Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.
It was -2 degrees in Dunedin last night.
It was 3 degrees in Christchurch last night.
Not very warm to be sleeping in a car.
Not very warm to be sleeping in a container.
Not very warm to be sleeping in a garage.
Not very warm to be sleeping on the street.
The mainstream media may think that young millionaire Lamborghini drivers, the Game of Thrones and Samsung selfies are news items, but they are not.
The majority of the media is doing everything they can to support Paula Bennett and move homelessness off the headlines.
“Try walking in my shoes, it’s not actually that easy.”
This was the challenge TA set to Prime Minister John Key. But really it’s a challenge for us all.
Surely John Key’s lack of action on Climate Change is providing a warmer environment for the homeless.
I can hear the cries of anguish now “but stabilising global warming hasn’t helped the homeless!” Followed by a another ‘another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare’ post.
Hope for Britain’s sake they’re not sending Groser and the crew who signed the TPP!
New Zealand offers UK its top trade negotiators for post-Brexit deals
New Zealand has offered its top trade negotiators to the United Kingdom, relieving the British civil service as it prepares for the strain of seeking new deals with countries across the globe.
The Telegraph understands that the Commonwealth country has made an offer to loan staff to the British civil service, which has few trade negotiators of its own.
Interesting times, Boris and Gove played with matches and ended up burning their cosy clubhouse down that they were throwing rocks at their own party from.
Now they along with Farage have to deliver on their BS spin in a climate where many are pretty pissed with their antics.
Old Nigel may find it all a bit much once the national front types realise they got played and to quote the guardian as Boris has withdrawn already ‘ a man who will not clean up his own mess’.
Boris Johnson’s allies warned there is a “deep pit in Hell” waiting for Michael Gove after the Justice Secretary stabbed his fellow Brexit champion in the back saying he was not up to being Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, it looks like the coup in the Labour Party is hitting some road bumps.
Labour MPs divided over how to depose Jeremy Corbyn
Angela Eagle has delayed an expected leadership challenge to Jeremy Corbyn for at least 24 hours as Labour MPs who wish to depose Labour’s leader remain divided over how best to mount a challenge.
The former shadow business secretary was expected to declare that she was going to run as a “unity candidate” at a 3pm press conference.
However, her associates claim she has decided to hold off because of the turmoil engulfing the Conservatives and to give more time for Labour MPs to pressurise Corbyn in to handing in his resignation.
Her decision to stand was also delayed when the former shadow welfare secretary Owen Smith collected enough nominations to put his name forward, following concerns that Eagle may not be able to win over the party in a ballot of members.
“Hope for Britain’s sake they’re not sending Groser and the crew who signed the TPP!”
If it is Goser he will have drunk all the wine, before he manages to get there…
If it is Key, he will have a great time on the golf course, do whatever the US and UK want and expand his personal wealth, networking and connections. He might stop in at Buckingham palace to say Labour made him do it (referendum to change the flag), no offence, Ma’am. Lets face it, Key is out of his depth in any way apart from financial Tory wizardry, (somehow managing to increase our debt to eyewatering proportions while having nothing to show for it and have people living in tents).
Let’s hope for the farmers and our economy the delegate is Winston Peters. For the good of our country and relationship lets hope it is Winson Peters. National may not like him, but he is clearly the man for the job to get the best deal and the best relationship!
Why, as a society, are we so cruel, heartless,callous and uncaring towards women doing the most important job?
Surely folk who reckon they are having children so they can live the high life on the state, have gone the same way as the trickle-downers, climate change deniers.
As is said in the clip, there seems to be sexism in play.
‘Benefit cheat/fraud’ implies wrong and theft.
Tax avoidance/evasion implies clever.
The former is punished severely often with incarceration.
The latter gets high powered men writing laws to protect them.
I caught something on the radio yesty- figures from UK suggest that the under payment of benefits/denial of entitlements dwarfs the fraud numbers.
Thanks Paul. That is a great episode. I saw it mid way through and it was unbelievable! When thedailyblog gets back up, worth watching.
It is shocking!
6 months of prison for a women with young children (who has had her infant murdered by a previous partner) for benefit fraud based on the violent and dysfunctional testimony of the ‘partner’ who gets away scott free by the sound of it.
For those neoliberals out there who thinks society runs to a budget, we just spent over $100,000 on legal fees and prison fees and f&^ked up more kids by taking their mother away and got $1600 back she does not seem to even owe.
If we take the ‘bankruptcy’ laws that say you can write off you debt because it means you will be more productive and can recover your life, you have to ask, how can someone recover their life and get off a benefit, get a job with a criminal conviction and hundreds of thousands in debt? More double standards against women and children.
No wonder we have the highest abuse rates in the world! It starts with blatant discrimination of vulnerable women by government officials and our legal system.
Excellent points. IRD can and does write off debt for hardship other than core Child Support debt, and are actually reasonably proactive about it. Would be nice for other government departments (MSD…) to do the same.
Frontrunner Boris Johnson stuns Westminster by pulling out of Tory Leadership Race
Comes in the immediate wake of a whole swathe of Tory MP defections from Camp Boris and a series of newly-released Polls showing him trailing Theresa May among Tory voters, voters in general and the Party’s membership.
The latest YouGov says it all.
Compared to the February Poll of Tory Party members, Boris’s negativity ratings have increased substantially.
There’s a kind of Tortoise and Hare scenario.
Boris leads the Brexit campaign in his usual loud and colourful way / May (considered mildly Eurosceptic by many) takes a very low profile role in the Remain campaign (some might say, not entirely unlike Corbyn).
As a consequence, Boris has his credibility destroyed among the large minority of Tory members who were pro-Remain, whilst May manages to maintain enormous cross-over appeal to both sides of the Conservative Membership.
YouGov
27-29 June 2016
Tory Party Members
Positive or Negative View of Potential Leader
………………………………………Boris Johnson………………………Theresa May Feb 2016…………………Pos 76% / Neg 14%…………….Pos 68% / Neg 11% June 2016……………….Pos 58% / Neg 30%…………….Pos 72% / Neg 13%
Boris’s support comes almost entirely (92%) from Tory members who voted Leave, whereas May’s support derives almost as much from Leavers (44%) as Remainers (56%).
In the one-on-one match-ups, Boris beats all possible contenders except May. She wins easily by 55% to 38%.
Swordfish. You ARE the news. Thanks for this comment and all the previous ones providing information previously unseen by these eyes and casting light on angles I hadn’t considered.
Nothing about the sociopolitical context that led to Brexit. The perspective on racism adds something. More angst about the middle classes losing privilege under neoliberalism not so much.
While we’re worried about little old Britain having a little old leadership change, spare a thought for Saudi Arabia. The last stable Muslim nation between Pakistan and Nigeria. A two minute clip from Bloomberg:
Saudis are confronting a future of cheaper oil, in a country where oil is everything. Can Saudi Arabia wean itselfoff the proceeds of oil?
Its plan is to sell 5% of Aramco with the biggest listing of all time, and get that to help form a sovereign wealth fund worth up to US $2 trillion. That’s enough to buy Apple, Microsoft, Google (Alphabet), Exxon Mobil, and still have plenty of change.
There’s the resistant clerics.
There’s 80% vof the workforce being foreign.
There’s nearly half of the population under 25, and they make up 30% of the unemployed.
There’s no friends and no stability on any border.
There’s the inability to keep generations of patrimony going.
There’s patriarchal suppression of pretty much everything, and massive clerical resistance to change of pretty much anything.
In terms of the future stability of the Middle East, unlike the US invading multiple times, they have a plan.
But it’s the biggest roll of the dice we will see in our generation.
Could I run something past you please, I’m interested in your comments.
I get the Supported Living Payment for uncontrolled epilepsy.
In the last few years dealing with WINZ has become so stressful it’s become a seizure trigger for me and I can directly link 3 WINZ run-ins with emergency hospital admissions. (Been dealing with them since the late 1980s and this has never been an issue till 6 years ago, note the timing).
I recently had to voluntarily surrender the remaining $5/week Special benefit because of how crazy the 3 monthly reviews have become and because it’s too medically dangerous for me to go near a WINZ office.
There’s a contraceptive pill that prevents hormone-induced seizures for me.
But the only one that actually works (they are not created equal) is the only one that’s not funded, and it costs about $5/week, or $250/year. That’s a lot out of a benefit, I can get 3-4 meals out of that.
I did try the funded version but it made no difference.
I recently stopped said pill mostly because that $5 was starting to become difficult. (I also pay full price for another drug, that was funded when I started it but then funding changed to a generic and I could never make the switch so it’s pay for the brand or nothing. That happens frequently in NZ).
Not being on the pill caused some serious seizure problems that landed me in A&E for the day, only just avoiding being admitted.
Last time I heard- quite a few years ago- just an admission to A&E was $300 so I hate to think was that is now, but even if it was $500, well that’s 2 years worth of that pill cost gone in just a few hours on an avoidable admission.
My GP went into battle with the Health Ministry about funding for the pill because of it’s use as a medical drug, but no success.
There was never any help from WINZ at the time (every excuse under the sun) plus I had to give up with them for the sake of my health anyway.
That’s the saga, I’m not after sympathy or anything, or even whining about lack of money, but what I cannot for the life of me figure out, is DO THESE BLOODY IDEALOGUES WHO ARE SO HELL BENT ON DESTROYING THE WELFARE SYSTEM EVEN KNOW (OR CARE) ABOUT SIMPLE COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS?????
Surely, even to those Nat voters who despise people like me simply for existing, (apologies, “beneficiary” wasn’t on my career plan when I started Uni) why is it so hard to comprehend that a few dollars for to help with medications and not putting us in the eat/heat/treat situation, is actually a hell of a lot cheaper than the avoidable cost to the public health system? Or because it’s not the welfare budget don’t you mind your hard working taxes being spent on us that way?
My scenario is just a small one, but it’s common. Taken to the extreme people die.
@Kay, no the neoliberal dumbos do not even follow their own ideology in which case they would have an efficient system!! What a terrible story and way to be treated. It is not even about saving money, it is about a punishing regime, that makes no sense. In fact they are wasting massive amounts of money. It’s crazy.
We can all only hope we can get a change of government for a more humane and less Kafkaesque way to treat our fellow citizens.
Kay, I don’t know how to answer your question except to say “what save nz said”.
I feel very frustrated after hearing your story and knowing it’s amplified by thousands of unwell people around NZ. I have no idea what it does to a persons outlook and self esteem over time, being treated like you’re a nuisance getting in their way, being belittled first by those that are meant to help and then by stupid unkind people.
Geez, my only experience with WINZ is as an agent for my mother and advocating on her behalf for her disability allowance and secondly applying for her residential care subsidy. In that very short amount of time, winz have literally made me pull out my hair with their patronising way they speak to me, their failure to get the basic things done and their total and absolute indifference to my mothers situation and her vulnerability.
So, I don’t know who long term winz “clients” cope with the effort required just to get what you need and still be able retain self belief and hold their head up high.
Lastly, your scenario isn’t a “small one”. It’s a life changing, life effecting one. I hope you have good support from some quarters.
I guess the only thing that can change in your favour is a change to the government and a commitment from a new government to fully review the culture at winz and implement necessary change.
“So, I don’t know who long term winz “clients” cope with the effort required just to get what you need and still be able retain self belief and hold their head up high.”
In a nutshell, a lot of us no longer do. It’s a fight for $5 in my case and a fight not worth my physical- and mental- health. I personally know others, and there’s plenty of anecdotal reports around of people who have been forced to make the hard decisions about what medical treatments they can continue with. I’ve had to abandon necessary physio treatment for injuries from seizures because the ACC surcharge is just too much. (I can’t remember which Govt got rid of the full physio subsidy but that was disasterous for many on low/fixed incomes).
It would be really interesting to find out just how many hospital admissions involving people with chronic health problems can be directly linked to financial problems. We hear from time to time about low income families not picking up antibiotic prescriptions because they can’t afford the charges and the child subsequently ending up in hospital. I’ll bet anything that every every hospital doctor in the country has stories. But not officially, of course. That would be way too embarrassing for the Minister so a formal enquirey, or even survey will never happen.
Frustration is the word, but what to do? Even the Greens no longer speak out for us (supporting beneficiaries is just too politically toxic I guess) so there’s no one at all in the political establishment. When you’re trying to reason with the RWNJs and post on forums, write to MPs or whatever it is you do, can you point out just how much the welfare policies they’re embracing are costing the health system? Maybe it might sink in to the odd one…
(ps. I’ve exercised personal responsibility- shock. horror, us bludgers actually have that trait- and restarted that pill. More creative budgeting but I can put together a better budget than Bill ever could. Aside from not wanting to waste precious public hospital resources, if it’s possible to stop a few tonic clonic seizures every month well that’s a no brainer. They’re really not fun.)
Your response needs a more considered reply then I can give as I’m restrained by time I’m sorry. Hopefully we can talk again another time son.
I just want to respond to this:
” I’ve had to abandon necessary physio treatment for injuries from seizures because the ACC surcharge is just too much. (I can’t remember which Govt got rid of the full physio subsidy but that was disasterous for many on low/fixed incomes).”
This was the new National coalition government that removed the full subsidy from our ACC physio appointments. I think it came into effect in 2009. I have also had to abandon much needed physio for injuries in the last 7 years, which makes me angry and hinders my mobility.
I wrote awhile ago to then ACC opposition spokesperson, Iain Lees Galloway and Kevin Hague, ACC spokesperson from the Greens about restoring the subsidy to all physio’s should we get a Labour Green coalition in government. This was back in 2014. Mr Galloway, said in a very nice way, no. Kevin Hague never replied.
“It would be really interesting to find out just how many hospital admissions involving people with chronic health problems can be directly linked to financial problems”.
I reckon it would be high. Higher than in previous decades.
My brother lives with epilepsy. He had a serious tonic clonic seizure a few years ago, the worst in his life. He was lucky not to die from his injuries and was left exhausted and off work for months. Drivers license suspended etc. He has money though, private insurance etc so got through without having to worry about that side of things.
It is morally unacceptable that you to live with your illness, with only grudging support at best, from your government, and without the means to easily purchase the appropriate medication.
Hi joe90, I can’t believe how cavalierly and quickly you dismissed the opinions of a well known LGBT activist like Jenner based on anonymous allegations. Shame on you.
What do you have to say about Hillary enabling – or at least turning a blind eye to – Bill sexually assaulting many women and coercing other women for sexual favours over his political career?
so a few allegations against bill (mostly of having consensual affairs, but whatever).
One claim that hillary knew of one incident. So hardly “enabling – or at least turning a blind eye to – Bill sexually assaulting many women and coercing other women for sexual favours”.
Caitlyn Jenner is not an LGBT activist; she’s a self-aggrandising person interested in her own publicity and wealth. With that considered, it is obvious why she likes Trump.
Her publicity work includes of advocating for people who directly oppose rights for LGBT people and this makes things directly worse for LGBT people in the USA, in particular trans people. Activist? Fuck no.
This is just another reason why I have a soft spot for the SNP.
You may have heard by now D.Trumpf is now going around the world begging for campaign finances, lets put aside that is illegal. Lets also put aside he knows it’s illegal.
Lets just embrace a MP who is a fine example of a human being.
NATALIE McGARRY you are a wonderfully honest individual. My hope is the system won’t grind you down. Hugs and bikkies from the south pacific.
For the best bit, scroll down to her email response. It is just wonderful.
Just a wee reminder of how much money the Clinton Foundation received from foreigners looking for favours from Hillary during her term as Secretary of State (I posted this in OM a day or two ago):
From a Clinton Foundation document revealed by a hacker. (Please forgive the caps, they were in the article).
Here are some of the section titles:
*THE CLINTON FOUNDATION RECEIVED DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS TIED TO SAUDI ARABIA WHILE CLINTON SERVED AS SECRETARY OF STATE
*AN EMBATTLED BUSINESSMAN WITH “TIES TO BAHRAIN’S STATE-OWNED ALUMINUM COMPANY” GAVE BETWEEN $1 MILLION AND $5 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION
*A VENEZUELAN MEDIA MOGUL WHO WAS ACTIVE IN VENEZUELAN POLITICS DONATED TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION DURING CLINTON’S TENURE AS SECRETARY OF STATE
*GERMAN INVESTOR WHO HAS LOBBIED CHANCELLOR MERKEL’S ADMINISTRATION GAVE BETWEEN $1 MILLION AND $5 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION, SOME OF WHICH WAS DURING MRS. CLINTON’S TENURE AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT
*THE CEO OF AN AMSTERDAM BASED ENERGY COMPANY DONATED AT LEAST $1 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION AND LATER ANNOUNCED AT THE 2009 CGI MEETING A $5 BILLION PROJECT TO DEVELOP ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY POWER GENERATION IN INDIA AND CHINA
*INDIAN POLITICIAN AMAR SINGH, WHO HAD DONATED AT LEAST $1 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION, MET WITH HILLARY CLINTON IN SEPTEMBER 2008 TO DISCUSS AN INDIA-U.S. CIVIL NUCLEAR AGREEMENT
*THE CLINTON FOUNDATION RECEIVED ADDITIONAL DONATIONS FROM INDIAN BUSINESS INTERESTS PRIOR TO HER BECOMING SECRETARY OF STATE
*BILLIONAIRE STEEL EXECUTIVE AND MEMBER OF THE FOREIGN INVESTMENT COUNCIL IN KAZAKHSTAN LAKSHMI MITTAL GAVE $1 MILLION TO $5 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION BEFORE CLINTON BECAME SECRETARY OF STATE
*SOON AFTER SECRETARY CLINTON LEFT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE CLINTON
FOUNDATION “RECEIVED A LARGE DONATION FROM A CONGLOMERATE RUN BY A MEMBER OF CHINA’S NATIONAL PEOPLE’S CONGRESS”
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Warning: This post contains references to sexual assaultOn Saturday, I spent far too long editing a video on Tim Jago, the ACT Party President and criminal, who has given up his fight for name suppression after 2 years. He voluntarily gave up just in time for what will be a ...
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 members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is global warming ...
Our low-investment, low-wage, migration-led and housing-market-driven political economy has delivered poorer productivity growth than the rest of the OECD, and our performance since Covid has been particularly poor. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty this ...
..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.As far as major government announcements go, a Three Ministers Event is Big. It can signify a major policy development or something has gone Very Well, or an absolute Clusterf**k. When Three Ministers assemble ...
One of those blasts from the past. Peter Dunne – originally neoliberal Labour, then leader of various parties that sought to work with both big parties (generally National) – has taken to calling ...
Completed reads for January: I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson The Black Spider, by Jeremias Gotthelf The Spider and the Fly (poem), by Mary Howitt A Noiseless Patient Spider (poem), by Walt Whitman August Heat, by W.F. Harvey Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White The Shrinking Man, by Richard Matheson ...
Do its Property Right Provisions Make Sense?Last week I pointed out that it is uninformed to argue that the New Zealand’s apparently poor economic performance can be traced only to poor regulations. Even were there evidence they had some impact, there are other factors. Of course, we should seek to ...
Richard Wagstaff It was incredibly jarring to hear the hubris from the Prime Minister during his recent state of the nation address. I had just spent close to a week working though the stories and thoughts shared with us by nearly 2000 working people as part of our annual Mood ...
Odd fact about the Broadcasting Standards Authority: for the last few years, they’ve only been upholding about 5% of complaints. Why? I think there’s a range of reasons. Generally responsible broadcasters. Dumb complaints. Complaints brought under the wrong standard. Greater adherence to broadcasters’ rights to freedom of expression in the ...
And I said, "Mama, mama, mama, why am I so alone"'Cause I can't go outside, I'm scared I might not make it homeWell I'm alive, I'm alive, but I'm sinking inIf there's anyone at home at your place, darlingWhy don't you invite me in?Don't try to feed me'Cause I've been ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ star is on the rise, having just added the Energy, Local Government and Revenue portfolios to his responsibilities - but there is nothing ambitious about the Government’s new climate targets. Photo: SuppliedLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate ...
It may have been a short week but there’s been no shortage of things that caught our attention. Here is some of the most interesting. This week in Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt took a look at public transport ridership in 2024 On Thursday Connor asked some questions ...
The East Is Red: Journalists and commentators are referring to the sudden and disruptive arrival of DeepSeek as a second “Sputnik moment”. (Sputnik being the name given by the godless communists of the Soviet Union to the world’s first artificial satellite which, to the consternation and dismay of the Americans, ...
Hi,Back on inauguration day we launched a ridiculous RFK Jr. “brain worms” tee on the Webworm store, and I told you I’d be throwing my profits over to Mutual Aid LA and Rainbow Youth New Zealand. Just to show I am not full of shit, here are the receipts. I ...
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: on the week in geopolitics, including the latest from Donald Trump over Gaza and Ukraine.Health expert and author David Galler ...
In an uncompromising paper Treasury has basically told the Government that its plan for a third medical school at Waikato University is a waste of money. Furthermore, the country cannot afford it. That advice was released this week by the Treasury under the Official Information Act. And it comes as ...
Back in November, He Pou a Rangi provided the government with formal advice on the domestic contribution to our next Paris target. Not what the target should be, but what we could realistically achieve, by domestic action alone, without resorting to offshore mitigation. Their answer was startling: depending on exactly ...
Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guest David Patman and ...
I don't like to spend all my time complaining about our government, so let me complain about the media first.Senior journalistic Herald person Thomas Coughlan reported that Treasury replied yeah nah, wrong bro to Luxon's claim that our benighted little country has been in recession for three years.His excitement rose ...
Back in 2022, when the government was consulting internally about proactive release of cabinet papers, the SIS opposed it. The basis of their opposition was the "mosaic effect" - people being able to piece together individual pieces of innocuous public information in a way which supposedly harms "national security" (effectively: ...
With The Stroke Of A Pen:Populism, especially right-wing populism, invests all the power of an electoral/parliamentary majority in a single political leader because it no longer trusts the bona fides of the sprawling political class among whom power is traditionally dispersed. Populism eschews traditional politics, because, among populists, traditional politics ...
I’ve spent the last week writing a fairly substantial review of a recent book (“Australia’s Pandemic Exceptionalism: How we crushed the curve but lost the race”) by a couple of Australian academic economists on Australia’s pandemic policies and experiences. For all its limitations, there isn’t anything similar in New Zealand. ...
Mr Mojo Rising: Economic growth is possible, Christopher Luxon reassures us, but only under a government that is willing to get out of the way and let those with drive and ambition get on with it.ABOUT TWELVE KILOMETRES from the farm on the North Otago coast where I grew up stands ...
You're nearly a good laughAlmost a jokerWith your head down in the pig binSaying, 'Keep on digging.'Pig stain on your fat chinWhat do you hope to findDown in the pig mine?You're nearly a laughYou're nearly a laughBut you're really a crySongwriter: Roger Waters.NZ First - Kiwi Battlers.Say what you like ...
This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Climate denial is dead. Renewable energy denial is here. As “alternative facts” become the norm, it’s worth looking at what actual facts tell us about how renewable energy sources like solar and wind are lowering the price of electricity. As ...
SIR GEOFFREY PALMER is worried about democracy. In his Newsroom website post of 27 January 2025 he asserts that “the future of democracy across the world now seems to be in question.” Following a year of important electoral contests across the world, culminating in Donald Trump’s emphatic recapture of the ...
The Government hasn’t stopped talking about growth since the Prime Minister made his “yes” speech at the Auckland Chamber of Commerce last week. But so far, the measures announced would seem hardly likely to suddenly pitch New Zealand into the fast-growth East Asian league. The digital nomad announcement hardly deserved ...
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. ...
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...
The Government’s move to increase speed limits substantially on dozens of stretches of rural and often undivided highways will result in more serious harm. ...
In her first announcement as Economic Growth Minister, Nicola Willis chose to loosen restrictions for digital nomads from other countries, rather than focus on everyday Kiwis. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to stand firm and work with allies to progress climate action as Donald Trump signals his intent to pull out of the Paris Climate Accords once again. ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget 2025 – the Growth Budget - will be delivered on Thursday 22 May. “This year’s Budget will drive forward the Government’s plan to grow our economy to improve the incomes of New Zealanders now and in the years ahead. “Budget 2025 will build ...
For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament. “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes students back to school with a call to raise attendance from last year. “The Government encourages all students to attend school every day because there is a clear connection between being present at school and setting yourself up for a bright future,” says Mr ...
The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism Minister Louise Upston say. “The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto ...
The opening of Kāinga Ora’s development of 134 homes in Epuni, Lower Hutt will provide much-needed social housing for Hutt families, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I’ve been a strong advocate for social housing on Kāinga Ora’s Epuni site ever since the old earthquake-prone housing was demolished in 2015. I ...
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will travel to Australia today for meetings with Australian Trade Minister, Senator Don Farrell, and the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF). Mr McClay recently hosted Minister Farrell in Rotorua for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting, where ANZLF presented on ...
A new monthly podiatry clinic has been launched today in Wairoa and will bring a much-needed service closer to home for the Wairoa community, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.“Health New Zealand has been successful in securing a podiatrist until the end of June this year to meet the needs of ...
The Judicial Conduct Commissioner has recommended a Judicial Conduct Panel be established to inquire into and report on the alleged conduct of acting District Court Judge Ema Aitken in an incident last November, Attorney-General Judith Collins said today. “I referred the matter of Judge Aitken’s alleged conduct during an incident ...
Students who need extra help with maths are set to benefit from a targeted acceleration programme that will give them more confidence in the classroom, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Last year, significant numbers of students did not meet the foundational literacy and numeracy level required to gain NCEA. To ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced three new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ...
Ki te kahore he whakakitenga, ka ngaro te Iwi – without a vision, the people will perish. The Government has achieved its target to reduce the number of households in emergency housing motels by 75 per cent five years early, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The number of households ...
The opening of Palmerston North’s biggest social housing development will have a significant impact for whānau in need of safe, warm, dry housing, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The minister visited the development today at North Street where a total of 50 two, three, and four-bedroom homes plus a ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced the new membership of the Public Advisory Committee on Disarmament and Arms Control (PACDAC), who will serve for a three-year term. “The Committee brings together wide-ranging expertise relevant to disarmament. We have made six new appointments to the Committee and reappointed two existing members ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora, good morning, talofa, malo e lelei, bula vinaka, da jia hao, namaste, sat sri akal, assalamu alaikum. It’s so great to be here and I’m ready and pumped for 2025. Can I start by acknowledging: Simon Bridges – CEO of the Auckland ...
The Government has unveiled a bold new initiative to position New Zealand as a premier destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) that will create higher paying jobs and grow the economy. “Invest New Zealand will streamline the investment process and provide tailored support to foreign investors, to increase capital investment ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced the largest reset of the New Zealand science system in more than 30 years with reforms which will boost the economy and benefit the sector. “The reforms will maximise the value of the $1.2 billion in government funding that goes into ...
Turbocharging New Zealand’s economic growth is the key to brighter days ahead for all Kiwis, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. In the Prime Minister’s State of the Nation Speech in Auckland today, Christopher Luxon laid out the path to the prosperity that will affect all aspects of New Zealanders’ lives. ...
The latest set of accounts show the Government has successfully checked the runaway growth of public spending, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “In the previous government’s final five months in office, public spending was almost 10 per cent higher than for the same period the previous year. “That is completely ...
The Government’s welfare reforms are delivering results with the number of people moving off benefits into work increasing year-on-year for six straight months. “There are positive signs that our welfare reset and the return consequences for job seekers who don't fulfil their obligations to prepare for or find a job ...
Jon Kroll and Aimee McCammon have been appointed to the New Zealand Film Commission Board, Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “I am delighted to appoint these two new board members who will bring a wealth of industry, governance, and commercial experience to the Film Commission. “Jon Kroll has been an ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has hailed a drop in the domestic component of inflation, saying it increases the prospect of mortgage rate reductions and a lower cost of living for Kiwi households. Stats NZ reported today that inflation was 2.2 per cent in the year to December, the second consecutive ...
Two new appointed members and one reappointed member of the Employment Relations Authority have been announced by Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden today. “I’m pleased to announce the new appointed members Helen van Druten and Matthew Piper to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) and welcome them to ...
Officially, they’re called ‘memecoins,’ but Kōura Wealth founder Rupert Carlyon says the crypto world has another name for them: ‘shitcoins’.In digital finance, that phrase is used for tokens that have no true value – in essence, a money-grab.A few days before his inauguration, US President Donald Trump launched his own ...
Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week that was. Guy Williams has made a whole show off the joke that he is a “volunteer” journalist. So getting publicly owned by David Seymour while trying to act as a journalist is a good and timely reminder not to underestimate the nuance and ...
Many of Sāmoa’s beloved dishes are the result of cultural collaboration, writes Madeleine Chapman. All photos by Jin FelletIf you ever find yourself at a barbecue in a Sāmoan home, there’s 99% chance that sapasui (chop suey) will be on the table. For the past century, sapasui has ...
The funnyman takes us through his life in television, including Jono and Ben mayhem, live Telethon flubs, and funnelling all those experiences into his new comedy Vince. There’s an inciting incident in Three’s new comedy Vince where morning television presenter Vince Walters (Jono Pryor) is visiting sick kids in hospital ...
People often claim they just want Waitangi Day to be a celebration. At Waitangi, away from the headlined political acrimony and the marae ātea, celebrating is what most people are doing. The Spinoff Essay showcases the best essayists in Aotearoa, on topics big and small. Made possible by the generous ...
Is there anything more fashionable than a Māori get together? One of the best things about Northland is that nobody cares what they look like — probably because they’re all naturally more stylish than the rest of us, famously. Māori from the Far North, especially. In 27 degree heat, wearing ...
Books of Mana: 180 Māori-Authored Books of Significance, edited by Jacinta Ruru, Angela Wanhalla and Jeanette Wikaira has just been released by Otago University Press. In this essay, Books are Taonga, Jeanette Wikaira explores her personal relationship to books and their value.For me, books are taonga. The knowledge ...
I’ve been in love with him since last July, but it’s only now in this tepid hotel room that I find myself wondering why. The first thing he does when we arrive is smoke a cone in the bathroom – he emerges, hacking up a lung, fists thrust into his ...
MONDAY“Name,” barked a representative of the lower orders.I regarded him with a look of stern disapproval, and told him from up high, “May I remind you that I have name suppression. I shall also thank you to ask with more respect as befits a former president of the Act Party, ...
Get to know Tara, our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Tara’s human for their support! Dog name: Tara Age: Two Breed: Mostly Border Collie and a little bit Catahoula Leopard dog If dog ...
Health NZ's CEO has resigned, but frontline healthworkers are sceptical that installing new leadership will make any difference to a system grappling with problems. ...
Gail Duncan, Chairperson of the St Peter’s on Willis Social Justice Group, one of the organisations invited to submit on the Bill, says the Government’s actions are unprecedented. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amani Kasherwa, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Queensland In late January, a rebel group that has long caused mayhem in the sprawling African nation of Democratic Republic of Congo took control of Goma, a major city of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yee-Fui Ng, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Monash University An ad falsely depicting independent candidate Alex Dyson as a Greens member.ABC News/Supplied The highly pertinent case of a little-known independent candidate in the Victorian seat of Wannon has exposed a gaping ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lauren Ball, Professor of Community Health and Wellbeing, The University of Queensland Nik/Unsplash You might have heard that eating too many eggs will cause high cholesterol levels, leading to poor health. Researchers have examined the science behind this myth again, and ...
Everything you missed from the third day of the Treaty principles bill hearings, when the Justice Committee heard four hours of oral submission. Read our recaps of day one of the hearings here, and day two here. Parliament was quiet on Friday for the third day of hearings on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thomas Jeffries, Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, Western Sydney University Tijana Simic/Shutterstock The news last week that three people in Sydney were hospitalised with botulism after receiving botox injections has raised questions about the regulation of the cosmetic injectables industry. The ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jens Blotevogel, Principal Research Scientist and Team Leader for Remediation Technologies, CSIRO Mino Surkala, Shutterstock Lithium-ion batteries are part of everyday life. They power small rechargeable devices such as mobile phones and laptops. They enable electric vehicles. And larger versions store ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edith Jennifer Hill, Associate Lecturer, Learning & Teaching Innovation, Flinders University Netflix Netflix’s new limited series, Apple Cider Vinegar, tells the story of the elaborate cancer con orchestrated by Australian blogger Annabelle (Belle) Gibson. The first episode opens with Gibson’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dee Ninis, Earthquake Scientist, Monash University Greece’s government has just declared a state of emergency on the island of Santorini, as earthquakes shake the island multiple times a day and sometimes only minutes apart. The “earthquake swarm” is also affecting other ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Western Australian state election will be held on March 8. A Newspoll, conducted January 29 to February 4 from a sample ...
She’s back behind the wheel, and this time, she wants to find out what it is that makes us tick. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. After a prolific career on stage and screen, 83-year-old Miriam Margolyes is on the road again. ...
A new poem by Jordan Hamel. Real Poet Every word earned its place and so did he, so should you. Real poet lives in the capital but writes himself into the Mackenzie country golden hour, man of the paper land, he neglects to mention his pollen ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Understanding Te Tiriti by Roimata Smail (Wai Ako Press, $25) No better time to get ...
The committee has published this list to inform the public about its work, and to give clarity to submitters who have contacted the committee asking if they will be invited to make an oral submission. ...
Alex Casey and Gabi Lardies dissect their Laneway 2025 experience. Gabi Lardies: Hi Alex :))))))) Congratulations on not getting sunburnt. Everyone I talked to at Laneway yesterday was braving the sun for one thing. Charli XCX. How was your brat experience?Alex Casey: We will talk about the rest of ...
The US President's suggestion, which sparked enormous debate globally, has been labelled as a threat, not a proposal, by the Federation of Islamic Associations. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christine McCarthy, Senior Lecturer in Interior Architecture, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Interior of Auckland South Men’s Prison.Getty Images Prisons are not colourful places. Typically, they are grey or some variation of a monochrome colour scheme. But increasingly, ...
FICTION1Tree of Nourishment (Kāwai 2) by Monty Soutar (David Bateman, $39.99)Interesting to note that the author of the biggest-selling New Zealand novel in Waitangi Week is Māori (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tai, and Ngāti Kahungunu).2 Kāwai: For Such a Time as This (Kāwai 1) by Monty Soutar (David ...
Remembering the renowned New Zealand writer, who died on February 5, 2025. The Stopover When the trout rise like compassion It is worth watching when the hinds come down from the hills with a new message it will be as well to listen. – Brian Turner Poet, environmentalist, sportsman, journalist, ...
Survivors can choose to have former High Court judge Paul Davison assess their individual claims to tailor payments to their personal circumstances. ...
Are we too modest when it comes to celebrating our putrid plant life?She’s beauty. She’s grace. She smells like a decaying corpse and lurks in the backrooms of Auckland Zoo, wallowing tragically in a bucket. In recent weeks an Australian corpse plant named Putricia has captured the noses and ...
Politicians from the coalition government received a frosty reception at Waitangi this year, but Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says the pōwhiri that received so much attention was just one part of many events throughout the week. ...
Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.
It was -2 degrees in Dunedin last night.
It was 3 degrees in Christchurch last night.
Not very warm to be sleeping in a car.
Not very warm to be sleeping in a container.
Not very warm to be sleeping in a garage.
Not very warm to be sleeping on the street.
The mainstream media may think that young millionaire Lamborghini drivers, the Game of Thrones and Samsung selfies are news items, but they are not.
The majority of the media is doing everything they can to support Paula Bennett and move homelessness off the headlines.
“Try walking in my shoes, it’s not actually that easy.”
This was the challenge TA set to Prime Minister John Key. But really it’s a challenge for us all.
I am deeply disturbed with what planet key is doing to NZ as we are being destroyed now by his disease called “the greed breed”.
Surely John Key’s lack of action on Climate Change is providing a warmer environment for the homeless.
I can hear the cries of anguish now “but stabilising global warming hasn’t helped the homeless!” Followed by a another ‘another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare’ post.
Hope for Britain’s sake they’re not sending Groser and the crew who signed the TPP!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/06/29/new-zealand-offers-uk-its-top-trade-negotiators-for-post-brexit/
Interesting times, Boris and Gove played with matches and ended up burning their cosy clubhouse down that they were throwing rocks at their own party from.
Now they along with Farage have to deliver on their BS spin in a climate where many are pretty pissed with their antics.
Old Nigel may find it all a bit much once the national front types realise they got played and to quote the guardian as Boris has withdrawn already ‘ a man who will not clean up his own mess’.
Yes, getting messier and messier over there.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11666710
Meanwhile, it looks like the coup in the Labour Party is hitting some road bumps.
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/30/labour-mps-divided-over-how-to-depose-jeremy-corbyn
“unity candidate” – facepalm…
“Hope for Britain’s sake they’re not sending Groser and the crew who signed the TPP!”
If it is Goser he will have drunk all the wine, before he manages to get there…
If it is Key, he will have a great time on the golf course, do whatever the US and UK want and expand his personal wealth, networking and connections. He might stop in at Buckingham palace to say Labour made him do it (referendum to change the flag), no offence, Ma’am. Lets face it, Key is out of his depth in any way apart from financial Tory wizardry, (somehow managing to increase our debt to eyewatering proportions while having nothing to show for it and have people living in tents).
Let’s hope for the farmers and our economy the delegate is Winston Peters. For the good of our country and relationship lets hope it is Winson Peters. National may not like him, but he is clearly the man for the job to get the best deal and the best relationship!
Another day in John Key’s neo-liberal nightmare.
We have become a cruel, greedy, uncaring and selfish nation under his wretched leadership.
Cruel.
The MSD.
Waatea 5th Estate “The Case of Katherine and the MSD”
This should be compulsory viewing for all New Zealanders.
What is this country coming to?
Not often I feel ashamed to be a kiwi.
I hope this gets traction in the news cycle.
Shame on the cold hearted msd staff.
Instead of a net to stop people falling, msd have turned it into a drift net that pulls people down.
What an appalling culture has been nutured in that government department.
Why, as a society, are we so cruel, heartless,callous and uncaring towards women doing the most important job?
Surely folk who reckon they are having children so they can live the high life on the state, have gone the same way as the trickle-downers, climate change deniers.
As is said in the clip, there seems to be sexism in play.
‘Benefit cheat/fraud’ implies wrong and theft.
Tax avoidance/evasion implies clever.
The former is punished severely often with incarceration.
The latter gets high powered men writing laws to protect them.
I caught something on the radio yesty- figures from UK suggest that the under payment of benefits/denial of entitlements dwarfs the fraud numbers.
Pullya benefits scripted carve up of MSD using many elves and sprites now fronted by ayatolley needs massive sunlight.
The ticket clipping is obscene aside from the systemic damage nact have inflicted.
Thanks Paul. That is a great episode. I saw it mid way through and it was unbelievable! When thedailyblog gets back up, worth watching.
It is shocking!
6 months of prison for a women with young children (who has had her infant murdered by a previous partner) for benefit fraud based on the violent and dysfunctional testimony of the ‘partner’ who gets away scott free by the sound of it.
For those neoliberals out there who thinks society runs to a budget, we just spent over $100,000 on legal fees and prison fees and f&^ked up more kids by taking their mother away and got $1600 back she does not seem to even owe.
If we take the ‘bankruptcy’ laws that say you can write off you debt because it means you will be more productive and can recover your life, you have to ask, how can someone recover their life and get off a benefit, get a job with a criminal conviction and hundreds of thousands in debt? More double standards against women and children.
No wonder we have the highest abuse rates in the world! It starts with blatant discrimination of vulnerable women by government officials and our legal system.
Excellent points. IRD can and does write off debt for hardship other than core Child Support debt, and are actually reasonably proactive about it. Would be nice for other government departments (MSD…) to do the same.
Frontrunner Boris Johnson stuns Westminster by pulling out of Tory Leadership Race
Comes in the immediate wake of a whole swathe of Tory MP defections from Camp Boris and a series of newly-released Polls showing him trailing Theresa May among Tory voters, voters in general and the Party’s membership.
The latest YouGov says it all.
Compared to the February Poll of Tory Party members, Boris’s negativity ratings have increased substantially.
There’s a kind of Tortoise and Hare scenario.
Boris leads the Brexit campaign in his usual loud and colourful way / May (considered mildly Eurosceptic by many) takes a very low profile role in the Remain campaign (some might say, not entirely unlike Corbyn).
As a consequence, Boris has his credibility destroyed among the large minority of Tory members who were pro-Remain, whilst May manages to maintain enormous cross-over appeal to both sides of the Conservative Membership.
YouGov
27-29 June 2016
Tory Party Members
Positive or Negative View of Potential Leader
………………………………………Boris Johnson………………………Theresa May
Feb 2016…………………Pos 76% / Neg 14%…………….Pos 68% / Neg 11%
June 2016……………….Pos 58% / Neg 30%…………….Pos 72% / Neg 13%
June
LEAVE supporters………..Pos 83% / Neg 6%……………….Pos 66% / Neg 18%
REMAIN supporters…….Pos 16% / Neg 71%……………..Pos 84% / Neg 3%
Boris’s support comes almost entirely (92%) from Tory members who voted Leave, whereas May’s support derives almost as much from Leavers (44%) as Remainers (56%).
In the one-on-one match-ups, Boris beats all possible contenders except May. She wins easily by 55% to 38%.
One-on-One by EU Vote
………………………………..Boris………Theresa
LEAVE……………………….56%…………..38%
REMAIN…………………….8%……………..84%
Again, May with much greater cross-over appeal.
All confirms the long-standing Iron-Law of Tory Leadership Contests: That the initial Front-runner NEVER wins.
Swordfish. You ARE the news. Thanks for this comment and all the previous ones providing information previously unseen by these eyes and casting light on angles I hadn’t considered.
Have a good day. Stay warm.
Me too Swordfish.
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11666513
A kiwi in the UK’s take on brexit from someone who’s their
Nothing about the sociopolitical context that led to Brexit. The perspective on racism adds something. More angst about the middle classes losing privilege under neoliberalism not so much.
Featherweight opinion piece.
So, the poor dear doesn’t know what to do? Get at the back of the line, lady.
It must be amazing being able to hate every normal human on the planet . dick heads.
What’s going on at The Daily Blog. Can’t open it. Message keeps coming up with a connection error. Anyone else having the same problem?
Hope it’s not under attack again!
Me too mary_a, haven’t been able to get through either. Hopefully Martyn will get it underway soon.
me too.
I dunno whats happened, but the Plesk page that comes up says you either. 1 put no content up or 2 the provider has suspended your page. Hmmm..
While we’re worried about little old Britain having a little old leadership change, spare a thought for Saudi Arabia. The last stable Muslim nation between Pakistan and Nigeria. A two minute clip from Bloomberg:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-06-30/the-slow-motion-crisis-in-saudi-arabia-in-two-minutes
Saudis are confronting a future of cheaper oil, in a country where oil is everything. Can Saudi Arabia wean itselfoff the proceeds of oil?
Its plan is to sell 5% of Aramco with the biggest listing of all time, and get that to help form a sovereign wealth fund worth up to US $2 trillion. That’s enough to buy Apple, Microsoft, Google (Alphabet), Exxon Mobil, and still have plenty of change.
There’s the resistant clerics.
There’s 80% vof the workforce being foreign.
There’s nearly half of the population under 25, and they make up 30% of the unemployed.
There’s no friends and no stability on any border.
There’s the inability to keep generations of patrimony going.
There’s patriarchal suppression of pretty much everything, and massive clerical resistance to change of pretty much anything.
In terms of the future stability of the Middle East, unlike the US invading multiple times, they have a plan.
But it’s the biggest roll of the dice we will see in our generation.
Could I run something past you please, I’m interested in your comments.
I get the Supported Living Payment for uncontrolled epilepsy.
In the last few years dealing with WINZ has become so stressful it’s become a seizure trigger for me and I can directly link 3 WINZ run-ins with emergency hospital admissions. (Been dealing with them since the late 1980s and this has never been an issue till 6 years ago, note the timing).
I recently had to voluntarily surrender the remaining $5/week Special benefit because of how crazy the 3 monthly reviews have become and because it’s too medically dangerous for me to go near a WINZ office.
There’s a contraceptive pill that prevents hormone-induced seizures for me.
But the only one that actually works (they are not created equal) is the only one that’s not funded, and it costs about $5/week, or $250/year. That’s a lot out of a benefit, I can get 3-4 meals out of that.
I did try the funded version but it made no difference.
I recently stopped said pill mostly because that $5 was starting to become difficult. (I also pay full price for another drug, that was funded when I started it but then funding changed to a generic and I could never make the switch so it’s pay for the brand or nothing. That happens frequently in NZ).
Not being on the pill caused some serious seizure problems that landed me in A&E for the day, only just avoiding being admitted.
Last time I heard- quite a few years ago- just an admission to A&E was $300 so I hate to think was that is now, but even if it was $500, well that’s 2 years worth of that pill cost gone in just a few hours on an avoidable admission.
My GP went into battle with the Health Ministry about funding for the pill because of it’s use as a medical drug, but no success.
There was never any help from WINZ at the time (every excuse under the sun) plus I had to give up with them for the sake of my health anyway.
That’s the saga, I’m not after sympathy or anything, or even whining about lack of money, but what I cannot for the life of me figure out, is DO THESE BLOODY IDEALOGUES WHO ARE SO HELL BENT ON DESTROYING THE WELFARE SYSTEM EVEN KNOW (OR CARE) ABOUT SIMPLE COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS?????
Surely, even to those Nat voters who despise people like me simply for existing, (apologies, “beneficiary” wasn’t on my career plan when I started Uni) why is it so hard to comprehend that a few dollars for to help with medications and not putting us in the eat/heat/treat situation, is actually a hell of a lot cheaper than the avoidable cost to the public health system? Or because it’s not the welfare budget don’t you mind your hard working taxes being spent on us that way?
My scenario is just a small one, but it’s common. Taken to the extreme people die.
@Kay, no the neoliberal dumbos do not even follow their own ideology in which case they would have an efficient system!! What a terrible story and way to be treated. It is not even about saving money, it is about a punishing regime, that makes no sense. In fact they are wasting massive amounts of money. It’s crazy.
We can all only hope we can get a change of government for a more humane and less Kafkaesque way to treat our fellow citizens.
Hopefully we will get, Nexit.
Kay….if you live in Auckland track the support group Sue Bradford’s involved with. They go into battle with WINZ and are often very successful.
Kay, I don’t know how to answer your question except to say “what save nz said”.
I feel very frustrated after hearing your story and knowing it’s amplified by thousands of unwell people around NZ. I have no idea what it does to a persons outlook and self esteem over time, being treated like you’re a nuisance getting in their way, being belittled first by those that are meant to help and then by stupid unkind people.
Geez, my only experience with WINZ is as an agent for my mother and advocating on her behalf for her disability allowance and secondly applying for her residential care subsidy. In that very short amount of time, winz have literally made me pull out my hair with their patronising way they speak to me, their failure to get the basic things done and their total and absolute indifference to my mothers situation and her vulnerability.
So, I don’t know who long term winz “clients” cope with the effort required just to get what you need and still be able retain self belief and hold their head up high.
Lastly, your scenario isn’t a “small one”. It’s a life changing, life effecting one. I hope you have good support from some quarters.
I guess the only thing that can change in your favour is a change to the government and a commitment from a new government to fully review the culture at winz and implement necessary change.
Take care Kay.
HI Rosie, thank you for your kind words.
“So, I don’t know who long term winz “clients” cope with the effort required just to get what you need and still be able retain self belief and hold their head up high.”
In a nutshell, a lot of us no longer do. It’s a fight for $5 in my case and a fight not worth my physical- and mental- health. I personally know others, and there’s plenty of anecdotal reports around of people who have been forced to make the hard decisions about what medical treatments they can continue with. I’ve had to abandon necessary physio treatment for injuries from seizures because the ACC surcharge is just too much. (I can’t remember which Govt got rid of the full physio subsidy but that was disasterous for many on low/fixed incomes).
It would be really interesting to find out just how many hospital admissions involving people with chronic health problems can be directly linked to financial problems. We hear from time to time about low income families not picking up antibiotic prescriptions because they can’t afford the charges and the child subsequently ending up in hospital. I’ll bet anything that every every hospital doctor in the country has stories. But not officially, of course. That would be way too embarrassing for the Minister so a formal enquirey, or even survey will never happen.
Frustration is the word, but what to do? Even the Greens no longer speak out for us (supporting beneficiaries is just too politically toxic I guess) so there’s no one at all in the political establishment. When you’re trying to reason with the RWNJs and post on forums, write to MPs or whatever it is you do, can you point out just how much the welfare policies they’re embracing are costing the health system? Maybe it might sink in to the odd one…
(ps. I’ve exercised personal responsibility- shock. horror, us bludgers actually have that trait- and restarted that pill. More creative budgeting but I can put together a better budget than Bill ever could. Aside from not wanting to waste precious public hospital resources, if it’s possible to stop a few tonic clonic seizures every month well that’s a no brainer. They’re really not fun.)
Hi Kay.
Your response needs a more considered reply then I can give as I’m restrained by time I’m sorry. Hopefully we can talk again another time son.
I just want to respond to this:
” I’ve had to abandon necessary physio treatment for injuries from seizures because the ACC surcharge is just too much. (I can’t remember which Govt got rid of the full physio subsidy but that was disasterous for many on low/fixed incomes).”
This was the new National coalition government that removed the full subsidy from our ACC physio appointments. I think it came into effect in 2009. I have also had to abandon much needed physio for injuries in the last 7 years, which makes me angry and hinders my mobility.
I wrote awhile ago to then ACC opposition spokesperson, Iain Lees Galloway and Kevin Hague, ACC spokesperson from the Greens about restoring the subsidy to all physio’s should we get a Labour Green coalition in government. This was back in 2014. Mr Galloway, said in a very nice way, no. Kevin Hague never replied.
“It would be really interesting to find out just how many hospital admissions involving people with chronic health problems can be directly linked to financial problems”.
I reckon it would be high. Higher than in previous decades.
My brother lives with epilepsy. He had a serious tonic clonic seizure a few years ago, the worst in his life. He was lucky not to die from his injuries and was left exhausted and off work for months. Drivers license suspended etc. He has money though, private insurance etc so got through without having to worry about that side of things.
It is morally unacceptable that you to live with your illness, with only grudging support at best, from your government, and without the means to easily purchase the appropriate medication.
Kia Ora
Caitlyn Jenner supports Trump – too “macho” but good for womens issues; says Hillary Clinton is a “fucking liar” and a “political hack”
Comments that the economy and jobs are absolutely crucial issues for America.
http://www.eonline.com/shows/i_am_cait/news/747403/caitlyn-jenner-says-donald-trump-would-be-very-good-for-women-s-issues-calls-hillary-clinton-a-f-king-liar-watch
Yeah, a man who allegedly raped a 13 year old will be marvelous for women.
//
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-bloom/why-the-new-child-rape-ca_b_10619944.html
Hi joe90, I can’t believe how cavalierly and quickly you dismissed the opinions of a well known LGBT activist like Jenner based on anonymous allegations. Shame on you.
What do you have to say about Hillary enabling – or at least turning a blind eye to – Bill sexually assaulting many women and coercing other women for sexual favours over his political career?
Do you have any evidence to support that claim against H?
Or B, for that matter, but your claim is actually against hillary.
By “evidence” I mean something other than “the intrinsic intelligence of the universe told me to pass on this message”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton_sexual_misconduct_allegations
Notice his tactic of attempting to discredit the women who come forward.
so a few allegations against bill (mostly of having consensual affairs, but whatever).
One claim that hillary knew of one incident. So hardly “enabling – or at least turning a blind eye to – Bill sexually assaulting many women and coercing other women for sexual favours”.
” so a few allegations against bill (mostly of having consensual affairs, but whatever”
Wow. Just wow. Talk about minimisation.
dude, your claim was against hillary of, at one extreme of your qualifications, enabling many rapes and other coerced sexual assaults by bill.
Your link doesn’t support that comment.
You were making shit up, sorry, you were channelling the intrinsic intelligence of the universe.
The intrinsic intelligence of the universe could be sued for defamation.
outraged…
lol
That’s nice, you had five minutes to spare.
/
Caitlyn Jenner is not an LGBT activist; she’s a self-aggrandising person interested in her own publicity and wealth. With that considered, it is obvious why she likes Trump.
Her publicity work includes of advocating for people who directly oppose rights for LGBT people and this makes things directly worse for LGBT people in the USA, in particular trans people. Activist? Fuck no.
“well known LGBT activist like Jenner”
You what now??? You are in lala land with that statement.
Are speaking about the same Caitlyn Jenner?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3359887/If-look-like-man-dress-makes-people-uncomfortable-Caitlyn-Jenner-faces-backlash-comments-Time-Magazine.html
http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/09/09/ellen-degeneres-cant-understand-caitlyn-jenner-opposing-equal-marriage/
LGBT activist – ahh no. Self absorbed ego maniac – yes.
This is just another reason why I have a soft spot for the SNP.
You may have heard by now D.Trumpf is now going around the world begging for campaign finances, lets put aside that is illegal. Lets also put aside he knows it’s illegal.
Lets just embrace a MP who is a fine example of a human being.
NATALIE McGARRY you are a wonderfully honest individual. My hope is the system won’t grind you down. Hugs and bikkies from the south pacific.
For the best bit, scroll down to her email response. It is just wonderful.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/donald-trump-fundraising-email-mp-natalie-mcgarry-reply-warm-hope-his-repugnant-campaign-will-fail-a7108701.html
Just a wee reminder of how much money the Clinton Foundation received from foreigners looking for favours from Hillary during her term as Secretary of State (I posted this in OM a day or two ago):
From a Clinton Foundation document revealed by a hacker. (Please forgive the caps, they were in the article).
Here are some of the section titles:
*THE CLINTON FOUNDATION RECEIVED DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS TIED TO SAUDI ARABIA WHILE CLINTON SERVED AS SECRETARY OF STATE
*AN EMBATTLED BUSINESSMAN WITH “TIES TO BAHRAIN’S STATE-OWNED ALUMINUM COMPANY” GAVE BETWEEN $1 MILLION AND $5 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION
*A VENEZUELAN MEDIA MOGUL WHO WAS ACTIVE IN VENEZUELAN POLITICS DONATED TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION DURING CLINTON’S TENURE AS SECRETARY OF STATE
*GERMAN INVESTOR WHO HAS LOBBIED CHANCELLOR MERKEL’S ADMINISTRATION GAVE BETWEEN $1 MILLION AND $5 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION, SOME OF WHICH WAS DURING MRS. CLINTON’S TENURE AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT
*THE CEO OF AN AMSTERDAM BASED ENERGY COMPANY DONATED AT LEAST $1 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION AND LATER ANNOUNCED AT THE 2009 CGI MEETING A $5 BILLION PROJECT TO DEVELOP ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY POWER GENERATION IN INDIA AND CHINA
*INDIAN POLITICIAN AMAR SINGH, WHO HAD DONATED AT LEAST $1 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION, MET WITH HILLARY CLINTON IN SEPTEMBER 2008 TO DISCUSS AN INDIA-U.S. CIVIL NUCLEAR AGREEMENT
*THE CLINTON FOUNDATION RECEIVED ADDITIONAL DONATIONS FROM INDIAN BUSINESS INTERESTS PRIOR TO HER BECOMING SECRETARY OF STATE
*BILLIONAIRE STEEL EXECUTIVE AND MEMBER OF THE FOREIGN INVESTMENT COUNCIL IN KAZAKHSTAN LAKSHMI MITTAL GAVE $1 MILLION TO $5 MILLION TO THE CLINTON FOUNDATION BEFORE CLINTON BECAME SECRETARY OF STATE
*SOON AFTER SECRETARY CLINTON LEFT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE CLINTON
FOUNDATION “RECEIVED A LARGE DONATION FROM A CONGLOMERATE RUN BY A MEMBER OF CHINA’S NATIONAL PEOPLE’S CONGRESS”
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-06-21/clinton-foundation-vulnerabilities-document-leaked-after-foundation-says-it-was-hack
Oh please, the real Hilary problem is her main super pac funded her campaign for democratic nomination. Again illegal, but not unheard of.
Sheesh when did you become a fan boy for dumpft?
I agree that Trump’s campaign funding legalities are an issue. But unlike Clinton he’s trying to get funds from the Scottish.
Not from Saudi Arabia, China, India or Kazakhstan.
Further, Trump is clearly desperate for money. Reports say that the Clinton campaign currently has 30x more money than his. It’s not hard to see why.
but he’s totally rich. Billions. Isn’t he self-funding his campaign anyway?
lol
Yeah right…