March against the budget cuts

Written By: - Date published: 11:50 am, May 27th, 2011 - 66 comments
Categories: activism, budget 2011, class war - Tags:

A new organisation, the Coalition for Social Justice, is calling for a march in Auckland tomorrow:

Coalition For Social Justice

Press Release: Coalition For Social Justice
PRESS STATEMENT.

A new group has been formed called the Coalition for Social Justice. Its aim is to organise concerns around the governments Budget proposals and their implications for ordinary New Zealanders.

Spokesperson Meredydd Barrar says, “cuts to working for families, Kiwi Saver and student loans and general austerity measures are not working in the interests of the majority of kiwis who are struggling to make ends meet.”

The Coalition is made up of members of community groups, people from religious organisations and unions. Our aim is to promote social justice. We are organising a MOBILISATION of ordinary Kiwis on SATURDAY 28TH MAY 12pm QE2 Square, bottom of Queen st, Auckland City. Also more action as the election campaign develops.

New Zealanders are angry about GST, milk prices and secret Trade deals, cuts to Early Childhood education and privatisation of electricity and asset sales..

Meredydd Barrar, spokesperson says, “Enough is enough. Recent government announcements about cuts and a Budget that will certainly condemn the majority of New Zealanders to relative poverty is not acceptable. Children and struggling families as well as students looking to further their higher education will be penalised”.

There is a latent anger in New Zealand at the moment. We aim to translate it into action. Policies of cut backs and austerity measures will increase the gap between rich and poor which is already the 6th highest in the OECD. We believe this is unacceptable and uncivilised.

New Zealanders deserve better than an economic philosophy that only seems to make bankers, corporates and speculators richer.

The Herald reports on the Coalition, including (apparently) threats of civil disobedience, which seems to have caused some splits within the new organisation.

66 comments on “March against the budget cuts ”

  1. Chris 1

    Hear hear kia taha

  2. How about getting a new protest picture, your like Faux news, using protest footage that is not even from the same protest.

    • Zorr 2.1

      Fox News posts images from different protests to inflate numbers and create false impressions…

      When a protest hasn’t even happened yet it is a bit impossible to post images from it. They haven’t claimed they have a time machine that takes them in to the future to be able to post images from the protest that hasn’t happened yet… but maybe they should just to conform to your moronic world view.

      • Brett Dale 2.1.1

        But you guys do have a happen of been manipulative, there was a protest about six months ago, and you guys originally had a pic which showed a guy screaming holding a banner, at the bottom of his banner it had the words “Socialist Aotearoa”

        About an hour later this site had edited the picture so you couldnt see the writing on his banner.

        I’m guessing the mods here, did this to create an impression that the protesters weren’t from a political group/party, but just members of the public.

        • lprent 2.1.1.1

          We are slowly building a pile of stock images because of the need to have an image for every post. My guess is that you saw one being created.

          Can’t you just feel the privilege* of watching the creativity in progress?

          * I would point out that in addition to my own creative coding, I also have to embrace Lyn’s creativity in film-making and film distribution which largely gets done at home. In my opinion creative people should be kept away from everyone else at all points in time. The only thing that is worse are the critics – like Brett…

    • r0b 2.2

      Yeah sorry Brett. I tried to requisition the time machine to get photos of tomorrow’s protest, but Lynn already had it booked to go drinking with Galileo.

      • Blighty 2.2.1

        r0b. When Lynn gets back you can take the time machine to before he has will have booked it for himself and book it for yourself. Then he will isn’t has not taken it.

        the joys of time travel grammar

        • r0b 2.2.1.1

          I bow to your temporosyntactic virtuosity! But I think the resulting paradox might cause the universe to implode. And I’m not quite done with the universe yet, so nah, all things considered, Brett will just have to remain frustrated.

      • Gus 2.2.2

        I don’t think think that Brett is for a moment suggesting that you should be able to publish a photo of the event, but rather quite reasonably suggesting that unless you’re prepared to footnote the image as an historical protest photo without any and direct involvement to this up coming one. Otherwise I think he is quite right to suggest that its an attempt to manipulate or mislead readers perceptions.

        • r0b 2.2.2.1

          You don’t think, just perhaps, just maybe, that readers might not, you know – work that out for themselves?

        • lprent 2.2.2.2

          Sounds like a bullshit argument to me. Stock images are often used for this type of article.

          But probably more importantly we are not a frigging news media site. Read the about – last section.

      • lprent 2.2.3

        Lynn already had it booked to go drinking with Galileo.

        Man – the booze was bad. Just shows you what hygienic conditions does to the flavour – improves it…

  3. Gus 3

    “New Zealanders are angry about GST, milk prices and secret Trade deals, cuts to Early Childhood education and privatisation of electricity and asset sales.”

    While a proportion of the population of may be angry about these issues clearly from the recent NZ Herald and Roy Morgan Polls a far greater number support the government and these actions.

    • aj 3.1

      Gus: – ….or don’t understand these issues. You’d be surprised the level of ignorance of facts and the trust in spin. Some people on average wages still think they got ‘north of $50’ from the tax cuts that Key promised last election and still think the recent tax switch was in their favour, they are pretty slow in adding the numbers for themselves.

  4. deemac 4

    it’s a shame that the organisers seem to have already alienated some groups that would otherwise attend by stupid loose-mouth comments. When will the far left learn that the idea of a demo is to maximise support to show how strong public feeling is, not to limit it to those of the true faith?

  5. PeteG 5

    The split reports are pertinent from the Herald article:

    Two Catholic organisations have pulled out of a post-Budget rally after other groups involved threatened to flour-bomb Rugby World Cup events.

    Both the Auckland Catholic Justice and Peace Commission and the Catholic social justice agency Caritas have withdrawn their support for tomorrow’s rally in Auckland.

    A sensible withdrawal. And Meredydd Barrar’s comments:

    Spokesman Meredydd Barrar of the newly formed Coalition for Social Justice said the groups also “intend to take action during the World Cup to alert the world that New Zealand is not as squeaky clean as people might perceive. We might have to flour-bomb Eden Park again,” he said.

    Apart from the stupidity of trying to talk up crap like that, you’d have to question what civil disobedience during the world cup would do for the left vote in the election. There could be a severe backlash, which would be unfair on Labour as they should be strongly against this sort of over-activism.

  6. Anthony 6

    Seems pretty last minute, hope they get some good numbers.

  7. Tombstone 7

    Best thing I have heard in what now seems like an eternity. It’s about time power was restored to the people where it rightfully belongs. I’m tired of being dictated to by bankers, corporates and self serving politicians. Government is there to serve the people, not the few and most certainly not their mates. It doesn’t seem to matter how much of our hard earned money is pumped back into the system nothing ever seems to improve. We just end up paying more and more and more and all the while our most wealthy seem to be getting richer and richer and richer – funny that. I’m from CHCH and wish you all the best with the march as I have no doubt many down here would as well. John Key needs to go and a clear message needs to be sent to all politicians that the people will not tolerate being railroaded into poverty by the greedy self serving elite. Go hard!

  8. Carol 8

    This sounds a little bit like a beat-up by NZ Herald, to me. The Voxy article linked in the original post up-thread said this:

    Two Catholic organisations who had been planning participation in tomorrow’s post-Budget rally in Auckland have withdrawn their support following a New Zealand Herald story about the civil disobedience intentions of some participants.

    Did the NZ Herald reporter go out and ask participants in organising the protest about the possibility of civil disobedience? I think so as several people commented on it. There was probably some loose talk by someone initially, but I think the NZH is stirring a bit here.

    It does mean, though, that protesters need to be careful what they say to journos, and not just ramble on with some idle speculation.

    But as for the groups that pulled out of the rally on the basis of an NZ Herald article….. huh? If you work in coalitions, you need to accept some diversity of views, eg about tactics. All those groups needed to do was make it clear they are opposed to civil disobedience. It’s more important to focus on what the demo is opposed to, and on supporting the interests of those being screwed by this government.

  9. Not a rugby fan, but it will be political suicide for any political group to disrupt the rugby world cup.
    The country will never forgive them.

    • Carol 9.1

      One of the organisers at the demo said, over the loudspeaker, that the idea they wanted to disrupt or stop the RWC was a total fiction.

    • Jum 9.2

      Brett Dale,

      When a country’s people are more worried about the rugby game than the future of their children’s legacy, maybe it’s already too late for New Zealand.

      What the lying beat up did prove is that there is some worry from the NActMU government on the continuing determination by people in that group, showing more diversity and increasing in numbers, to remind New Zealanders what they will lose in assets and autonomy, fair wages and equality, taxes spent on education and health, etc., instead of rich men’s tax returns that they didn’t pay in the first place because of trusts and accountants, so the energy being expended on spreading lies now being perpetrated by the NAct-owned media is encouraging.

      Meanwhile, stop continuing the misleading spin about what protestors said.

  10. HC 10

    Meredydd Barrar was shown on TV One’s news last night, and he appeared to claim that it was certainly not their intention to flower bomb Eden Park. He only meant that he would understand the anger of some people going so far that they could even take such actions.

    It is all a bit of a stir up by the media, which likes stories about such crazy actions. For those catholic groups to pull out only shows how easily they are swayed by some news reports that obviously relied on someone talking a bit too loosely and carelessly about possible actions.

    Sadly many in the public fall for media hype, and that fact is not encouraging.

    This march that was planned for today has been poorly prepared and poorly announced. The first thing I heard about it through the already negative news stories.

    The Coalition For Social Justice better learn out of this and do better planning in future. Otherwise it will be just another group of activists that will preach to the converted and fade into insignificance.

    Sadly the consumerist conditioning and brainwashing of so many years is working, because most people will be out filling the malls rather than go on a March in Queen Street in Auckland.

    • Jum 10.1

      HC
      Then you follow them to the malls.

      • HC 10.1.1

        Shopping Malls are different kinds of “public spaces” when compared to Queen Street. Malls are privately owned and can more easily trespass and evict people than police or anybody else can take action against protestors marching up a street.

        Also will many shoppers have little time and sympathy, because they do not want to be “disturbed” while window shopping and doing real shopping.

        Information and better organisation are needed. The first thing I heard about the march was yesterday evening, when watching parts of One News. Hence it was too short term for me to prepare myself for attending this protest. Otherwise I would have gone.

        I ask: Was that march announed via this website, and where else was it announced?

        • Carol 10.1.1.1

          I saw it on Aotearoa Indymedia earlier this week

          http://www.indymedia.org.nz/event/79611/march-against-budget-2011

          I see it was also mentioned in a press release on Scoop on 18 May.

          http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1105/S00253/coalition-for-social-justice.htm\

          It’s a newly formed coalition. They were asking people to sign up for their email list at the demo.

        • Jum 10.1.1.2

          Well, no HC. You don’t go in there yelling ‘stand up fight back’ in the middle of the mall. You go in armed with petitions sheets, a table and chair and several people to talk to people who are interested but ensure that large signs showing what people are concerned about are displayed all around that table.

          How many malls in New Zealand?
          How many people willing to spend some time during the busiest period of the mall shopping day to be there for people to ask questions?

          It’s still a numbers game. 200 people that Carol quoted could cover quite a few malls around the Auckland area. The protest needs to be ongoing and needs to morph into whatever shape and in whatever space that allows all New Zealanders to be kept informed on issues the media has been shut down (willingly) on by NActMU.

          • Drakula 10.1.1.2.1

            I agree with you Jum , nothing wrong with good old fashioned pamphleteering furthermore each pamphlet will have e-mail and I-pod links with all the related organizations.

            Please keep a keen eye on the revolutions going on around the world because the agenda of Key’s government is very much a part of global imperialism!!

            There are huge demonstrations in Madrid at this present moment and they are on almost exactly the same issues as above.

            The Coalition for Social Justice maybe new at this game but they have made a couragious start and have my full support. We need to encourage them as much as possible and totally ignore the put downs that are perpetrated by the MSM.

            I mean who is this petty burgeoise Catholic group? Have they been for the working people or just giving us dope and false hope of justice in the hearafter? Yeh Right.

            I would say to such people ‘this is a global revolution; Not a fuckin tea party!!!’

            The best tactics are the most flexable, I suggest that the CSJ go into QE2 Square and pitch a tent and make todays protest an ongoing protest. That’s how the did it in Madrid Cairo and Paris and before you Know where you are there will be thousands.

            • Jum 10.1.1.2.1.1

              The tent idea is great; it becomes a regular feature and is manned hopefully by those who know the answers that people need to hear to make an informed decision when they go to the polls. We know that various people who have the ability to arrange this will read your message and hopefully agree that it is a good idea and do it.

          • HC 10.1.1.2.2

            Jum – Agreed, that is certainly possible. Why has nobody come up with that idea and actually done it? Maybe there is a lack of ideas and organisation at this stage. Organisations like Greenpeace do this all the time. So we can expect such pickets or info stands at Westfield very soon, can we? I am afraid that you will still need a permission from the Mall management. They do not really like politicing in their glass, plastic and concrete shopping temples, that is the problem I see.

            • Jum 10.1.1.2.2.1

              You’re right HC. You need the high flyer MPs who take in supporters on their walk around the mall meeting and greeting the people. The supporters will carry the messages the MPs want to make and the MPs will answer the questions on their party’s policies that the mall people will note from the signs – nothing big. The mall gets the VIPs. The left gets the message out. A picture paints a thousand words.
              MP sites can notify anyone who is interested in being at an event like this. They will not however support any individuals or groups who want to turn a Coalition into a 3-ring circus. That can only be bad for the left.

              The Coalition needs to remember that their message is an inclusive one. Theatrics should be kept for individuals, not coalitions; the media should not be hijacked for theatrics; we already know media are good at beatups and manipulating people who care passionately about their country into saying things they have no intention of doing, or even misleading readers by putting words in protestors’ mouths.

  11. Carol 11

    I went on the demo. There was a small attendance – a hundred or two I think. But the organisers responded by saying it was just a start, mainly attended by the core of some groups, who had networked on the march & were aiming to go out and mobilise more people. The march stopped regularly going up Queen Street, while someone at the front on a speaker gave mini speeches to the watching people on the footpaths, explaining what the march was about.

    Carmel Sepuloni gave a speech before the march, saying Labour MPs were with the demo in spirit,but were out in West Auckland streets today, campaigning on pretty much the same issues as the demo. Metiria Turei was there, and was interviewed in front of a camera. Sue Bradford, Catherine Delahunty, Penny Bright, John Minto, rep from prison officers union, Socialist Aotearoa guy & others gave speeches.

    The Socialist Aotearoa guy gave a rousing speech, linking demos in Tunisia, Egypt, Spain etc with a growing world wide movement. He was very critical of Labour & Goff for being out campaigning against Hone when they should have been joining with the demo coalition.

    I was disappointed more people didn’t attend, but hope more people will join in future. I’m glad I went, though.

    • HC 11.1

      Thanks for your informative post, and good on you for taking a stand.

      I just wonder whether the main media channels will at all report on the small protest.

      There will need to be more organisation and more people attending in future.

    • r0b 11.2

      Thanks Carol.

      • Carol 11.2.1

        Thanks, HC & r0b, but I didn’t do much today, just added to the numbers on the street.

        I see Stuff’s main page has a photo beside their link to the article on the demo. The bottom of the photo is cropped. The placard actually said Merchant w…. (rhymes with “banker”.

        http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1306559643/462/5069462.jpg

        And here is the link to the article:
        http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5069330/Coalition-protests-tough-budget

        Hmmm…. 100 people weren’t all carrying the effigy….?

        I should also have mentioned some of the other speakers: a woman from the PPTA, a woman from an Early Childcare association (said the education allocations in the budget was not near enough to replace NAct’s previous cuts), a pediatrician (who said she’s appalled by the levels and extent of child poverty & related health problems she is seeing).

        The stuff article didn’t mention the Green MPs on the march – they had the biggest presence from any political party.

        • Jim Nald 11.2.1.1

          Effigy?

          Hmm … I am tempted to organise a bonfire in my backyard and people can bring effigies of RWNJs to be sacrificed on my winter pyre.

          • Drakula 11.2.1.1.1

            Jim; A brillient idea, but take all the effigies and bonfires to the centre of Auckland QE2 Square unless you are planning to invite 20,000 + people to your place!!!!!
            It could be a hell of a party – – a bit overkill ????

            • Jim Nald 11.2.1.1.1.1

              How about groups in the country organising, at a public square in every main city centre, a Johnfire bonfire ? 😛

  12. Jum 12

    The fact that Aucklanders stopped to listen and watch means that the march was a success. People are being notified that unless they do something their country will be John Key’s private business and he’ll be cutting costs, ladies and gents. It will be on their heads and their children’s debt profile.

    There are still several months to go.

    Every poster on The Standard e.g. that gives a damn about our country’s children and their children should have been on that march.

    How many people post on here? How many went to that march.

    Those saying they didn’t know, know now. Their excuse has just gone.

    • handle 12.1

      You are beyond naive if you think that street marching without organised publicity will have any real impact. Newsflash: it’s not the 1960s any more.

      • Jum 12.1.1

        Handle,

        When the media is owned by the NAct government, then alternative means need to be explored. What would you suggest? I’m assuming you are not a 1960s child, nor me. I know about cell phone use to summon large numbers of people to attend a place, at a time. It could be done here. The means is not the problem. You know that as well as I.

        New Zealanders are complacent; the 1930s is gone. Their greed is their glue to Key and Brash. When they do wake up, it will be too late. It will be 27 November and New Zealand will not belong to New Zealanders any more. I doubt it does now.

        This election at least can soften the landing for 90 % of Kiwis if they reject Key and vote to keep what’s left of their assets.

        Individually, all I have to do is work to get rid of this thieving, lying government. Essentially, your opinion matters little to me, unless you can offer advice on how to achieve that goal.

        So, I’m waiting, Handle.

        • handle 12.1.1.1

          Sound political strategy and community organising are well enough known and hardly need airing again here. Marching is seldom a good use of people’s precious time and energy without solid work first on communication and coordination. The anti-mining campaign and march was a good example. To win requires taking things seriously and treating voters with respect.

          • Jum 12.1.1.1.1

            So, Handle, I can count on you to start that off then…

            • handle 12.1.1.1.1.1

              It only needs existing organisations with resources, like the political parties of the left, to start doing their job properly again.

              • Jum

                Stop wally waffling Handle, what are You going to do to bring that organisation about? I am seeking your help.

                Oh, and by the way, I am one of those voters you stated should be treated ‘with respect’ so I sincerely hope you will treat me with some respect too as I am so desperately trying to do in your case.

                • handle

                  It doesn’t require setting up something new.

                  • Jum

                    Handle – a little play on words happening.

                    Organisation can be a verb as well as a noun. Read the sentence again: “Handle, what are You going to do to bring that organisation about?”

                    i.e. what are You going to do to bring that organisation (of people and resources) about?

                  • Drakula

                    I can’t quite get a handle on your true colours; so what the hell are your true colours?

                    • Jum

                      Drakula,

                      LOL

                      Just as soon as I get a ‘handle’ on Handle, Drakula, I’ll let you know.

                      PS I don’t like being told I’m being ‘naive’ when I suggest that there are many ways to win a battle and that not all the people of New Zealand respond to the same buttons.

                      Someone ‘told’ me that they fight their battle with quiet comments at the local dairy; others by yelling ‘STAND UP, FIGHT BACK’ in the main street of Auckland. Others will undermine their local rightwing MP by reminding his/her constituents on a daily basis that he betrayed them over the ‘supercity’ takeover, especially when there is a marginal seat win.

                      There are many ways to cut a key.

                      None of those ways should be ridiculed, nor should their messenger.

                    • Drakula

                      Jum I just wanted to know Handles true colours, not yours, yours are OK. My post was in the wrong order some how. Please don’t take offence.

                    • Jum

                      Drakula,

                      From PS onwards I was explaining that Handle had called me naive because I was suggesting alternative ways to campaign to reach all New Zealanders by methods they could understand. That was not directed towards you. It seems Handle has caused unnecessary stress to both of us and now he’s flown off his handle.

                      My apologies to you too, you lovely Drakula.

                    • handle

                      Replying to 11.21pm comment:

                      “..Handle had called me naive because I was suggesting alternative ways to campaign to reach all New Zealanders by methods they could understand”

                      What I actually said was: “You are beyond naive if you think that street marching without organised publicity will have any real impact.”
                      Jum, you will note the sentence has two parts. Do whatever you want, just do it properly.
                      I do not know what ‘colour’ that makes me but if expecting you to act competently causes you ‘stress’ then good luck seeing this fight through until November.
                       

          • Jum 12.1.1.1.2

            Handle said: “You are beyond naive if you think that street marching without organised publicity will have any real impact. Newsflash: it’s not the 1960s any more.”

            Then Handle said: “Jum, you will note the sentence has two parts. Do whatever you want, just do it properly.
            I do not know what ‘colour’ that makes me but if expecting you to act competently causes you ‘stress’ then good luck seeing this fight through until November.”

            You’ve broken that sentence into two parts; I will therefore inform you that you are wrong on both counts. One – I am not naive; I have not been naive since Roger Douglas, neoconservative, stole Labour and handed New Zealanders’ future to the business rotundtable of greed. Two – again I say there are many ways to get the word out. Of course more organised publicity will help faster; it is however not the only way. Money gets organised publicity faster but if money is short it has to be organised in other ways. Other ways, and we have several months left to increase that spreading of information, work too.

            The March numbers were up, even without the Catholic group. The watchers on the streets can be added – 75% of them will refuse asset selloffs. More advertising on Queen Street a few days before the march by interested individuals with copies of the March organisers’ reasons for Marching to hand out would also garner some more marchers and more watchers.

            I’ve been involved with posting on The Standard fighting both to get Key rejected in 2008 and to get him and his party out in 2011 and also to communicate in any way possible the damage each of his neo-pinochet policies are doing to New Zealand and New Zealanders. I recognised him as a danger to New Zealand in 2004 when I saw his photo and the write up on him in a magazine. I don’t remember your ‘handle’ on The Standard back in 2008 fighting to keep National in the cupboard where their neo-conservative Act policies belong (correct me if I’m wrong with some evidence please).

            So stress takes many forms. Your comments are comments anyone could have come up with; big words like ‘communication and coordination’ and ‘political strategy and community organising’ mean zilch. I have seen no detailed ideas from you on how to get rid of Key. Either you are just a blowhard or you are not supporting the move to get rid of Key.

            So, state Your credentials and how You will organise getting the message out or I shall simply write you off as a Crosby/Textor trying to manipulate posters who actually care about New Zealand’s future autonomy under a new Government that will not betray its voters by selling off assets it is only caretaker for, not owner of.

            • handle 12.1.1.1.2.1

              The public suffering at the hands of the neolibs deserve smarter people in their corner than those who think influencing a handful of folk on the street is enough.
              It’s a shame if those words are too ‘big’ for you. If you can not make sense of a basic proposition – that marching without proper publicity is naive – then there seems little point in responding further. Get over yourself.

              • Jum

                Handle, Finally, I have a handle on your reason for being on this site.

                Again, you have produced nothing of note, on how to get the message out on low funds. All you have done is bad mouth me.

                You must be a Crosby Textor bought and sold soldier here to manipulate.

                You are the weakest link – Goodbye.

                • Jum

                  Handle,

                  Surely, even a closed mind like yours can accept that all sorts of people are involved in supporting a better life than NAct promises. If I’m too dumb to do some things in that campaign there will be other people with more intelligence to carry that through.

                  So, once again, you have produced nothing of note, on how to get the message out on low funds.

                • handle

                  Yes, it’s all about you. I figure readers can make up their own minds about who is wasting their time.

                  • Jum

                    Handle, I hate to tell you this, but you and I are the only ones reading these posts. The company has moved on, but I’ll stay and play your silly game as long as it takes.

  13. Carol 13

    By the way. On the demo, one or two speakers were calling for a demo at a National Party meeting tomorrow – 10am – Waipuna Lodge Mt Wellington, I think.

    Penny Bright was one of the people who mentioned they were going. But I haven’t seen any other notification about it.

    I can’t go to it as I have urgent work to do tomorrow.

  14. Chris 14

    Another silly idea – just the suggestion of a link between disrupting the rugby world cup will just alientate 95% of NZ voters. Once the seed of disruption is in the publics mind it is too late to ‘distance’ ones self from it.

    • Jum 14.1

      Yes Chris and Brett Dale – you two little darlings are the very seeds of disruption of which you post.

      Just more tacky NAct tactics. Shame on you boys.

  15. Drakula 15

    I think that the situation her is not quite like the Springbok tour in the 80’s I don’t know whether flour bombing the the World Cup Rugby will achieve anything.

    They are not racist games as they were in the 80’s so protesters should identify with and not apart from the World Cup.

    Yes it’s important to protest at the events but a process of imaginative synthesis can be brought about from both the protesters and the football fans.

    • Drakula 15.1

      Oh I forgot about Israel damn it !!!!! They should be boycotted thats for sure!!!!!!

      Plus rents need to be frozen for hospitality workere too !!!!!!!

  16. millsy 16

    I say bring it on really. I think we are just about due for another big confrontation like in 1951 and 1981.

    The reality is that the world cup is going to see those in hospitality work long hours and go under a lot of pressure, and they arent going to see the benefits flow through to them in terms of higher wages, and the other reality is that rents are going to skyrocket, and there are going to be mass Highland clearance-style evictions from landlords looking to cash in.

    There are a lot of people going to be pissed, and I really am keen to see some good old protest and strike action during the world up.

    • Jum 16.1

      I would like the world to see that under this government people are being treated like serfs. I want any visitor to New Zealand to understand that the service workers who greet them as they travel around New Zealand, are treated like second class citizens in their own country; that New Zealand, the proud little country that held its head high against the biggest and richest places in the world, with a sense of pride, of health, of equality and of full bellies is no more and that a new Argentina-style regime is replacing NZ, run along the lines of Pinochet’s Chile.

  17. Drakula 17

    I was listening on the national radio today about the Madrid demonstration and take over of the city center and as I said before they are exactly the same issues as here. Benefit cuts, privatisation and austerity cuts to the public sector.

    The Standard and other left blogs would want to get as many people to those venues as possible and that requires the exploitation of the herd instinct and the notion that success leads to success.

    Visual impact is very important; huge crowds of Madrid should be shown often on this site with very excessively enthusiastic slogans: ‘If the Spanish people can strike for change in Madrid we can do the same in New Zealand for exactly the same reasons.’

    Believe it, there is a very real world revolution going on and the global coprporations are going to get their arses well and truely kicked in!!!!!!!

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  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    24 mins ago
  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 hours 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
    3 hours ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 hours ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    8 hours ago
  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    9 hours ago
  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    9 hours ago
  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    23 hours 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
    23 hours ago
  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day ago
  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    1 day 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 ...
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 days ago
  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    2 days ago
  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago
  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    3 days ago
  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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 ...
    3 days ago
  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Old habits
    Media awareness about global warming and climate change has grown fairly steadily since 2004. My impression is that journalists today tend to possess a higher climate literacy than before. This increasing awareness and improved knowledge is encouraging, but there are also some common interpretations which could be more nuanced. ...
    Real ClimateBy rasmus
    3 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
    3 days ago
  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 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
    4 days ago
  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    4 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 ...
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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 ...
    4 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
    4 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. ...
    4 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 ...
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 days ago
  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • A pallid shade of Green III
    Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • A coalition of racism, cruelty, and chaos
    Today's big political news is that after months of wibbling, National's Chris Luxon has finally confirmed that he is willing to work with Winston Peters to become Prime Minister. Which is expected, but I guess it tells us something about which way the polls are going. Which raises the question: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • More migrant workers should help generate the tax income needed to provide benefits for job seekers
    Buzz from the Beehive Under something described as a “rebalance” of its immigration rules, the Government has adopted four of five recommendations made in an independent review released in July, The fifth, which called on the government to specify criteria for out-of-hours compliance visits similar to those used during ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • Letter To Luxon.
    Some of you might know Gerard Otto (G), and his G News platform. This morning he wrote a letter to Christopher Luxon which I particularly enjoyed, and with his agreement I’m sharing it with you in this guest newsletter.If you’d like to make a contribution to support Gerard’s work you ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Alarming trend in benefit numbers
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  While there will not be another quarterly release of benefit numbers prior to the election, limited weekly reporting continues and is showing an alarming trend. Because there is a seasonal component to benefit number fluctuations it is crucial to compare like with like. In ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • BRIAN EASTON: Has there been external structural change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase.   Brian Easton writes –  Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • CRL Progress – Sep-23
    It’s been a while since we looked at the latest with the City Rail Link and there’s been some fantastic milestones recently. To start with, and most recently, CRL have released an awesome video showing a full fly-through of one of the tunnels. Come fly with us! You asked for ...
    5 days ago
  • Monday’s Chorus: Not building nearly enough
    We are heading into another period of fast population growth without matching increased home building or infrastructure investment.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Labour and National detailed their house building and migration approaches over the weekend, with both pledging fast population growth policies without enough house building or infrastructure investment ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Game on; Hipkins comes out punching
    Labour leader Chris Hipkins yesterday took the gloves off and laid into National and its leader Christopher Luxon. For many in Labour – and particularly for some at the top of the caucus and the party — it would not have been a moment too soon. POLITIK is aware ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Tax Cut Austerity Blues.
    The leaders have had their go, they’ve told us the “what?” and the “why?” of their promises. Now it’s the turn of the would be Finance Ministers to tell us the “how?”, the “how much?”, and the “when?”A chance for those competing for the second most powerful job in the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • MIKE GRIMSHAW:  It’s the economy – and the spirit – Stupid…
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Over the past 30-odd years it’s become almost an orthodoxy to blame or invoke neoliberalism for the failures of New Zealand society. On the left the usual response goes something like, neoliberalism is the cause of everything that’s gone wrong and the answer ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #38
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 17, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 23, 2023. Story of the Week  Opinion: Let’s free ourselves from the story of economic growth A relentless focus on economic growth has ushered in ...
    6 days ago
  • The End Of The World.
    Have you been looking out of your window for signs of the apocalypse? Don’t worry, you haven’t been door knocked by a representative of the Brian Tamaki party. They’re probably a bit busy this morning spruiking salvation, or getting ready to march on our parliament, which is closed. No, I’ve ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Climate Town: The Brainwashing Of America's Children
    Climate Town is the YouTube channel of Rollie Williams and a ragtag team of climate communicators, creatives and comedians. They examine climate change in a way that doesn’t make you want to eat a cyanide pill. Get informed about the climate crisis before the weather does it for you. The latest ...
    1 week ago
  • Has There Been External Structural Change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase. Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was similar to the May Budget BEFU, ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • Another Labour bully
    Back in June, we learned that Kiri Allan was a Parliamentary bully. And now there's another one: Labour MP Shanan Halbert: The Labour Party was alerted to concerns about [Halbert's] alleged behaviour a year ago but because staffers wanted to remain anonymous, no formal process was undertaken [...] The ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Climate Change: Ignoring our biggest problem
    Its that time in the election season where the status quo parties are busy accusing each other of having fiscal holes in a desperate effort to appear more "responsible" (but not, you understand, by promising to tax wealth or land to give the government the revenue it needs to do ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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