New Left Party coming, or is it?

Written By: - Date published: 12:29 pm, November 29th, 2010 - 100 comments
Categories: election 2011, Left - Tags: , ,

Matt McCarten is doing the dance of the seven veils on the issue of a new Left Party. He and the other players have been denying they have anything planned but, at the same time, have spoken of the need for such a party, as Labour paddles around in circles, and said they might join were such a party to eventuate. I say go for it.

I broke the story of the new Left party involving McCarten, Hone Harawira, and Sue Bradford during the Mana campaign on the back of several credible rumours from different sources. When Harawira turned out in Mana to endorse McCarten’s candidacy (in opposition to Tariana Turia, who publicly backed Hekia Parata). Harawira and McCarten denied the story but Harawira pointedly said “Anybody would be a fool to rule out the future”.

In the weekend, McCarten addressed the prospect of a new party in his Herald column:

“This brings me to whether there’s a space for a new party if Labour continues to drift. This idea was surprisingly raised on the Labour Party-aligned Standard Blog during the Mana by-election. It suggested I’d been in cahoots with Hone Harawira and Sue Bradford in planning such a project.

Please, Matt, drop the prejudice that comes with the baseless ‘Labour-aligned’ (as if we get orders from the 3rd floor, what a joke) and you would see my piece is totally supportive of the concept.

That is nonsense. I’ve never had any conversations about such a thing with either Harawira or Bradford. However, I do have enormous respect for both and, if such a coming together of people like them did happen, I wouldn’t stay away.

I believe in a strong progressive force within the Labour Party but my experience as the president of the New Labour Party and its successor, the Alliance, is that it’s also necessary to have a strong force outside that party.

Without such a presence outside, Labour tends to swing to the right to compete with National for the so-called centre vote. Labour’s been doing that for the past two and a half decades and trying to be National-lite won’t get Phil Goff into government next year.

So here’s my advice to Labour. If you don’t look after your left flank then it may well create an opportunity for another progressive party to appeal to people who were once reliably in your camp.

In the Mana campaign I promoted traditional Labour policies to working class people who loved them. Fortunately for you, enough of them went back to you last Saturday to save your party from humiliation.

Next year they may not. That’s the real lesson of the Mana by-election.”

Indeed. So, no plans but a good idea that he would be part of. Then, from NZPA the next night:

Activists spent two hours discussing the merits of a new left-wing party in Auckland yesterday, but no concrete moves have been made to take such a step.

Former MP Sue Bradford and former Alliance president Matt McCarten were among those at the Unite Union annual meeting yesterday discussing whether the time had arrived for a party to be set up towards the left of Labour.

Bradford and McCarten raised the concept of a new party at the beginning of the discussion and sought feedback on what should be done rather than telling those present that a new party should definitely be launched.

Bradford, the former Green MP, said any such party had to be broad-based and its momentum needed to come from a large groundswell of people rather than a few high-profile leaders.

Most people at the session said it was unclear if the time was right for any such party to emerge, but many thought it was ultimately a good idea.

At the end of the session, Bradford said she hoped the left would take advantage of any window of opportunity should one come up.

So, we’ve got Matt, Hone, and Sue appearing together and openly talking about the possibility of such a party forming. Sounds like they’re planning something to me.

Let me go on record: I think it’s a great idea. With Hone’s safe seat, there’s a credible base for attracting Left votes dissatisfied with Goff’s lacklustre and seemingly visionless leadership. I’d probably vgive you my party vote, Matt.

Just don’t leave it to the last three weeks this time.

100 comments on “New Left Party coming, or is it? ”

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  1. anarcho 1
    29 November 2010 at 1:16 pm

    Surely those three, of all the politicans out there, know that representative democracy is a festering sore?

    Don’t do it guys! We need you on the streets, not kissing corporate arse.

    • Bored 1.1
      29 November 2010 at 1:29 pm

      Beat me to it Anarcho, the current power structures are incapable of change from inside without activist intervention from outside.

      We will need people recognised and untainted by the present process as the perfect “Peak” storm engulfs and delegitimises todays paradigm.

      • just saying 1.1.1
        29 November 2010 at 1:54 pm

        Well that’s a nice idea Bored.
        I assume you and your loved ones aren’t likely to be collateral damage on the way through the ‘perfect storm’. ‘Cause there’s gonna be a whole lot of suffering at the bottom of the heap, and all the more if the most vulnerable continue to have no voice in our house of representatives.
        At what point as that suffering moves up the heap would it start to matter? Or is it all just one big darwinian adventure?

        • Bored 1.1.1.1
          29 November 2010 at 2:43 pm

          JS, Who knows, the only thing you can say with any certainty is that we will all be collateral damage. A historian would hark back to known events, 1784 is a good start, then 1848, 1871, 1905, 1917, 1989. Future prediction based upon the past is notoriously inaccurate in a precise sense, however the broad trends tend to remain true.

          In this case of all of the above dates, the collateral damage done to the citizens of their polities reached a critical mass that was ignored by theithe ruling institutions: at each of the above dates the damaged collateral parties attempted to (or did) overthrow the newly illegitmate regimes. It is not Darwinian, it is not a Marxian historic dialectic, it is merely that a critical mass rejecting the status quo will remove legitimacy from defunct institutions.

          That will be the fate of our parliament if it does not reform itself and become truly representative of the electors, and responsive to their needs (as opposed to that of finance and corporate interests).

          • Tiger Mountain 1.1.1.1.1
            29 November 2010 at 5:25 pm

            “it is not a Marxian historic dialectic, it is merely that a critical mass rejecting the status quo will remove legitimacy from defunct institutions”

            On the surface that may appear to some to be so–oh look at all those guys smashing that wall down. But the old “it will just happen regardless” theory makes little sense if you conduct an investigation of the facts and forces involved.

            A materialist view is required to make sense of change unless you happen to be a post modernist intent on disappearing up your own rear end. Little happens in society without action, reaction, and most importantly organisation. Do you think a bourgeois parliament is going to vote or reform itself out of existence and its true role in life? Heh.

            • Bored 1.1.1.1.1.1
              29 November 2010 at 5:58 pm

              Tig, I used to think in logical materialist constructs, and to a large degree they hold true. The problem I find with them is that they depend upon the premise / bases being correct…which in an imperfect world they never will be. It is a problem Marxists share with free market fundamentalists, they consequently (to use your beautiful term) dissappear up their own rear ends. My take is that it is better to admit imperfect knowledge and allow the possibility of doubt, other factors etc. No monopoly on the truth.

              Will a bourgeois parliament vote itself out of existence? Hell no. Will the people walk away? Quite likely. Will a vacuum of power be filled with a viable alternative? Thats another thing altogether.

  2. The Voice of Reason 2
    29 November 2010 at 1:22 pm

    “So, we’ve got Matt, Hone, and Sue appearing together and openly talking about the possibility of such a party forming.”

    No, we haven’t Eddie. Nothing in your post or in a quick search online can find the three of them together, talking about such a party forming. In fact, Matt says just the opposite. But leaving aside your fanciful language, what would be the point of such a party? A racist, an ex MP hated by middle NZ and a one man brains trust who has never succesfully acheived anything long term are linked together by their hatred of the Labour Party. Big deal.

    I’ve no doubt at all that they will get plenty of encouragement from the right and tiny levels of support from deluded lefties and that’ll be it. Another McCarten pipe dream will evaporate like all the others.

    • Bright Red 2.1
      29 November 2010 at 1:41 pm

      VoR, read what’s written. not what you think you’re reading. eddie’s not saying ‘all three together at once saying they’ll form a party’ he’s saying ‘we’ve got Matt, Hone, and Sue appearing together and openly talking about the possibility of such a party forming”

      he’s quoted Hone and Matt talking about it and

      “Former MP Sue Bradford and former Alliance president Matt McCarten were among those at the Unite Union annual meeting yesterday discussing whether the time had arrived for a party to be set up towards the left of Labour”

      the fact all three of them are engaging in this topic is indication enough for me. the story could have beem unambigiously shut down when Hone and Matt were asked. It wasn’t.

      • The Voice of Reason 2.1.1
        29 November 2010 at 1:59 pm

        I did read it, BR. Here it is again:

        “So, we’ve got Matt, Hone, and Sue appearing together and openly talking about the possibility of such a party forming. Sounds like they’re planning something to me.”

        As I said, it’s incorrect. They’re not appearing together to talk about a new party or anything else. If Eddie wanted to distinguish between Matt and Hone, Matt and Sue, or Hone and Sue, then it would have been laid out as I have just done. It’s Eddie’s fanciful construct, not mine and the sentence that follows (‘Sounds like they’re planning something to me’) is designed to reinforce the idea.

        It started as a beat up and with Matt adding to Eddie’s original post, and Eddie replying, it’s now moved to the next stage, the circle jerk.

        • Bright Red 2.1.1.1
          29 November 2010 at 2:02 pm

          you’re arguing semantics. They have appeared together (it doesn’t say ‘all together’) and they have talked about the idea of such a party (and failed to firmly dismiss the idea).

          • The Voice of Reason 2.1.1.1.1
            29 November 2010 at 2:32 pm

            Nope, not semantics. Nor pedantry. Just the correct reading of what Eddie wrote, which was factually wrong in its statement that the 3 were “appearing together”. They’re not, according to Matt, and Eddie constructed the sentence to give the impression that they were, as the following sentence makes clear. Without those two sentences, the whole premise of the post collapses, so excuse me for banging on about it.

    • lprent 2.2
      29 November 2010 at 2:02 pm

      Personally I think that it is just a bit of a beltway paranoia fluff myself. But what is interesting is looking at the reactions here to the idea. It is probably useful internally for Labour to get goosed. Probably aids in the continual (and interminably boring IMHO) internal debates.

    • Jenny 2.3
      29 November 2010 at 2:58 pm

      .
      -Hone Harawira is a racist-

      -Sue Bradford is hated by middle New Zealand-

      -Matt McCarten never succesfully acheived anything long term-

      -All three are linked together by their hatred of the Labour Party-

      Hopefully VOR, you are not just indulging in another one of your ‘unreasoning’ hate fuelled sectarian rants, and can show us a link to evidence that backs up even just one of your allegations?
      .

      • Rob A 2.3.1
        29 November 2010 at 3:48 pm

        Oh come on Jenny

        IMO Matt is one of the smartest political operators in NZ who isn’t sitting in the house.

        But Sue Bradford is one of those love them or hate them characters

        And if a white politician said half the things about the other race that Hone has they would’ve been chased out of NZ years ago

        • Jenny 2.3.1.1
          29 November 2010 at 9:17 pm

          Rob A.

          Less sectarian but still just opinion. Maybe I would be more impressed Rob, if you included some of the quotes from Hone that a white politician would have been chased out of the country for. And then maybe we could put them besides John Key’s after dinner joke about Tuhoe being cannibals.

          But let’s just wait and see if VOR can give any evidence to back up his opinions, or does he just like to spew sectarian invective off the top of his head.

          Where’s his proof that Sue Bradford is hated by middle New Zealand?

          Or that Matt McCarten who built the Unite union from nothing to one of the most successful unions in the country, “never succesfully acheived anything long term”?

          Or that all three are united by their hatred of the Labour Party?

          This is just ludicrous stuff. This sectarian stupidity has been the bane of the left, and is particularly unhelpful when we need the widest possible unity if we are to have any chance of turfing out the Nats. at the next election.

  3. Tanz 3
    29 November 2010 at 1:40 pm

    New Don Brash party coming, also? For the sake of the right, I really hope so.

    • Bright Red 3.1
      29 November 2010 at 1:43 pm

      You could call it WORM –

      White, Old, Racist… I mean Rich, Men

      • Tanz 3.1.1
        29 November 2010 at 1:53 pm

        Not as rich as the current PM, though, eh. I would call it MORE. More of what the people voted for when they voted blue. Good old Don, the only one with the guts to speak out…or do you prefer the status quo…yes I suppose you would, it’s everything the Left could want, without actually being in power themselves.

    • the pink postman 3.2
      30 November 2010 at 2:45 pm

      Which goes to prove ,Tanz, that its time the Left stopped looking around to start other parties. Like it or not the Labour Party is the only Left Wing , Social Democratic party able to,form a government,
      repeat, only one to be able to govern . If those three Lefties are genuine in their belief (and there is no evidence they are not) then pissing
      inside the tent is more effective than outside.The Greens are the Left’s ginger group ,they do a good job and are able to help Labour form a government under MMP lets work towards 2011 with that in mind.

  4. ghostwhowalksnz 4
    29 November 2010 at 1:43 pm

    McCarten wanting a new left party – how many has he ‘been through’ ?
    There was the Alliance
    Then the Greens
    Then the Maori party

    I would have thought he has better ways to spend his time

    • The Voice of Reason 4.1
      29 November 2010 at 2:02 pm

      Don’t forget New Labour, the ‘brains’ behind the Alliance (as Matt once told me!).

      • Jenny 4.1.1
        29 November 2010 at 9:22 pm

        VOR if you had really met Matt McCarten you might have a higher opinion of him.

        • The Voice of Reason 4.1.1.1
          29 November 2010 at 9:51 pm

          That’s not very polite, Jenny. I’ve disagreed with many of your opinions, but I’ve never called you a liar.

          • Jenny 4.1.1.1.1
            29 November 2010 at 11:14 pm

            But you do invent a lot of stuff.

            • The Voice of Reason 4.1.1.1.1.1
              30 November 2010 at 6:56 am

              Nuh huh, Jenny. Prove I’m lying about knowing Matt or apologise and withdraw. Go on, be an adult about it.

              • Jenny …
                30 November 2010 at 1:26 pm

                You obviously don’t know Matt at all, like all your vitriol against people you have no clue about.

                Most people know that Matt McCarten took the Unite union from a handful to the mass member union it is today.

                Let you ignorantly and rudely claimed that Matt McCarten, “never succesfully acheived anything long term”

                You are either completely ignorant or you just simply choose to ignore the facts that don’t fit in with you narrow sectarian views.

                I don’t know, you may have bumped into him in the street once.

                But when you try and name drop by claiming you met Matt McCarten, as I said “if you had really met him” you would have a higher opinion of him, because you obviously don’t know the slightest thing about him.

                Of course in your sectarian little world everyone in the Labour Party is a saint and everyone else is the devil.

                Frankly I am getting sick and tired of your right wing views, especially the racist slur you continually regurgitate about the Maori Party only being interested in being in parliament so as to get their backsides in the back of the government LTDs.

                According to you, the only reason the Maori Party MPs are in parliament is for all the perks, that MPs get as part of the job. The only ones in parliament for sincere reasons are either Labour or National. The facts are, that the Maori Party had nothing to do with the system of perks and privilege that the majority white MPs, both National and Labour have managed to implement for themselves over the years.

                I have tried politely in the past to point out to you, despite this, you never aim this slur against other MPs not even the National Party or even ACT MPs. It seems that in your opinion the back seat of government cars is reserved for white Labour and National MPs, the only few brown faces allowed to share this privilege, must first have a patronising stamp of approval from either Labour or National.

                You ask for an apology from me, how about one from you, for your slurs and lies.

  5. Brett 5
    29 November 2010 at 1:43 pm

    If this goes ahead, it will kill off the greens.

  6. Bryce Edwards 6
    29 November 2010 at 2:02 pm

    As far as I can see, there is genuine debate and enthusiasm – but also uncertainty – amongst leftists around Matt McCarten about setting up a new party to fill the gaping hole on the left in New Zealand. The big question seems to be whether the time is right to launch such a party.

    The question of whether Hone Harawira is going to be involved is a crucial one. It’s a crucial question both for A) all those leftists who believe that Harawira is a radical anti-establishment leftist who can give the party a solid base within Parliament from the very beginning and thus avoid the 5% threshold, and B) all those leftists who think it would be a disaster to have Harawira involved because he’s actually a radical Maori nationalist not really a leftist or a socialist, and because they don’t want yet another very dominant figure to play the authoritarian role of Jim Anderton again.

    In terms of the Greens, it’s generally accepted that a New Left Party can easily co-exist with the Green Party without stepping on each others toes, because the Greens have very much decided to shift towards nearer the middle of the political spectrum and concentrate more on purely environmental issues.

    • Rex Widerstrom 6.1
      29 November 2010 at 5:08 pm

      Excellent analysis as always, Bryce.

      Under MMP, the only real hope any party has is to co-opt an MP with a safe seat. The 5% threshold is just too high due to the innate conservatism of the voting public (conservative in terms of their voting habits, not necessarily their politics).

      But with a safe seat usually comes an alarming degree of hubris, and Hone’s certainly no exception to that rule.

      The politician’s agenda becomes that of the party, or the politician takes his ball and goes home. All sorts of compromises are made to assuage his or her ego (though it’s always been a him so far) till the whole thing implodes, having achieved nothing. c.f. The Alliance and NZ First. The only way it can work is if there isn’t really a party at all, it’s just a sham to one man’s ego. c.f. whatever made-up name Peter Dunne’s using today.

      Having had to play court to Anderton I can’t imagine Matt not seeing the inherent danger. And I suspect he does, hence Bradford’s line about

      any such party had to be broad-based and its momentum needed to come from a large groundswell of people rather than a few high-profile leaders

      I could be reading too much into it, but to me that’s saying “Come on people, if you want this, then show us that there’s at least 5% of you prepared to put your vote where your vague desire is; don’t make us have to rely on Hone for survival”.

      • Draco T Bastard 6.1.1
        29 November 2010 at 5:49 pm

        I actually think that in a national/general election the policies that Matt etc propose would get 5% of the vote – probably more. Matt got 3.6% in Mana and, as he said, some people who supported his policies voted Labour anyway to help them keep the electorate. These people would probably be quite happy to vote for a party with the same policies in a general election and that would be enough to get over the 5% threshold.

        • The Voice of Reason 6.1.1.1
          29 November 2010 at 5:59 pm

          I’d have to agree DTB, except you are way short on the numbers. People will happily vote for those policies and I predict the two parties who are associated with them will get 40-45% of the vote, just as they did at the last election. Hopefully the Greens and Labour will actually get more than that this time round, but one thing that will stop that happening is syphoning off votes to a no hope left party.

          • felix 6.1.1.1.1
            29 November 2010 at 6:41 pm

            What’s the problem with a left block split between 3 parties instead of 2?

            • The Voice of Reason 6.1.1.1.1.1
              29 November 2010 at 7:17 pm

              Nothing, except we’ve got 2 good parties now and a third one is just going to cannibalise the votes of other two. The third party brings no extra votes, so ultimately, the best that can happen is that the numbers and seats stay the same. More likely is it simply takes worthwhile votes and trashes them, costing the other parties some seats. Can’t build unity by division and ego is not the same as leadership.

              Sadly, Matt has never run anything politically that wasn’t already part of the Labour Party, though I accept the Alliance temporarily drew in a wider coterie of small political parties. All he knows how to do is play to the factions, offer a shoulder to cry on and lead the disgruntled into the wilderness. And consolidate the grip of the right on the treasury benches at the same time, which was what happened in the New Labour/Alliance years. And don’t get me started on the Maori party. Blind Freddy could see they would lurch to the right at the first sniff of a leather LTD seat, but Matt was presumably into it because it hurt Labour, not because it would be left wing.

              • just saying …
                29 November 2010 at 7:26 pm

                “we’ve got 2 good parties now”

                Care to elaborate?

              • pollywog …
                29 November 2010 at 9:57 pm

                we’ve got 2 good parties now and a third one is just going to cannibalise the votes of other two. The third party brings no extra votes,

                play to the factions, offer a shoulder to cry on and lead the disgruntled into the wilderness.

                forget the left/right division of the political landscape. carve out new territories from the moral highground

                thats where a new party would need to play. appeal to the disgruntled apathetic factions who don’t vote and don’t buy into the petty partisan bullshit of the two major parties

                target the extra votes who don’t belong to anybody. give us disgruntled wilderness dwellers a shoulder to cry on and lead us into the mainstream

                there has never been a better time to do it.

                develop innovative campaign strategies thru guerilla media tactics and using social media networks in a way thats never been used before to maximise impact and exposure.

                of course having a safe seat like Hone’s to build around would be most advantageous to start with.

                but im thinking more of a youth party for gen-Xers and slackers. emphasise and deny any affiliations to the left or right as a point of difference and develop policies accordingly.

                For fucks sake someone needs to give us something to believe in.

                • Rex Widerstrom …
                  29 November 2010 at 10:31 pm

                  forget the left/right division of the political landscape. carve out new territories from the moral highground

                  Precisely. A lot of what Matt proposes isn’t redical left at all, it’s just painted that way by RWNJs. Giving empty state houses to people living in garages isn’t seen by Mr & Mrs Great Unwashed as some sort of revolutionary Marxism but simple bloody common sense.

                  thats where a new party would need to play. appeal to the disgruntled apathetic factions who don’t vote and don’t buy into the petty partisan bullshit of the two major parties

                  The fact they’re getting votes by default – by being the lesser of two clapped out ego-driven evils – is Labour’s and National’s version of the Emperor’s new clothes. They’re terrified someone will point out that, for instance, Labour’s vote is based primarily on it’s status as “party most likely to get elected and not be National”.

                  It’s certainly not getting support (other than from a shrinking core of activists) on the basis of leadership, vision, or performance.

                  NZ First toppled it from second position in 1995 with a set of basically common sense policies on everything from foreign investment to housing, and after inexorably slow growth it essentially did that in the space of about 5 months.

                  All it takes is for a party to reach the “tippng point” where enough people believe enough other people might be willing to give it a go, and the Emperor’s nakedness will be there for all to see. Hence the air of desperation and “Oh noez! Vote splitting!11!!” emanating from the Labour camp at this point.

                  Brilliant comment, pollywog. Right on the money. If the naysayers are right, so be it. But we (the country) owe it to ourselves to give it a go.

                  And while we’re at it, a new right party with some principles and integrity too… if for no other reason that the new left party would need an effective opposition with a realistic hope of toppling it, in order to keep it from morphing into Labour Mk II.

                  • pollywog …
                    29 November 2010 at 11:18 pm

                    cheers Rex

                    regarding policies. you’d only need to identify some where both parties are failing to put forward winning options.

                    rather than fighting them on all fronts, pick and choose the battles wisely and the ground where you want to fight them.

                    just look at the housing wound McCarten opened up in Mana and look to inflict the same proactive damage in a few other key issues.

                    or look at what a one trick party like the Maori party did by campaiging on nothing more than repealing one act and promise to do the same to the sham that is the Emissions Trading Scheme.

                    keep it stupidly simple cos that’s who you’d need to get on board, the politically naive.

                    there is so much ground to be made in just filling the space and going where no party has gone before.

                    i bet it does scare the shit out of the major parties to think of one who could offer an alternative to and mobilise, not so much middle NZ but, the fringes who actually hold the balance of power by not voting.

                    thats the true lesson in the Mana by election. the majority wasn’t with Labour. it was with those who couldn’t bring themselves to vote for a brown stooge or a tory hori….Andrew Little even said as much.

                    it’s one thing to give ground to Winston and his grey power fanbase or Rodders and his redneck mob in the hope of forming a coalition but a party who actively targets the younger generations with no definable left right leanings is a whole ‘nother beast and one that can’t be easily tamed.

                • Colonial Viper …
                  29 November 2010 at 11:16 pm

                  For fucks sake someone needs to give us something to believe in.

                  Yeah channel the vibrant original Obama energy (without being the corporate sell out his administration has turned out to be).

              • felix …
                29 November 2010 at 11:05 pm

                TVoR it seems you don’t value representation very highly.

                If there is a constituency whose views are better represented by McCarten than by Labour or the Greens, who are you to say they should vote for second or third best fit?

                And does your argument extend to the Greens? Should Green voters just suck it up and vote Labour instead?

                If not, why should you expect anyone else to?

                • The Voice of Reason …
                  30 November 2010 at 7:06 am

                  Well, Felix, if the Greens or Labour couldn’t find a better candidate than Matt in a particular electorate, then I’d vote for him, too. But that’s not a likely scenario. I did electorate vote Green once, in Coromandel, when Jeanette had a decent chance of winning. Fell a few hundred short as I recall.

                  I’m not all fixed to one party tactically and I’m one of those who believe that the best way to win elections is for the left to form an electoral bloc prior to the election and to not stand locally where there is a clear chance a ‘partner’ party can win the seat.

                  I just don’t think a third party with a policy platform similar to those held by Labour or the Greens is in any way helpful.

                  • felix …
                    30 November 2010 at 10:02 am

                    I would pretty much agree with most of that, if only the last sentence were true.

                    But with the Greens racing for the centre and Labour racing to the right, it’s no longer realistic to say that between them they can represent the range of left wing views.

                    Of course if you’re right and they CAN represent the spectrum then no-one will vote for a 3rd party and no harm will be done, however if there is a constituency for such a party then your argument is void by definition.

                    • The Voice of Reason …
                      30 November 2010 at 11:06 am

                      Yeah, agree that if there is a void, then it should be filled. However I disagree that Labour is heading to the right. Since Clark took over, its gone left, as it’s legislative record confirms. Really can’t talk about the Greens, simply have no idea where they’re at, direction wise, but I assume they can still be considered to the left of Labour on most things where they don’t directly agree.

                      Either way, I think you and I owe Jim Anderton an apology, because there are actually 3 ‘left’ parties in Parliament right now and we’ve been talking as if there were only two. A small slip really, but Jim does show it’s possible to get elected on a platform that is to the left of the mainstream left parties, at least at local level. It’s the getting to 5% without harming the others that worries me. A left party that gets 4.99% of the vote would be a disaster. Two votes more and it’s a triumph!

                    • felix …
                      30 November 2010 at 11:15 am

                      Ha, yes sorry Jim.

                      And yeah, the threshold determines whether the whole exercise is a net loss to the “left block” (unless there’s a safe seat in play of course).

                      That whole area of the MMP system needs a rethink IMO.

                  • Bryce Edwards …
                    30 November 2010 at 11:40 am

                    Voice of Reason says: ‘I disagree that Labour is heading to the right. Since Clark took over, its gone left, as it’s legislative record confirms.’

                    I think this is a very good topic for discussion and evaluation. To me there seems to be a lot of good evidence for arguing either way on the question of whether the post-2008 Labour Party has shifted left or clung to a centrist status quo position.

                    Essentially I would argue that Labour is – like most parties – playing an ideological “double game”. This involves attempting to play to different audiences all the time with a highly segmented targeting strategy. So when it’s conference time they will make public announcements that seem genuinely radical and leftward moving, but then they will consciously give another message to a business audience to say “actually we’re not departing too far from the mainstream”.

                    Also I’d argue that the political and economic environment that Labour is operating within is also creating the conditions and encouragement for a shift to a more leftwing, materialist focus. I argued this back in December last year in a blog post examining how Phil Goff was jettisoning ‘identity politics’ in favour of a bit more ‘class politics’. See: http://liberation.typepad.com/liberation/2009/12/identity-politics-vs-class-politics-4-understanding-labours-tilt-to-the-left.html

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      30 November 2010 at 12:16 pm

                      As we have seen on the post about Cunliffe’s speech, plenty of Labour stalwarts fear that it’s 1980’s neo-con free market tendencies are not buried deep enough. Also the level of trust in the parliamentarians is not as high as it could or as it should be. Interesting times.

  7. climate justice 7
    29 November 2010 at 2:20 pm

    Bryce – if there greens were to go more left and embrace eco socialism they would work with a new left party too. The biggest risk for the greens if being in govt with the labour party, who has anti enviro pro corporate polluter trading schemes etc.

    • Bored 7.1
      29 November 2010 at 2:52 pm

      You could get the feeling that any new “Left” party would merely take votes from the left of the Labour spectrum, the Greens being ideologically stuck with those who place environment first but are centrist or apolitical.

      There is a danger for the Greens here, their mision to save the environment may suffer at the hands of the “new” left as well. Any “new” left party would be judged by how it delivers to the material needs of its core supporters, which in all probability will necessitate environmental exploitation. Catch 22 for the Greens.

  8. Bryce Edwards 8
    29 November 2010 at 2:49 pm

    Climate justice – I’m sure you’re right in terms of that hypothetical situation.

    But do you really think that the Greens could go left and embrace “eco socialism”? Most of the Greens seem allergic to such words, and if you search through any of their thousands of speeches and media releases, you’d hardly be likely to even find the word mentioned. The momentum around the world is for political environmentalism to become more pro-capitalist, and I can’t see any reason that the NZ Greens are any different.

    • Gotham 8.1
      29 November 2010 at 4:45 pm

      I would think ‘pro-capitalist’ is more of a shudder-inducer to most Greens than ‘eco-socialist’.

      • Colonial Viper 8.1.1
        29 November 2010 at 5:09 pm

        Whats the bet that the Greens are going to take their activist grassroots supporters for granted as they head to the Right. We’ve never seen that before huh :rolleyes:

        • Gotham 8.1.1.1
          29 November 2010 at 5:47 pm

          Worse, in my opinion, would be a situation where the Greens alienate their grassroots activists/supporters AND fail to inspire new voters to turn Green (or, Beige, as Bryce Edwards (lovingly) points out in his blog).

  9. Tiger Mountain 9
    29 November 2010 at 2:53 pm

    Eddie’s speculative post is ‘deja vue all over again’ as Americans say.

    There are several political questions raised by this matter re desirability/practical formation and parliamentary aims. Such a new party, which until someone who knows something says something, can only be regarded likely to be another ‘left’ social democratic party similar to the New Labour dept. of the Alliance.
    • Left social democrats: The Alliance is still around albeit in abbreviated form, those of that bent could join it, relaunch it, it is a registered party.
    • Hard left: The Workers Party is registered as political party, or at least was in 08 and stood a full platform of candidates. The WP being the only parliamentary contender that does not claim to represent ‘everyone’ in society, just the working class and opressed peoples. Anti imperialist, anti capitalist.
    I do not claim the above two are a simple answer to a complex set of concerns from people but a lot of time could expended on a new party project that really could take long years to get a result in terms of parliamentary representation. For another reformist party. Do people really want to go there?

    Genuine lefties are out and about being activists anyway, but in terms of the time constaints of a 2011 election, it is probably more effective to ‘work with and struggle against’ the existing parties.
    Voters are so well known for getting shaky hands in the booth, and the big black marker pen heads to Natz or Lab. Organising around that phenomenon is not a quick fix.

  10. Sean 10
    29 November 2010 at 5:20 pm

    In an electorate that should have been supportive of his position, McCarten got 3.6% of the vote. This would indicate that any party he got off the ground would be lucky to reach that level Nation-wide.

    This would make this party dependent on Hone Harawira holding his electorate. And of course, should Mr Harawira commit to changing to this left party (big “should” there), he would then have to convince the electorate of Te Tai Tokerau that:
    a) He was doing the right thing personally leaving the Maori Party; and,
    b) his voters should support his move by backing him, and his new party.

    That doesn’t seem a likely thing for Harawira to do.

    I don’t think there is going to be a new left party, and if there is, it will electorally fail in 2011 because it will not have an electorate lifeboat.

    • outofbed 10.1
      29 November 2010 at 6:58 pm

      When people mention the Greens is that the people who vote for them or their activists?
      The two groups differ widely in their views IMHO
      So any moves by the Greens have to be pragmatic because the Green vote is very fickle
      Many of the activist despise the National Party and only marginal less the labour party. seeing them as both two sides of that growth at all costs paradigm.
      For the Greens to prosper they have to convince people that the new Green way of thinking, Green economics if you like is the way to go.
      Right ,or Left? The two parties who are most similar in the economic policies over the last 2o years have been National and Labour. Take Cunlifs’s backing of PPP’s recently or there Emission trading schemes for example. Phill Goff or John key take your choice, not much of one is it?

      • Sean 10.1.1
        30 November 2010 at 10:32 am

        I understand your views of the Labour Party and National Party not offering a voting choice for Activists of the Green or to the left of Jim Anderton. And that the idea of a McCarten/Bradford/Harawira party would appeal to them.

        I just saying that those Activist don’t add up to 5% of the vote, and Harawira can not be counted on to bring his electorate with him if he moves from the Maori party.

        In 1995, United New Zealand formed with seven sitting MPs who defected from National and Labour, they were trying to build a middle party, and were working against a Labour party still unpopular from the Douglas/Prebble years, and a National party which had brought Ruthenasia to the country

        In the 1996 election, only one of United New Zealand’s MPs remained in the house – Peter Dunne, who was united by himself. Based on that I feel that giving Hone Harawira a one in seven chance of moving from the Maori party and still keeping his electorate is fair, and if the McCarten/Bradford/Harawira party doesn’t make the threshold it will be all over.

    • Oscar 10.2
      30 November 2010 at 3:15 am

      McCarten got a lot more support than the 3.6%. Unfortunately, his support base couldn’t vote by virtue of being on the Maori Roll.

      Chances are, those on the Maori Roll would be more likely to give McCarten their party vote given most of the Maori Seats are no longer politically aligned and are a complete mashup.

  11. climate justice 11
    29 November 2010 at 8:06 pm

    Bryce: But do you really think that the Greens could go left and embrace “eco socialism”?

    I would imagine the greens wld be split somewhere near 50/50

    I also know the majority of the greens (including their leadership) would never support a greens national government.

    In my view the most rightwing policy the green party has at the moment is support for the pollution subside policy of carbon trading: the Emissions Trading Scheme. The greens are pro union and say they are anti neoliberal, policies like the ETS undermine Norman’s rhetoric.

  12. climate justice 12
    29 November 2010 at 8:11 pm

    Sue Bradford has mentioned eco socialism in some of her speeches. Chris Trotter has said he has an interest in eco socialism and mentioned it in blog posts. Evo Morales is the ecosocialist indigenous president of Bolivia. I believe figures like him is where more of the left should be looking to for leadership.

    Some of the youth section of the greens, the Young Greens are into ecosocialism. The greens would go more left if they could also increase their vote I think. The management section of the green party is very vote and branding focused.

  13. Jenny 13
    29 November 2010 at 9:46 pm

    Just on the results from the Mana by-election.
    I think the ability of a new left party to affect ongoing events would be limited.

    Still, there must be some democratic way of turning back the right wing neo-liberalism, market first policies, that are hurting the lives of so many flax roots New Zealanders, while ripping up the environment.

    To weaken neo-liberalism an agreement to work together around a common set of policies between the existing Political Parties on the left and centre, may be a more realistic goal.

    Obviously the first step in reversing neo-liberal polices, would be to work together to oust the present right wing National Government from the Treasury Benches.

    Could everyone on the left at least agree on this?

    Rather than these parties continually point scoring off each other. How about agreeing to work together to achieve a limited programme of common aims that they could all agree on?

    Apart from agreeing to oust the Nats, what other common aims could the left agree on:

    Here is my suggested short list.

    Obviously such a list would have to be agreed by all the parties. It may be bigger or smaller, or not resemble my list at all. (This is just my idea to kick off the debate on what, a common programme that, The Greens, The Maori Party and The Labour Party, could all agree on, might look like).

    Poverty Reduction.

    1. That on taking power a Labour led Government will immediately raise the legal Minimum wage to $15p/h.

    2. That fruit and vegetables and staples like meat and bread and milk be exempted from GST.

    Environment.

    1. That emissions trading scheme be dumped and a legally enforceable sinking lid of carbon emissions be imposed on industry, and transport by legislation.

    2. That public transport be favoured over roading and motorway expansion.

    Foreshore and seabed:

    1. All foreshore and offshore marine resources be subject to article 2 of the Treaty of Waitangi.

    2. Any disputes on exploitation ownership and customary usage and rights between Maori and the Crown or private interests to be decided in hearings heard before the Waitangi Tribunal, with a further right of appeal to the Supreme Court of New Zealand.

    3. That no citizen of this country will be excluded by any other interest, whether public or private, from the seas or shores of Aotearoa. That public access to coastal areas and waterways for leisure and recreation to be guaranteed and protected by statute.

    4. That exploitation of the coast and foreshore for commercial gain be open to legal challenge by any citizen, also decided before the Waitangi Tribunal with a further right of appeal to the Supreme Court.

    In exchange for agreeing to a common programme, the smaller parties commit to give their votes on confidence and supply to the Labour Party.

    On all other issues outside of confidence and supply and the minimum programme of agreed aims. Each party would be free to argue and vote for their differing party programmes and policies.

    • Colonial Viper 13.1
      29 November 2010 at 11:22 pm

      If we are to roll back neo-liberalism we must start a conversation empowering ordinary voters with alternative ideas and a new language.

      e.g. economics isn’t simply about inflation, deficits and balance of payments, it is about activity which gives people real jobs, with good pay, which helps our society grow stronger from the inside out.

    • g says 13.2
      30 November 2010 at 9:29 am

      jenny, thats a great start. i have another proposal. the nurses, teachers and police on pay parity.

      • KJT 13.2.1
        30 November 2010 at 9:47 am

        Why should the police, who have 9 weeks training, have parity with Teachers.

        How about Teachers and Nurses having pay parity with Lawyers and accountants?

        • Colonial Viper 13.2.1.1
          30 November 2010 at 1:36 pm

          Well, for starters, teachers don’t have to put up with the everyday risk of being assaulted and verbally abused like sworn police officers do.

          (There, I’ve given you the ball) 😎

          • Pascal's bookie 13.2.1.1.1
            30 November 2010 at 1:40 pm

            Police get; mace, handcuffs, tasers, billy clubs, cable ties, radio coms, firearms. And their union is still more sookie about danger than the teachers.

            • swordfish 13.2.1.1.1.1
              30 November 2010 at 7:42 pm

              “Police get: mace, handcuffs, tasers, billy clubs, cable ties, radio coms, firearms. And their union is still more sookie about danger than the teachers.”

              I think you’ll find it’s standard practice these days to issue most teachers with the first four items on your list.

          • KJT 13.2.1.1.2
            30 November 2010 at 1:42 pm

            Don’t they?

  14. climate justice 14
    29 November 2010 at 10:26 pm

    I support these suggestions:

    Poverty Reduction.

    1. That on taking power a Labour led Government will immediately raise the legal Minimum wage to $15p/h.

    2. That fruit and vegetables and staples like meat and bread and milk be exempted from GST.

    Environment.

    1. That emissions trading scheme be dumped and a legally enforceable sinking lid of carbon emissions be imposed on industry, and transport by legislation.

    2. That public transport be favoured over roading and motorway expansion.

    as a good start point

    • Jenny 14.1
      2 December 2010 at 6:40 am

      .
      C.J. in your comment, I notice you don’t say anything about the Foreshore and Seabed.

      By ignoring this issue you give away any chance of action on Poverty Reduction and the Environment, which then become mere pipe dreams.

      Because without making some concessions to the Maori Party, a Labour Led, left leaning administration will not be possible in 2011.

      And even in 2015 when people are so disgusted with a National Led administration that they give Labour an overwhelming majority. Because Labour will then be able to rule alone they won’t be making concessions to the left out side their comfort zone.

      So C.J. by not addressing this issue you are ensuring, business as usual.

      capcha – “changing” let’s

  15. Jenny 15
    29 November 2010 at 11:24 pm

    .
    Tatou Tatou

    The Greens, Labour and the Maori Party are all fighting this odorous piece of legislation that aims to allow privatisation of water, amongst other attacks on local democracy.

    In every city now, there are people on the left, starting to realise that they need to work together beyond their separate groups.

    .

    • the pink postman 15.1
      30 November 2010 at 3:44 pm

      So why doesn’t Turia admitt that the alliance with National is a bulls up and that Maori are being taken for granted. working class Tories are bad enough, Maori Tories are worse still. Its rather sad than Turia has led this promising party well away from what was hoped by most Socialists and Social Democrats .

  16. Swampy 16
    29 November 2010 at 11:30 pm

    What’s a new left party needed for, what is wrong with all the old ones?

    The greens and Alliance should be enough.

  17. Jeremy Harris 17
    30 November 2010 at 1:44 am

    I broke the story of the new Left party involving McCarten, Hone Harawira, and Sue Bradford during the Mana campaign

    In the weekend, McCarten addressed the prospect of a new party in his Herald column:

    “That is nonsense. I’ve never had any conversations about such a thing with either Harawira or Bradford.”

    New Left Party..? Ah, no…

  18. climate justice 18
    30 November 2010 at 10:51 am

    What Matt said is there had not been a meeting to discuss such a party, @ the Unite conference on Saturday, what he said is that he is open to such an idea, if the time is right. Sue Bradford when she spoke before Matt, said that she is also open to the idea.

  19. deemac 19
    30 November 2010 at 11:59 am

    why not start a new left party? after all, it’s never been done before has it? oh wait a minute…
    V I Lenin (“Left Wing Communism, an Infantile Disorder”) must be revolving on his sarcophagus!

  20. Missy Poo 20
    1 December 2010 at 9:21 pm

    Oh come on you lot. Stop spouting all your socialist rhetoric.

    Middle NZ swing voters will NEVER vote for a break-away party with Hone in. He is seen as too much of a Maori Radical – far too scary for many. Sue B is too controversial for many ‘mum and dad’ voters and the younger voters just don’t get her. Nobody knows the other chap you are talking about – he is not headline material … yet!

    Middle NZ and young swing voters vote for personality not policy these days. It is the new trend and it will continue to be the way of the new politics in NZ: Too much American influence in our society is intruding on our style of politics.

    If anyone is going to invest time, money, resources and sheer sweat into a new political party it needs someone who has personality to drive it, along with good, sound and logical policy … I can’t see that happening in the near future.

    • Marty G 20.1
      1 December 2010 at 10:17 pm

      A true Left party isn’t after the middle NZ swing vote, just as the Greens and ACT aren’t.

      • Missy Poo 20.1.1
        1 December 2010 at 10:24 pm

        But they are the biggest block of undecided voters so having a party that will appeal to them will give the swing to the left that is needed.

        We need to understand that under MMP this huge block of swing voters will be the ones who vote in the governing party, not the die-hard right, left or green voters. Politics in NZ has changed forever and we cannot focus on what was but on what is and will be.

        • felix 20.1.1.1
          2 December 2010 at 9:37 am

          “But they are the biggest block of undecided voters so having a party that will appeal to them will give the swing to the left that is needed.”

          It wouldn’t be a move to the left at all then.

          • Colonial Viper 20.1.1.1.1
            2 December 2010 at 9:54 am

            Yeah depending on the decade both Labour and NAT end up pretending to be all centrist and middle NZ.

            While middle NZ gets decimated, but thats another discussion.

  21. Jenny 21
    1 December 2010 at 10:29 pm

    .
    Bomber Bradbury on the value and possibilities for a new Left Party

    The left must have room for aspiration

    “I find it the most disgusting of ethical molestations that the weakest and most vulnerable in society are being asked to do with less because the global economy was crashed by the greedy and corrupt, yet that is exactly what the ideologically stacked Welfare Razor Gang are proposing with their despicable bennie bashing attack on the welfare state.”

    Bomber Bradbury

  22. Missy Poo 22
    2 December 2010 at 9:56 am

    Why would it not?

    That is what is wrong with politics, especially leftist politics, in this country right now. We are being one -eyed and dismissive and making judgements, not considering what middle NZ wants/needs/is demanding.

    That is precisely why the conservatives are reaping the benefits right now. The left are not looking in the right places for the answers to the blight they are facing right now. Labour is losing ground rapidly and needs to get their wounded egos out of the place where the sun don’t shine and start thinking what the people of NZ need and want and woo those voters who are ready to be persuaded.

    I have always been a left voter, but am seriously thinking that perhaps the next election my vote will not be cast because I find the left are stuck in the past and not a party for NZ’s future with forward thinking policies or people for the future and are stuck in focusing on ideology … and many of those I socialise with and know who are also left of centre voters have the same thoughts too.

    Maybe my thinking is too simplistic for those who are die-hard leftists but these are my personal thoughts but they are reflected in middle NZ if only you choose to look.

    • felix 22.1
      2 December 2010 at 10:22 am

      *It’s much easier for everyone if you use the reply function instead of writing a new comment.

      But to your question: “Why would it not”

      Well, you say you want to capture the centrist vote because it’s the biggest group of undecideds, and you say the way to do this is to drop the left-wing talk and be more centrist.

      I think the onus is on you to explain how on earth that qualifies as moving anything to the left.

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    This is a guest post from Sydney reader Nik Clement After 2 years in Auckland I moved back to Sydney just over a year ago. While in Auckland, I went to the opening of Puhinui station and used it a fair bit, living in Manukau Central and being able ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago
  • Tolling revolt brewing in National heartland

    Kia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, September 18:Locals gathered in Woodville last night to protest at the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s decision to toll the new road linking the Manawatu and Hawkes Bay, saying ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • The doom spiral

    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In his last post, Zeke discussed incredible warmth of 2023 and 2024 and its implications for future warming. A few readers looked at it and freaked out: This is terrifying and This update really put me in a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Government directs Te Puni Kōkiri to conduct Māori Language Week in English

    The coalition government has issued a directive to Te Puni Kōkiri, the Ministry of Māori Development, instructing them that – in the interests of clear communication – they are to conduct this year’s Māori Language Week primarily or exclusively in English. The directive is in line with the Government’s policy ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    4 days ago
  • Government celebrates fact that New Zealand’s healthcare is so good people are queuing up for it a...

    At yesterday’s post-cabinet press conference, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, flanked by his Health Minister Shane Reti and someone we can’t independently verify was a real sign language interpreter, announced that he had some positive news for the country. “Alright team, I’m just going to hand over to uh, Dr. Shane, ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    4 days ago
  • Heartwarming: Thoughtful driver uses indicator to tell you what they’ve just done

    It’s 4:10pm in the morning, and you’re in the middle lane heading north on the great southern motorway of our nation’s capital, Auckland. There are no cars directly in front of you, but quite a few in the lane to your left. Suddenly, without warning, a black ute enters your ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    4 days ago
  • NPC teams will now be allowed to actually use the Ranfurly Shield in play

    Following decades of controversy, the governing body of New Zealand rugby, New Zealand Rugby, has ruled that the team currently holding the Ranfurly Shield may once again use it in play during the National Provincial Championship (NPC). The ruling restores the utility of a prize that for many years was ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    4 days ago
  • Climbing out of the hamster wheel

    I arrived home with a head full of fresh ideas about mindfulness and curbing impulsive aspects in my character.On the second night home I grabbed a piece of ginger and began swiftly slicing it on our industrial strength mandolin, the one I have learned through painful experience to treat with ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • More Notes From Stinky Town

    Good morning, folks. Another wee note from a chilly Rotorua morning that looks much clearer than yesterday. As I write, the pink glow in the east is slowly growing, and soon, the palest of blue skies should become a bit more royal.A couple of people mentioned yesterday that I should ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Make it make sense: why axe valuable local projects?

    Last week, Matt looked at how the government wants to pour a huge chunk of civic infrastructure funding for a generation  into one mega-road up North, at huge cost and huge opportunity cost. A smaller but no less important feature of the National Land Transport Plan devised by Minister of Transport ...
    Greater AucklandBy Jolisa
    4 days ago
  • Driving blind at higher speeds

    An open letter by experts about plans to raise speed limits warns the “tragic consequence will be more New Zealanders losing their lives or suffering severe injury, along with a substantial burden on the nation's healthcare and rehabilitation services”. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • 2024’s unusually persistent warmth

    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink My inaugural post on The Climate Brink 18 months ago looked at the year 2024, and found that it was likely to be the warmest year on record on the back of a (than forecast) El Nino event. I suggested “there is a real chance ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • National plan for 2000 more Kiwis a year in prison

    Open for allYesterday, Luxon congratulated his government on a job well done with emergency housing numbers, but advocates have been saying it‘s likely many are on the streets and sleeping in cars.Q&A featured some of the folks this weekend - homeless and in cars. Yes.The government’s also confirmed they stopped ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • I Found a Note in a Tree

    Hi,On most days I try to go on a walk through nature to clear my head from the horrors of life. Because as much as I like people, I also think it’s incredibly important to get very far away from them. To be reminded that there are also birds, lizards, ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Politicians need to lift their game

    Declining trust in New Zealand politicians should be a warning to them to lift their game. Results from the New Zealand Election Study for the 2023 election show that the level of trust in politicians has once again declined. Perhaps it is not surprising that the results, shared as part ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Police say they won’t respond to bomb threats anymore as ‘it’s never anything’

    Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says that New Zealand’s police force will no longer respond to bomb threats, in an attempt to cut costs and redirect police resources to less boring activities. Coster said that threat response and bomb disposal was a “fairly obvious” area for downsizing, as bomb threats are ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    5 days ago
  • A dysfunctional watchdog

    The reality of any right depends on how well it is enforced. But as The Post points out this morning, our right to official information isn't being enforced very well at all: More than a quarter of complaints about access to official information languish for more than a year, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change: The threat of a good example

    Since taking office, the climate-denier National government has gutted agricultural emissions pricing, ended the clean car discount, repealed water quality standards which would have reduced agricultural emissions, gutted the clean car standard, killed the GIDI scheme, and reversed efforts to reduce pollution subsidies in the ETS - basically every significant ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vegas Baby

    Good morning, lovely people. Don’t worry. This isn’t really a newsletter, just a quick note. I’m sitting in our lounge, looking out over a gloomy sky. Although being Rotorua, the view is periodically interrupted by steam bursting from pipes and dispersing—like an Eastern European industrial hellscape during the Cold War.Drinking ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Why Entrust Needs New Leadership

    I am part of a new team running in the Entrust election in October. Entrust is a community electricity trust representing a significant part of Auckland, set up to serve the community. It is governed by five trustees are elected every three years in an election the trust itself oversees. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • London Bridge is falling down

    In the UK, London is the latest of council groups to signal potential bankruptcy.That’s after Birmingham, Britain’s second largest city, went bankrupt in June, resulting in reduced sanitation services, libraries cut, and dimmed streetlights.Some in the city described things as “Dickens” like.Please, Sir, Can I have some more?For families with ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Govt may kick elderly out of hospitals

    The Government is considering how to shunt elderly people out of hospitals, and also how to cut their access to other support. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Monday, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Getting the nephs off the couch

    The so-called “Prince of the Provinces”, Shane Jones, went home last Friday. Perhaps not quite literally home, more like 20 kilometres down the road from his house on the outskirts of Kerikeri. With its airport, its rapidly growing (mostly retired) population, and a commercial centre with all the big retail ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • De moralibus orcorum: Sargon of Akkad, Rings of Power, Evil, and George R.R. Martin

    I have noted before that The Rings of Power has attracted its unfortunate share of culture war obsessives. Essentially, for a certain type of individual, railing on about the Wokery of Modern Media is a means of making themselves a online livelihood. Clicks and views and advertising revenue, and all ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #37

    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, September 8, 2024 thru Sat, September 14, 2024. Story of the week From time to time we like to make our Story of the Week all about us— and ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago
  • Salvation For Us All

    Yesterday, I ruminated about the effects of being a political follower.And, within politics, David Seymour was smart enough on Friday to divert attention from “race blind” policies [what about gender blind I thought - thinking of maternity wards] and cutting school lunches by throwing meat to the media. Teachers were ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A warm embrace

    Far, far away from here lives our King. Some of his subjects can be quite the forelock tuggers, but plenty of us are not like that, and why don't I wheel out my favourite old story once more about Kiwi soldiers in the North African desert?Field Marshal Montgomery takes offence ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Literal clowns are running the place, we must put a timeout on this stupidity… right Aotearoa?

    These people are inept on every level. They’re inept to the detriment of our internal politics, cohesion and increasingly our international reputation. And they are reveling in the fact they are getting away with it. We cannot even have “respectful debate” with a government that clearly rejects the very ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    6 days ago
  • Fact brief – Does manmade CO2 have any detectable fingerprint?

    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with John Mason. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Does manmade CO2 have any ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago
  • Judge Not.

    Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Matthew 7:1-2FOUR HUNDRED AND FORTY men and women professing the Christian faith would appear to have imperilled their immortal souls. ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago
  • Managed Democracy: Letting The People Decide, But Only When They Can Be Relied Upon To Give the Righ...

    Uh-uh! Not So Fast, Citizens! The power to initiate systemic change remains where it has always been in New Zealand’s representative democracy – in Parliament. To order a binding referendum, the House of Representatives must first to be persuaded that, on the question proposed, sharing its decision-making power with the people ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago
  • Looking For Labour’s Vital Signs.

    Flatlining: With no evidence of a genuine policy disruptor at work in Labour’s ranks, New Zealand’s wealthiest citizens can sleep easy.PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN has walked a picket-line. Presidential candidate Kamala Harris has threatened “price-gauging” grocery retailers with price control. The Democratic Party’s 2024 platform situates it well to the left of Sir ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago
  • Forty Years Of Remembering To Forget.

    The Beginning of the End: Rogernomics became the short-hand descriptor for all the radical changes that swept away New Zealand’s social-democratic economy and society between 1984 and 1990. In the bitterest of ironies, those changes were introduced by the very same party which had entrenched New Zealand social-democracy 50 years earlier. ...
    Bowalley Road
    7 days ago
  • Kōrero Mai – Speak to Me.

    Good morning all you lovely people. 🙂I woke up this morning, and it felt a bit like the last day of school. You might recall from earlier in the week that I’m heading home to Rotorua to see an old friend who doesn’t have much time. A sad journey, but ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • Winning ways

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Street architecture adjustment, KolkataShare Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago
  • 48 seconds on a plan that would reverberate for a million years

    Despite fears that Trump presidency would be disastrous for progress on climate change, the topic barely rated a mention in the Presidential debate. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Using blunt instruments and magical thinking to ignore evidence of harm

    The abrupt cancellations and suspensions of Government spending also caused private sector hiring, spending, and investment to freeze up for the first six months of the year. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāThis week we learned:The new National/ACT/NZ First Coalition Government ignored advice from Treasury that it didn’t have to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Is This A Dagger Which I See Before Me: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power Episode 5 (Seaso...

    Another week of The Rings of Power, season two, and another confirmation that things are definitely coming together for the show. The fifth Episode of season one represented the nadir of the series. Now? Amid the firmer footing of 2024, Episode Five represents further a further step towards excellent Tolkien ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • In Open Seas; A Book

    The background to In Open Seas: How the New Zealand Labour Government Went Wrong:2017-2023Not in Narrow Seas: The Economic History of Aotearoa New Zealand, published in 2020, proved more successful than either I or the publisher (VUP, now Te Herenga Waka University Press) expected. I had expected that it would ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 13

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate science on rising temperatures and the climate implications of the US Presidential elections; and special guests Janet ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Do or do not. There is no try

    1. Upon receiving evidence that school lunches were doing a marvellous job of improving outcomes for students, David Seymour did what?a. Declared we need much more of this sort of good news and poured extra resources and funding into them b. Emailed Atlas network to ask what to do next c. Cut ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • Dangerous ground

    The Waitangi Tribunal has reported back on National's proposed changes to gut the Marine and Coastal Area Act and steal the foreshore and seabed for its greedy fishing-industry donors, and declared it to be another huge violation of ti Tiriti: The Waitangi Tribunal has found government changes to the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Climate Change: National wants to cheat on Paris

    In 2016, the then-National government signed the Paris Agreement, committing Aotearoa to a 30 (later 50) percent reduction in emissions by 2030. When questioned about how they intended to meet that target with their complete absence of effective climate policy, they made a lot of noise about how it was ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Treasury warned Govt lower debt limits meant less ‘productivity-enhancing investment’

    Treasury’s advice to Cabinet was that the new Government could actually prudently carry net core Crown debt of up to 50% of GDP. But Luxon and Willis instead chose to portray the Government’s finances as in such a mess they had no choice but to carve 6.5% to 7.5% off ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Is the Media Complicit?

    This is a long read. Open to all.SYNOPSIS: Traditional media is at a cross roads. There is a need for those in the media landscape, as it stands, to earn enough to stay afloat, but also come across as balanced and neutral to keep its audiences.In America, NYT’s liberal leaning ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Black Friday

    It's Black Friday, the end of the weekYou take my hand and hold it gently up against your cheekIt's all in my head, it's all in my mindI see the darkness where you see the lightSong by Tom OdellFriday the 13th, don’t be afraid.No, really, don’t. Everything has felt a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • Tourism on the table for Pacific Ministers’ meet-up

    Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey will meet with Trade and Tourism Minister of Australia Don Farrell and Fiji Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica in Rotorua this weekend for a trilateral tourism discussion. “Like in New Zealand, tourism plays a significant role in Australia and Fiji’s economy, contributing massively to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Young people report on family and sexual violence

    The Te Puna Aonui Expert Advisory Group for Children and Young People has presented its report today on improving family and sexual violence outcomes for young people, to the Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour.  The presentation at the Auckland event was an opportunity for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • $18 million being invested in the victims of crime

    The Government is putting more than $18 million towards improving the experience of the criminal justice system for victims, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Minister for Children Karen Chhour say. “No one should experience crime, but for those who through no fault of their own become victims, they need to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • Landmark phonics check in te reo Māori

    For the first time, schools can use a purpose-built tool to check how a child is progressing in reading through te reo Māori. “Around 45 schools are trialling a New Zealand first te reo Māori phonics check, known as Hihira Weteoro. It will help kaiako (teachers) focus on what ākonga ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • New sea walls safeguard Ōpōtiki’s transformation

    Two new breakwater walls at Pākihikura (Ōpōtiki) Harbour will provide boats with safe harbour access to support the continued growth of aquaculture in Bay of Plenty, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones say. The Ministers and leaders from Tē Tāwharau o Te Whakatōhea and other ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Kitmap to improve access to science infrastructure

    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced an online platform to optimise the use of New Zealand’s science and technology research infrastructure and to link the public and private sector. “This country is home to world-class science, technology, and engineering expertise. Kitmap is set to empower Kiwi innovators, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Driving the uptake of low emission heavy vehicles

    The Government has launched the Low Emissions Heavy Vehicle Fund (LEHVF) to promote innovation and offset the cost of hundreds of heavy vehicles powered by clean technologies, Energy Minister Simeon Brown and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts say. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Speech on replacing the Resource Management Act

    Replacing the RMA Hon Chris Bishop: Good morning, it is great to be with you. Can I first acknowledge the Resource Management Law Association for hosting us here today. Can I also acknowledge my Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Simon Court, who is on stage with me. He has assisted me in establishing the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Replacement for the Resource Management Act takes shape

    Two new laws will be developed to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA), with the enjoyment of property rights as their guiding principle, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Parliamentary Under-Secretary Simon Court say. “The RMA was passed with good intentions in 1991 but has proved a failure in practice. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Tough laws pass to make gang life uncomfortable

    Legislation passed through Parliament today will provide police and the courts with additional tools to crack down on gangs that peddle misery and intimidation throughout New Zealand, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “From November 21, gang insignia will be banned in all public places, courts will be able to issue non-consorting orders, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New levy rates set to ensure continued funding of FENZ

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the rates for the redesigned levy that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) from July 2026.  “Earlier this year FENZ consulted publicly on a 5.2 percent increase to the levy. I was not convinced that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Police allocate Officers to Beat and Gang Units

    The Coalition Government welcomes Police’s announcement today to deploy more police on the beat and staff to Gang Disruption Units.  An additional 70 officers will be allocated to Community Beat Teams across towns and regional centres.  This builds on the deployment of beat officers in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch CBDs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Consultation begins on significant updates to the biosecurity system

    Proposals to strengthen the country’s vital biosecurity system, including higher fines for passengers bringing in undeclared high-risk goods, greater flexibility around importing requirements, and fairer cost sharing for biosecurity responses have been released today for public consultation. Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says “The future is about resilience and the 30-year-old ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Wānaka community to benefit from new overnight health service

    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says an Overnight Acute Care Service opening in October will provide people in Wānaka and the surrounding area with the assurance of quality overnight care closer to home.  “When I was in Wānaka earlier this year, I announced funding for an overnight health service – ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Preventing potholes with data-driven technology

    The Government is rolling out data collection vans across the country to better understand the condition of our road network to prevent potholes from forming in the first place, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is a key priority for the Government and increasing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • GDP data shows effect of high interest rates

    Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data for the quarter to June 2024 reinforces how an extended period of high interest rates has meant tough times for families, businesses, and communities, but recent indications show the economy is starting to bounce back, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ data released today ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • NZ to host first Fiji, Australia trilateral trade Ministers’ meeting in Rotorua

    Trade Minister Todd McClay will host Fijian Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica and Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell for trilateral trade talks in Rotorua this weekend. “Fiji is one of the largest economies in the Pacific and is a respected partner for Australia and New Zealand,” Mr McClay says. Australia and New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • NZ hosts Annual CER Trade Ministers’ meeting in Rotorua

    Trade Minister Todd McClay will meet with Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting in Rotorua this weekend.  “CER is our most comprehensive agreement covering trade, labour mobility, harmonisation of standards and political cooperation. It underpins an important trading relationship worth $32 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government proposing changes to jury trials

    The Government is seeking the public’s feedback on two major changes to jury trials in order to improve court timeliness, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “The first proposal would increase the offence threshold at which a defendant can decide to have their case heard by a jury. “The second is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Business key to regional economic dialogue

    Local businesses and industries need to be front and centre in conversations about how regions plan to grow their economies, Regional Development Shane Jones says. The nationwide series of summits aims to facilitate conversations about regional economic growth and opportunities to drive productivity, prosperity and resilience through the Coalition Government’s Regional ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • More funding for Growing Up in New Zealand study

    The Government is investing $16.8 million over the next four years to extend the Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) Longitudinal Study. GUiNZ is New Zealand’s largest longitudinal study of child health and wellbeing and has followed the lives of more than 6000 children born in 2009 and 2010, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Tough targets for charter schools will raise achievement

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that Charter Schools will face a combination of minimum performance thresholds and stretch targets for achievement, attendance and financial sustainability. “Charter schools will be given greater freedom to respond to diverse student needs in innovative ways, but they will be held to a much ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • NZ votes for Middle East resolution at UN

    New Zealand has voted for a United Nations resolution on Israel’s presence in occupied Palestinian Territory with some caveats, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand’s yes vote is fundamentally a signal of our strong support for international law and the need for a two-state solution,” Mr Peters says.    “The Israel-Palestine ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Honouring the legacy of New Zealand’s suffragists

    Suffrage Day is an opportunity to reaffirm New Zealand’s commitment to ensuring we continue to be a world leader in gender equality, Minister for Women Nicola Grigg says. “On 19 September, 131 years ago, New Zealand became the first nation in the world where women gained the right to vote. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Foreign Minister to travel to New York, French Polynesia

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is travelling to New York next week to attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, followed by a visit to French Polynesia. “In the context of the myriad regional and global crises, our engagements in New York will demonstrate New Zealand’s strong support for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Thanking social workers on their national day

    “Today, on Aotearoa New Zealand Social Workers’ Day, I would like to recognise the tremendous effort social workers make not just today, but every day,” Children’s Minister and Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour says. “I thank all those working on the front line for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Minister of State for Trade heads to Laos for ASEAN meetings

    Minister of State for Trade Nicola Grigg will travel to Laos this week to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Ministers’ Meetings in Vientiane.   “The Government is committed to strengthening our relationship with ASEAN,” Ms Grigg says. “With next year marking 50 years since New Zealand became ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Members appointed to retail crime MAG

    The Government has appointed four members to the Ministerial Advisory Group for victims of retail crime, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee say. “I am delighted to appoint Michael Hill’s national retail manager Michael Bell to the group, as well as Waikato community advocate and business ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation AGM and Conference 2024

    It’s my pleasure to be here to join the opening of the NZNO AGM and Conference for 2024.  First, I’d like to thank NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku, NZNO President, Anne Daniels, and Chief Execuitve Paul Gaulter for inviting me to speak today.  Thank you also to all the NZNO members ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Improvements for New Zealand authors

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says changes to the Public Lending Right [PLR] scheme will help benefit both the National Library and authors who have books available in New Zealand libraries. “I am amending the regulations so that eligible authors will no longer have to reapply every year ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister commends Police for gang operation

    Police Minister Mark Mitchell congratulates Police for the outstanding result of their most recent operation, targeting the Comancheros. “That Police have been able to round up the majority of the Comancheros leadership, and many of their patched members and prospects, shows not only the capability of Police, but also shows ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • New appointments to the EPA board

    Environment Minister Penny Simmonds has announced a major refresh of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) board with four new appointments and one reappointment.   The new board members are Barry O’Neil, Jennifer Scoular, Alison Stewart and Nancy Tuaine, who have been appointed for a three-year term ending in August 2027.  “I would ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Enabling rural recovery works in Hawke’s Bay

    Cabinet has approved an Order in Council to enable severe weather recovery works to continue in the Hawke’s Bay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Mark Mitchell say. “Cyclone Gabrielle and the other severe weather events in early 2023 caused significant loss and damage to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • FamilyBoost childcare payment registrations open

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