Make the TPP a Conscience Vote

Written By: - Date published: 6:29 pm, May 15th, 2016 - 84 comments
Categories: capitalism, colonialism, Economy, Environment, exports, Financial markets, International, overseas investment, Privatisation, sustainability, workers' rights - Tags: , , ,

Bryan Bruce, the award winning documentary maker, noted today on his Face Book page that Andrew Little had given permission to Phil Goff to cross the floor and vote with the Key government last week in support of the TPP.

Bruce asks a simple question: now that Little has accepted that voting on the TPP is a matter of conscience, will he advocate for that point in Parliament to give all MPs, including both National and Labour ones, that freedom.

what Little’s decision over Goff indicates that he has agreed that voting for or against the TPPA is a matter of principle – a matter of conscience.

Well, here’s two matters of principle I think that ALL MP’s should be given the freedom to decide upon.

The first is whether to vote for a treaty agreement which will allow overseas investors to sue our government in overseas tribunals which are not courts and have no process of appeal.

The second is whether to vote for an agreement that will deny many New Zealanders early access to new medicines and thereby cause extended suffering and unnecessary deaths.

(Depending on who you believe, patent protections will be extended 5, 6 or 8 years before cheaper generics and biosimilars can be sold and purchased.)

In my view if it is fine for Phil Goff to cross the floor on the TPPA it should be fine for all MP’s to do so from all parties.

In short, there is a strong argument to make voting for or against the TPPA a conscience vote.

But which of our MPs would be willing to promote such an argument in the House?
… oh…wait…How about it Andrew?
Is the TPPA a conscience issue or not?

84 comments on “Make the TPP a Conscience Vote ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. One Anonymous Bloke 1
    15 May 2016 at 6:32 pm

    What “vote”? Parliament doesn’t get one – at least not one that counts for anything. Have you been listening to the lying Prime Minister?

    I note your well-rehearsed personal bile against the Labour Party makes you a poor advocate when it comes to expecting anything from them.

    We need better splitters.

    • Colonial Viper 1.1
      15 May 2016 at 6:37 pm

      Hi OAB, you’re now banned from this post, thanks. Comments on this post which is about Bryan Bruce’s idea about making the TPP a conscience issue for MPs, remain welcome.

      • Johan 1.1.1
        16 May 2016 at 8:17 am

        Wow;-)))

      • Chooky 1.1.2
        16 May 2016 at 9:28 am

        have to agree CV…AOB often hits below the belt and does not address the topic but rather tries to put down the person with a personal attack …and this was totally unwarranted by him

        …”well-rehearsed personal bile” actually applies to his own modus operandi

        • Words 1.1.2.1
          18 May 2016 at 3:34 am

          I think that it also applies to a number of people , and wasn’t it a valid point that there is no parliamentary vote, and that John Key lied?

      • Enough is Enough 1.1.3
        16 May 2016 at 1:19 pm

        Thanks for that ban CV – I couldn’t stand reading another one of OAB’s trolling rants.

  2. Joy FL 2
    15 May 2016 at 6:39 pm

    Yeah, regardless of what the politicised polarising party in government has been doing, the democratic Labour Party should empower its caucus to exercise conscience votes. The bill is already going to be passed by the government with the support of an de-whipped Labour MP vote (thanks to Phil Goff’s), so why not release the other Labour caucus MPs to exercise each of their votes according to their good conscience!

    • Draco T Bastard 2.1
      15 May 2016 at 6:52 pm

      After thinking about this, I agree. Then the Labour Party members can get rid of the deadwood (those who voted for the TPP) for the next election.

      • Chooky 2.1.1
        16 May 2016 at 9:38 am

        +100 DTB….however seems to be a bit of a cop out by a weak leadership ( David Cunliffe would have stood strong on being anti TPP)

        …the NZ Labour Party itself should be capable of taking a principled stand on the TPP

        …the USA corporate designed , self-serving TPP which is clearly NOT in the interests of New Zealand environmentally, democratically, NZ sovereignty, NZ long term economically or for NZ creatively and enterprise …MUST be OPPOSED by any principled political party

        …this is why I won’t be voting Labour…but will vote NZF and /or Green

        • Words 2.1.1.1
          18 May 2016 at 3:17 am

          David Cunliffe, although tried to make a stand against the TPPA, didn’t have control caucus, so couldn’t make a strong stance at all. Andrew Little publicly opposes the TPPA with a united caucus, even Shearer, who, in my opinion, should be in the National Party, is now toeing party lines. That shows a strong leadership on Little’s part, and giving Goff, who is going anyway, leave from party line, is more to do with Goff’s bid for the mayoralty than anything else.

  3. Joy FL 3
    15 May 2016 at 6:40 pm

    Oops. Typo. Can’t edit

    • BM 3.1
      15 May 2016 at 6:50 pm

      That’s a shame, your comment is now null and void.

      Better luck next time.

      • Joy FL 3.1.1
        15 May 2016 at 7:04 pm

        Okieeees, for clarication and correction of typo as well as confirmation, here’s my comment again: Yeah, regardless of what the politicised polarising party in government has been doing, the democratic Labour Party should empower its caucus to exercise conscience votes. The bill is already going to be passed by the government with the support of a ‘de-whipped’ or ‘un-whipped’ (or whatever-the-term-might-be) Labour MP (thanks to Phil Goff), so why not release the other Labour caucus MPs to exercise each of their votes according to their good conscience as to how they reflect and consult with the electorate or people they represent!

        • Colonial Viper 3.1.1.1
          15 May 2016 at 7:06 pm

          Releasing Labour MPs to a conscience vote would give us a clear indication of who still harbours neoliberal leanings in that caucus.

          • Chooky 3.1.1.1.1
            16 May 2016 at 9:40 am

            agreed…probably most of them…however NZers could vote accordingly for the Labour MPs who sell out to USA corporate interests and against New Zeasland’s interests

            • Words 3.1.1.1.1.1
              17 May 2016 at 12:24 am

              “” MPs who sell out to USA corporate interests and against New Zeasland’s interests””

              Isn’t that what John Key and his National government have done already?

          • billmurray 3.1.1.1.2
            17 May 2016 at 10:05 pm

            Yes CV it expose’s the neo-libs but most importantly a free vote would get Little and Labour a chance to get off their present idiotic policy “we are against TPPA but if we get government benches ,we will stay in the TPPA”.
            A nation wide MMP electorate will not tolerate that sort of nonsense and Little and Labour need to ditch that statement as National will hang them for it in 2017.
            Yes a free vote would solve a few problems, a very good idea.

            • Words 3.1.1.1.2.1
              18 May 2016 at 9:51 am

              Would it really solve all the problems though? Key would never allow a conscious vote. How would you get out of the TPPA unscathed? What John Key has signed this country up to makes it hard for any future government, it is not just a matter of walking away, and I haven’t heard of any other opposition party saying they will leave it. The hope lies with one or more of the 6 countries, where ratification is crucial for the TPPA’s survival, to bin it. NZ doesn’t belong to that group of 6 countries that hold that power, but NZ is a cooked goose anyway if John Key gets his way with legislative changes. Even if the TPPA fails, foreign corporations etc will still be able to exploit NZ and its resources because John Key would have already changed our laws for them. Why do you think Key, who has the numbers, is so desperate to ram through these legislative changes?

  4. BM 4
    15 May 2016 at 6:41 pm

    Andrew Little had given permission to Phil Goff to cross the floor and vote with the Key government last week in support of the TPP.
    Bruce asks a simple question: now that Little has accepted that voting on the TPP is a matter of conscience, will he advocate for that point in Parliament to give all MPs, including both National and Labour ones, that freedom.

    So why did Shearer vote against the TPP?, he’s on record for being all for it.

    Only reason I can think of that he voted no is because Little threatened him.

    • Colonial Viper 4.1
      15 May 2016 at 6:43 pm

      I had thought that Shearer would stick to his guns and remain pro-TPP, so I have no idea on this.

      • BM 4.1.1
        15 May 2016 at 6:46 pm

        Sorry modified my original comment.

        Little has no control over Goff, Goff has checked out, he’s in mayoral mode.

        Shearer still needs the MP salary, which is why he voted no.

        • Colonial Viper 4.1.1.1
          15 May 2016 at 6:50 pm

          Well, that’s so very cynical of you BM 😛

        • b waghorn 4.1.1.2
          15 May 2016 at 7:52 pm

          While we’re being cynical , is it likely Little released Goff to vote for the tpo so he could gaurentee it would pass while he gets to look tuff on the Shearer type in their ranks and anti tpp.

          • Joy FL 4.1.1.2.1
            15 May 2016 at 8:11 pm

            Teehee!
            Little looked tough by selective release and whipping?
            Why not be consistent, fair and authentic by enabling the other 31 MPs vote according to their democratic and representative capacities

          • BM 4.1.1.2.2
            15 May 2016 at 8:13 pm

            More to do with keeping on side with Goff.

            Mayor of Auckland has a lot of power, you want to have the mayor on your side.

            • Colonial Viper 4.1.1.2.2.1
              15 May 2016 at 8:23 pm

              Also remember that Little needs a winnable seat before 2017.

              He’s running out of time to find one.

              He can’t go into 2017 standing and losing in New Plymouth again. Last time he lost by 10,000 votes.

              • Joy FL …
                15 May 2016 at 8:32 pm

                Anyone knows if Goff offered his safe seat to AL? If not, why not?
                If it can’t be done, why?
                If it couldn’t happen, why not?
                Anyone? (Not necessarily you, CV)

                • Colonial Viper …
                  15 May 2016 at 9:00 pm

                  Michael Wood is getting Goff’s seat.

                  • billmurray …
                    17 May 2016 at 10:21 pm

                    Yes CV, Michael Wood will stand in Goff’s seat, unless he is challenged and loses the nomination, but he is not liked as much as what he would have you believe. There is now a large migrant population in the Mount Roskill, many of those folk will be looking for something that gets the area away from Labour.
                    National will put in a strong candidate and spend money to defeat Labour.
                    I believe if Andrew Little carpet-bagged the nomination then he would get defeated. I also believe that he knows that and will not put up his hand.
                    Jacinda might!!!.

                    • Words …
                      18 May 2016 at 10:07 am

                      Colonial Viper is right, Goff’s seat is Michael Wood’s. Aren’t you getting ahead of yourself? How do you know he is not liked? I don’t think he will have trouble gaining votes from the immigrant population, they certainly kept Goff in his seat.

                    • Words …
                      18 May 2016 at 10:12 am

                      How do you know there are “” so much tension in the Labour party about list placing’s”” BillMurray?

                      Sorry, posted in wrong spot. Question is for comment below.

                • Anne …
                  15 May 2016 at 9:18 pm

                  Annette King is standing as a list MP only next time- or so I believe. That would free up the seat of Rongotai for Little.

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    15 May 2016 at 9:21 pm

                    King won’t give up her safe seat if Labour continues to poll in the 20s because of the heightened job insecurity involved with being list only.

                    • billmurray …
                      17 May 2016 at 10:38 pm

                      CV if King ( as deputy leader ) was assured No2 spot on the list then she would concede the seat to Little but there is so much tension in the Labour party about list placing’s that such assurance is improbable.
                      There is urgency in getting these problems resolved though I cannot see much happening before Labours Centenary conference in late November.
                      I know that some MPs say that Little is number 1 on the list so let him stand again in New Plymouth and with his status as Party leader he would have a good chance of winning.
                      I have strong doubts that.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      18 May 2016 at 1:22 am

                      Little ain’t overcoming a 10,000 vote National majority.

          • Bb8 4.1.1.2.3
            16 May 2016 at 7:40 am

            It would have passed anyway. Goff’s vote is immaterial and he’s on his way out. That’s why he was given a free pass.

        • Johan 4.1.1.3
          16 May 2016 at 8:23 am

          Why does a person who has difficulties putting two words together get so much oxygen;-)))??? I have voted and supported Labour all my working life, and would enjoy seeing a cleaning-out of Labour MP’s, who in particular do not hold true Labour Party values.

        • Richard McGrath 4.1.1.4
          16 May 2016 at 5:58 pm

          Perhaps Shearer’s in the wrong party?

    • Words 4.2
      18 May 2016 at 9:57 am

      Shearer is stupid BM, and belongs in the National Party. He thought he could do what he did to David Cunliffe, but found himself standing alone with zero support.

    • Words 4.3
      18 May 2016 at 10:15 am

      BM, Shearer is stupid, and belongs in the National Party. He tried to do what he did to David Cunliffe, but found himself standing alone with zero support.

  5. Draco T Bastard 5
    15 May 2016 at 6:50 pm

    The MPs shouldn’t be voting on their conscience at all ever. They need to be voting the way that the people they represent choose.

    That means that electorate MPs need to go to their electorate and ask via referendum. List MPs are a little more difficult but essentially need to vote how their parties decide to vote after asking their members.

    • Colonial Viper 5.1
      15 May 2016 at 6:52 pm

      I take your point, DTB. MPs are supposed to represent us, not themselves.

      NZF has a history of wanting to take issues to the people via referenda but I reckon that Labour does not.

    • Hanswurst 5.2
      16 May 2016 at 8:09 am

      What would be the point in that? If you want direct democracy, put the actual issue to referendum. The idea of representative democracy is that you elect someone to examine the issues on your behalf full-time and trust them to consult as far as appropriate. I can see value in increased direct and participatory democracy, but I can’t see the value of having our representatives act as agents for direct democracy. It just seems superfluous.

      • Draco T Bastard 5.2.1
        16 May 2016 at 9:38 am

        I figure that we need people to write up the laws and to do the day to day managing of the state. This is the role of the MPs. But the actual deciding of policy should be left to the people.

        Of course a full national referendum on policy would be preferential to electorate referenda but I’m looking for a way to get there from here without crashing the entire political system. This would be such a step.

  6. GregJ 6
    15 May 2016 at 6:56 pm

    Not a conscience issue but indicative of Labour’s wishy-washy, half-arsed, do we support it or not, dollar-both-way policy on TPP.

    Labour set 5(?) criteria for supporting the deal and it didn’t meet those so they should have shown some gumption, enforced discipline and required all MPs to vote against it stating clearly the deal is a poor one for the country. Goff is a member of the party – he doesn’t get a pass just because he started the negotiations off in the distant past (I’m sure the right is looking forward to his forthcoming mayoralty).

    Spineless, rudderless & incompetent politics by Labour – giving up a golden opportunity to hold the Government’s feet to the fire over something that many people dislike, are deeply suspicious off and/or are outright opposed to.

  7. Chuck 7
    15 May 2016 at 7:00 pm

    Should a conscience vote apply to both a list MP and electorate MP?

    A list MP owes his/her position to the “party”…

    • Colonial Viper 7.1
      15 May 2016 at 7:04 pm

      And that loyalty to the party’s hierarchy ahead of to ordinary voters (or even to ordinary party members) – is a major undemocratic problem.

      • cricklewood 7.1.1
        16 May 2016 at 1:41 pm

        I would be in favour of having a ‘list’ selected automatically using a first loser type scenario.

        I haven’t quite figured out the nuts and bolts of it but it would work along the lines of the candidate that is the least number of percentage points below the winning candidate in their electorate takes the first available ‘list’ position allocated to that party due as per their party vote.

        This would require all MPs to at least stand for a seat and thus able to be held accountable for their vote by the constituents without upsetting the proportionality of parliament.

        • Cricklewood 7.1.1.1
          16 May 2016 at 2:06 pm

          To add, I would exclude list position number one which would be held by the party leader.

          Also as a bonus it would also go someway towards removing the Epsom and Ohariu gerrymander. Be very hard to stand a patsy candidate without the ability to offer a safe list position in exchange.

          • Rae 7.1.1.1.1
            16 May 2016 at 5:19 pm

            You’d remove that possibility by removing the coat tailing rule, one of the things the commission recommended after the “conversation” we have about MMP that the govt ignored, as it did not suit their agenda.
            I for one, will not forget that, ever

    • Rae 7.2
      16 May 2016 at 5:16 pm

      That is actually a very good point, but having said that, if the issue at hand is one that is subject to a conscience vote, then the party does not have a particular view

  8. Tautoko Mangō Mata 8
    15 May 2016 at 7:05 pm

    A conscience vote requires an MP to have a conscience, There are some MP’s who shouldn’t qualify for such a vote.

  9. Gabby 9
    15 May 2016 at 7:53 pm

    If Labour intends to campaign on the basis of not giving a shit about TPPA, a conscience vote would be fine. Can’t imagine why Natianal would conform.

  10. Pat 10
    15 May 2016 at 7:57 pm

    may not be a silly idea…assuming National agreed, which I don’t think they would.

    Any likely candidates from government side that may not support?

    • b waghorn 10.1
      15 May 2016 at 8:06 pm

      Given that in 8 years not a single nat has ever rocked the boat over the many dodgy things that have gone on ,or stood up for the abuse of a young lady by the pm and the cover up of an attempted rape by a diplomat I doubt there would be a single one with the spine to go against keys wishes.

    • Joy FL 10.2
      15 May 2016 at 8:13 pm

      Nats don’t have to give permission to Lab Party caucus to whip or not whip Lab Party’s own MPs

      • Pat 10.2.1
        15 May 2016 at 8:31 pm

        no point , in my opinion for Labour to create a very public division in the party(I’m assuming there is a reasonable remnant of neolibs within) to no purpose….National have the numbers, esp. given Goff’s get out of jail free card …..but if National are confident its in the “best interests of the country” it would be interesting to see if any were prepared to vote against if given the freedom.

        Either way its going to pass.

        • Hanswurst 10.2.1.1
          16 May 2016 at 8:50 am

          I don’t see what good it is to have neolib MPs just sitting there pretending to represent the working class. We deserve to know exactly who they are and what they stand for. If that means a rift in the Labour Party, or its rapid spiral towards irrelevancy, then that’s the way the biscuit breaks.

          • Pat 10.2.1.1.1
            16 May 2016 at 9:15 am

            and i don’t see any purpose to shooting oneself in the foot….

            but lets explore your reason….who are the “working class”,in your opinion that Labour represent?

            • Hanswurst 10.2.1.1.1.1
              16 May 2016 at 9:20 am

              I didn’t say that they represent them.

              • Pat …
                16 May 2016 at 9:26 am

                ‘I don’t see what good it is to have neolib MPs just sitting there pretending to represent the working class.”

                Ok , I can see there could be a semantic argument there….so you DON’T believe Labour’s role is to represent the working class?

                • Hanswurst …
                  16 May 2016 at 10:50 am

                  Eh? No, I’m proceeding from your idea that it is a good thing to have a bunch of neolibs pretending not to be neolibs, in order that they can be seen as a credible bunch to replace the other neolibs currently warming the government benches. I’m wondering what gains the working class are supposed to make from such a swap.

                  • Pat …
                    16 May 2016 at 5:53 pm

                    back to the working class…..who are the working class that you think Labour should be representing?

                    • Hanswurst …
                      16 May 2016 at 7:04 pm

                      Short answer would be people whose only work or work prospects are restricted to a small hourly wage, and who do not have other means (except benefits) of supplementing that income. A longer answer would be complex and take time. Firstly, however, this post is about the lines along which parliament should vote on the TPPA enabliing legislation. Secondly, your suggestion was that there were reasonable numbers of neolib MPs in Labour who would vote for it, but that this should be kept under wraps. My question concerned what purpose it would serve for neolibs to conceal their agenda while purporting to serve the working class (“Labour” = “work”; the clue’s in the name. What I “think” is irrelevant).

                      Now that I’ve provided an answer to your irrelevant counter-question, would you please answer my relevant question?

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      16 May 2016 at 7:27 pm

                      The “working class” is anyone whose life would be totally fucked up if they lost their job and couldn’t get another one for 5 or 6 months.

                      Anyone who can go 5 or 6 months without their job, and not have to worry about changing their lifestyle or their outgoings in the least, is middle class*.

                      *Eg. freehold home and $200K in term deposits

                    • Pat …
                      16 May 2016 at 8:28 pm

                      “Almost half of working New Zealanders would only last a month on their savings if they lost their job, a new survey shows.

                      More than a quarter say they will need to use their credit cards to pay bills in the coming quarter.

                      People in the 18 to 34 age bracket were particularly vulnerable, according to Dun and Bradstreet’s survey of consumer credit expectations released yesterday, with 55 per cent only able to survive for four weeks if they weren’t working.

                      This compares to 46 per cent for Kiwis aged 35 to 49 and 32 per cent of those aged 50 and over.”
                      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10584518

                      “The working class (also labouring class and proletariat) is the people employed for wages, especially in manual-labour occupations and in skilled, industrial work. Working-class occupations include blue-collar jobs, some white-collar jobs, and most service-work jobs” ……wiki

                  • Pat …
                    16 May 2016 at 7:34 pm

                    my suggestion was it should not cause an unnecessary public split….that there are neolibs within labour is hardly a secret.

                    The reason for my irrelevant question was to ascertain who you think Labour should represent…and you provided the anticipated answer.

                    Ask yourself this, how many wage workers are there in NZ? and how many of those are homeowners?and how many own investment property?

                    Labour cannot be a party solely for the “working class” and expect to achieve the level of support much greater than it currently attracts.
                    It needs to develop an alternative to the current neolib model and sell it as a better option for the great majority of Kiwis.
                    It is impossible to tinker at the edges of neoliberalism, as they currently propose and do any more than slow the inherent structural inequality gap and resulting societal collapse……and they need to do this with CC in the forefront of mind.
                    Outing a few neolibs within caucus will do nothing to achieve this and potentially hand the treasury benches again to a bunch of true believers who think/care not of the destination.

                    • Hanswurst …
                      16 May 2016 at 7:49 pm

                      The reason for my irrelevant question was to ascertain who you think Labour should represent…and you provided the anticipated answer.

                      Mate, I have not said anything about whom I think Labour should represent, and that’s not relevant here. By calling themselves “Labour”, they are purporting to represent the working class, and riding on the historical baggage that that brings. I think they should be honest about what they do support, and have the electorate vote on that. Harbouring a neolib agenda while paying lip-service to other aims in opposition doesn’t help the Left at all. It just means we get a right-wing government called “Labour” once the electorate tires of National.

                    • Pat …
                      16 May 2016 at 8:05 pm

                      “Mate, I have not said anything about whom I think Labour should represent, and that’s not relevant here. By calling themselves “Labour”, they are purporting to represent the working class,”

                      guess I misunderstood your previous series of posts then.

  11. Incognito 11
    15 May 2016 at 8:47 pm

    Award-winning or not, it seems to me that Bryan Bruce has made an assumption and jumped to conclusions.

    The way I see it is that Goff got given special dispensation because of his career-long investment in free trade and his involvement in doing the groundwork for the TPPA. I don’t see it as a single-issue based on conscience alone.

    • Colonial Viper 11.1
      15 May 2016 at 8:57 pm

      If that is so you must believe that the TPP is primarily:

      1) About free trade and not about entrenching corporate power over sovereign states, and
      2) That today’s TPP largely represents what Labour originally envisioned in the groundwork that Goff did for it.

      However, if the TPP is none of these things, then the rationale you set forward for Goff’s “special dispensation” is null and void.

      • Incognito 11.1.1
        15 May 2016 at 10:00 pm

        Crikey dick! Your advanced logical reasoning is lost on me; I could try and pick a few holes in it but let me just say that it was my honest attempt to interpret Andrew Little’s rationale for his decision to allow Goff to cross the floor in this instance. Please direct your misgivings to AL.

        • Colonial Viper 11.1.1.1
          15 May 2016 at 10:36 pm

          but let me just say that it was my honest attempt to interpret Andrew Little’s rationale for his decision

          And you accuse Bryan Bruce of jumping to unsupported interpretations.

  12. Tory 12
    16 May 2016 at 7:21 am

    The only beneficiary of a conscience vote would be Little, he has a caucus in which approx only 4 MP’s voted for him and it’s clear he is on borrowed time, a conscience vote gets him out of a hole in which he has rebellious MP”s. Goff crossing the floor is a victory for National and another nail in Littles coffin, Little needs to “get some guts” and move on allowing new talent such as Nash to be prompted.

    • left for dead 12.1
      16 May 2016 at 9:24 am

      You wont some guts Tory, well son where do you live, I’ll drop off a ton or two for you, where abouts, on the lawn, directly on the the ex’s car or is to be charity an in your neighbours garden.
      Abattoir Blues

      Nash has only the pimple on his grandfathers arse too compare himself with.

  13. Janet 13
    16 May 2016 at 7:53 am

    Despite the unpopularity and serious misgivings about the TPPA, Labour and Goff enabled the reading to go through. If ever there was a reason to stop voting Labour this is it.
    I will not only not vote for Goff in the Ak mayoral election, I will actively vote against him. On his past record, starting with his Housing Portfolio in the 80’s he has been a right winger de luxe. I wouldn’t trust him with the assets.

  14. Xanthe 14
    16 May 2016 at 7:59 am

    goff turned his back on his conscience a long time ago

  15. Smilin 15
    16 May 2016 at 10:45 am

    So now its ok to sellout your party as well as the nation to a debt building economic ideology run by idiots and warmongers and multinational corporations turning our country into a shit hole

    Is that the bullshit we worked all our lives for
    150 BILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT

  16. johnm 16
    16 May 2016 at 11:21 am

    The facts are clear the TPPA is an unconscionable Corporate take over against democracy.

    Kill TTIP Now

    Paul Craig Roberts

    In his May 9, 2016, speech to European medical professionals, Michael Hudson points out that the result of TTIP for Europe will be the privatization of health care systems with the associated much higher costs.

    Hudson’s accurate description of TTIP shows that politically powerful corporations have gained the power in Western “democracies” to sacrifice the welfare of all populations to corporate greed for profit regardless of the cost to peoples, countries, and societies.

    The evil of American “democratic capitalism” is total and irredeemable. TTIP gives corporations unaccountable power over governments and peoples. The corporations must be slapped down hard, fiercely regulated, and forced by threat of long prison sentences to serve the public interest, and not the incomes of the executives and shareholders who comprise the One Percent.

    Here is Hudson’s analysis:

    http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/05/11/the-dangers-of-free-trade-agreements-ttips-threat-to-europes-elderly/

    What goes for the transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership goes 100% for the TPPA.

    ” shareholders have the right to sue the directors of a public company if they believe the directors are not acting in their interests to maximize profits. ”
    In this instance the shareholders are the Corporations! Our so called democratic leaders are the directors who can be sued if profit is not maximised! But it is the public who pay up when these secret corporation courts rule against New Zealand!! This is just f*cking crazy! It’s madness, it’s a sell out!

  17. Tautoko Mangō Mata 17
    16 May 2016 at 8:41 pm

    My wishful thinking: Phil Goff, having voted for the first reading of the TPP, will, look at the clauses, (and the fact the the US corporations are trying to strong-arm NZ to accept “fixes” -see https://wtonewsstand.com/topic/trans-pacific-partnership) and will
    have an epiphany and vote AGAINST the TPP omnibus bill.

  18. Penny Bright 18
    17 May 2016 at 9:03 am

    It appears that I am the only 2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate who has consistently and persistently actively opposed the signing and ratification of the TPPA.

    Time for an Auckland ‘Peoples’ Mayor’ who will defend the interests of the public 99% against the corrupt corporate 1%, locally, nationally and internationally?

    I think so.

    Penny Bright.
    Proven anti- corruption / anti-privatisation ‘Public Watchdog’.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • The Angry Majority.
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    Bowalley Road
    3 hours ago

  • Verrall is chuffed by govt’s latest push into pay equity while Woods enthuses about an $11m spend ...
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 hours ago

  • A very worthy coalition partner for Seymour and Luxon
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    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 hours ago

  • Labour still protecting the status quo
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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 hours ago

  • Gordon Campbell on National’s myths about the desolated state of the economy
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    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    7 hours ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: Hapless Hipkins and his racism
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 hours ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: The ‘recession’ has been called off, but some households are still struggling
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  • Monday’s Chorus: Richie Poulton's lament
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    12 hours ago

  • North-western downgrades
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  • Has Webworm Found New Zealand’s Weirdest School?
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    14 hours ago

  • Another mother of a budget
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    16 hours ago

  • A crucial week starts as early voting opens in the NZ Elections … it’s been a ride so far. Are y...
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    23 hours ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39
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  • Clusterf**ck of Chaos.
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    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
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  • The party of business deals with the future by pretending it isn’t coming
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    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
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  • 2023 More Reading: September (+ Old Phuul update)
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    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    2 days ago

  • Losing The Left.
    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
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    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
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    3 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
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  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
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    3 days ago

  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
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    PunditBy Brian Easton
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Play it, Elvis
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    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Pure class warfare
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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
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    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago

  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
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    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
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    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago

  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
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    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
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    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago

  • Try A Little Kindness.
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    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago

  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • The kindest cuts
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    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
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    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    6 days ago

  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan  – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
    As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago

  • Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
    Voters  are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris  Hipkins’  valiant  rearguard  action.  So  where  are they  heading?  Clearly  not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that  the  outcome  will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a  few weeks  ago  was ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
    Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes –    With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
    As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    6 days ago

  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
    ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago

  • September-23 AT Board Meeting
    Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    7 days ago

  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
    Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • Big money brings Winston back
    National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago

  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
    As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    1 week ago

  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand resumes peacekeeping force leadership
    New Zealand will again contribute to the leadership of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a senior New Zealand Defence Force officer returning as Interim Force Commander. Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced the deployment of New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago

  • New national direction provides clarity for development and the environment
    The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago

  • Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers
    The Government welcomes the proposed pay equity settlement that will see significant pay increases for around 18,000 Te Whatu Ora Allied, Scientific, and Technical employees, if accepted said Health Minister Ayesha Verrall. The proposal reached between Te Whatu Ora, the New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • 100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
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