394/have-we-squandered-our-paradise
Top multinationals pay almost no tax in NZ
All you’re basically saying is that Labour’s been in opposition a while. It’s normal that you have to induct new ministers in that situation, you just need people with the relevant experience in key portfolio areas to take up that mantle, and Labour, unlike National, actually pays some attention to competence in government as well as appeal to the electorate. (Not that they’ve quite got the talent overflow problem the Greens currently have, where basically every MP in a semi-electable position is front-bench material, but that’s mainly because there’s still a little bit of dead wood that’s being overvalued in the party, but not so much it’s unreasonable. Clearly the new list criteria are doing a good job in that regard)
I am pretty damn critical of Labour, and looking at this list I am very optimistic of their chances not only at campaigning, but at putting together an effective caucus that can work together with the Greens to form the core of a highly competent government that can maybe turn around some of our policy woes. Really the only thing that bothers me about this list is that with the likely electorates that will be won, it’s probably not going to deliver enough women unless Labour get a landslide result up in the 40s.
Fisiani, in the interest of balance, please outline the cabinet experience of National members after nine years in opposition. And despite Nick Smith being one who had been a minister, could you say he has been a success? Everything he touches, even after having been a minister, has been a 0 out of 10.
John Key had never been in government and became PM. Perhaps that was why there were so many “I don’t recall” “lack of frankness” etc etc along those lines.
+100 Reality.
You don’t need “cabinet” experience…you need an intellect and an ability to run an organization successfully apart from Parker they are all incompetent.
Yeah, you said that.
I’m going to assume you’re defining “organisation” pretty narrowly there, perhaps as “business or government department?” Because there’s actually a lot of management experience in the Labour list if you look closely, it’s just in the kinds of organisations right-wingers don’t like, like unions, or iwi. (Although liberal right-wingers have been warming up a bit on that front, so ka pai I guess?)
Parker is competent in a very particularly, articulate kinda way. You also need passion, and empathy, and straightforwardness/honesty in a caucus. Those qualities are just as important to good management, and being a minister is just a more stressful version of being a manager of any other type.
To be fair, having observed Nick Smith in Parliament and having talked to people who have worked for him, I would argue that Nick Smith is actually highly competent, it’s just that he’s usually given portfolios where his job is actually to undermine the portfolio focus to meet the National Party’s unstated goals of enriching elites and plundering the natural environment. It’s not exactly honest work, but it’s not the same thing as having a reverse-midas touch. If you want an example of that, we should really be looking at Brownlee.
Iain Lees-Galloway for PM!
And, no, I’m not kidding. I would love to see another woman leader but a man with actual balls, credibility, and a moral sensibility that can’t be easily twisted would be pretty decent too.
Don’t get me wrong, though, I like Andrew Little, too.
But it’s guys like Iain, who rise just high enough to become cream without turning to scum that I’ll always back.
Ideal would have been Helen Kelly, of course! Still mourning her here.
I hope 2017/2018 will be the year that the Labour Party returns to its – sorry – everyperson roots: black, white, brown, long time NZr or immigrant, fighting for fairness and access to justice for all: a party that will win back the popular vote (when all the scandals are finally out come election time and NZrs realize how badly they’ve been had – oh, and have they been had).
To me, Iain stands for that more than anyone in the Labour party right now. Again, Little is a gem also. But Iain… I’d turn gay for him if I was that way inclined.
People say it’s not possible for Labour to lead a majority government this coming election.
I say: never say never!
Miracles can happen; so can mass realizations.
Iain has been really problematic in his rhetoric around immigration. Him being PM would only be marginally better than Winston, at least until he gets his act together and realises that the call to turn down the tap on migration has to be about providing for good infrastructure and quality of life for people who we DO let in, rather than nativist sentiments about immigrants “takin’ our jerbs.” The reality is that immigration is vastly beneficial, and even if it wasn’t, if you like New Zealand at its current population density, we don’t actually have a choice but to have SOME immigration.
That’s not to say I don’t like the man when he gets it right on other policy issues, but I don’t want to hear from him on immigration ever again in his political career, please and thankyou. He’s hardly any better than the whole chinese-sounding names debacle.
Still heavily weighted with union people do you think?
What about muslim candidates?
Some good choices though
Hint. It is the LABOUR party.
L0L !
New Right Fight – Who are the New Right?
http://www.newrightfight.co.nz/pageA.html
Plenty of Indonesian Muslims on temporary migrant visas slaving away on NZ Farms. Iain has been fighting for better conditions for them – Bill English’s neighbours in Southland employ them on shite wages, just as English sends David Bennett in and out of the Indonesian embassy to negotiate for more (workers, not wages! of course) 🙂
Happy to prove that, by the way. Have evidence. Also of English shaking hands with a convicted Indonesian immigration abuser.
In fact I may have just sent that exact picture to Iain a while back.
These guys don’t just accidentally allow wages and conditions to slip – they actively endorse conditions tantamount to slavery, and work with governments like the Indonesian government very closely to ensure they all make filthy lucre in backhands.
Up yours, Upnorth!
This is one battle you are not going to win.
and yet they still come…because conditions are better here, pay is better here and they know they will learn how to be successful here and take that knowledge with them.
Then get citizenship and shoot across the ditch for better wages and living standards – despite Turnbull and his mob.
Spoke to a young bloke from South America not so long ago who’s planning to do just that. Good luck is all I can say. Hope he does well .
What about muslim candidates?
Hopefully none. Labour can do without stories like this in the media.
He was set up by a nasty racist reporter. He is a moderate who has done great work in the interfaith movement for years.
Heh, I somehow knew once Muslims were mentioned that you’d be around, go figure.
There’s plenty of Christian candidates, but you don’t see me asking them questions about how the bible advises people to trick people into staying slaves, or how it casually rounds pi down to three, or how catholic institutions cause deep issues with guilt, even though those are all perfectly valid criticisms.
This is because I am happy to take their word on what they believe and why, and I feel like we should be open to reasonable answers when we ask people questions about their values. Ashraf was quite clear that while he’s irrationally attached to his holy book, he doesn’t believe stoning people is appropriate to New Zealand society. It’s not an ideal answer, but it’s good enough. Christians run around pulling a completely atheological and frankly disturbing Just World Theory gospel out of their orifices from time to time, so I think that’s rather more of a priority if we’re going to start debating how we should reform religious practice in New Zealand, particularly ones like the exclusive brethren or Destiny Church.
I’m happy to talk about it, I have lots of ideas, but I don’t understand why you think Muslims are categorically any worse than the Christians who make up an outright majority of New Zealand, who are also largely liberal and sensible. Like all religions, they have their idiots and their (excuse the loaded term) saints.
Is there any socialists, or closet neo libs in this new line up?
Of course: anyone a given commenter likes is a good socialist, anyone a given commenter dislikes is a closet neolib 🙂
My friends have a coherent philosophy;
My enemies have a psychosis.
This intelligent and distinguished chap I never heard of has provided a thorough and well-thought-out essay/video that explains the position that you should share with me.
This other chap is an idiot that nobody has ever heard of and their essay/video is completely wrong.
Technocrat’s all they way it seems.
And not a scarlet cummerbund among them, thank goodness… just hanging fillets of bad ties.
I”m really interested in how the immigration debate has played out “on the left”.
Are non of you internationalists?
Because the irony is, that most of those fighting slave conditions are something along those lines…. they want fair wages for all.
Others “on the left” seem to see it only through the lens of racism – like they’ve never read any of those reports of horrid goings on produced by the Auckland Business School or Slave Free Seas, etc….
It just seems like the debate is not happening on the left, and that the right is taking advantage. Thoughts?
Mike Treen talks sense…. but I don’t know if he has such a wide platform. More a strait one.
Pretty much agree.
The problem is poor employment laws and a compete lack of any sort of plan for infrastructure to cope with the rate of new arrivals.
McFlock and Bill, for example, have argued along similar lines.
We just can’t allow the right to make this into a racism thing… and those on the left need to be educated about the labour abuses going on.
It just drives me crazy that even many self-described unionists don’t seem to understand fully the issues at play. I know where they are coming from…. I appreciate the sentiment… but it’s lazy and knee-jerk a lot of the time.
Slave entry to a country (paying your dues as a slave) is worse than millionaire entry (paying your dues as a rich dude)…. but neither are very ethical ways to manage immigration.
Lees-Galloway gets it, too (besides Treen).
*my man crushes* lol
Michael Field’s “the Catch” is probably the most important text for people to read, I would say. Though it is across many industries. It’s insane that it is happening…. in fact, saying it was happening three years ago you were called insane.
Less likely than NZ spying on Japan for the US…
Not so sure I like the 50/50 male female thing , but then there’s good reason to ensure woman are not marginalized either.
Mind you ,… I would have reservations if that contained a Shipley or a Richardson within their ranks , …
Basically , as long as they are slowly but surely edging out the remaining neo liberals they are moving in the right direction with their selections. We only have to look at the National party and their ludicrous hypocrisies over the last 9 years to see why.
New Right Fight – Who are the New Right?
http://www.newrightfight.co.nz/pageA.html
You are Alt-Right aren’t you? you passionately believe in an anti immigrant policy and now we can add misogyny to the list. I think the list is great. Prime looks like an excellent candidate, a true provincial parliamentarian.
You don’t have to like it, it’s being ignored. The current list is likely to deliver four more men than women on current polling averages, if we assume Labour wins Ōhāriu but all other electorates stay the same.
Labour has spectacularly failed on its promise to deliver gender balance in its 2017 list. It’s better than before, sure, but that’s not hard. It would either need to lose both key electorates with current polling levels, (ie. Ōhāriu and Te Tai Tokerau, which I am certain they are planning on winning) or get a complete landslide in the Party Vote in order to come out even.
I think there are to many Maori in this so called list for me.
What are very , very strange and peculiar thing to say….
Labour’s 2017 list is a good one; its shows rejuvenation and better representation than the Nats’ list does. There is an electoral overhang, though, as Labour will retain most of its seats and may pick up a few: those seats will reduce the number available to list candidates, including those who fail to win seats. Labour must score at least 35% in the Party Vote, not to become government, but to become a strong opposition before making a serious bid for government in 2020. The first steps have been taken but there’s still a long way to go.
Anyways – its a Labour victory and govt after the September elections. So we can all finally relax and say goodbye to Bolgers, er Keys,… errr English’s brownshirts …
Thatchers Britain #YoungOnes – YouTube
Video for the young ones rick rant on thatcherism▶ 0:40
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8KLSNFmAss
I don’t think that will happen in 2017 – but a sensible list prepares the ground for a Labour-led government in 2020 (but then I am a hopeless optimist).
Chinese and Indians eh? What about the Dutch?
What about them? What have the Dutch ever done for us?
Reported New Zealand’s existence to the rest of the world, good for those of us with white skins, not so good for the original inhabitants.
So, overall a negative then? Europeans would have found their way to A-NZ sooner or later, which they did in 1769. AFAIK, Captain Cook didn’t use Dutch charts or logs; among other things, he didn’t arrive from the west, as Tasman did.