Looks like John Key might be a little less “self-made” and a little more “taxpayer-made” than he’d have us believe… click the image for a larger version.
So National are using as disreputable company as Crosby/Textor and getting the taxpayer to pay for it. Assuming that they were aware they might get caught, what were they thinking?
Are they so sure they’re going to win that they’re willing to take this kind of risk in an attempt to get an outright majority?
Do they think they are entitled? That somehow being on the opposition benches entitles them to cheat?
Are they so used to the greys of politics that they have lost sight of moral black and white? Well, except as can be used to their PR advantage.
Are they so confident of their ability to spin that they were sure they could cloud the issue?
Finally, why use their PS allocation for this? What’re the spending the rest of their money on? What not run invoices as controversial as this through the party?
Maybe they are keeping party funds back for legal challenges/snap election expenses next year – y’know just in case things don’t turn out how they expect. Again.
Anita: “Assuming that they were aware they might get caught, what were they thinking?”
That the electorate might not care. This does seem a bit overconfident, but so far the electorate doesn’t seem to care.
“That somehow being on the opposition benches entitles them to cheat?”
It’s not a sport governed by a sportsmanlike code of honour. It’s just not cricket. It’s not even beach cricket!
“Are they so confident of their ability to spin that they were sure they could cloud the issue?”
I reckon so.
“Finally, why use their PS allocation for this? What’re the spending the rest of their money on?”
Can’t answer this. I can only answer what they seem to not be spending their money on, and that’s policy.
Raises an interesting issue, though: since the Auditor-General ruled that Parliamentary Services money (specifically from the leader’s budget) couldn’t be spent on electioneering, National clearly consider the employment of Crosby/Textor to not be electioneering. At this stage I’d agree it isn’t – but the campaign is yet at a simmer. I wonder if this is a possible avenue for challenge – either in the courts or in the court of public opinion?
Well it worked pretty well for them last election, so why change? Spend the money early on something with no tangible product to be challenged, avoid any audit associated with the months before the election, then get stuck in to any other party that spends their PS money on any kind of communication with the electorate.
It’s an option available only to a party with plenty of private money to spend. Shut down the other voices any way you can. Brilliant in a way, if you care only about winning, and nothing about democracy.
Heres the thing. I don’t care. I don’t really think much of National but I will vote for them at the next election because I absolutely loathe Labour and the Greens. For me, the tipping point was the ludicrous anti-smacking bollix. I don’t need the government to tell me how to raise my children. Then theres all the anti-smoking bullshit. Not only that, but Labours hidden agendas such as civil unions and legalised whoredom have turned me against them as well. They had no mandate from the people for any of this liberal rubbish. Come November they will be gone, because the election is now Nationals to lose. Goodbye to Labour and the awful Helen Clark. Into the dustbin of history you go, theres a good socialist.
[lprent: Look – another stamped out of the mould troll – but this one is better educated – it can use capitals. I like trolls. Mostly I like banning them for idiotic behavior.]
I wonder if police will be investigating the venting system at Parliament to see if Nicky Harger might have been able to sneak in (like in Mission Impossible) and pay the invoices without National knowing. After all he can hack impenetrable government computers.
So anybody who disagrees with you is a troll? Is that how it works? As for voting for a party whose policies I support, well, unfortunately there isn’t one.
[lprent: Nope, there are a lot of people on here who disagree with both me and the party I support. Some of them write posts, some comment, and some moderate. Hell – I disagree with almost everyone including the people that I agree with.
What we do tend to agree on is that people who cannot argue a point, don’t have a sense of humour, and just throw up the same old tired lines over and over again – can be called Trolls. What I have determined (after a long and careful investigation) is that I don’t like mindless trolls. My rule of thumb is that if I could build a program to replicate a persons comments with a phrase dictionary and a randomisation function – then I treat them as a troll.
To date you’ve thrown up an opinion rant which I’ve seen many times before with no backing evidence or argument about why these things are wrong or even if they are correct.
So as you can see, the solution for you is simple. Write something that convinces me you aren’t a bad program that needs substantial debugging. Show me that there is some intelligence there somewhere. Otherwise your life span here gets very short.]
[lprent: It looked more like an opinion for whales blog. Have a look around here and you’ll find the ‘standard’ is higher (chortle – now I wonder who is going to argue about that statement).]
LabourSucks. Anyone is welcome to comment if they make intelligent comments but three things tend to wreck threads
– commentators who hurl mindless abuse
– commentators ranting or repeating slogans without any thoughtful argument
– commentators who get all egotistical
If you want to comment in one of those styles, please take it to kiwiblog.
By clamping down on it here, we get much better threads and that encourages more people to participate who would stay silent if the thread was full of the above.
“Nat’s spending your money to build brand Key.”
Great title for the thread lads.
In light of todays revelations about this blog we can rest easy in the knowledge that “Labour is spending your money to destroy brand Key.’
Unless DPF and WhaleOil are lying of course.
bill brown, they have written some fairly comprehensive posts today outing some of the posters here as paid bloggers and it appears some of them are funded by the tax payer. They are fairly serious allegations and probably deserve a response.
That may well be the case steve (or whatever your name is [it’s Clinton Smith]) But can you answer this question?
Are you or any of your fellow posters employed by parliamentary services? If yes, is it okay for any of you to be blogging on publicly owned equipment while drawing a taxpayer funded salary?
[Tane: No, we receive no taxpayer funding or assistance. This blog is run voluntarily by activists in their own time and our opinions are our own.]
Here is a list of things about which I do not care.
I do not care that National utilise C/T and have done so for many years.
I do not care if the Standard is or isn’t manned by public servants and in cahoots with Labour. (It’s a blog lighten up people)
I do not care if the posters and commenters on this site blog on occasion during work time (- so do I – a bit of a break every now and then is quite pleasant).
Tane, you are being slippery. The question I asked was are any of your posters employed by parliamentary services? In light of the title of this post I believe the question is on topic and germane to the argument.
LabourSucks. I’m opposed to crap speech – we want to provide a forum for intelligent debate from all angles and views. we don’t have to provide a forum for insults, mindless slogans etc if we don’t want to, and we don’t.
barsnelybill. We’re not going to go through every name or organisation you can list. We are not funded by the taxpayer or any organisation, nor are we directed or controlled by any other organisation. we are individuals writing as individuals and that’s that.
Are you or any of your fellow posters employed by parliamentary services? If yes, is it okay for any of you to be blogging on publicly owned equipment while drawing a taxpayer funded salary?
That is such a weak attack barnsley. Why should parliamentary services employees using publicly owned equipment drawing a taxpayer funded salary be any more culpable than someone doing the same thing for a privately owned company?
Yes, it’s ok. So long as they’re still doing their jobs to a reasonable standard I couldn’t give a damn. You might claim they’re not doing them as well as they could if they gave them their undivided attention, but the same is true of every person who checks out some auctions on trademe while at work. The secratary at Price Waterhouse playing solitaire is increasing the cost of your accounting services just as much as a public services employee writing on a weblog is increasing your tax spend.
If they’re underperforming they’ll get fired, and if they’re not then you’ve got no basis for complaint. Unless their job description and recognised role is “political blogger” then it’s irrelevant where and for whom they work.
—
Good job with the name there ‘Labour Sucks’. Did you think that up all by yourself or did your dog help you?
Steve, you wrote; “we want to provide a forum for intelligent debate from all angles and views. we don’t have to provide a forum for insults, mindless slogans etc if we don’t want to, and we don’t.”
Good for you, we agree on that point at least. I tired of the vitriol quite some time ago (unless it is aimed at roger nome).
However, you guys are constantly having a crack at DPF for his self confessed links to national but remain hidden in the shadows. Today’s revelations about the employment status of some of your posters is relevant to this post and deserves a response.
Surely you can see you lay yourselves open to accusations of hypocrisy if indeed you have parliamentary services staffers posting anonymously and constantly attacking John key?
Mr Pierson is it not coincidence that many of “individuals” who write for Standard also work in ministers office and for union office? If you say that then you say that exclusive brethren people were just “individuals” businessmen and just coincidence they are exclusive brethrens.
Funeral earlier today – tends to put things in perspective.
As Lynn says on occasion rightie and leftie is all a bit misleading I think most people fall into each camp dependent on the specific areas under discussion (I do anyway).
T-Rex.. You wrote;
“That is such a weak attack barnsley. Why should parliamentary services employees using publicly owned equipment drawing a taxpayer funded salary be any more culpable than someone doing the same thing for a privately owned company?
Yes, it’s ok. So long as they’re still doing their jobs to a reasonable standard I couldn’t give a damn. You might claim they’re not doing them as well as they could if they gave them their undivided attention, but the same is true of every person who checks out some auctions on trademe while at work. The secratary at Price Waterhouse playing solitaire is increasing the cost of your accounting services just as much as a public services employee writing on a weblog is increasing your tax spend.”
But they are not bidding on dildo’s on trademe or playing solitaire are they?
If they are parliamentary services staffers then they should say so. They are posting on an extreme left wing attack site in the course of their daily activities. Bit of a difference between trade me and the standard. I am sure they are doing their jobs to a very reasonable standard, however posting anonymously at the behest of their titular employer is an inference that is hard to avoid.
Pardon me Mr Pierson I do not read where it say Standard has writings from people who work in prime minister office or union office on your website, this seems very important if you do write from prime minister office and people have right to know. I also ask earlier how many commenter people banned so far from standard Mr Pierson.
But they are not bidding on dildo’s on trademe or playing solitaire are they?
They might be – it’s a free country!
Get your hand off it, this is not “an extreme attack site”.
The conflict of interest that would exist for a public services staff member posting on a political blog is no greater than that of a private enterprise staffer doing the same.
Like HS says, it’s a freaking blog. As long as they’re not getting paid to do it, and I don’t mean “vague association of interests” paid, I mean “boss asking how the blog posting is coming along and whether there’s been any progress, taken into consideration come salary review” paid, then they’ve got no obligation to disclose anything to you, and are commiting no offence under the EFA.
It’s. A. Blog.
If you don’t like how what gets said here makes you feel it might be a sign you should reconsider your own views. Protesting that it’s being said is just pathetic. Especially for someone who claims to value free speech so highly.
funny. I get emails every other day accusing us of not being leftwing enough.
“however posting anonymously at the behest of their titular employer is an inference that is hard to avoid”
and since that inference is entirely incorrect, you can see another reason why we don’t divulge names and occupations. No writer of The Standard writes on behalf of their employer or as a member of any organisation..
Mr Pierson you do not let people make up own minds about inference because you hide it just like exclusive brethren said they are just six businessmen independent of church.
You have to hand it to some of these right wing nut jobs. They can’t debate the points, they can’t debate the policies, they can’t debate the data. But they sure are persistent in their personal attacks on the creators of The Standard.
Bill – go water your flowers. Dilip – Steve is not obliged to answer your questions. You both are guests here. Get a life. And while you’re at it, read the about page: http://www.thestandard.org.nz/?page_id=2
Ah Dilip – exactly WHY do you have a RIGHT to know anything about this blog? Show me the legislation? Show me the common law? Show me the InternetNZ requirements? Hell show me any reason I should listen to you on this subject.
Whale’s ‘evidence’ is just pathetic. You could have equally shown that people here were employees of the “Daily Show” on exactly the same basis.
It seems to me that the writers are on the right line targeting the C/T links – The Nat’s lack of policy and Key. They must be worrying someone.
Mr Prent please don’t be angry I just say the electral finance law say a blog is exempt if written by individual on non-commercial bases. Standard is not exempt from law. This is law Standard defend. Your argument say nobody has right to know who give money to political party or who campaign, but that was what elecral finance law fix. If there is blog from right winger group not individual who campaign from National Party office that is not exempt either and should register. I think maybe easier if Standard just honest about work in prime minister office and union office.
Sigh… How you decant “personal attacks” from politely worded questioning is beyond me. Have a look at the title of this post and then google “irony” guys.
And as far as IPRENT’s asking “what right do any of us have to ask”..
I completely agree. Your blog, your rules.
I look forward to the conclusion of play at the end of November. Irrespective of the score at full time I hope that we can all get together, have a beer and shoot the 5hit about stuff other than politics.
Dilip: This blog has posts written by individuals on a non-commercial basis. Who their employer is, is just not relevant, as they write on their own behalf and on their own time.
There is some question about multi-author blogs under the EFA. That is still being looked at by the electoral commission after a number of complaints against this and other sites.
It will affect a number of sites if the EC’s decision is different from what I expect. If it is then I’ll adjust the site to conform with the ruling – probably more on the lines of Hardtalk. Depends on the decision.
But all of that is moot since the cost of the site is just the cost of the server – now sitting at $160/month + the domain costs. This is paid by me. This also falls well below the $12k/year in the EFA. So it doesn’t have to even be declared under the EFA.
I look forward to the conclusion of play at the end of November. Irrespective of the score at full time I hope that we can all get together, have a beer and shoot the 5hit about stuff other than politics.
Maybe. But I’d still expect that most of the posters will still be anonymous as the site carries on. I’m old enough and skilled enough that it doesn’t really affect me what I wrote on a blog 20 years ago. But for the younger bods (which I infer from their writing) who do write here it is more of a consideration.
I suspect the politics will carry on post election, but probably with more room for other things.
Besides – politely worded? I had a look at DPF’s comment section. It looks like a list of every defective dickhead I’ve ever booted from here.
With regard to the “politely worded” comment, I was referring to myself rather than the lot who have all bought rope and booked lamp posts for the ninth floor staffers IP.
Mr Prent that is interesting and I hope electoral commission make decision soon because good to know what decision is. But there are other cost of blog as well not just host cost also cost of author time if they write from prime minister office for a lot of hours or union office for a lot of hours, could be more than twelve thousand dollar.
“This blog has posts written by individuals on a non-commercial basis. Who their employer is, is just not relevant, as they write on their own behalf and on their own time.”
substitute pamphlet for blog………..and religion for employer and waddaya got………..tada ” chinless scarf wearers.”
Mr Prent if I am not wrong this post is about spin from National spend money on secret tool to make John Key look better, how is discussion of spin from labour spend money on secret tool to make John Key look bad from Standard? You want to know who is behind John Key and National because you think important to have accountability then why not make Standard accountable also and tell who secret spin machine writing Standard for labour party?
The problem with the Excluive Brethern was that they and National had coordinated their campaigns to cirumvent National’s spending cap and tried to keep that relationship secret. There is no such arrangment between The Standard and any political party or other organisation.
Dilip. Writers write in their own time. Myself, I write in the morning or evening, and at lunchtime if something comes up. I do a few comments through the day but that’s nothing unusual, it’s just the same as you and most commentators are doing at work.
why not make Standard accountable also and tell who secret spin machine writing Standard for labour party?
Becaues we don’t write spin, or anything, for the Labour Party. Many of us, including myself, don’t even vote for them. In fact, I find it quite insulting to be accused of writing spin for Labour given they’re so bloody dreadful at it.
I know it’s hard for many on the right to understand, but we express our own individual opinions here and we do it because we believe in social democratic principles, not in pursuit of a pay cheque or on someone’s orders.
Sure we have the odd contact here and there in politics and the media, but we certainly don’t have a line to Helen Clark or anyone even remotely close – I’d be surprised if she even knows who we are.
All I can chalk this up to is another attempt from the right to shut down a blog they can’t match themselves.
I think people, including most journalists, do misunderstand what the problem with the EB was (just as they misunderstand what the problem with C/T is).
The National-EB alliance was a secret alliance to circumvent National’s spending imits with a massive secret campaign. It doesn’t matter that it was the EB, it could have been the Rotary Club or the Herald – it was the secret conspiracy to circumvent the law and democratic process, not the actors that mattered.
We have no secret alliance with anyone, we’re not out to circumvent electoral law (in fact, I strongly support it) and we believe in democratising the democratic process.
It must drive them nuts that they can hire C/T and spend millions on focus groups and rebranding and they still get ripped to sh*t by people messing around in their spare time.
I can just imagine the boardroom scene in Sydney…
They’re using humour against us! Those BASTARDS! Drag a bunch of people in off the street and run some focus groups to find out what’s funny these days, we’ll show those damn hippies!
Actually that’s probably where Liarbore came from.
“independent initiative”, well that’s the issue isn’t it?
Why not in the interests of transparency and openness confirm that independence. Because rather than your reactionary diatribe, David Farrars analysis seems to point to a more co ordinated collusion between the ninth floor and the EPMU comms staff.
This blog supported a flawed and anti democratic bill under the pretence that covert and dishonest forces were manipulating opinion in New Zealand.
This Key attack blog (and that really all this so called initiative amounts to), has been less than honest about it’s authors and how much it costs to runs and when these people run it.
I say again, in the interests of transparency, practice what you preach.
Also…name one person I have smeared on Clint Heine and Friends?
[lprent: You posted that you were moderated here because of your opinions. In reality it was because of your language matching some parameters in the anti-spam file. Your response to my pointing that out was interesting. I wouldn’t call it a smear – more of an idiot expressing themselves.
We have been quite clear on exactly how much this blog costs. Currently $160 per month after the last upgrade.]
Mr Pierson thank you for reply. How come evidence say photos on standard website were made by engineers union office for standard author who is not from engineers union office? How come other photo like cosmopolitician is made by antony rhodes in judith tizard’ office if that is not collusion. Maybe if Standard is honest about collusions maybe people accept it as labour party spin but if you are not honest about it then people will know it as labour party spins and think you are not honest also.
dilip: This post is about National spending public money to finance public relations consultants. How exactly why the public purse should be paying for it is an interesting question.
But it doesn’t relate to this site – I pay for that. Labour doesn’t pay me for anything, but I have been known to give them donations. I’ve been a labour party member for a long time.
Tane: Helen does know about the site. I’ve told her what I’ve been doing in my spare time. She was concerned that it didn’t take too much of my volunteer time away from the election campaign. I think she’d be concerned if she knew how much time I actually spend on it!
I’ve told or shown the site to quite a lot of people as I’m always interested in increasing our readership.
CH aka BTP: exactly how many friends write on your blog? I see you are still as much of a prat as always. Are you interested in the EC decision as well?
Prat – Well I just went and read through your site to find something that was actually written by you.
The first post I ran into had you smearing Sue Bradford.
The second you were smearing anyone who supported Labour.
The third you were smearing Winston Peters.
If it’s any consolation, you don’t seem to be as bad as your mate Heine. Honestly, your blog is god-awful. I’d rather read kiwiblog, and I never read kiwiblog. I can’t imagine it’s much better than Whaleoil. Seriously, you posted a link to porn-for-the-blind? Jesus wept, Rodney must be proud to have you on side!
—
As to your complaint – They are practising what they preach. They supported the EFA, and now they’re abiding by it. If you think they’re not, quite being a whiny little toryboy and go lay a formal complaint.
If I was one of the authors I probably wouldn’t tell you my real name either.
Dilip: What Whale actually said was that some photos were done using the same instance of software as had also been done to produce pictures for the engineers site.
Now if he’d bothered to look at our About, he’d have found that we are proud of our union links. I’m pretty sure we have people writing here who are involved with unions.
Now Whale is a technical moron as I’ve discussed previously. But surely even he has heard of laptops. You know like the one I’m typing this on now. The one that goes with me from home to work every day. The one that I code stuff on for both paid work and voluntary work.
This is Whale’s proof? That the same software was used to produce things for different sites and therefore they were both used in working hours? He is even more of technical illiterate than I’d realized. That appears to be about as much proof as a fuckwit requires.
Hell I should write another post on exactly how an technical illiterate thinks…..
Oops – forgot to mention that this laptop is owned by me… The work one is at work collecting data.
BoomTownPrat:
You really are a prat aren’t you. Read our About. Hell – we boast about having involvement in the unions and the ‘left’.
However the only money spent on this site comes from my credit card each month. I’d presume you do the same?
We’re as transparent as you are. Probably more so because we actually give our general affiliations. Besides this is a blog which is (gasp) specifically excluded from the EFA.
Not that matters anyway because we’re not affiliated with a party and don’t advise people on how to vote. The writers do spend time pointing out problems with party policy and tactics including my favorite party (damn them). The cost is massively less than would be required for me to have to register under the EFA because the net is so cheap!
So in my opinion, you are just being a pompous dickhead.
BTW: Just added you to my moderation queue so I can personally attend to your points. I feel generous with my time today.
1) You implied Sue was responsible for child abuse (hall of shame)
2) You implied, through the “mushy” anecdote, that liberal arts majors were generally small minded pushovers who were sheltered from the real world and just wanted to be free to wring their hands while collecting art and drinking wine.
3) You called peters a worthless asswipe (or something along those lines, i’m not going back to read it again).
It doesn’t REMOTELY pretend to be impartial, it just refuses to make any unnecessary disclosures to nagging weirdos.
Sorry it took me a while to respond, I was busy learning how to do 3-d modeling so I can contribute more effectively to the anonymous crusade for all that is right and good in the world.
I was going to say that I would be highly surprised if she didn’t know about it. JK will as well and for the same reason – it’s another link into the publics thinking. I’d be highly surprised if they aren’t getting a summary of the more active threads at least.
You know Lynn, you’re really going to have to start looking at a defamation case or similar. Sad I know but these righties just don’t seem to listen unless you slap them around with a lawsuit or 3.
This thread is a good example of the attacks from the right derailing a thread – another misdirection?
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Here is a scenario, but first a historical parallel. Hitler and the Nazis could well have accomplished everything that they wanted to do within German borders, including exterminating Jews, so long as they confined their ambitious to Germany itself. After all, the world pretty much sat and watched as the ...
I’ve spent the last couple of days in Hamilton covering Waikato University’s annual NZ Economics Forum, where (arguably) three of the most influential people in our political economy right now laid out their thinking in major speeches about the size and role of Government, their views on for spending, tax ...
Simeon Brown’s Ideology BentSimeon Brown once told Kiwis he tries to represent his deep sense of faith by interacting “with integrity”.“It’s important that there’s Christians in Parliament…and from my perspective, it’s great to be a Christian in Parliament and to bring that perspective to [laws, conversations and policies].”And with ...
Severe geological and financial earthquakes are inevitable. We just don’t know how soon and how they will play out. Are we putting the right effort into preparing for them?Every decade or so the international economy has a major financial crisis. We cannot predict exactly when or exactly how it will ...
Questions1. How did Old Mate Grabaseat describe his soon-to-be-Deputy-PM’s letter to police advocating for Philip Polkinghorne?a.Ill-advisedb.A perfect letterc.A letter that will live in infamyd.He had me at hello2. What did Seymour say in response?a.What’s ill-advised is commenting when you don’t know all the facts and ...
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff has called on OJI Fibre Solutions to work with the government, unions, and the community before closing the Kinleith Paper Mill. “OJI has today announced 230 job losses in what will be a devastating blow for the community. OJI needs to work with ...
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is sounding the alarm about the latest attack on workers from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden, who is ignoring her own officials to pursue reckless changes that would completely undermine the personal grievance system. “Brooke van Velden’s changes will ...
Hi,When I started writing Webworm in 2020, I wrote a lot about the conspiracy theories that were suddenly invading our Twitter timelines and Facebook feeds. Four years ago a reader, John, left this feedback under one of my essays:It’s a never ending labyrinth of lunacy which, as you have pointed ...
And if you said this life ain't good enoughI would give my world to lift you upI could change my life to better suit your moodBecause you're so smoothAnd it's just like the ocean under the moonOh, it's the same as the emotion that I get from youYou got the ...
Aotearoa remains the minority’s birthright, New Zealand the majority’s possession. WAITANGI DAY commentary see-saws manically between the warmly positive and the coldly negative. Many New Zealanders consider this a good thing. They point to the unexamined patriotism of July Fourth and Bastille Day celebrations, and applaud the fact that the ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: and on the week in geopolitics, including the latest from Donald Trump’s administration over Gaza and Ukraine; on the ...
Up until now, the prevailing coalition view of public servants was that there were simply too many of them. But yesterday the new Public Service Commissioner, handpicked by the Luxon Government, said it was not so much numbers but what they did and the value they produced that mattered. Sir ...
In a moment we explore the question: What is Andrew Bayly wanting to tell ACC, and will it involve enjoying a small wine tasting and then telling someone to fuck off? But first, for context, a broader one: What do we look for in a government?Imagine for a moment, you ...
As expected, Donald Trump just threw Ukraine under the bus, demanding that it accept Russia's illegal theft of land, while ruling out any future membership of NATO. Its a colossal betrayal, which effectively legitimises Russia's invasion, while laying the groundwork for the next one. But Trump is apparently fine with ...
A ballot for a single member's bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Employment Relations (Collective Agreements in Triangular Relationships) Amendment Bill (Adrian Rurawhe) The bill would extend union rights to employees in triangular relationships, where they are (nominally) employed by one party, but ...
This is a guest post by George Weeks, reviewing a book called ‘How to Fly a Horse’ by Kevin AshtonBook review: ‘How to Fly a Horse’ by Kevin Ashton (2015) – and what it means for Auckland. The title of this article might unnerve any Greater Auckland ...
This story was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Within just a week, the sheer devastation of the Los Angeles wildfires has pushed to the fore fundamental questions about the impact of the climate crisis that have been ...
In this world, it's just usYou know it's not the same as it wasSongwriters: Harry Edward Styles / Thomas Edward Percy Hull / Tyler Sam JohnsonYesterday, I received a lovely message from Caty, a reader of Nick’s Kōrero, that got me thinking. So I thought I’d share it with you, ...
In past times a person was considered “unserious” or “not a serious” person if they failed to grasp, behave and speak according to the solemnity of the context in which they were located. For example a serious person does not audibly pass gas at Church, or yell “gun” at a ...
Long stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, February 13 are:The coalition Government’s early 2024 ‘fiscal emergency’ freeze on funding, planning and building houses, schools, local roads and hospitals helped extend and deepen the economic and jobs recession through calendar ...
For obvious reasons, people feel uneasy when the right to be a citizen is sold off to wealthy foreigners. Even selling the right to residency seems a bit dubious, when so many migrants who are not millionaires get turned away or are made to jump through innumerable hoops – simply ...
A new season of White Lotus is nearly upon us: more murder mystery, more sumptuous surroundings, more rich people behaving badly.Once more we get to identify with the experience of the pampered tourist or perhaps the poorly paid help; there's something in White Lotus for all New Zealanders.And unlike the ...
In 2016, Aotearoa shockingly plunged to fourth place in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index. Nine years later, and we're back there again: New Zealand has seen a further slip in its global ranking in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). [...] In the latest CPI New Zealand's score ...
1. You’ve started ranking your politicians on how much they respect the rule of law2. You’ve stopped paying attention to those news publications3. You’ve developed a sudden interest in a particular period of history4. More and more people are sounding like your racist, conspiracist uncle.5. Someone just pulled a Nazi ...
Transforming New Zealand: Brian EastonBrian Easton will discuss the above topic at 2/57 Willis Street, Wellington at 5:30pm on Tuesday 26 February at 2/57 Willis Street, WellingtonThe sub-title to the above is "Why is the Left failing?" Brian Easton's analysis is based on his view that while the ...
Salvation Army’s State of the Nation 2025 report highlights falling living standards, the highest unemployment rates since the 1990s and half of all Pacific children going without food. There are reports of hundreds if not thousands of people are applying for the same jobs in the wake of last year’s ...
Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Correction: On the article The Condundrum of David Seymour, Luke Malpass conducted joint reviews with Bryce Wilkinson, the architect of the Regulatory Standards Bill - not Bryce Edwards. The article ...
Tomorrow the council’s Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee meet and agenda has a few interesting papers. Council’s Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport Every year the council provide a Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport which is part of the process for informing AT of the council’s priorities and ...
All around in my home townThey're trying to track me down, yeahThey say they want to bring me in guiltyFor the killing of a deputyFor the life of a deputySongwriter: Robert Nesta Marley.Support Nick’s Kōrero today with a 20% discount on a paid subscription to receive all my newsletters directly ...
Hi,I think all of us have probably experienced the power of music — that strange, transformative thing that gets under our skin and helps us experience this whole life thing with some kind of sanity.Listening and experiencing music has always been such a huge part of my life, and has ...
Business frustration over the stalled economy is growing, and only 34% of voters are confidentNicola Willis can deliver. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, February 12 are:Business frustration is growing about a ...
I have now lived long enough to see a cabinet minister go both barrels on their Prime Minister and not get sacked.It used to be that the PM would have a drawer full of resignations signed by ministers on the day of their appointment, ready for such an occasion. But ...
This session will feature Simon McCallum, Senior Lecturer in Engineering and Computer Science (VUW) and recent Labour Party candidate in the Southland Electorate talking about some of the issues around AI and how this should inform Labour Party policy. Simon is an excellent speaker with a comprehensive command of AI ...
The proposed Waimate garbage incinerator is dead: The company behind a highly-controversial proposal to build a waste-to-energy plant in the Waimate District no longer has the land. [...] However, SIRRL director Paul Taylor said the sales and purchase agreement to purchase land from Murphy Farms, near Glenavy, lapsed at ...
The US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has been a vital tool in combatting international corruption. It forbids US companies and citizens from bribing foreign public officials anywhere in the world. And its actually enforced: some of the world's biggest companies - Siemens, Hewlett Packard, and Bristol Myers Squibb - have ...
December 2024 photo - with UK Tory Boris Johnson (Source: Facebook)Those PollsFor hours, political poll results have resounded across political hallways and commentary.According to the 1News Verizon poll, 50% of the country believe we are heading in the “wrong direction”, while 39% believe we are “on the right track”.The left ...
A Tai Rāwhiti mill that ran for 30 years before it was shut down in late 2023 is set to re-open in the coming months, which will eventually see nearly 300 new jobs in the region. A new report from Massey University shows that pensioners are struggling with rising costs. ...
As support continues to fall, Luxon also now faces his biggest internal ructions within the coalition since the election, with David Seymour reacting badly to being criticised by the PM. File photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate ...
Not since 1988 when Richard Prebble openly criticised David Lange have we seen such a challenge to a Prime Minister as that of David Seymour to Christopher Luxon last night. Prebble suggested Lange had mental health issues during a TV interview and was almost immediately fired. Seymour hasn’t gone quite ...
Three weeks in, and the 24/7 news cycle is not helping anyone feel calm and informed about the second Trump presidency. One day, the US is threatening 25% trade tariffs on its friends and neighbours. The reasons offered by the White House are absurd, such as stopping fentanyl coming in ...
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Wherever you look, you'll hear headlines claiming we've passed 1.5 degrees of global warming. And while 2024 saw ...
Photo by Heather M. Edwards on UnsplashHere’s the key news, commentary, reports and debate around Aotearoa’s politics and economy in the week to Feb 10 below. That’s ahead of live chats on the Substack App and The Kākā’s front page on Substack at 5pm with: on his column in The ...
Is there anyone in the world the National Party loves more than a campaign donor? Why yes, there is! They will always have the warmest hello and would you like to slip into something more comfortable for that great god of our age, the High Net Worth Individual.The words the ...
Waste and fraud certainly exist in foreign aid programs, but rightwing celebration of USAID’s dismantling shows profound ignorance of the value of soft power (as opposed to hard power) in projecting US influence and interests abroad by non-military/coercive means (think of “hearts and minds,” “hugs, not bullets,” “honey versus vinegar,” ...
Health New Zealand is proposing to cut almost half of its data and digital positions – more than 1000 of them. The PSA has called on the Privacy Commissioner to urgently investigate the cuts due to the potential for serious consequences for patients. NZNO is calling for an urgent increase ...
We may see a few more luxury cars on Queen Street, but a loosening of rules to entice rich foreigners to invest more here is unlikely to “turbocharge our economic growth”. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate ...
Let us not dance daintily around the elephant in the room. Our politicians who serve us in the present are not honest, certainly not as honest as they should be, and while the right are taking out most of the trophies for warping narratives and literally redefining “facts”, the kiwi ...
The Government’s newly announced funding for biodiversity and tourism of $30-million over three years is a small fraction of what is required for conservation in this country. ...
The Government's sudden cancellation of the tertiary education funding increase is a reckless move that risks widespread job losses and service reductions across New Zealand's universities. ...
National’s cuts to disability support funding and freezing of new residential placements has resulted in significant mental health decline for intellectually disabled people. ...
The hundreds of jobs lost needlessly as a result of the Kinleith Mill paper production closure will have a devastating impact on the Tokoroa community - something that could have easily been avoided. ...
Today Te Pāti Māori MP for Te Tai Tokerau, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, released her members bill that will see the return of tamariki and mokopuna Māori from state care back to te iwi Māori. This bill will establish an independent authority that asserts and protects the rights promised in He Whakaputanga ...
The Whangarei District Council being forced to fluoridate their local water supply is facing a despotic Soviet-era disgrace. This is not a matter of being pro-fluoride or anti-fluoride. It is a matter of what New Zealanders see and value as democracy in our country. Individual democratically elected Councillors are not ...
Nicola Willis’ latest supermarket announcement is painfully weak with no new ideas, no real plan, and no relief for Kiwis struggling with rising grocery costs. ...
Half of Pacific children sometimes going without food is just one of many heartbreaking lowlights in the Salvation Army’s annual State of the Nation report. ...
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report is a bleak indictment on the failure of Government to take steps to end poverty, with those on benefits, including their children, hit hardest. ...
New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill which would restore decision-making power to local communities regarding the fluoridation of drinking water. The ‘Fluoridation (Referendum) Legislation Bill’ seeks to repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 that granted centralised authority to the Direct General of Health ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill aimed at preventing banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current “Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework”. “This Bill ensures fairness and prevents ESG standards from perpetuating woke ideology in the banking sector being driven by unelected, globalist, climate ...
Erica Stanford has reached peak shortsightedness if today’s announcement is anything to go by, picking apart immigration settings piece by piece to the detriment of the New Zealand economy. ...
Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist, in Avarua, Rarotonga More than 400 people have taken to the streets to protest against Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown’s recent decisions, which have led to a diplomatic spat with New Zealand. The protest, led by Opposition MP and Cook Islands United Party ...
In the second episode, Brynley Stent and Kura Forrester unearth some truths about dating on a dance floor in South Canterbury. Bryn & Ku’s Singles Club is a brand new documentary series for The Spinoff following award-winning comedians and friends Brynley Stent and Kura Forrester as they embark ...
The first half of a billion-dollar pipe that will drastically reduce wastewater overflows in the Auckland isthmus is now in operation. As I biked south, I thought about all the poo sloshing beneath my wheels. Tubes of it disgorging from U-bends, into wastewater pipes laid under our streets that become ...
🚐 The vulnerability continues as the pair head to the Hunt Ball in South Canterbury in search of a rich farmer, before getting some sage relationship advice from Brynley’s Dad and Oma. ❣️ Bryn & Ku’s Singles Club follows comedians Brynley Stent and Kura Forrester as they head out on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joel Garrett, Lecturer in Exercise Science and Physiology, Griffith University Australia’s love affair with the major football codes – the Australian Football League (AFL) and National Rugby League (NRL) – is well documented. However, one aspect that stands out to many observers, ...
The White Lotus is back for season three. Here’s what we made of episode one. The third White Lotus season rinses and repeats – and thank God for that. Turns out there is enough comedic and dramatic juice in resort-set ensemble satires on privilege in the modern world, ...
Founder, journalist and author Tim Burrowes joins Duncan Greive to discuss a torrid decade in Australian media and whether there are reasons to be optimistic amid the carnage. Tim Burrowes is the author of a book and a Substack called Unmade, which are truly essential guides to media in ...
The self-appointed apostle says he could be to Christopher Luxon what Elon Musk is to Donald Trump, and his track record speaks for itself.Who is New Zealand’s answer to Elon Musk? The Herald’s tech insider, Chris Keall, put the question to his LinkedIn acolytes the other day. “If Luxon ...
The last good thing at the supermarket is gone. Mad Chapman mourns the Cadbury mini egg cartons. When life is overwhelming and it feels like every story around you is a bad news story, there are a few things that can be relied upon to instil a sense of calm, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Parker, Honorary Professorial Fellow, Melbourne CSHE, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock Judges in Australian courtrooms have a lot of power. They can decide on someone’s guilt and the punishment for it, including lengthy prison time. But what if they get ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Louise Birrell, Researcher, Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock Australians are waiting an average of 12 years to seek treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, our new research shows. While ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justine Bell-James, Professor, TC Beirne School of Law, The University of Queensland Almost 200 nations have signed an ambitious agreement to halt and reverse biodiversity loss but none is on track to meet the crucial goal, our new research reveals. The agreement, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Philippa Collin, Professor, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University Australian school students’ civics knowledge is the lowest it has been since testing began 20 years ago, according to new national data. Results have fallen since the last assessment in 2019 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Buckley, Senior Research Fellow, Education Research, Policy and Development Division, Australian Council for Educational Research Michael Jung/ Shutterstock There is a persistent gender gap in Australian schools. Boys, on average, outperform girls in maths. We see this in national ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Deane, Professor, Queensland University of Technology Australian beef exports to the United States are GST-free and should not be subject to any retaliatory tariff. William Edge/Shutterstock The latest round of proposed tariffs from US President Donald Trump includes a response ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a 36-year-old tertiary adviser and bartender shares her approach to spending and saving. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here.Gender: Female. Age: 36. Ethnicity: Pākehā. Role: Tertiary adviser, ...
The change allows for devices that do screening, similar to at drink-drive checkpoints, rather than having to test oral fluid to an evidentiary standard. ...
Almost 40% of those departing NZ long-term are aged 18 to 30. What sort of country will they leave behind, asks Catherine McGregor in today’s extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Young people leading the charge out the door Last year saw ...
New Health Minister Simeon Brown is presiding over a list of resignations from high-ranking health officials that some say is a "bloodbath". What's going on? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Rickerby, Lecturer, School of Product Design, University of Canterbury The Poly-1. MOTAT , CC BY-NC Some 45 years ago, a team of staff and students at Wellington Polytechnic designed and built a desktop computer with an operating system customised for ...
The Forum has raised concerns regarding the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill and the Regulatory Standards Bill, which, if enacted, will radically undermine existing human rights protections, Indigenous rights, and constitutional safeguards ...
The passage of time hasn’t been kind to Ngāi Tahu.When its High Court hearing over wai māori (freshwater) commenced last week, 52 months after the claim was filed, the tribe mourned the loss of two named first plaintiffs – Bishop Richard Wallace, of Makaawhio, and Theo Bunker, of Wairewa – ...
Margie Apa, Nicholas Jones, Diana Sarfati, the board of Health New Zealand … and will Lester Levy be next?The biggest names in our health service are tumbling like dominos.It’s been called a bloodbath and a crisis.What’s going on?Every day there’s a new story about shortages, patients having to wait for ...
Opinion: The coalition Government’s recent revisions to the business investor visa, officially the Active Investor Plus but commonly known as the ‘golden visa’, has put pay-for-residency back in the headlines. While many object to the commodification of citizenship implicit in this policy, questions should be asked about its potential as ...
One Christmas, to thank him for helping me hugely with my writing (on a mentor scheme), I sent Michael King a dark blue cashmere scarf. I chose it with the awful knowledge that he was battling cancer, and I somehow thought it might keep him warm and make him feel ...
Comment: Readers may recall the commentaries from academics that appeared on these pages as well as on many media outlets, alarmed and appalled by the disbanding of the Marsden panels for humanities and the social sciences.The Marsden Fund is a “blue skies” initiative established by Simon Upton in the 1990s. ...
Everything you missed from day five of the Treaty principles bill hearings, when the Justice Committee heard seven hours of submissions. Read our recaps of the previous hearings here.An “insult to every one of our tīpuna” was the first advice the Justice Committee heard on the Treaty principles bill ...
The same councillors who decry excessive spending on pet projects just voted to pump millions of dollars into a greenhouse for flowers. On Thursday last week, Wellington City Council voted to consult on repairing Begonia House, the greenhouse for exotic flowers in Wellington Botanic Garden. The options for repairs range ...
It’s important to respect people’s right to free speech and peaceful assembly, but how much political deference is due when it isn’t peaceful? Commenting on Destiny Church members storming a children’s event at the Te Atatū library and community centre on Saturday, prime minister Christopher Luxon said it’s important to ...
Comment: US is capitulating to Moscow’s demands before negotiations over Ukraine even begin The post The day the West died appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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Now this is going to be interesting. Can’t wait to see where it leads…
Captcha: Account Police – sounds like they could be needed 8)
Ah, this just gets better and better. LOL
So National are using as disreputable company as Crosby/Textor and getting the taxpayer to pay for it. Assuming that they were aware they might get caught, what were they thinking?
Are they so sure they’re going to win that they’re willing to take this kind of risk in an attempt to get an outright majority?
Do they think they are entitled? That somehow being on the opposition benches entitles them to cheat?
Are they so used to the greys of politics that they have lost sight of moral black and white? Well, except as can be used to their PR advantage.
Are they so confident of their ability to spin that they were sure they could cloud the issue?
Finally, why use their PS allocation for this? What’re the spending the rest of their money on? What not run invoices as controversial as this through the party?
Maybe they are keeping party funds back for legal challenges/snap election expenses next year – y’know just in case things don’t turn out how they expect. Again.
Hey, you’re stealing their policies!
flip flop!
Anita: “Assuming that they were aware they might get caught, what were they thinking?”
That the electorate might not care. This does seem a bit overconfident, but so far the electorate doesn’t seem to care.
“That somehow being on the opposition benches entitles them to cheat?”
It’s not a sport governed by a sportsmanlike code of honour. It’s just not cricket. It’s not even beach cricket!
“Are they so confident of their ability to spin that they were sure they could cloud the issue?”
I reckon so.
“Finally, why use their PS allocation for this? What’re the spending the rest of their money on?”
Can’t answer this. I can only answer what they seem to not be spending their money on, and that’s policy.
Raises an interesting issue, though: since the Auditor-General ruled that Parliamentary Services money (specifically from the leader’s budget) couldn’t be spent on electioneering, National clearly consider the employment of Crosby/Textor to not be electioneering. At this stage I’d agree it isn’t – but the campaign is yet at a simmer. I wonder if this is a possible avenue for challenge – either in the courts or in the court of public opinion?
L
[lprent: Banned I believe..
Finally, why use their PS allocation for this?
Well it worked pretty well for them last election, so why change? Spend the money early on something with no tangible product to be challenged, avoid any audit associated with the months before the election, then get stuck in to any other party that spends their PS money on any kind of communication with the electorate.
It’s an option available only to a party with plenty of private money to spend. Shut down the other voices any way you can. Brilliant in a way, if you care only about winning, and nothing about democracy.
Hey – now Whale really has something to sink his teeth into. He seems to really dislike parties rorting public monies.
I think I’ll watch his blog for a few days to ask him when the big story of the election starts… Unless of course he doesn’t really mean what he says?
For that matter – DPF?
Heres the thing. I don’t care. I don’t really think much of National but I will vote for them at the next election because I absolutely loathe Labour and the Greens. For me, the tipping point was the ludicrous anti-smacking bollix. I don’t need the government to tell me how to raise my children. Then theres all the anti-smoking bullshit. Not only that, but Labours hidden agendas such as civil unions and legalised whoredom have turned me against them as well. They had no mandate from the people for any of this liberal rubbish. Come November they will be gone, because the election is now Nationals to lose. Goodbye to Labour and the awful Helen Clark. Into the dustbin of history you go, theres a good socialist.
[lprent: Look – another stamped out of the mould troll – but this one is better educated – it can use capitals. I like trolls. Mostly I like banning them for idiotic behavior.]
For me, the tipping point was the ludicrous anti-smacking bollix.
Bad news sweetheart, National voted for that too!
Why not vote for a party whose policies you actually support? Sounds like the Kiwi Party is right up your alley.
I wonder if police will be investigating the venting system at Parliament to see if Nicky Harger might have been able to sneak in (like in Mission Impossible) and pay the invoices without National knowing. After all he can hack impenetrable government computers.
So anybody who disagrees with you is a troll? Is that how it works? As for voting for a party whose policies I support, well, unfortunately there isn’t one.
[lprent: Nope, there are a lot of people on here who disagree with both me and the party I support. Some of them write posts, some comment, and some moderate. Hell – I disagree with almost everyone including the people that I agree with.
What we do tend to agree on is that people who cannot argue a point, don’t have a sense of humour, and just throw up the same old tired lines over and over again – can be called Trolls. What I have determined (after a long and careful investigation) is that I don’t like mindless trolls. My rule of thumb is that if I could build a program to replicate a persons comments with a phrase dictionary and a randomisation function – then I treat them as a troll.
To date you’ve thrown up an opinion rant which I’ve seen many times before with no backing evidence or argument about why these things are wrong or even if they are correct.
So as you can see, the solution for you is simple. Write something that convinces me you aren’t a bad program that needs substantial debugging. Show me that there is some intelligence there somewhere. Otherwise your life span here gets very short.]
Well, it was just my own opinion, thats all.
[lprent: It looked more like an opinion for whales blog. Have a look around here and you’ll find the ‘standard’ is higher (chortle – now I wonder who is going to argue about that statement).]
Haha, a bit thin skinned aren’t ya mate?
LabourSucks. Anyone is welcome to comment if they make intelligent comments but three things tend to wreck threads
– commentators who hurl mindless abuse
– commentators ranting or repeating slogans without any thoughtful argument
– commentators who get all egotistical
If you want to comment in one of those styles, please take it to kiwiblog.
By clamping down on it here, we get much better threads and that encourages more people to participate who would stay silent if the thread was full of the above.
“Nat’s spending your money to build brand Key.”
Great title for the thread lads.
In light of todays revelations about this blog we can rest easy in the knowledge that “Labour is spending your money to destroy brand Key.’
Unless DPF and WhaleOil are lying of course.
Well I know who I’m more likely to trust (and it isn’t a pornographer and his mate).
We receive no funding from Labour or any organisation. The only cost is the $160 a month Lynn pays for the server.
Word is, Lynn once stole a leprechaun’s gold and pays for the server out of that.
bill brown, they have written some fairly comprehensive posts today outing some of the posters here as paid bloggers and it appears some of them are funded by the tax payer. They are fairly serious allegations and probably deserve a response.
So basically you are recommending posting at kiwiblog because… you are opposed to free speech. Ok then.
That may well be the case steve (or whatever your name is [it’s Clinton Smith]) But can you answer this question?
Are you or any of your fellow posters employed by parliamentary services? If yes, is it okay for any of you to be blogging on publicly owned equipment while drawing a taxpayer funded salary?
[Tane: No, we receive no taxpayer funding or assistance. This blog is run voluntarily by activists in their own time and our opinions are our own.]
How many people have the standard banned now lprent?
Here is a list of things about which I do not care.
I do not care that National utilise C/T and have done so for many years.
I do not care if the Standard is or isn’t manned by public servants and in cahoots with Labour. (It’s a blog lighten up people)
I do not care if the posters and commenters on this site blog on occasion during work time (- so do I – a bit of a break every now and then is quite pleasant).
Tane, you are being slippery. The question I asked was are any of your posters employed by parliamentary services? In light of the title of this post I believe the question is on topic and germane to the argument.
LabourSucks. I’m opposed to crap speech – we want to provide a forum for intelligent debate from all angles and views. we don’t have to provide a forum for insults, mindless slogans etc if we don’t want to, and we don’t.
barsnelybill. We’re not going to go through every name or organisation you can list. We are not funded by the taxpayer or any organisation, nor are we directed or controlled by any other organisation. we are individuals writing as individuals and that’s that.
Are you or any of your fellow posters employed by parliamentary services? If yes, is it okay for any of you to be blogging on publicly owned equipment while drawing a taxpayer funded salary?
That is such a weak attack barnsley. Why should parliamentary services employees using publicly owned equipment drawing a taxpayer funded salary be any more culpable than someone doing the same thing for a privately owned company?
Yes, it’s ok. So long as they’re still doing their jobs to a reasonable standard I couldn’t give a damn. You might claim they’re not doing them as well as they could if they gave them their undivided attention, but the same is true of every person who checks out some auctions on trademe while at work. The secratary at Price Waterhouse playing solitaire is increasing the cost of your accounting services just as much as a public services employee writing on a weblog is increasing your tax spend.
If they’re underperforming they’ll get fired, and if they’re not then you’ve got no basis for complaint. Unless their job description and recognised role is “political blogger” then it’s irrelevant where and for whom they work.
—
Good job with the name there ‘Labour Sucks’. Did you think that up all by yourself or did your dog help you?
Steve, you wrote; “we want to provide a forum for intelligent debate from all angles and views. we don’t have to provide a forum for insults, mindless slogans etc if we don’t want to, and we don’t.”
Good for you, we agree on that point at least. I tired of the vitriol quite some time ago (unless it is aimed at roger nome).
However, you guys are constantly having a crack at DPF for his self confessed links to national but remain hidden in the shadows. Today’s revelations about the employment status of some of your posters is relevant to this post and deserves a response.
Surely you can see you lay yourselves open to accusations of hypocrisy if indeed you have parliamentary services staffers posting anonymously and constantly attacking John key?
Mr Pierson is it not coincidence that many of “individuals” who write for Standard also work in ministers office and for union office? If you say that then you say that exclusive brethren people were just “individuals” businessmen and just coincidence they are exclusive brethrens.
[lprent: Have you read the About page?]
higherstandard – we probably don’t have these moments all that often, but nevertheless…
high five
Yeah HS, I’ve given you a fair amount of stick, but well said.
( Apart the bit about c/t. That matters dammit 😉 )
You are better sort of rightie than most in the blogosphere. Do you hang about at many RW blogs?
Dilip etc http://www.thestandard.org.nz/?page_id=2#who_are_you
TR and PB
Funeral earlier today – tends to put things in perspective.
As Lynn says on occasion rightie and leftie is all a bit misleading I think most people fall into each camp dependent on the specific areas under discussion (I do anyway).
T-Rex.. You wrote;
“That is such a weak attack barnsley. Why should parliamentary services employees using publicly owned equipment drawing a taxpayer funded salary be any more culpable than someone doing the same thing for a privately owned company?
Yes, it’s ok. So long as they’re still doing their jobs to a reasonable standard I couldn’t give a damn. You might claim they’re not doing them as well as they could if they gave them their undivided attention, but the same is true of every person who checks out some auctions on trademe while at work. The secratary at Price Waterhouse playing solitaire is increasing the cost of your accounting services just as much as a public services employee writing on a weblog is increasing your tax spend.”
But they are not bidding on dildo’s on trademe or playing solitaire are they?
If they are parliamentary services staffers then they should say so. They are posting on an extreme left wing attack site in the course of their daily activities. Bit of a difference between trade me and the standard. I am sure they are doing their jobs to a very reasonable standard, however posting anonymously at the behest of their titular employer is an inference that is hard to avoid.
Pardon me Mr Pierson I do not read where it say Standard has writings from people who work in prime minister office or union office on your website, this seems very important if you do write from prime minister office and people have right to know. I also ask earlier how many commenter people banned so far from standard Mr Pierson.
But they are not bidding on dildo’s on trademe or playing solitaire are they?
They might be – it’s a free country!
Get your hand off it, this is not “an extreme attack site”.
The conflict of interest that would exist for a public services staff member posting on a political blog is no greater than that of a private enterprise staffer doing the same.
Like HS says, it’s a freaking blog. As long as they’re not getting paid to do it, and I don’t mean “vague association of interests” paid, I mean “boss asking how the blog posting is coming along and whether there’s been any progress, taken into consideration come salary review” paid, then they’ve got no obligation to disclose anything to you, and are commiting no offence under the EFA.
It’s. A. Blog.
If you don’t like how what gets said here makes you feel it might be a sign you should reconsider your own views. Protesting that it’s being said is just pathetic. Especially for someone who claims to value free speech so highly.
funny. I get emails every other day accusing us of not being leftwing enough.
“however posting anonymously at the behest of their titular employer is an inference that is hard to avoid”
and since that inference is entirely incorrect, you can see another reason why we don’t divulge names and occupations. No writer of The Standard writes on behalf of their employer or as a member of any organisation..
Mr Pierson you do not let people make up own minds about inference because you hide it just like exclusive brethren said they are just six businessmen independent of church.
You have to hand it to some of these right wing nut jobs. They can’t debate the points, they can’t debate the policies, they can’t debate the data. But they sure are persistent in their personal attacks on the creators of The Standard.
Bill – go water your flowers. Dilip – Steve is not obliged to answer your questions. You both are guests here. Get a life. And while you’re at it, read the about page:
http://www.thestandard.org.nz/?page_id=2
I thank you. Goodnight.
Ah Dilip – exactly WHY do you have a RIGHT to know anything about this blog? Show me the legislation? Show me the common law? Show me the InternetNZ requirements? Hell show me any reason I should listen to you on this subject.
Whale’s ‘evidence’ is just pathetic. You could have equally shown that people here were employees of the “Daily Show” on exactly the same basis.
It seems to me that the writers are on the right line targeting the C/T links – The Nat’s lack of policy and Key. They must be worrying someone.
Mr Prent please don’t be angry I just say the electral finance law say a blog is exempt if written by individual on non-commercial bases. Standard is not exempt from law. This is law Standard defend. Your argument say nobody has right to know who give money to political party or who campaign, but that was what elecral finance law fix. If there is blog from right winger group not individual who campaign from National Party office that is not exempt either and should register. I think maybe easier if Standard just honest about work in prime minister office and union office.
Yeah, how many attempts have we had now? I’ve kind of lost count.
Yeah, how many attempts have we had now? I’ve kind of lost count.
This is at least the third major wave of it that I remember. I’m not involved at all and I’m still heartily sick of it.
Must be a sign that The Standard is doing good work I say. Onwards!
” however posting anonymously at the behest of their titular employer is an inference that is hard to avoid.”
Hard to arrive at more like.
And if you think this site is ‘extreme left’ you don’t know what either word means.
And if this is an ‘attack site’ I guess Whaleoil’s little shothole must be a fully operational blog fncking death star.
Sigh… How you decant “personal attacks” from politely worded questioning is beyond me. Have a look at the title of this post and then google “irony” guys.
And as far as IPRENT’s asking “what right do any of us have to ask”..
I completely agree. Your blog, your rules.
I look forward to the conclusion of play at the end of November. Irrespective of the score at full time I hope that we can all get together, have a beer and shoot the 5hit about stuff other than politics.
Dilip: This blog has posts written by individuals on a non-commercial basis. Who their employer is, is just not relevant, as they write on their own behalf and on their own time.
There is some question about multi-author blogs under the EFA. That is still being looked at by the electoral commission after a number of complaints against this and other sites.
It will affect a number of sites if the EC’s decision is different from what I expect. If it is then I’ll adjust the site to conform with the ruling – probably more on the lines of Hardtalk. Depends on the decision.
But all of that is moot since the cost of the site is just the cost of the server – now sitting at $160/month + the domain costs. This is paid by me. This also falls well below the $12k/year in the EFA. So it doesn’t have to even be declared under the EFA.
So what are you talking about??
bb:
Maybe. But I’d still expect that most of the posters will still be anonymous as the site carries on. I’m old enough and skilled enough that it doesn’t really affect me what I wrote on a blog 20 years ago. But for the younger bods (which I infer from their writing) who do write here it is more of a consideration.
I suspect the politics will carry on post election, but probably with more room for other things.
Besides – politely worded? I had a look at DPF’s comment section. It looks like a list of every defective dickhead I’ve ever booted from here.
With regard to the “politely worded” comment, I was referring to myself rather than the lot who have all bought rope and booked lamp posts for the ninth floor staffers IP.
Mr Prent that is interesting and I hope electoral commission make decision soon because good to know what decision is. But there are other cost of blog as well not just host cost also cost of author time if they write from prime minister office for a lot of hours or union office for a lot of hours, could be more than twelve thousand dollar.
lprent said
“This blog has posts written by individuals on a non-commercial basis. Who their employer is, is just not relevant, as they write on their own behalf and on their own time.”
substitute pamphlet for blog………..and religion for employer and waddaya got………..tada ” chinless scarf wearers.”
Hollow, Hollow, Hypocrites
Mr Prent if I am not wrong this post is about spin from National spend money on secret tool to make John Key look better, how is discussion of spin from labour spend money on secret tool to make John Key look bad from Standard? You want to know who is behind John Key and National because you think important to have accountability then why not make Standard accountable also and tell who secret spin machine writing Standard for labour party?
BoomTownBrat.
The problem with the Excluive Brethern was that they and National had coordinated their campaigns to cirumvent National’s spending cap and tried to keep that relationship secret. There is no such arrangment between The Standard and any political party or other organisation.
Dilip. Writers write in their own time. Myself, I write in the morning or evening, and at lunchtime if something comes up. I do a few comments through the day but that’s nothing unusual, it’s just the same as you and most commentators are doing at work.
Hey Prat,
Substitue blog for pamphlet… yup. Then substitute employer for religion… umm… if you say so.
Then we should probably substitute ‘independent initiative’ for ‘direct and repeated collusion’.
Would probably be fair to also substitute “essentially nothing” for “several hundreds of thousands of dollars”.
Oh yeah, and while we’re at it we should substitute “bunch of guys” for “avowed politically independent cult”.
Fair bit of substitution really…
Maybe you should go back to posting your pathetically desperate smear on your own godawful site like usual.
why not make Standard accountable also and tell who secret spin machine writing Standard for labour party?
Becaues we don’t write spin, or anything, for the Labour Party. Many of us, including myself, don’t even vote for them. In fact, I find it quite insulting to be accused of writing spin for Labour given they’re so bloody dreadful at it.
I know it’s hard for many on the right to understand, but we express our own individual opinions here and we do it because we believe in social democratic principles, not in pursuit of a pay cheque or on someone’s orders.
Sure we have the odd contact here and there in politics and the media, but we certainly don’t have a line to Helen Clark or anyone even remotely close – I’d be surprised if she even knows who we are.
All I can chalk this up to is another attempt from the right to shut down a blog they can’t match themselves.
I think people, including most journalists, do misunderstand what the problem with the EB was (just as they misunderstand what the problem with C/T is).
The National-EB alliance was a secret alliance to circumvent National’s spending imits with a massive secret campaign. It doesn’t matter that it was the EB, it could have been the Rotary Club or the Herald – it was the secret conspiracy to circumvent the law and democratic process, not the actors that mattered.
We have no secret alliance with anyone, we’re not out to circumvent electoral law (in fact, I strongly support it) and we believe in democratising the democratic process.
Tane – your last sentence is it I think.
It must drive them nuts that they can hire C/T and spend millions on focus groups and rebranding and they still get ripped to sh*t by people messing around in their spare time.
I can just imagine the boardroom scene in Sydney…
They’re using humour against us! Those BASTARDS! Drag a bunch of people in off the street and run some focus groups to find out what’s funny these days, we’ll show those damn hippies!
Actually that’s probably where Liarbore came from.
T-Rex,
“independent initiative”, well that’s the issue isn’t it?
Why not in the interests of transparency and openness confirm that independence. Because rather than your reactionary diatribe, David Farrars analysis seems to point to a more co ordinated collusion between the ninth floor and the EPMU comms staff.
This blog supported a flawed and anti democratic bill under the pretence that covert and dishonest forces were manipulating opinion in New Zealand.
This Key attack blog (and that really all this so called initiative amounts to), has been less than honest about it’s authors and how much it costs to runs and when these people run it.
I say again, in the interests of transparency, practice what you preach.
Also…name one person I have smeared on Clint Heine and Friends?
[lprent: You posted that you were moderated here because of your opinions. In reality it was because of your language matching some parameters in the anti-spam file. Your response to my pointing that out was interesting. I wouldn’t call it a smear – more of an idiot expressing themselves.
We have been quite clear on exactly how much this blog costs. Currently $160 per month after the last upgrade.]
Mr Pierson thank you for reply. How come evidence say photos on standard website were made by engineers union office for standard author who is not from engineers union office? How come other photo like cosmopolitician is made by antony rhodes in judith tizard’ office if that is not collusion. Maybe if Standard is honest about collusions maybe people accept it as labour party spin but if you are not honest about it then people will know it as labour party spins and think you are not honest also.
Ah – I see the illiterates have descended…
dilip: This post is about National spending public money to finance public relations consultants. How exactly why the public purse should be paying for it is an interesting question.
But it doesn’t relate to this site – I pay for that. Labour doesn’t pay me for anything, but I have been known to give them donations. I’ve been a labour party member for a long time.
Tane: Helen does know about the site. I’ve told her what I’ve been doing in my spare time. She was concerned that it didn’t take too much of my volunteer time away from the election campaign. I think she’d be concerned if she knew how much time I actually spend on it!
I’ve told or shown the site to quite a lot of people as I’m always interested in increasing our readership.
CH aka BTP: exactly how many friends write on your blog? I see you are still as much of a prat as always. Are you interested in the EC decision as well?
Prat – Well I just went and read through your site to find something that was actually written by you.
The first post I ran into had you smearing Sue Bradford.
The second you were smearing anyone who supported Labour.
The third you were smearing Winston Peters.
If it’s any consolation, you don’t seem to be as bad as your mate Heine. Honestly, your blog is god-awful. I’d rather read kiwiblog, and I never read kiwiblog. I can’t imagine it’s much better than Whaleoil. Seriously, you posted a link to porn-for-the-blind? Jesus wept, Rodney must be proud to have you on side!
—
As to your complaint – They are practising what they preach. They supported the EFA, and now they’re abiding by it. If you think they’re not, quite being a whiny little toryboy and go lay a formal complaint.
If I was one of the authors I probably wouldn’t tell you my real name either.
Dilip: What Whale actually said was that some photos were done using the same instance of software as had also been done to produce pictures for the engineers site.
Now if he’d bothered to look at our About, he’d have found that we are proud of our union links. I’m pretty sure we have people writing here who are involved with unions.
Now Whale is a technical moron as I’ve discussed previously. But surely even he has heard of laptops. You know like the one I’m typing this on now. The one that goes with me from home to work every day. The one that I code stuff on for both paid work and voluntary work.
This is Whale’s proof? That the same software was used to produce things for different sites and therefore they were both used in working hours? He is even more of technical illiterate than I’d realized. That appears to be about as much proof as a fuckwit requires.
Hell I should write another post on exactly how an technical illiterate thinks…..
Oops – forgot to mention that this laptop is owned by me… The work one is at work collecting data.
Really T-Rex, what was the smear there?
and……unlike you, many of our readers don’t have Mary Whitehouse prudish sensibilities.
Bottom line is this.
Labour (and its sister Key attack blog) argued for transparency and accountability in New Zealand politics.
This blog does neither.
It pretends to be independent, were it is clear that its genesis and its maintenance are on the books of the NZ Labour Party and the EPMU.
BoomTownPrat:
You really are a prat aren’t you. Read our About. Hell – we boast about having involvement in the unions and the ‘left’.
However the only money spent on this site comes from my credit card each month. I’d presume you do the same?
We’re as transparent as you are. Probably more so because we actually give our general affiliations. Besides this is a blog which is (gasp) specifically excluded from the EFA.
Not that matters anyway because we’re not affiliated with a party and don’t advise people on how to vote. The writers do spend time pointing out problems with party policy and tactics including my favorite party (damn them). The cost is massively less than would be required for me to have to register under the EFA because the net is so cheap!
So in my opinion, you are just being a pompous dickhead.
BTW: Just added you to my moderation queue so I can personally attend to your points. I feel generous with my time today.
Charade she is 😉
Anyway:
1) You implied Sue was responsible for child abuse (hall of shame)
2) You implied, through the “mushy” anecdote, that liberal arts majors were generally small minded pushovers who were sheltered from the real world and just wanted to be free to wring their hands while collecting art and drinking wine.
3) You called peters a worthless asswipe (or something along those lines, i’m not going back to read it again).
It doesn’t REMOTELY pretend to be impartial, it just refuses to make any unnecessary disclosures to nagging weirdos.
Sorry it took me a while to respond, I was busy learning how to do 3-d modeling so I can contribute more effectively to the anonymous crusade for all that is right and good in the world.
Haha 🙂
I was going to say that I would be highly surprised if she didn’t know about it. JK will as well and for the same reason – it’s another link into the publics thinking. I’d be highly surprised if they aren’t getting a summary of the more active threads at least.
You know Lynn, you’re really going to have to start looking at a defamation case or similar. Sad I know but these righties just don’t seem to listen unless you slap them around with a lawsuit or 3.
This thread is a good example of the attacks from the right derailing a thread – another misdirection?