National’s caucus reshuffle
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- Date published:
7:49 am, December 7th, 2021 - 140 comments
Categories: chris bishop, Christopher Luxon, Judith Collins, national, nicola willis, paul goldsmith, same old national, Shane Reti, Simon Bridges, todd muller -
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The deckchairs have been reshuffled. And Chris Luxon is confident that reorganising the pecking order of a deeply dysfunctional caucus will make all the difference.
The winners are:
- The liberal faction. All three of them have received significant boosts, with Nicola Willis being confirmed at number two, Chris Bishop at four and Erica Stanford leaping 18 places to number seven.
- Simon Bridges who shock horror goes to number three and takes over finance. This was not part of the deal that cemented the leadership for Luxon and saw Bridges withdraw. Nosiree there was no deal, there may have been a mutual exchange of promises which both parties then adhered to but this is not a deal.
- Simeon Brown who somehow jumped ten places and takes over Transport. Surely he has not forsaken camp Judith for personal gain?
- Todd Muller who is back in caucus and is now making noises about staying on.
And the losers are:
- Judith Collins who drops 18 positions and loses her coveted Pacific Peoples role to Dr Shane Reti. Talofa Judith.
- Paora Goldsmith whose comprehension and logic fail at the last election has seen him lose the Education spokesperson role.
- Andrew Bayley whose inability to score any points against Grant Robertson has seen him drop 12 positions.
- Todd McClay whose inability to score any points against anyone has seen him drop 15 positions.
- Michael Woodhouse who loses the shadow leader of the house role and drops 14 places. Clare Curran will be grinning from ear to ear.
I am sure that they will settle down and behave, at least until the new year. And I would not be surprised if their polling goes up.
But there is still a sense that the National caucus is a deeply divided mess of contesting egos and factions with a topping of born to rulism to complete the picture. Making them appear to be semi coherent will take all of Luxon’s abilities.
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- Release: Labour pledges free cervical screeningIf re-elected Labour will make cervical screening services free to all women and people with a cervix aged 25 – 69 years, delivering better cancer care for over 1.4 million New Zealanders. ...2 weeks ago
- Chris Hipkins sets out 9 key pledges to New ZealandLabour Leader Chris Hipkins has set out nine key pledges to be achieved in his first full term as Prime Minister. ...2 weeks ago
- Labour's Plan 2023Labour is running a positive, forward-looking campaign that's focused on fixing the cost of living, keeping people and communities safe and investing in education, health and housing. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Coalition of Cuts and Chaos would be NZ’s most unstable governmentStatements from David Seymour and Winston Peters have called into question whether National would be able to lead a functional government if they were in a position to do so after the election. ...2 weeks ago
- Healthy Ocean Act – Marama Davidson SpeechHe mōhio ō tātou tīpuna ki te tirotiro taiao. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens will demand Minister for Oceans and Fisheries to lead ocean rescue planThe Green Party will protect 30% of the ocean by 2030, create an independent Ocean Commission to advise the government, and put a Green Minister for Oceans and Fisheries in charge of making it happen. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: National's dodgy tax scheme couldn't be done – according to John KeyNational's shaky tax scheme has received a further blow after it’s been revealed that John Key received advice when he was Prime Minister that the scheme being proposed by National couldn’t be done, Labour Finance Spokesperson Grant Robertson says. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: No new funding, no timelines – National’s empty housing policyThe National Party’s housing policy is vacant; with no new funding and no timelines attached to its delivery says Labour Housing Spokesperson Megan Woods. ...2 weeks ago
- Bills lower, climate happier under Green Party planLabour’s announcement of an energy rebate is a step in the right direction, but the Greens’ Clean Power Payment would do much more for households. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Household rebates for energy efficient homes under LabourA re-elected Labour Government will help Kiwi households to be more energy efficient and reduce emissions from household energy use, Labour Spokesperson for Building and Construction and Energy and Resources, Megan Woods, announced today. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour will deliver largest Police service in historyA Labour Government will deliver a further increase of 300 additional frontline Police officers, new ways to crackdown on gangs and strengthen legal protections against stalking and harassment. ...2 weeks ago
- Greens welcome launch of Te Ohu Tāmaki and challenges other parties on housingThe Green Party is welcoming the launch of Te Ohu Tāmaki, and affirms its commitment to clear the social housing waitlist in 5 years - and challenges other parties to say they will do the same. ...2 weeks ago
- National put climate action into reverse gearThe National Party’s plan to install EV chargers while at the same time making it harder for people to buy an EV is bizarre and ridiculous. ...2 weeks 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 ...9 hours ago - Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga HohepaTangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...20 hours ago
- COVID-19 funding returned to GovernmentThe lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...23 hours ago
- Appointment of District Court JudgeSusie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today. Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...1 day ago
- Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilienceThe Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...2 days ago
- Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-upAnother $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...2 days ago
- Taupō Supercars revs up with Government supportThe future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...2 days ago
- There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarterThe economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...2 days ago
- Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springsThe Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today. “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...2 days ago
- More support for victims of migrant exploitationTemporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...3 days ago
- Strong export boost as NZ economy turns cornerAn export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...3 days ago
- Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te KarakaThe Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...3 days ago
- Further business support for cyclone-affected regionsThe Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...3 days ago
- New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underwayDefence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...3 days ago
- Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General AssemblyForeign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...4 days ago
- Midwives’ pay equity offer reachedAround 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...1 week ago
- New Zealand provides support to MoroccoAotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...1 week ago
- Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilienceThe Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today. A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...1 week ago
- Government invests in Greymouth’s futureThe Government has today confirmed a $2 million grant towards the regeneration of Greymouth’s CBD with construction of a new two-level commercial and public facility. “It will include a visitor facility centred around a new library. Additionally, it will include retail outlets on the ground floor, and both outdoor and ...1 week ago
- Nanaia Mahuta to attend PIF Foreign Ministers’ MeetingForeign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Suva, Fiji alongside New Zealand’s regional counterparts. “Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply committed to working with our pacific whanau to strengthen our cooperation, and share ways to combat the challenges facing the Blue Pacific Continent,” ...1 week ago
- PREFU shows no recession, growing economy, more jobs and wages ahead of inflationEconomy to grow 2.6 percent on average over forecast period Treasury not forecasting a recession Inflation to return to the 1-3 percent target band next year Wages set to grow 4.8 percent a year over forecast period Unemployment to peak below the long-term average Fiscal Rules met - Net debt ...2 weeks ago
- New cancer centre opens in ChristchurchPrime Minister Chris Hipkins and Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall proudly opened the Canterbury Cancer Centre in Christchurch today. The new facility is the first of its kind and was built with $6.5 million of funding from the Government’s Infrastructure Reference Group scheme for shovel-ready projects allocated in 2020. ...2 weeks ago
- Government invests in top of the south’s roading resilience$12 million to improve the resilience of roads in the Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman regions Hope Bypass earmarked in draft Government Policy Statement on land transport $127 million invested in the top of the south’s roads since flooding in 2021 and 2022 The Government is investing over $12 million to ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealanders continue to support the revitalisation of te reo as we celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Mā...Ko tēnei te wiki e whakanui ana i tō tātou reo rangatira. Ko te wā tuku reo Māori, e whakanuia tahitia ai te reo ahakoa kei hea ake tēnā me tēnā o tātou, ka tū ā te Rātū te 14 o Mahuru, ā te 12 o ngā hāora i te ahiahi. ...2 weeks ago
- New Wildlife Act to better protect native speciesThe 70-year-old Wildlife Act will be replaced with modern, fit-for-purpose legislation to better protect native species and improve biodiversity, Minister of Conservation Willow-Jean Prime has announced. “New species legislation is urgently needed to address New Zealand’s biodiversity crisis,” Willow-Jean Prime said. “More than 4,000 of our native species are currently ...2 weeks ago
- Further safety initiatives for Auckland City CentreCentral and Local Government are today announcing a range of new measures to tackle low-level crime and anti-social behaviour in the Auckland CBD to complement Police scaling up their presence in the area. “Police have an important role to play in preventing and responding to crime, but there is more ...2 weeks ago
- Govt confirms additional support for Enabling Good LivesThe Government has confirmed $73.7 million over the next four years and a further $40.5m in outyears to continue to transform the disability support system, Minister for Disability Issues Priyanca Radhakrishnan has announced. “The Enabling Good Lives (EGL) approach is a framework which guides positive change for disabled people, ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand gets AAA credit rating from S&PStandard and Poor’s is the latest independent credit rating agency to endorse the Government’s economic management in the face of a deteriorating global economy. S&P affirmed New Zealand’s long term local currency rating at AAA and foreign currency rating at AA+ with a stable outlook. It follows Fitch affirming New ...2 weeks ago
- Appointment of Environment Court JudgeChristchurch barrister Kelvin Reid has been appointed as a Judge of the Environment Court and the District Court, Attorney-General David Parker announced today. Mr Reid has extensive experience in Resource Management Act issues, including water quality throughout the South Island. He was appointed to the Technical Advisory Group advising the ...2 weeks ago
- NZ’s biggest ever emissions reduction project hits milestoneNew Zealand is on track to have greener steel as soon as 2026 with New Zealand Steel’s electric arc furnace project reaching a major milestone today. The Government announced a conditional partnership with New Zealand Steel in May to deliver the country’s largest emissions reduction project to date. Half of ...2 weeks ago
- Poroporoaki: Paki Leslie Māngai NikoraPokia ana te tihi Taiarahia e Hine-Pūkohu-rangi Hotu kau ana te manawa! Horahia ana te whārua o Ruātoki e te kapua pouri Tikaro rawahia ko te whatumanawa! Rere whakamuri kau ana te awa o Hinemataroa Ki te kawe i te rongo ki te mātāpuna i nga pōngaihu Maungapōhatu, tuohu ...2 weeks ago
- 50,000 charges laid in crack down on gangsPolice Minister Ginny Andersen has today congratulated Police in their efforts to crack down on gangs, after laying 50,000 charges against gang members and their associates through the hugely successful Operation Cobalt. As at 31 August, Police have: Laid 50,396 criminal charges against gang members and their associates Issued 64,524 ...2 weeks ago
- Farmers and cyclone-affected properties supported with tax rule changesThe Government has confirmed details of the tax changes to the bright-line test for cyclone-damaged properties, with the release of the required legislative amendments. Revenue Minister Barbara Edmonds has released a Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) to be considered by the Finance and Expenditure Committee in the next Parliament, as it ...2 weeks ago
- New Zealand wins CPTPP dispute against CanadaMinister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O’Connor has welcomed the CPTPP Panel’s ruling in favour of New Zealand in our dispute against Canada, a significant win for our primary sector exporters. The Panel found that Canada’s dairy quota administration is inconsistent with its obligations under the Comprehensive and Progressive ...2 weeks ago
- New intensive turnaround programme launched to break the cycle of offendingThe next phase of the Government’s response to youth crime is underway, with an intensive programme for the country’s most prolific young offenders launched today in Auckland, Minister for Children Kelvin Davis said. The programme, announced by Prime Minister Chris Hipkins in July, will see up to 60 recidivist young ...3 weeks ago
- Government extends report date for COVID inquiryThe Government has agreed to a request from the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 for extra three months to deliver its final report. The Royal Commission was established in 2022 to strengthen New Zealand’s preparedness for any future pandemics. It was originally due to conclude mid-2024. “The Commission has ...3 weeks ago
- Wainuiomata school property upgrade making great progressThe Wainuiomata High School redevelopment is making great progress, with two more classroom blocks set to be complete by the end of the month, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. The Prime Minister visited today to see first-hand the progress of the redevelopment which is continuing at pace and is ...3 weeks ago
- Work in progress for PNG’s medical school – fast-tracked after protest
By Grace Salmang in Port Moresby Reconstruction and renovation work for dormitories, laboratories, mess and tutorial rooms is currently underway at the University of Papua New Guinea’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences. This is following a sit-in protest a week ago by students led by Student’s Representative Council (SRC) ...1 hour ago - RWC2023: Boffelli lifts Pumas to win as Manu Samoa rues lost chancesBy Iliesa Tora, RNZ Pacific sports journalist in Saint-Étienne, France Argentinian winger Emiliano Boffelli scored all his team’s points as they defeated Manu Samoa 19-10 at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Étienne, France, yesterday in a Rugby World Cup pool D match. That gave the Pumas their first win at the ...2 hours ago
- National announces new parent visa category
The new multiple entry parent visa category would be valid for five years and could be renewed for a further five years. ...3 hours ago - Disappointing the past and failing the future
This essay by Emma Ng is from the book Present Tense: Wāhine Toi Aotearoa – A Paper Record, edited by Catherine Griffiths. It’s part of a wider project of posters which aim to ‘record the current landscape of women in design and give visibility to the unsung diversity of Aotearoa design’. ...4 hours ago - Election 2023: All the latest developments on 23 SeptemberThe Labour Party and National Party are both open to reversing a ban on over-the-counter sales of pseudoephedrine, proposed by the ACT Party. ...5 hours ago
- ‘I could not hand my keys over’: Katrina Hobbs on why she loves House Rules NZThe House Rules NZ judge talks Tip Top, The Traitors and why she’ll never watch The Kardashians. Katrina Hobbs might be a judge on House Rules NZ, but there’s little chance she’d leave her home in the hands of complete strangers. “I’ve got to confess, when I first read about ...5 hours ago
- Short story of a Labour candidate
"I’m as born an optimist as Chippy himself": Vincent O'Sullivan imagines a Labour Party candidate, essentially campaigning for themselves with a snowball's chance in hell I was born the week Norman Kirk, that Leviathan of Labour, died. It is obvious Nature intends me to follow in his wake. ...8 hours ago - VOTE2023: Q&A with Ingrid Leary and Ben Peters
In this week's episode of VOTE2023, we talk to Labour MP for Taieri Ingrid Leary and TOP Dunedin candidate Dr Ben Peters on key issues including political representation, climate change, and tax This series is made by politics students and aims to entertain and inform viewers about their potential representatives ...8 hours ago - The Week in Detail: From Tarras airport to the 'wasted vote' myth
Every weekday, The Detail makes sense of the big news stories. This week, a new proposal to burn the South Island's rubbish problem away, the bluster behind parties' fiscal talk, the dispute over the Tarras Airport development, how strategic voting in a general election really works, and tiny Naseby's pitch to become ...8 hours ago - Transom's times come again
One of the country’s top swimmers is to trial for the NZ team for the first time since 2017. This time she could qualify for the Paris Olympics in multiple events. Dave Crampton reports. In February 2020 Laticia Transom was one of New Zealand’s top freestyle swimmers. She would have ...8 hours ago - Animal Justice Party Aotearoa NZ (AJP) Candidates Hit the Campaign Trail Nationwide
Animal Justice Party Aotearoa NZ (AJP) candidates will be on the campaign trail this weekend across the country spreading their message of compassion and advocating for animals across New Zealand. Registered just last month, AJP has swiftly assembled ...8 hours ago - Their house, my garden: My war with the landlordsIn the first instalment of a new column about gardening while renting, a planter box is vetoed, the rent is raised, and the value of dirt is brought into question. Last summer, we barely got one tomato and three beans out of the garden. Everything, weather-wise, went wrong, but mostly ...9 hours ago
- A portrait of Lorde as a teenage pop prodigyA decade ago The Spinoff founder Duncan Greive spent three months shadowing Lorde as she became a star, a period which started with ‘Royals’ as a local chart topper and ended with her as a global pop phenomenon. He was given unparalleled access across dozens of meetings, shows, studio sessions, ...9 hours ago
- A country for old men
Winston Peters plays to his strengths in the Act Party heartland of Remuera, less than 24 hours after calling its local MP his “imitator” In 1996 at the age of 11, a motorised toy car I was driving on stage in a school play inexplicably cut out. No one was coming to ...9 hours ago - Long Read: Make voting sexy again
This is The Detail's Long Read – one in-depth story read by us every weekend. This week, it's a Make Voting Sexy Again, written and read aloud here by Nadine Anne Hura, and published on The Spinoff. Nadine joins The Detail's Alexia Russell to discuss why she felt compelled to write about New Zealand's clutch ...9 hours ago - View from The Hill: We can’t prepare for a future pandemic without fully looking at state governme...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra arly a year ago, a privately financed inquiry, led by Peter Shergold, a former head of the prime minister’s department, undertook an inquiry into Australia’s handling of the COVID pandemic. The report, Fault ...15 hours ago
- NZ election 2023: From ‘pebble in the shoe’ to future power broker – the rise and rise of Te P...ANALYSIS: By Annie Te One, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington In his maiden speech to Parliament in 2020, Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi told his fellow MPs: You know what it feels like to have a pebble in your shoe? That will be my job ...16 hours ago
- Will taxing short stays boost long-term rental supply? Other policies would achieve moreSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Phibbs, Emeritus Professor, University of Sydney The Victorian government, like many governments around the world, has announced new regulations on short-stay accommodation. The government says Victoria has more than 36,000 short-stay places, which are reducing the number of homes available for ...18 hours ago
- Act wants over-the-counter pseudoephedrine back
Act’s released policy platform aimed at senior citizens would also rescind restrictions on a chemical used to make methamphetamine Act leader David Seymour is angling for the senior vote with a new suite of policies aimed at improving healthcare for the elderly and reforming the Retirement Commission. But while he ...19 hours ago - From 'pebble in the shoe' to future power broker – the rise and rise of Te Pāti MāoriIn 2020, Rawiri Waititi told his fellow MPs his job was to be a change agent for Māori. Three years later, how does the party grow its platform and base, Annie Te One asks. ...20 hours ago
- NZ election 2023: Both Labour and National face multimillion dollar ‘climate hole’By Eloise Gibson, RNZ climate change correspondent While attention is focused on economists finding a $500 million-a-year hole in National’s tax plans, a similar-sized hole in climate costings is hiding in plain sight — and it applies to Labour, too. National appears to have the bigger gap, however. The gulf ...20 hours ago
- Planning laws protect people. A poorly regulated rush to boost housing supply will cost us allSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Harris, Senior Research Fellow, Acting Director, CHETRE, UNSW Sydney The housing crisis is firmly on the Australian policy agenda. Governments see a rapid increase in supply as the main solution. The importance of supply is not disputed. But more housing ...21 hours ago
- ‘Remain calm’, Fiji’s Pio tells public over firebombing incident in SuvaBy Meri Radinibaravi in Suva The Fiji government has warned the public “don’t panic” as news of an alleged firebombing incident at Totogo Police Station in the heart of Suva sent shockwaves around the community. The incident yesterday also spurred questions about the safety of citizens in the country as ...21 hours ago
- RWC2023: Manu Samoa motivated for ‘huge game’ against ArgentinaBy Iliesa Tora, RNZ Pacific sports reporter in Saint Étienne, France Manu Samoa have made only three changes to their starting lineup to maintain consistency and ensure game flow against Argentina in a must-win Pool D clash in Saint-Étienne on Saturday morning (NZ time). Head coach Vaovasamanaia Seilala Mapusua has ...21 hours ago
- Planning laws protect people, who’ll pay for an unregulated rush to boost housing supplySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Harris, Senior Research Fellow, Acting Director, CHETRE, UNSW Sydney The housing crisis is firmly on the Australian policy agenda. Governments see a rapid increase in supply as the main solution. The importance of supply is not disputed. But more housing ...22 hours ago
- Feeling controlled by the chaos in your home? 4 ways to rein in clutter and stay tidySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jamal Abarashi, Lecturer, International Business, Strategy and Entrepreneurship Department, Auckland University of Technology Maintaining a tidy home is a never-ending challenge. And tidiness goes beyond aesthetics – it contributes to a person’s mental wellbeing. So what are the best strategies for ...22 hours ago
- Kids dressing up as frail older people is harmless fun, right? No, it’s ageist, whatever Bluey say...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Mitchell, Geriatrician working in clinical practice. PhD Candidate at The University of Melbourne studying ethics and ageism in health care. Affiliate lecturer, Deakin University Shutterstock A child once approached me, hunched over, carrying a vacuum cleaner like a walking ...22 hours ago
- No, the RBA review won’t mean handing the bank’s decisions to part-time outsidersSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Renee McKibbin, Professor of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Misinformation is circulating about recommendations concerning the Reserve Bank board made by the RBA Review, of which I was a member. Among the claims are that the new monetary ...22 hours ago
- Luxon’s visit to Auckland’s Viaduct was the opposite of Judith Collins on Ponsonby RoadIf the Ponsonby Road walkabout was the final nail in the coffin for Judith Collins’ dreams of being prime minister, Christopher Luxon’s afternoon at Auckland’s Viaduct may be the last boost of confidence he needs. The contrast between Collins’ visit to the affluent Auckland suburb on October 7, 2020 and ...22 hours ago
- Dame Jacinda Ardern on her 'very different' life post-politicsDame Jacinda Ardern says she wasn't burned out and could have stayed as PM, but didn't think she could do the job well any more. ...22 hours ago
- Hipkins defends Labour's handling of Halbert concernsLabour leader Chris Hipkins said without a direct complaint or communication from the people affected, the whips could not follow up. ...23 hours ago
- Feeling controlled by the chaos in your home? 4 strategies to rein in clutter and maintain tidiness ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jamal Abarashi, Lecturer, International Business, Strategy and Entrepreneurship Department, Auckland University of Technology Maintaining a tidy home is a never-ending challenge. And tidiness goes beyond aesthetics – it contributes to a person’s mental wellbeing. So what are the best strategies for ...23 hours ago
- Act wants to reverse pseudoephedrine banThe Act Party would reverse the ban on over-the-counter pseudoephedrine as part of a policy to help seniors. It’s been 12 years since products containing pseudoephedrine were reclassified from a class C to B2 controlled drug because of its use in the production of methamphetamine. But Seymour said that the ...23 hours ago
- Week in Politics: Leaders' debate fails to catch fireAnalysis - The leaders' debate Chris Hipkins had to win but didn't, more bad polling news for Labour, and ACT and NZ First reluctantly agree they could work together, writes Peter Wilson. ...23 hours ago
- Newsletter: September 22 2023 – Items of interest and importance todayNew Zealand Politics Daily is a collation of the most prominent issues being discussed in New Zealand. It is edited by Dr Bryce Edwards of The Democracy Project. NZ Politics Daily: 22 September 2023 ELECTION Jack Tame (1News): For Christopher Luxon, the Winston strategy has changed Peter Dunne (Newsroom): Is this the long ...24 hours ago
- Spoilt Policy: Why We Must Keep GST Simple And Free Of Food Carve-outsA new report published by the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union analysing the impacts of taking GST off fresh fruit and vegetables concludes that the policy would be expensive, complicated, poorly targeted and would see most of the benefits going to supermarkets ...24 hours ago
- Review: Baldur’s Gate 3 dramatically levels up the Western RPGOne of the biggest games of the year seeks not to reinvent the wheel, but instead make the best wheel possible, writes Sam Brooks. What’s all this then? Baldur’s Gate 3 is the biggest role-playing game of the year, give or take a Final Fantasy or a Starfield. It is, ...24 hours ago
- 30 years of the web down under: how Australians made the early internet their ownSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kieran Hegarty, Research Fellow (Automated Decision-Making Systems), RMIT University Blacktown City Libraries, CC BY-SA The internet is growing old. While the roots of the internet date back to the 1960s, the popular internet – the one that 99% of Australians ...24 hours ago
- Why is Rupert Murdoch stepping aside now and what does it mean for the company?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dodd, Director of the Centre for Advancing Journalism, The University of Melbourne At age 92, media mogul Rupert Murdoch is stepping down as chairman of Fox Corporation and News Corp but will stay on in the role of chairman emeritus, presumably ...24 hours ago
- The Friday Poem: ‘Basketball’ by Dan GoodwinA new poem by Dan Goodwin. Basketball You will be dead by 30. You will never have close relations with friends or family. You will never have a partner. You should drop out of university. Environments like that can be stressful. Our priority right now is to keep you alive, ...24 hours ago
- The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending September 22The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND 1 The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin (Canongate, $50) We suppose it’s ...24 hours ago
- ACT reveals seniors policy including reversing pseudoephedrine banThe ACT Party wants to bring back over-the-counter pseudoephedrine, make it easier to get some other drugs, and make changes to the Retirement Commission. ...24 hours ago
- Clean-up begins in Queenstown, road closures remain in SouthlandThe clean-up is beginning in Queenstown, with mayor Glyn Lewers telling RNZ the town is beginning to clear debris flows and geotechnical engineers are assessing hills in the area. The rain is easing off, he says. Southland MP Joseph Mooney said late this morning that Queenstown town centre was open ...1 day ago
- Kids dressing up as older people is harmless fun, right? No, it’s ageist, whatever Bluey saysSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Mitchell, Geriatrician working in clinical practice. PhD Candidate at The University of Melbourne studying ethics and ageism in health care. Affiliate lecturer, Deakin University Shutterstock A child once approached me, hunched over, carrying a vacuum cleaner like a walking ...1 day ago
- New Zealand Election Debate Points To Bipartisan Agenda Of Austerity And WarBy Tom Peters, Socialist Equality Group 21 September 2023 Original url https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/09/21/hexy-s21.html The first televised debate of the New Zealand election campaign, between incumbent Labour Party Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and opposition National Party leader Christopher ...1 day ago
- Nordic Plastics Report: The Planet Needs Higher Ambition – Greenpeace AotearoaA report from the Nordic Council of Ministers on recommendations to address plastic production doesn’t go far enough, according to Greenpeace Aotearoa. The Nordic Council of Ministers published a report to provide modeling of 15 policy interventions ...1 day ago
- National’s Policies Focus On Growing The EconomyNational’s ‘Rebuilding the economy’ plan is well-focused on key economic issues, containing several policies recommended by BusinessNZ, says BusinessNZ Advocacy Director Catherine Beard. Policy directions such as returning to a single inflation mandate ...1 day ago
- Carbon removal: why ambitious ‘no nonsense’ plans are vital to limit global heating to 2℃Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christian Turney, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Research, University of Technology Sydney 2023 is proving to be a year of climate and weather extremes. Record-busting global air and ocean temperatures, unprecedented low levels of Antarctic sea ice, and devastating fires and floods have been ...1 day ago
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Luxon showed empathy towards Collin's placing her at no 19.
Will Collin's go up the ranking order?
Will Muller change his mind and stay?
Careful, the pc police may have a go at you for inserting that apostrophe twice into her name. They're always dead keen to target subtle insinuations, particularly when used against women. I realise you probably did not intend to slight her but they may not.
So much for the 'Great Reset' where bygones are bygones.
Shes been punished along with her acolytes by been given nonsense portfolios.
By some 'delicious coincidence' the same portfolios as he a newby MP was given by Collins. She is of course been an MP since 2002 and a Minister
Exactly. I think it is a possessive apostrophe, rudely implying excessive greed.
Was it incorrect spelling to use an apostrophe?
I thought an apostrophe was used when it belongs to the person. E.g. Treetop's pencil
Collins' name already has an 's' at the end.
To make the possessive about the pencil you can either, in my view,
say ‘This is Mrs Collins's pencil’ or ‘This is Mrs Collins' pencil’. I am not sure whether, when speaking, we, in NZ, pronounce the doubled up 's' or not. The link below has different ways of doing this depending on the spoken version.
https://www.lexico.com/grammar/apostrophe
Thank you for this I will copy it out for my future use. If in doubt I will not use an apostrophe.
Cheers Treetop. When in doubt don't use an apostrophe and be very careful when suddenly you feel compelled to use an apostrophe to make a plural. You can still use an apostrophe to signal a contraction ie where you have left out a letter eg ‘don’t, can’t, won’t’ for ‘do not, cannot, will not’. I try, if confronted with a desire to add an apostrophe in dubious circumstances, to think of it as a signal to reword the sentence.
eg the plural of a yacht is not yacht's but yachts
I once saw a large ad outside a liquor store for 'Beers, liqueur's, spirits including a large range of whiskey's'. A 'rule' of some sort for making plurals was being followed by someone.
Look up the grocer's apostrophe. Lynne Truss wrote a couple of light hearted books on punctuation and grammar 'Eats, shoots and leaves' and 'Talk to the hand'.
Her surname is Collins.
You haven’t used her surname in a way that requires a possesive apostrophe.
If you’d said something about Collins’ placement at No. 19, that would require a possessive apostrophe, but it would go after the ‘s’ because her surname is Collins, not Collin.
I was not aware of the term possessive apostrophe until I saw it here yesterday as I have always used belongs to. I will copy this out for my future use.
Good on you, Treetop.
English is my native language & I like to see it used properly, just like I try to use te reo Māori properly & am grateful when someone with much better knowledge of it than my very, very limited ability points out that I have erred & tells me the correct way to say or write what I was attempting to say.
Although English is a complicated, muddlesome language, because it has a huge vocabulary borrowed from multiple sources including other languages, and it has many grammatical rules (some of which are prissy & can be ignored), it’s extremely adaptable & it’s possible to communicate reasonably clearly using very basic words & very simple syntax.
She's no.19 due to being as unwanted as covid 19
must have been quite difficult for him to find new 'talent' to promote.
recycle mps, fairly easy
Logically, deadwood would float to the surface, no?
Well, considering my (tongue in cheek) predictions of yesterday, I scored some hits.
Simeon did get some long pants,
Barbara didn't get animal welfare but she did get agriculture so she can still call for the abuse of animals for profit,
Mark the mercenary got police which is as good as calling for them to all drive humvees and pack glocks,
Stuart Smith didn't get Climate Denial, but his clone did.
But I am disappointed that Maureen didn't feature in the top 20. Being, to quote a Natz No. 3 politician, 'fucking useless,' surely she qualifies for a higher ranking?
I should have added a qualifier for Simeon: if his long trousers fit him.
At least his message will be simple enough for him to grasp: build more RONS, build more RONS, build . . .
Michael Wood must be grinning from ear to ear.
Michael Wood's performance is measured by the Sanitarium stool size criteria:
solid, regular, and unsurprising.
Graham Adams:
So the ole media/leftist conspiracy theory gets another rerun. Sceptics will need to point out that three media reps using the same attack line on the same day is just a coincidence, as usual. Important to be robotic consistently.
I agree with Tony that it's unfair to discriminate against Maureen when other fucking useless contenders got ranked, such as the woodlouse…
So that is the left wing media elite!
Unbelievable ,here's me thinking the media is dominated by pro right wing shills like-Hosking,McIvor,Russell,O'Sullivan,Trevett,Young,Du Plessis,Mora,…..etc,etc…
Those right wing elite press are not a problem though, they will ask Chris patsy flattering questions which enhance qualities and direction of travel akshually.
Classing Ryan Bridge as left wing made me smile. He, his predecessor Duncan Garner, (& the AM Show in general) always seemed to me to favour the right & National more than Labour & the Greens.
I saw a few of his interviews with Collins where he gave her an easy ride & even then she managed to make herself look stupid by burbling some kind of nonsense.
I’m not really a fan of breakfast tv shows. Can’t stand John Campbell’s unctuous wokeness. If forced to choose, I’d rather watch 10 mins of the AM show, where they occssionally feature Labour & National guests together, than tv1’s Breakfast, but these days I rarely watch either.
Lisa Owen’s such a constant interrupter I gave up listening to her on Checkpoint. She was just as bad on Newshub’s The Nation.
Bridge has vehemently defended luxon on a couple of things this week, house ownership, and his lack of caucus diversity, which I'd be ok with but I'm yet to witness him defend Ardern on anything, ever, and for my sins I watch most mornings.
Well, then, I rest my case, waggers. 😎
It's not based on his beliefs/opinions. It's based on his actual votes in Parliament.
The only guide voters have to an MP's real views is how s/he votes when it is not a party vote. Luxon does not want to discuss or defend the votes he cast. That is an entirely legitimate area of inquiry.
In case we've forgotten … Abortion reform happened because Ardern put it on the agenda in 2017, when she was leader of the opposition. This is when it happened:
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/election/2017/09/ardern-abortion-shouldn-t-be-in-the-crimes-act.html
The contrast between the 2 leaders is stark. One stood up, the other runs away.
And I've now read Adams' feeble piece and he does not even mention Luxon's votes on abortion. The most relevant fact in the debate … and he avoids it. Pathetic.
" Especially when — as he rightly pointed out — it isn’t a live political issue."
Not correct, there is currently Abortion related legislation before the house.
Luxon is recorded as a NO, to the legislation proceeeding
hes just wanting to avoid questions he doesnt like. Hes going to get a lot of that.
Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion (Safe Areas) Amendment Bill — First Reading
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20210310_20210310_40
“Christopher Luxon says he will vote to create safe zones outside abortion clinics, after opposing the initial reading of the bill.
Luxon voted against the bill at first reading along with 14 other socially conservative MPs.
But he said the changes made to the bill at select committee – which have now allowed the Attorney General to say it does not breach the Bill of Rights Act – have convinced him the bill is worth supporting.”
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300467250/christopher-luxon-says-he-will-vote-for-safe-zones-outside-abortion-clinics-at-second-reading
Deft footwork?
Really ?
How come Mallard had to make of point of asking for an MP opposed to the Bill to make a contribution as it was all very one sided.
Even Barbara Kuriger made a very good point for those 'concerned' about the right to protest.
'BARBARA KURIGER (National—Taranaki – King Country): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am a proponent of free speech and freedom of speech, but I support this bill, because I draw the line at targeted protest against individuals. You know, would anyone get away with this sort of behaviour anywhere else, targeting individual people? There is a place for protests at Parliament. ….
Luxon never made a peep about his problems with the bill and how it could be fixed. Not in any of the debates.
Sounds to me like John Key is his Richelieu
How come Mallard had to make of point of asking for an MP opposed to the Bill to make a contribution as it was all very one sided.
Dunno. Haven’t been following this issue in Parliament. Other more pressing priorities on the domestic front.
Luxon’s certainly looking to me like Sir John Key’s glove puppet. I get the distinct impression Key is driving him in the background, advising him what to say & do.
I suspect Key has been worried that the Nats are falling apart & have lost their way. That could see them out of power for too long for his liking. He’ll be looking for opportunities for the top end of town ( his end) to benefit that a Labour govt probably won’t give them.
Judith is "passionate" about "innovation", the "team" is "engaged", those with an "outstanding work ethic" have been "recognised", the mood is "positive" and people have been selected for their "competence".
This is buffoonery, a sludge of corporate waffle. Our trivial media ingest and recycle it, speculating on who's up and who's down, and why. The public discussion of politics is a soap opera that excludes the core of politics – ideology and intent.
Why don't we get the really important question answered.
Can they serve up a scoop of chips?
Is that what you want with your…flounder?
My guess is that the chips are to go with the corporate waffles. I'd add mussels for a true Brussels treat.
Luxton says he worked at McDonalds… Linkedin time line suggests final year of high school or 1st year university
I suspect alwyn was having a crack at the PM who worked once in a fish and chip shop. Great places to work are shops where you can meet all of humanity. My dad was a grocer and I met the customers and then sometimes got dad's evaluation of them later…. I learned about poverty, about people, about economics. I learned to count accurately, give proper change, be civil and polite, to listen and to serve, and to be generous.
Great training for public life.
Holiday job for students.
Collins made a big deal of her time at Farmers Shoe dept.
Luxon was at McDonalds
I worked in a flour processing plant and another holiday job was workshop that made farm pumps ( back when we did such things, including a foundry)
Yes he invented the Happy Clapper Meal at …maccas.
Good points “going forward” there AB. The language and framing is so important in political debate and the media generally get away with it.
Initial reaction around Baldrick was questioning–the black Merc, 7 gaffs and all–but the rose water and hot towels that John Phillip Key was accustomed to appear to be on offer again.
Tru dat.
A lot of media reporting on politics these fits most neatly into the Entertainment or Lifstyle media categories & is bereft of serious policy or political performance analysis.
Some of it is just churnalism; dross hastily cobbled together to get something online in a hurry before the competitor paper or another churnalist does.
1 ewes at 6 is notorious for the shortness of its video clips. They might show 3-5 seconds of a politician saying something in an interview that was 10 minutes or longer.
Interesting that Nicola Willis has the same sort of 'communications' quals as Jacinda Ardern. ….a BA in English and a Dip Journalism, but she went to work as a party cadre for Bill English ( alongside Chris Bishop and David Farrar)
There is apparently a photo in the parliament Media rooms of the 'gallery journalists' around 1981 and the only woman in the picture was Nicolas mother( Shona Valentine) and she was pregnant with her at the time
I wonder if that is another connection to the right wing journo Mike Valentine ?
The one to watch is her deep background with Fonterra.
Fonterra and MPI are our government within government.
Didn't help Todd Muller too much.
Her relationship is deeper and longer. Goes back to her relationships inside MoRST, then MBIE, then to her time in Key's office.
What ? She worked for the National party in various positions including being literally a spin doctor for Key.
Then a shift to Fonterra where she was hired by Todd Muller to work in the government 'relations' division he heading and when he left there was a bit of detour to the head spin doctor in Fonterras effluent management section. ( all spin , all the time)
Then the week Key resigned she quit and headed back to Wellington to secure a list position.
Never worked for a government department, as she says on Linkedin.
Luxon is smart to hammer the message of "moderation" and staying above the fray.
Ardern is highly vulnerable to charges of a gaping divide between Ardern's professed 'conservative' view of policy action versus the exceptionally strong set of social and economic interventions that Labour and Ardern have put on us all.
"Moderation" is National's response to that chasm of ideology v reality.
If Labour continues its likely polling fall into the mid-30s, and Luxon pushes a polling rise into the mid-30s, then we get National and Labour back to neck and neck …
… at which point the scale of Ardern's complacency (outside of COVID) finally gets revealed to mean we really have an alternative government on our hands.
'Moderation' is National's retort to everything Labour has done, ever.
Not true.
So you think Luxon will have the self control to be "above the fray"
Have a look at the picture in Cooke's write up in Stuff on Question time.
Someone able to put that photo up will see absolute hatred and frustration…on day one.
You have said two or three times the PM is complacent…how? when?
Now, now. Ad knows everything, and is never wrong. sigh…
Gosh it's almost as if we are in a once-in-a-century pandemic.
If this govt had introduced a UBI or suchlike you might have grounds for a whinge. But they didn't. Just poured money into housing 'investors' and gave laid-off workers twice the unemployment benefit so the middle class would not realise how low it really is.
"Ardern is highly vulnerable to charges of …"
…just general incompetence.
The issue for Labour remains the amount of heavy lifting being done by a small number of competent ministers. Eventually that takes it's toll.
Quite true. Robbo and Chris have earnt my respect. Their problem is now the same as when I saw a just elected Judith Collins walk down the hall with her MPs behind her. They all looked hackneyed and stale. In fact they looked like the cleaning staff.
Labour MPs now face the same fate. Robbo has piled on the beef. Chris is becoming more defensive as he burns out. And Poto Williams and Kris Faafoi will be punch bag practice for a new invigorated (??) National Party.
Grant Robertson and Chris Hipkins look "hackneyed and stale"?
Pffffffffttttt!
Your transparent attempts to erode supporter's confidence in the Government are as transparent as a bead of sweat on a bald-man's head.
'Your transparent attempts to erode supporter's confidence in the Government are as transparent as a bead of sweat on a bald-man's head.'
You impute motives to me that are laughable. Why would I waste time trying to erode supporters confidence in Labour when Labour are doing a good job by themselves?
That Grant and Chris are looking tired and frazzled and Poto and Kris are a waste of space is my personal perception – right or wrong.
However, I may be misguided . If anyone believes I have eroded their confidence in Labour, please speak up, or forever hold your peace.
"Why would I waste time trying to erode supporters confidence in Labour…"
Coz…you love doing it?
The people burning out are the voters.
Voter burnout is simply that we are sick of hearing and seeing them on tv and radio and Twitter. They try and mix it up, to little effect.
Labour's crash in the polls is caused by political over-exposure.
Easily fixed.
Maybe, but do they know that? And how will they fix it if Luxon & co start getting equal press time?
Why should "Luxon & co" get equal press time?
They lost. Labour/Green won.
Eat that 🙂
Luxon should be able to sustain a honeymoon with political reporters until Parliament comes back again in February 2022:
National 32-36% rising, against Labour range of 36% – 42% falling.
Its gonna be very interesting, Act's numbers may hold up pretty well if Luxon stays in the centre and focuses his attention on getting some of the soft Labour vote back.
There is the chance that the Nat shit show over the last few years will result in the right being far better placed in an Mmp environment. So long as Act dont drop their bundle they could easily become a permanent 10%ish party like the Greens
Dunno why you think I should “eat that”? Bizarre comment.
I’m not particularly fussed that Labour won this election & not National. I’m not politically tribal. Didn’t expect National to win.
As to why should National get equal time, that’s not up to me. It’s just going to be interesting to see whether a possibly bored media gives Luxon & National a lot more positive (or at least less negative) coverage. For something to fill in their time & their space.
It was clearly a reference to Michael Cullen's famous parliamentary taunt to National: "We won, you lost. Eat that!"
You had no knowledge of that?
Guyton’s not Cullen. And Labour winning, not National, is just a fact of history that has no particular import for me. Last time I voted I voted Labour candidate, Māori Party for Party. Not worth debating mindless drivel like “eat that” any further, In Vino. Over & out.
remind me why I should keep reminding you about typos in your name/email? Grumpy mod here, regulars are especially pissing me off when I have to keep repeating myself ad nauseum. The onus is on you to check each time, rather than expecting me to.
Sorry weka. Not always blazingly evident there’s an error in the email addy or the username on the iPad. Small screen. Small text. Cursor sometimes just jumps into a field without my seeing it. Will try to be more careful about checking in future.
To post on me iPad I have to turn off JavaScript & keep re-entering name & email addy for every comment.
Guyton’s not Cullen. And Labour winning, not National, is just a fact of history that has no particular import for me. Last time I voted I voted Labour candidate, Māori Party for Party. Not worth debating mindless drivel like “eat that” any further, In Vino. Over & out.
Sorry, but you don't get to tell other people what is mindless drivel (just because you say so?) or what they may debate. Express your opinions as your own, not as a papal edict..
Express your opinions as your own, not as a papal edict.
🙄 I did. Where have I ever claimed to be The Pope, FFS?
Do you add “in my opinion” to every comment you post that isn’t quoting someone else or something in a link?
Have a good evening, In Vino. 👋🏼
Please don't bring the subject up. Sir Michael himself was very embarrassed about the subject and tried to rewrite history to claim that he had never said it.
"On "We won, you lost, eat that!" No, he says, he never said that to National. "It's a wonderful piece of historic myth."
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/2329749/Regrets-I-ve-had-a-few-Michael-Cullen-reflects
Unfortunately he did. He was like that of course. He also claimed that his bitter complaint that Key was a "Rich Prick" was only because Key was supposed to have said something about Cullen's wife, When asked what it was Cullen refused to answer and claimed that it didn't matter what Key had said. In other words he didn't have any way of justifying his story. This is in the same interview.
Thats because 14 years later he has misremembered the actual circumstances of something said in Aug 2000
Fair comment, Robert. However, should National win the next election and I catch you bleating about press time…
BTW, should National win the next election, they will be in power for a very, very long time. It will feel like you are in an endless food forest with Tories all over the place picnicking. You will be considered the hired help in your own turangawaewae.
I've never, and will never, discuss press time.
It's not a thing for me.
Tories are very welcome in my forest garden; in fact, I have hosted many Tories over the past few years. They're delightful people; smart, inquisitive, appreciative of cutting-edge thinking. And yes, they did pay me for my services (bleating on about the garden) so hired-help I was, and proud of it!
That's a better post.
Post?
two short planks
Not the voters' problem.
Will certainly be National's if exhaustion is observed.
Labour ministers outside of COVID seem more preposessed by MakeWork projects of their own devising.
It's not as if they have a major legislative agenda to get tired about.
Any evidence of that ?
heard of the Resource Management rewrite.
Crown Pasture Land Reform Bill
Civil Aviation Bill-This bill repeals and replaces the Civil Aviation Act 1990 and the Airport Authorities Act 1966 with a single, modern statute that will provide a platform for safety, security, and economic regulation of civil aviation
Then there is the work to create more modern structure for Polytechs and DHBs that hopefully will provide better outcomes for all NZ and end the post code lottery of medical or education based on where you live
I havent even touched on the proposed Social Insurance system
Let's start with the Order Paper today.
The RMA Housing Supply Bill you mention has National support. There are two other bills which exist as bare working drafts.
f70583a224ac4876becdda62d30855be87f8e3ab (www.parliament.nz)
Next is Births Deaths Marriages and Relationships. 3 years and counting.
Next is 3 more bills that aren't going anywhere.
Hard to see them getting to Hipkins' Education and Training Amendment Bill before March. Who knows.
Then about 7 pretty weak and meaningless bits of legislation in Committee Stage, pretty lucky to see them in March.
Still no sign of our Carbon Zero budget or plan that we were statutorily supposed to have by now.
No major new projects announced for construction, not even a new highway stretch finished, no international initiatives of any note, we had another 'plan' about family violence announced today but of course no funding to go with it.
But last week we had an initiative regulating toilets on camper vans.
The Prime Minister has no clothes.
Yes so incompetent we have some of the best results in the world. It has been hard to deal with a pandemic and keep everything else going with little thanks and a great deal of ugly behaviour. We are tired, so are they.
Our 'best results in the world' are due to the governments sledgehammer approach, which will have huge costs in the future (including potentially higher longer term mortality). When combined with the increasingly exposed incompetence of rolling out the various supports, and the woeful preparation for Delta (https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/11/covid-19-sir-brian-roche-s-searing-review-of-government-s-handling-of-delta-outbreak.html) we will be paying dearly for decisions made for many years to come.
Judith Collins hasn't turned up for caucus.
Interesting. You know this how?
I track her GPS, stalk her every move.
No, it was on the journos' twitter.
She's shapeshifted into Nicola Willis' body.
Cheers. Wonder if this will develop into something more or it’s just a bit of gossip & she’s gone to the dentist or something.
I see the children have arrived.
Judith Collins hasn't arrived for caucus (not yer average caucus) but probably at the dentist…or something…
Appears to be the “something”.
.https://thestandard.org.nz/nationals-caucus-reshuffle/#comment-1840365
Judith Collins is currently moving house. It was in the Herald yesterday.
Where . No sign of it then nor now with a search
Have they turfed her out of St Heliers?
Wow! That is a wild opening salvo for Mr Luxon. Maybe Jacinda will fear to front up?
He's going in low!
Just the stock standard opening question to enable a raft of questions that don’t have to be specific & give PM or Ministers time to get their flunkies to prepare detailed replies.
I’ve diarised QT today in my phone with an alert beforehand & will watch. Should be interesting. None of his predecessors were impressive at thinking on their feet & adapting their supplementaries to the answers given.
Wondef if he’ll be any better? I’m not expecting that he will be, but…we’ll see. 😎
When has Ms Ardern actually answered a question in the House Gezza?
I can only remember her stringing together a lot of meaningless words or saying odd things that have nothing whatsoever to do with the question that was posed.
The Speaker then struggles out of his after lunch snooze and tells us that the question was "addressed".
She answers lots of questions, alwyn, as she is now with Q4 supplementaries.
Granted she is often very voluble & one has to strain to hear the relevance to a particular supplementary question that has just been asked – but Sir John Key was equally – & sometimes even more – evasive in some of his answers to supplementaries from Labour Opposition MPs.
And Speaker Carter was just as bad at ruling that the question had been “addressed” by Key when an ordinary member of the viewing public was likely scratching their head over exactly HOW?
Some of the Speakers’s Rulings used as precedents seem to enable Ministers to avoid directly answering a supplementary question if the questionner has framed their question in such a way that it can be answered indirectly within Speakers’ Rulings rules.
That is the old "But they did it too defense" of course.
Oh for a competent Speaker like Lockwood Smith. Instead we have gone back to someone who competes for incompetence with Margaret Wilson. They both make Carter look pretty good by comparison.
Yep, oh for another Lockwood-Smith. Best Speaker ever in my time listening to/watching Parliament. For that job to truly be done impartially at all times – it really requires someone completely independent – preferably not even an MP. Maybe a judge or a senior lawyer or a Parliamentary appointee like the Ombudsperson.
Though then no doubt there’d be squabbles over who gets on the selection list.
Never going to happen, of course. All the parties probably see advantages in having their own MP as Speaker when they get to hold the Treasury Benches.
I do think that Mallard’s the worst, most cantankerous, & most obviously-biased Speaker that I’ve seen so far. But they’ve nearly all been guilty of clear bias & at times blatantly unfair rulings.
Lockwood-Smith somehow managed to famously rise above that & be pretty even-handed and fair to both sides, imo.
Mallard has been well known for his push backs on labour ministers, when they dont answer questions and other misdemours
Aww. Come off the grass, soldier.
He does that when the Ministers’ “offending” is so blatant anybody watching can see they’ve tried it on & not given a proper answer. Most of the times I’ve seen him do it, it’s followed a complaint to him by the MP who’s been sinned against. If they hadn’t raised it sometimes he’d have just let it go.
Mallard's style and methods can't be discerned by the blunt viewer; despite his reputation for thuggery, Mallard applies his rulings with finesse and humour. Most of the Nat MP's are too dull to see it; some do, and their wry smiles at rulings against their dippiest colleagues give them away.
Mallard’s definitely got a sense of humour & I often have a larf along with others including both sides of the House when he demonstrates it at its best, but that doesn’t cancel out his fits of pique & bad temper, nor his biased approach. He spent an extraordinary amount of time and effort defending & protecting the PM in her 1st 3 years of the job.
She doesn’t require his help now.
No. Mallard's very good. His occasional grumpiness is entirely valid and his quelling of upwellings of idiocy coming from the Opposition benches, including Seymour et al. included, is elegant to watch.
Well, yes, but you would say that because you’re a very tribal lefty, Robert.
This opposition appears no more unruly to me than previous oppositions. In fact, given what the job of MPs is, what they are supposed to be there for, the stunts, drivel & theatrics of the chamber amount to a huge waste of taxpayer funds really.
I haven’t spent any time watching how other similar democracies’ parliaments operate but ours seems to spend a lot of time clowning around & going thru the motions rather than getting down to actual business in a businesslike manner.
Maybe it’s because the hours are so punishing they have to let off steam or something, & it’s just become accepted there’ll be a certain amount of time-wasting & petty point scoring.
The "wry smile" as you put it is because the Speaker claims absolute privilege to do anything he wants to. Suggest that he might be sensible to reconsider and you will be gone for the day.
No Mallard is the epitome of the school bully. It is long time he was out of the House.;
He's even-handed and fair-minded, is Mallard.
Plus, he cuddles babies while sitting in the Speaker's seat; that's good-heartedness for you!
Trevor's a treasure!
If the children weren't potty trained he might end up like a Treasure for sure.
On the other hand if he is a Treasure he might be gone from Parliament fairly shortly.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/parenting/121963349/treasures-nappies-shutting-down-cant-compete-with-imports
Lockwood was a goose.
Some were taken in by his goofy grin.
the worst, most cantankerous, & most obviously-biased Speaker that I’ve seen so far
Carter – no contest.
No. There is a contest, & Mallard – the Parliamentary punch up boy, the persistent former breaker of Speakers’ Rulings, the fox in charge of the henhouse – wins by country mile.
Not even close – Carter was so biased and useless even Hoskings and the Devil were taking notes.
Indeed. Mallard has to deal with the scruffiest, worst-disciplined National Opposition ever, and does it very competently. He has a sense of humour that the humourless can't detect.
Carter.
Of the last couple of decades Margaret Wilson would be the poorest i can recall.
Actually, I might just change my rating and put Mallard on a par with Carter.
Robert’s reminded me that Mallard at least demonstrates quite a fine wit at times & I’ve seen him use this levity to lower the temperature all round when the atmosphere’s got quite toxic over one of his questionable rulings.
He’s also not averse to a bit of self-criticism, & self-deprecating humour, & at times he’s even walked back a blatantly unfair ruling. Something, although he also displayed occasional flashes of humour, that I NEVER saw Carter do.
I didn’t used to watch or listen to Parliament when Wilson was Speaker, but I haven’t heard or seen anyone argue that she was consistently either a fair one or a good one. More commonly I hear she was a badly-biased Speaker.
Ah, David Carter.
Another comparison? Jacinda Ardern calls Simon Bridges a muppet. What! No of course she didn't – not even close, not ever.
But lovable old uncle JK … no problem!
Rt Hon JOHN KEY : As everyone will know, the oversight of the GCSB under the proposed legislation is a lot stronger than what was put in place under a Labour Government. We all know that the reason the Leader of the Opposition is not supporting the legislation is that he is having his string pulled by the muppet that is sitting next to him—
Mr SPEAKER : Order! That was quite a sufficient answer. [Interruption ] Order!
Hon David Parker : I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. It is not becoming of the Prime Minister, in respect of this serious issue, to describe members of the Opposition as muppets. I would expect you, in the Chair, to protect the decorum of this place by calling the Prime Minister to order.
Mr SPEAKER : Order! The member might want to have a look at the proceedings later on today to see that I immediately did call the Prime Minister to order. I thought that was quite sufficient. I am certainly not about to rule the word “muppet” out of order.
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/50HansD_20130806/volume-692-week-50-tuesday-6-august-2013
Like I said, there's heaps more of this garbage, I'm not going to link to 8 years of Hansard. But anyone who says today is "Worst Speaker/PM protection Ever" needs to start reading it.
Go and check out what Mallard let Peters get away with.
Ardern does not stoop so low as Key herself. Nevertheless her lieutenants get a few barbs in & other Labour MPs throw in rude interjections as well.
If one wants to crawl thru Hansard for the last four years one will find plenty of examples of Mallard letting Ministers & Labour MPs off lightly. The Righties will happily do that for you, but I’m not goung to spend the time on it.
I used to watch most Question Times but frankly it’s got so boring now I rarely do these days, unless there’s something important or contentious happening. In this case, Today, it was the new opposition leader & his spokespeople on show, so … worth a look.
But not a very exciting or uplifting experience. They had nothing, & scored no hits at all on the govt. Very mundane. At best. Imo.
That comment from Alwyn is hilariously bad timing. Did you not see what just happened?
Luxon prepared for those questions? I don't believe it.
It's all exaggeration, what you allege, Alwyn.
How about pointing us to a case where she has not answered the question? Hansard would be a starter.
I listened today. Prime Minister answered the questions. The first I heard, Q3 I believe, from the Leader of the Opposition was answered with a list of achievements of her government and ministers including low unemployment, thriving economy, low covid rates and deaths, etc. The first two supplementaries were rejected by the PM as she disagreed with the premise of the question.
Luxon was nervous and fluffed twice finding and asking a question. That's OK. He tried to find fault with ICU provision and the PM answered that with the need first to be training 5 nurses per ICU bed had to be met and then that 200 beds plus capacity had been provided to care for a surge; but, the government's strategy was different to an Australian example that Luxon introduced in that the aim was to avoid a surge that would overwhelm hospital ICU beds and lead to many deaths as a sure consequence of overwhelming the ICUs with sheer numbers.
That I think is a fair summation of the argument from memory and is also a fair example of questions well answered.
Yes. That is indeed a fair summation & I agree with it. Altho there have been some times when she’s disagreed with the premise of the question because it’s convenient & answering it would require an admission of failure. Mind you, all parties take refuge in that device when they’re holding the Treasury Benches, to be fair.
From what I saw of QT today, neither Luxton nor any of his lieutenants scored any real hits on the govt. The Qs were all batted away rather effortlessly by those they were directed to
🙄 * Luxon
It was question 4 actually. Her answer to the primary question is perfectly fair, given the nature of the question. However she made no attempt to answer the first supplementary It was "Why did her Government spend more than $50 billion from its COVID fund before announcing any funding for extra ICU beds?"
All she said that had anything to do with the question was "Well, I reject that question". She then rabbited on about how many nurses you need and so on which is irrelevant to the question.
She could have said something like "We didn't We first spent money to prepare for the beds by …." but she didn't. She simply didn't even try and answer what was asked. She was just as bad with the other supplementaries. She simply regurgitated the same spiel without actually making any attempt to answer what was asked. Trevor let her get away with it of course.
If you are going to reject a question you should have to explain why the question is misstating the situation. She doesn't do that. She just says I'm not going to answer.
Try reading it again. It is Q4 at this link
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20211207_20211207_16
You want Hansard? Cool.
I just picked one page at random. It could be hundreds of others from John Key's time. Examples …
Hon Phil Goff: Will he then take responsibility for the fact that a large part of that deficit was because this economy has not performed under his management over the last 6 months, as Treasury says?
Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I am glad we are coming into the Christmas period, because maybe Phil Goff can take a holiday …
…
Hon Phil Goff: Can the Prime Minister tell the House how successful gimmicks like a cycleway and the Job Summit have been in reducing the unemployment and welfare rolls and as a way of contributing to creating new jobs and cutting expenditure?
Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Very. Although I am prepared to accept that things are not going brilliantly for the New Zealand economy, all I can say is they are going better than they are for the Labour Party.
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/49HansD_20101214_00000012/questions-for-oral-answer-questions-to-ministers-questions
That was Key's stock response, for 8 years. The questions barely mattered. It was all Punch n' Judy to him. If Ardern ever behaves like that, let us know. But you can't, because there is no comparison at all.
As I suggested above yours is the "It's OK because they did it"
The question isn't what Key, who left the PM's job 5 years ago, did in about 2009, but what Ms Ardern does now. So you didn't like Key. Well get over it. John Key has left the building. Meanwhile Ardern doesn't answer questions.
Alwyn, I say Alwyn…Key may have left the building but he is still an organ grinder with his…monkey dancing…in Parliament.
"She could have said something like "We didn't We first spent money to prepare for the beds by …." but she didn't."
Funnily, I understood that was what she meant.
"She just says I'm not going to answer.". No she said I reject the premise of that question. The question was loaded on a false premise. She didn't have to explain it. The political point that Luxon was attempting to make was obvious. If he felt he was hard done by, he could have pressed harder, but he knew what he was doing.
Seymour asked an imprecise question and paid the price for the little dig at the end by giving the PM an easy answer.
The two questions from the Māori Party were answered carefully due to their being genuine questions, not attempted point-scoring 'gotchas'.
Tomorrow, more question time and then the general debate. BTW, she does answer the questions, though not to your liking. To say she does not answer the questions at all is just a blanket 'blah', and not really worth debating, being gross exaggeration, rather like some questions we heard today.
For example, "Christopher Luxon: Does she agree the failure to increase ICU beds during a pandemic is quite simply another illustration of her Government's ongoing failure to deliver and to actually get things done?"
She had already answered that charge in her answer to the primary question. "Yes; in particular, I stand by this Government's ongoing successful response to the COVID-19 pandemic that for the past two years has seen New Zealand have the lowest cumulative number of cases, hospitalisations, and deaths per capita in the OECD, and now we can add extraordinarily high vaccination rates as well. At the same time, our economy has continued to perform with record levels of unemployment, high economic growth, and some of the longest stretches without restrictions of any comparable country. "
Wasn't that the last question Judith Collins asked ? Maybe Chris got the pages out of order ?
Monday: exciting new line-up announced!
Tuesday: same old disagreements announced … it took 24 hours for the deal to hit the rocks.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/chris-luxon-wont-listen-to-grant-robertson-economy-lecture/3GRHZEY6HH54T3P7YRQPRAD2Q4/
Luxon gave some cautious backing to Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr after Bridges was sharply critical of him in a recent podcast.
Bridges told The Working Group podcast that he did not want to see Orr reappointed. … But Luxon distanced himself from this position on Tuesday.
"That's not our position," Luxon said. Luxon earlier confirmed he had spoken to Bridges about the remarks.
Oh dear. The Big Event (or so it was built up to be …).
1. Ardern
2. Seymour
3-9. (daylight)
10. Luxon.
Will National never learn?
'Will National ever learn?"
Rhetorical Ouestion.
I felt sorry for him. So much rested on it. He muffed it and his mortification showed.
As I said above, the photo of Luxon in Cooke's article is a shocker. I take back my sympathy. He is pathological in his hate.
You base your judgement on a photo in an online news article, Patricia? 😐
When anyone can go online & find any number of photos that make ANY politician look nasty, or angry, or stupid – or whatever?
I’m just not seeing what you’re seeing?
https://resources.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/4/y/w/5/y/s/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.1240×700.4yw5uc.png/1638853182836.jpg?format=pjpg&optimize=medium
That is not the Stuff photo of him sitting down glaring Gezza.
There IS no photo of him glaring, Patricia.
There's a (probably carefully-selected, unflattering) pic of him with a determined expression on his face, looking rather Muldoon-like to me.
The "glaring" is YOUR negative interpretation of his expression because you simply don't like the man.
Labours in big trouble ..Patricia….Luxona has taken the National talent pack…cut it and reshuffled it….and expects things to be…different!
I have to say luxons list of losers is a ok with me , cant think of a single reason any of them should be in parliament .
I cant see me liking luxons national, but maybe hes drawing a line through nationals worst years .
Meh all round really. He’s got nothing to lose with a 2023 election in putting the likes of brown, bishop, bridges, Mitchell etc in place and judging their performances.
Give them enough rope and hopefully some make a decent fist of it as tbh we need a much better opposition.
The National Party ship of state has run up against the covid iceberg.
Some say party on
Some say the iceberg doesn't exist.
Some say change the captain.
Some say open up the lower deck portholes.
Some say lifejackets cause drowning.
.
Yes the lights are still on.
Yes the band is still playing.
Yes the new captain is acting authoritatively and issuing directives.
Meanwhile as the ship settles deeper into the ocean of electoral defeat, the more astute passengers clamber into the lifeboat marked ACT