Here’s an interesting story that played out behind all the smoke and noise of last week’s Chump eruptions. If there’s anything to this, it ties a lot of threads together in a damning way. It also raises the possibility that all the WTF from last week might have been a calculated distraction.
But the Mooch was getting fantastic ratings. If it was about the show, surely he’d be kept on a bit longer just to pull the punters. My money’s on the idea the The Mooch was even Trumpier than Trump, and that couldn’t be tolerated.
If you own a swimming Pool and you haven’t used it for a while. You sometimes need to do a chlorine shock treatment to bring it back to a basic level, then reset the chemicals needed to maintain your Pool. I think The Mooch was the Shock Treatment
and 10 days sounds about right. Happy Swimming
Pretty queer commentary from Jacinda Ardern on Radio NZ this morning.
When commenting about the polls directly, she failed to give any direct support for Andrew Little. She simply deferred and started talking about policy and getting the message out.
The Labour Party barely survived a change of leadership one year out from election last time, so it would be pretty disastrous to change the leader seven weeks out.
I sincerely hope Andrew LIttle stays the course, and that all MP’s including the Deputy figure out that they must show and state that they support Andrew Little as leader.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the media used the opportunity provided by an election to look at the significant social and environmental issues facing the citizens of this country and the world, then look at the solutions presented by the various parties?
But no. We get absolute garbage.
Polls….
Personalities….
Scoops…….
The media should be one of the stalwarts of our democracy.
Instead it undermines and weakens it.
And so we end up with mindless media parrots like Gower, Garner and Soper.
Even worse our taxpayer funded media is fronted by puppets like Hosking and Espiner.
If you are talking about TVNZ sure it is owned by the State. But unless Hosking gets any New Zealand on Air funding, which I doubt, there is no public money funding his show. Quite the opposite. His popularity allows TVNZ to charge a premium for ads in his time slot. Which adds to the bottom line which enables a dividend to the Crown.
The real issue is why does the Government own a dog with fleas commercial TV station? It is because thanks to certain political parties there is now a built in hysteria to the State divesting itself of business that it should not be in.
Exactly. The media cannot handle TOP because it is a policy based party. It rejects the innane left / right language. But the media can’t get much past Gareth and cats.
The only choice in this election now is National supported by either TOP or New Zealand First. Get out there and support TOP. And donate money if you can afford it.
It is excellent. I agree with probably 80 percent of TOP policy. Their climate change and water policy is way ahead of any other political party. Their policy to increase the drinking age to 20 is nuts but you can’t have everything.
What do you like about the CCT? Particularly, why do you think it’s better than a capital gains tax? I’m looking for reasons to like the CCT, and RedLogix had a go at persuading me of it’s merits but didn’t convince me.
srylands likes it because he hopes 4.99% of people vote for it, ensuring that 4.99% of potential change the government votes are wasted chasing the TOP. These are 4.99% of voters not voting for NZF or the greens or Labour, so that is a win for srylands
Because a comprehensive capital tax incentivises people to examine their capital holdings on an ongoing basis. Not just when they are selling. Such a tax would stop over investing in houses.
If you want to read about it in detail, Geoff Simmons has written about it. Just Google it or watch his video.
Example my family member who is 91 lives in a $4 million 6 bedroom house in Pakarunga. Ridiculous. But he has no incentive to invest that capital in productive assets.
It is surprising that people who usually consider “property rights” to be sacrosanct, in this case are quick to determine what that personal property should be used for.
In this case, you believe that family member needs to divest his choice of residence, and invest in “productive assets”. What is your definition of productive assets? And why productive, instead of social assets or environmental? He may well be in a place he considers ideal, with community contacts and neighbours that he enjoys. Even if he is not, the principle is the same. Are you so tired of spending your own money, that you feel a need to dictate how others spend theirs?
The reasoning behind taxing the residential property someone is living in is flawed on multiple levels.
It ignores the social and community connections that contribute to wellbeing of those who have lived in the same neighbourhood for years, and gives them two options to pay taxes. To downsize their residence, or to invite others to live with them.
The TOP solution is delayed payment, but that is a cultural hurdle unlikely to be overcome without considerable distress and pain.
TOP also provides scenarios that consider the mortgage of a occupied residential house to be the same as a term investment of capital. This ignores the reality that many have taken mortgages out and by the time the house is paid off, the amount invested has often been four to five times the original price. They then tax you on the imputed rent that you have “saved”.
Brilliant, no?
The other comparable scenario that they provide is the necessity to pay CGT on investment properties. Also ignoring the fact that maintenance expenses are permitted with investments, which reduce the amount of tax paid by investors. Maintenance of your own home adds up over the years and will be taken out of net income for most people.
The other issues they don’t mention, is the appropriate taxing of income or benefits from family trusts etc, and the use of other ownership vehicles to protect assets, and income from being taxed appropriately. Because of this, the ones who will be consistently paying these taxes are the ones who are wage and salary earners, without separate companies, trusts and accountants who know how to provide benefits without declaring personal income for taxation.
Very little attention is given to the tax avoidance by multi-nationals – apart from – we will look at it.
And the deferment of company taxes for up to three years, will be abused by those who already treat company formations like a row of dominoes to be set up and knocked down in order to leave behind compliance and debt messes.
Molly good one. Having to defend the right to own a house (what effontery from little people) – that goes up in value because it’s one of the few worthwhile investments in the country, is trying to tax the air you breathe, the quality and friendliness of your neighbours and so on. The social value, the family time that is spent in the house, the place where you can be warm and think about what life is, can entertain other humans and animals, it is an extension of the people living in it.
But the hard-edged economists who like everything cut and dried, neat and packed, would probably say we should stack in like sardines, like in the cheap sleep hotels with pods you climb into, shut the grill and have a decent kip for low cost. But for a home you want more. And not to be charged for everything in life:
This keeps coming to mind from Le Mis – sorry if you/ve seen it before.
Charge ’em for the lice, extra for the mice
Two percent for looking in the mirror twice (Hand it over!)
Here a little slice, there a little cut
Three percent for sleeping with the window shut
When it comes to fixing prices
There are a lot of tricks I knows
How it all increases, all them bits and pieces
Jesus! It’s amazing how it grows!
And a pome about the politicians in Gnashional:
Master of the house? Isn’t worth my spit!
Comforter, philosopher and lifelong shit!
Cunning little brain, regular Voltaire
Thinks he’s quite a lover but there’s not much there
What a cruel trick of nature landed me with such a louse
God knows how I’ve lasted living with this bastard in the house!
AZLYRICS
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k6uqhKEAOM
I would agree with you Draco if we had a legislative and economic framework that provided long-term secure tenancy.
At present, that does not exist, and it is most likely only property owners that will be able to offer friends, family (and strangers) accommodation. Many tenancies have an upper limit to tenant numbers.
Also, there is a guardianship that exists in long-term land ownership, of which our Robert Guyton is a good example. A long-term positive environmental vision is more likely to be realised on private property, and it is unlikely that that would be true for government owned/managed properties.
Ideally a collective ownership model would provide both the flexibility, and the connection to place that would create a culture where both environment and community were positively nurtured.
I would agree with you Draco if we had a legislative and economic framework that provided long-term secure tenancy.
True but it’s only legislation. Same as the idea that land/home ownership is secure. It’s only legislation.
And in NZ the state owns the land anyway and it can be taken off you at any time – as long as due compensation is made. Just make the same apply to state rentals.
A long-term positive environmental vision is more likely to be realised on private property
No it’s not.
All those farmers out there destroying our waterways and destroying our land through unsustainable practices own the fucken land.
and it is unlikely that that would be true for government owned/managed properties.
Government is accountable to the public whereas private isn’t. This means that we can steer the government to better land practices. Which apparently we can’t do with private land ownership.
Ideally a collective ownership model would provide both the flexibility, and the connection to place that would create a culture where both environment and community were positively nurtured.
Well, I’ll keep on submitting for planning provisions and frameworks that encourage and support community ownership. I think the ownership needs to be community sized and locally managed rather than controlled at a national level for optimal outcomes.
Till then, am seriously considering how to install an environmentally friendly septic system in our unused land without giving an indication to council that we will invite tiny house dwellers to share our location. (have about 1500m2 next to our only storage shed. Any workable suggestions welcome)
Little and Labour need to dig deep and stop in fighting which is what the Natzis and MSM want, we require a united Labour Party if we are going to have a constructive Coalition Government, either Labour & NZF or Labour/NZF/Greens ?
You can blame the MSM all you like, but its your dopey and disloyal MPs including Littles deputy (and Mike Wiliams) who are feeding the media the stuff they want to hear.
You would think that after this many leaders in such a short time they would realise that the problem is not the leader, it is the party, those within it who set the tone and what the party is perceived to stand for. The MSM, the National party, etc are not responsible, the party is.
Adern is not the answer. Labour needs to distance itself from the Greens, the PC, the broad church, talk of quotas, etc, etc and return to it’s roots. Labour has to be unafraid to offend some people, it has forgotten about the working class and has suffered as a result.
“You would think that after this many leaders in such a short time they would realise that the problem is not the leader, it is the party, those within it who set the tone and what the party is perceived to stand for.”
You are correct, of course. However, it is far easier to blame the dastardly MSM, Hooten, Phil Quin, Josie Pagani, Mike Hosking, Guyon Espiner, Uncle Tom Cobley.
In fact, blame anyone if it will divert from the fact that Labour doesn’t have any credible policy, Clint Smith is a moron as far as strategy and comms is concerned and the whole party is an absolute mess.
Well, you’d at least have to agree that Labour is doing something wrong in the MMP environment? 4 terms in opposition would tend to suggest they haven’t quite nailed a winning strategy for MMP…
I am used to MMP. I voted for MMP and I like MMP. The working class and the Greens are incompatible. Lbour needs the working class more than it needs the Greens. How many more leaders until the party wakes up.
National have used the same strategy in the last 3-4 Elections and Labour have bought into it, when will they learn, harden up, time for another cup of concrete Andrew Little & Labour, do not bend over for National and MSM, New Zealand needs a strong Labour Leader going forward. 5 Labour Leaders in 9 Years all initiated by National & MSM ?
ones has to wonder about the political nous of the PLP….Little resigning or being rolled will only be a negative for the future of the Labour Party…..and it won’t save anyones seat either, likely the contrary…..braindead the lot of them.
If anyone thinks that running a Green-influenced government will be easy, check out how hard it is to get one single cycleway in one of the highest Green-polling areas in the country:
Another ridiculous ban. Your right of course, but why?
There is nothing particularly unusual in Gosman’s comment (it is just his opinion) that merits such draconian action.
[take the rest of the week off. Read the Policy. Track down Lynn’s recent comments about moderation and the election and the burden on moderator time. If you want to talk about moderation decisions, at the least you need to do that in a respectful way (hint, starting a comment with “another ridiculous ban” isn’t it) and that doesn’t waste moderator time.
Yes, Gosman’s comment was usual for Gosman, and that’s a pattern of behaviour for his brand of trolling. He’s having a go at the site participants (authors and commenters) in a deliberate windup. That’s clearly against the site rules. He’s ascribing implied views to people here but so generally it can’t be rebutted without becoming a derail. Which is what Gosman wants. Unfortunately for him but fortunately for the rest of us, the point of TS is to provide a space for and foster debate for the broader labour movement. We are under no obligations to provide space for trolls.
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The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
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 Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
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 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of something you use breaking and being difficult or expensive to fix. Proposed legislation could change that. It’s been raining on and off all Sunday afternoon but people are lining up outside a building in a corner of Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, Auckland. In ...
What does a forever relationship look like when you don’t believe in marriage? And how do you celebrate it? This essay is part of our Sunday Essay series, made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.I’m going to do it, right now. I’m going to say ...
It’s not that long ago Eliza McCartney was seriously wondering if the Paris Olympics would be her pole vaulting swansong. After years of being hounded by injury after injury, the Rio Olympics bronze medallist was still confident she would compete at her second Olympics in Paris in July, unless something ...
FICTION 1 Take Two by Danielle Hawkins (Allen & Unwin, $36.99) There’s commercial fiction, like this book, and then there’s quality fiction, quality writers, quality literature; the forthcoming Auckland Writers Festival is full of quality, and ReadingRoom has two tickets to give away to the following events: Paul Lynch (Dublin ...
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You can’t have missed the Gallipoli story as the movies, documentaries, essays and books capture what it was like for New Zealand troops in their eight-month campaign on the Peninsula. But this Anzac Day the Auckland War Memorial Museum has published a book that sheds light on a little-known aspect of the ...
The Prime Minister has committed to resuming direct flights to Thailand. But it’s not a promise he will be able to deliver on anytime soon. The post Prime Minister jumps the gun in Thailand appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In the free-for-all between the Australian government and Big Tech boss Elon Musk this week, the government had to be on a winner. Most people would have little sympathy with Musk’s vociferous opposition to ...
Asia Pacific Report Chief Mandla Mandela, a member of the National Assembly of South Africa and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, has joined the Freedom Flotilla in istanbul as the ships prepare to sail for Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. Mandela is also the ambassador for the Global Campaign to Return to ...
Pacific Media Watch Journalists who report on environmental issues are encountering growing difficulties in many parts of the world, reports Reporters Without Borders. According to the tally kept by RSF, 200 journalists have been subjected to threats and physical violence, including murder, in the past 10 years because they were ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
ACT's Rural Communities and Veterans spokesman Mark Cameron responds to cancellations and protests of ANZAC Day commemorations in Wellington. He says, "These pitiful attempts to detract from ANZAC Day are not at all indicative of the feelings of mainstream ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Pōneke based peace activists staged a silent protest at the ANZAC day service to highlight New Zealand’s complicity in war and genocide, and urge the government to take concrete steps to stop the genocide in Palestine. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magdalena M.E. Bunbury, Postdoctoral Researcher, James Cook University Burial with a horse at the Rákóczifalva site, Hungary (8th century AD).Sándor Hegedűs, Hungarian National Museum, CC BY How do we understand past societies? For centuries, our main sources of information have been ...
Amanda Thompson doesn’t really do Anzac Day. But what she does do is remember the people she knew who had a lifetime to remember stuff they didn’t really want to, because of a war they didn’t ask for. And she does make Anzac biscuits.First published in 2021.All my ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Willis, Postdoctoral Researcher, CSIRO Xavier Boulenger/Shutterstock In the two decades to 2019, global plastic production doubled. By 2040, plastic manufacturing and processing could consume as much as 20% of global oil production and use up 15% of the annual carbon ...
With our collective remembrance, and steadfast belief in our common humanity, we strengthen our hope and resolve to do what we can to foster dialogue and understanding, and to heal divisions in our pursuit of peace. ...
Principal reasons for the opposition is the loss of the public’s democratic right to have “a fair say” and the vital need for a government free from corruption, said Casey Cravens of Dunedin, president of the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater ...
Never mind the scoreboard – in the 2000 Bledisloe Cup decider, the real trans-Tasman battle was won before kickoff.First published in 2016. The dawn of the new millennium was a dark time for the All Blacks. Their final game pre-Y2K was a 22-18 loss to South Africa in the ...
I’m on the wrong side of 40, I never pursued creative work and now my job is killing my soul. Help! Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,May I start with the least original conversation opener you’re likely to hear around the motu at the moment, particularly in Wellington: ...
“Never again - No AUKUS” was the message of the wreath laid at this morning’s national ANZAC Day commemorative service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park this morning by the Stop AUKUS group. ...
Until this month, Auckland swimmer Hazel Ouwehand had never met a qualifying time in an Olympic event for a New Zealand team, even as a junior. Now she’s very likely off to the Paris Olympics after swimming well under the qualifying standard in the 100m butterfly twice – both in ...
While Anzac Day has experienced a resurgence in recent years, our other day of remembrance has slowly faded from view.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. Original illustrations by Hope McConnell.First published in 2022.The high school’s head girl and ...
Australian and New Zealand volunteers fought together in the Waikato War, yet still its place in the Anzac tradition is unacknowledged by our defence forces or Returned Services Association.First published in 2018.When I was a boy cub I attended Anzac Day services in the South Auckland suburb of ...
A poem by Wellington writer Tayi Tibble.Hoki Mai She kisses him goodbye with her eyes still wet and alight from their last swim in the Awatere river. At the train station celebration, she leads the Kapa Haka but her voice keeps breaking under and over itself like waves. ...
Here’s an interesting story that played out behind all the smoke and noise of last week’s Chump eruptions. If there’s anything to this, it ties a lot of threads together in a damning way. It also raises the possibility that all the WTF from last week might have been a calculated distraction.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/bill-browders-senate-judiciary-committee-hearing_uk_597ee55ce4b02a4ebb7675a6
That didn’t last long. The Mooch has been cut loose.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/07/31/anthony-scaramucci-out-white-house-communications-director/526300001/
Trump running his admin like a “reality” tv show…..
But the Mooch was getting fantastic ratings. If it was about the show, surely he’d be kept on a bit longer just to pull the punters. My money’s on the idea the The Mooch was even Trumpier than Trump, and that couldn’t be tolerated.
who would know the reason…other than the obvious one that Trump is not the full quid
What a fandango.
If you own a swimming Pool and you haven’t used it for a while. You sometimes need to do a chlorine shock treatment to bring it back to a basic level, then reset the chemicals needed to maintain your Pool. I think The Mooch was the Shock Treatment
and 10 days sounds about right. Happy Swimming
The Mooch is gone.
10 days must surely be a record.
Pretty queer commentary from Jacinda Ardern on Radio NZ this morning.
When commenting about the polls directly, she failed to give any direct support for Andrew Little. She simply deferred and started talking about policy and getting the message out.
The Labour Party barely survived a change of leadership one year out from election last time, so it would be pretty disastrous to change the leader seven weeks out.
I sincerely hope Andrew LIttle stays the course, and that all MP’s including the Deputy figure out that they must show and state that they support Andrew Little as leader.
Good on her.
Talk policies, not polls.
Leadership aspirations – be careful what you wish for cos you might get it.
But isn’t that what Ed said they should do? Don’t dance to the tunes put up by prats like Gower. Own the moment don’t let them control it,
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the media used the opportunity provided by an election to look at the significant social and environmental issues facing the citizens of this country and the world, then look at the solutions presented by the various parties?
But no. We get absolute garbage.
Polls….
Personalities….
Scoops…….
The media should be one of the stalwarts of our democracy.
Instead it undermines and weakens it.
There is no I. F. Stone in our media
https://vimeo.com/178666188
Or any intellectual like Noam Chomsky.
The 5 Filters of the Mass Media Machine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34LGPIXvU5M
Or journalists like Amy Goodman
“Shadows of Liberty”: New Film Explores How Corporate Control of Media Erodes Press Freedoms
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aOv1OIwgaA
And so we end up with mindless media parrots like Gower, Garner and Soper.
Even worse our taxpayer funded media is fronted by puppets like Hosking and Espiner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xefMM7m2YfE
Whoa. How is Hosking taxpayer funded?
Independent State Broadcaster ?
If you are talking about TVNZ sure it is owned by the State. But unless Hosking gets any New Zealand on Air funding, which I doubt, there is no public money funding his show. Quite the opposite. His popularity allows TVNZ to charge a premium for ads in his time slot. Which adds to the bottom line which enables a dividend to the Crown.
The real issue is why does the Government own a dog with fleas commercial TV station? It is because thanks to certain political parties there is now a built in hysteria to the State divesting itself of business that it should not be in.
lol
says it provides a dividend, calls it a dog with fleas tv station.
Exactly. The media cannot handle TOP because it is a policy based party. It rejects the innane left / right language. But the media can’t get much past Gareth and cats.
The only choice in this election now is National supported by either TOP or New Zealand First. Get out there and support TOP. And donate money if you can afford it.
What are your thoughts on TOP’s Comprehensive Capital Tax proposal?
It is excellent. I agree with probably 80 percent of TOP policy. Their climate change and water policy is way ahead of any other political party. Their policy to increase the drinking age to 20 is nuts but you can’t have everything.
What do you like about the CCT? Particularly, why do you think it’s better than a capital gains tax? I’m looking for reasons to like the CCT, and RedLogix had a go at persuading me of it’s merits but didn’t convince me.
srylands likes it because he hopes 4.99% of people vote for it, ensuring that 4.99% of potential change the government votes are wasted chasing the TOP. These are 4.99% of voters not voting for NZF or the greens or Labour, so that is a win for srylands
Surely someone of deeply held principles such as srylands can elucidate the merits of a policy he’s just said he approves of.
Because a comprehensive capital tax incentivises people to examine their capital holdings on an ongoing basis. Not just when they are selling. Such a tax would stop over investing in houses.
If you want to read about it in detail, Geoff Simmons has written about it. Just Google it or watch his video.
Example my family member who is 91 lives in a $4 million 6 bedroom house in Pakarunga. Ridiculous. But he has no incentive to invest that capital in productive assets.
It is surprising that people who usually consider “property rights” to be sacrosanct, in this case are quick to determine what that personal property should be used for.
In this case, you believe that family member needs to divest his choice of residence, and invest in “productive assets”. What is your definition of productive assets? And why productive, instead of social assets or environmental? He may well be in a place he considers ideal, with community contacts and neighbours that he enjoys. Even if he is not, the principle is the same. Are you so tired of spending your own money, that you feel a need to dictate how others spend theirs?
I too like the TOP Comprehensive Tax Policy (and their families only) UBI.
And I genuinely believe that they have almost nothing in common with ther Nats, so would support a Labour lead/participating government.
With the turmoil of recent days regarding the Labour leadership, Im ready to bet a tray of sossy rolls on Winston being the next PM.
After all, he will tell everyone that hes the man with all the experience to lead the country………
The reasoning behind taxing the residential property someone is living in is flawed on multiple levels.
It ignores the social and community connections that contribute to wellbeing of those who have lived in the same neighbourhood for years, and gives them two options to pay taxes. To downsize their residence, or to invite others to live with them.
The TOP solution is delayed payment, but that is a cultural hurdle unlikely to be overcome without considerable distress and pain.
TOP also provides scenarios that consider the mortgage of a occupied residential house to be the same as a term investment of capital. This ignores the reality that many have taken mortgages out and by the time the house is paid off, the amount invested has often been four to five times the original price. They then tax you on the imputed rent that you have “saved”.
Brilliant, no?
The other comparable scenario that they provide is the necessity to pay CGT on investment properties. Also ignoring the fact that maintenance expenses are permitted with investments, which reduce the amount of tax paid by investors. Maintenance of your own home adds up over the years and will be taken out of net income for most people.
The other issues they don’t mention, is the appropriate taxing of income or benefits from family trusts etc, and the use of other ownership vehicles to protect assets, and income from being taxed appropriately. Because of this, the ones who will be consistently paying these taxes are the ones who are wage and salary earners, without separate companies, trusts and accountants who know how to provide benefits without declaring personal income for taxation.
Very little attention is given to the tax avoidance by multi-nationals – apart from – we will look at it.
And the deferment of company taxes for up to three years, will be abused by those who already treat company formations like a row of dominoes to be set up and knocked down in order to leave behind compliance and debt messes.
Molly good one. Having to defend the right to own a house (what effontery from little people) – that goes up in value because it’s one of the few worthwhile investments in the country, is trying to tax the air you breathe, the quality and friendliness of your neighbours and so on. The social value, the family time that is spent in the house, the place where you can be warm and think about what life is, can entertain other humans and animals, it is an extension of the people living in it.
But the hard-edged economists who like everything cut and dried, neat and packed, would probably say we should stack in like sardines, like in the cheap sleep hotels with pods you climb into, shut the grill and have a decent kip for low cost. But for a home you want more. And not to be charged for everything in life:
This keeps coming to mind from Le Mis – sorry if you/ve seen it before.
Charge ’em for the lice, extra for the mice
Two percent for looking in the mirror twice (Hand it over!)
Here a little slice, there a little cut
Three percent for sleeping with the window shut
When it comes to fixing prices
There are a lot of tricks I knows
How it all increases, all them bits and pieces
Jesus! It’s amazing how it grows!
And a pome about the politicians in Gnashional:
Master of the house? Isn’t worth my spit!
Comforter, philosopher and lifelong shit!
Cunning little brain, regular Voltaire
Thinks he’s quite a lover but there’s not much there
What a cruel trick of nature landed me with such a louse
God knows how I’ve lasted living with this bastard in the house!
AZLYRICS
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7k6uqhKEAOM
Ah, but is owning houses a right anybody should have?
I would agree with you Draco if we had a legislative and economic framework that provided long-term secure tenancy.
At present, that does not exist, and it is most likely only property owners that will be able to offer friends, family (and strangers) accommodation. Many tenancies have an upper limit to tenant numbers.
Also, there is a guardianship that exists in long-term land ownership, of which our Robert Guyton is a good example. A long-term positive environmental vision is more likely to be realised on private property, and it is unlikely that that would be true for government owned/managed properties.
Ideally a collective ownership model would provide both the flexibility, and the connection to place that would create a culture where both environment and community were positively nurtured.
But we are not there yet.
True but it’s only legislation. Same as the idea that land/home ownership is secure. It’s only legislation.
And in NZ the state owns the land anyway and it can be taken off you at any time – as long as due compensation is made. Just make the same apply to state rentals.
No it’s not.
All those farmers out there destroying our waterways and destroying our land through unsustainable practices own the fucken land.
Government is accountable to the public whereas private isn’t. This means that we can steer the government to better land practices. Which apparently we can’t do with private land ownership.
A communal system is far more likely to do that than a capitalist system which only destroys.
Well, I’ll keep on submitting for planning provisions and frameworks that encourage and support community ownership. I think the ownership needs to be community sized and locally managed rather than controlled at a national level for optimal outcomes.
Till then, am seriously considering how to install an environmentally friendly septic system in our unused land without giving an indication to council that we will invite tiny house dwellers to share our location. (have about 1500m2 next to our only storage shed. Any workable suggestions welcome)
Ed
You can thank Murdoch for that, NZ no longer has a true democracy, John Key’s only legacy
Little and Labour need to dig deep and stop in fighting which is what the Natzis and MSM want, we require a united Labour Party if we are going to have a constructive Coalition Government, either Labour & NZF or Labour/NZF/Greens ?
Yes as a National (potential NZFirst voter) I hope Andrew Little stays on as Labour leader
Little is toast. What a bloody shambles.
Congratulations MSM and dirty politics, you have just destroyed your fourth Labour leader, time yet to start on the next.
Seem to be hell bent on turning NZ into a one party state
You can blame the MSM all you like, but its your dopey and disloyal MPs including Littles deputy (and Mike Wiliams) who are feeding the media the stuff they want to hear.
I suspect that Little is toast this time.
Not a single MP in the Labour caucus came out with an endorsement of Andrew Little in the last 48 hours.
Looks like yet another Labour leader gone.
You would think that after this many leaders in such a short time they would realise that the problem is not the leader, it is the party, those within it who set the tone and what the party is perceived to stand for. The MSM, the National party, etc are not responsible, the party is.
Adern is not the answer. Labour needs to distance itself from the Greens, the PC, the broad church, talk of quotas, etc, etc and return to it’s roots. Labour has to be unafraid to offend some people, it has forgotten about the working class and has suffered as a result.
“You would think that after this many leaders in such a short time they would realise that the problem is not the leader, it is the party, those within it who set the tone and what the party is perceived to stand for.”
You are correct, of course. However, it is far easier to blame the dastardly MSM, Hooten, Phil Quin, Josie Pagani, Mike Hosking, Guyon Espiner, Uncle Tom Cobley.
In fact, blame anyone if it will divert from the fact that Labour doesn’t have any credible policy, Clint Smith is a moron as far as strategy and comms is concerned and the whole party is an absolute mess.
“Labour needs to distance itself from the Greens” – because that worked so well for them in 2014. It’s MMP, get used to it.
“It’s MMP, get used to it”.
Well, you’d at least have to agree that Labour is doing something wrong in the MMP environment? 4 terms in opposition would tend to suggest they haven’t quite nailed a winning strategy for MMP…
I am used to MMP. I voted for MMP and I like MMP. The working class and the Greens are incompatible. Lbour needs the working class more than it needs the Greens. How many more leaders until the party wakes up.
National have used the same strategy in the last 3-4 Elections and Labour have bought into it, when will they learn, harden up, time for another cup of concrete Andrew Little & Labour, do not bend over for National and MSM, New Zealand needs a strong Labour Leader going forward. 5 Labour Leaders in 9 Years all initiated by National & MSM ?
A shocking insight into the last days of the battle for Mosul and the behaviour or Iraqi soldiers
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/mosuls-final-bloodbath-we-killed-everyone-men-women-children-1721780413
Mike Williams stabs Little in the back with a large knife RNZ this morning…fatal wound?
The way forward..Labour the unapologetic socialist party of Workers, the youth, the disenfranchised and the environment.
Turn Labour Left!
Adrian Thornton, That sounds like the Greens to me.
ones has to wonder about the political nous of the PLP….Little resigning or being rolled will only be a negative for the future of the Labour Party…..and it won’t save anyones seat either, likely the contrary…..braindead the lot of them.
New post on Labour’s leadership meeting is up.
Here: https://thestandard.org.nz/labour-leadership-meeting/
If anyone thinks that running a Green-influenced government will be easy, check out how hard it is to get one single cycleway in one of the highest Green-polling areas in the country:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/95300945/hundreds-turn-out-for-public-meeting-on-final-designs-for-rebooted-island-bay-cycleway
This is a war with the Council and neighbourhood about the removal of 57 car parks. Apparently that would “economically ruin the suburb.”
Lifeline funding cut 800k – more suicides and serious self harming now as people crack under their pressures.
I’ll try and put a post up once all the hooha has died down.
Another ridiculous ban. Your right of course, but why?
There is nothing particularly unusual in Gosman’s comment (it is just his opinion) that merits such draconian action.
[take the rest of the week off. Read the Policy. Track down Lynn’s recent comments about moderation and the election and the burden on moderator time. If you want to talk about moderation decisions, at the least you need to do that in a respectful way (hint, starting a comment with “another ridiculous ban” isn’t it) and that doesn’t waste moderator time.
Yes, Gosman’s comment was usual for Gosman, and that’s a pattern of behaviour for his brand of trolling. He’s having a go at the site participants (authors and commenters) in a deliberate windup. That’s clearly against the site rules. He’s ascribing implied views to people here but so generally it can’t be rebutted without becoming a derail. Which is what Gosman wants. Unfortunately for him but fortunately for the rest of us, the point of TS is to provide a space for and foster debate for the broader labour movement. We are under no obligations to provide space for trolls.
For context for others, here’s the ban https://thestandard.org.nz/labour-leadership-meeting/#comment-1360333 – weka]
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
Wayne – you’re swooping pretty low here, donchathink?
“The Greens are neo liberals on bikes.
Running a surplus is fiscally irresponsible when…”
Some interesting ideas that shake the tree so that all the high fruit becomes available for the peeps down below.
We have to absorb the change in leadership, done. And can start the next chapter of the book soon. In the meantime you can listen to economic theory for the ret of this century which will help treat some of our ailments.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/201852897/there-s-no-such-thing-as-fair-austerity
“The Greens are neo liberals on bikes.
Who get told to bugger off.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/95300945/hundreds-turn-out-for-public-meeting-on-final-designs-for-rebooted-island-bay-cycleway
Labour’s billboard issue solved, dig the 2008 ones out of the garage and put some hair extensions on Helen.
http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/labour-partys-first-campaign-billboard-is-displayed-at-a-residence-in-picture-id82798161
The new Labour leader must distance herself from the criminal actions of the greens to be able to survive.
[aw ffs. Banned. There have been no “criminal actions of the greens”] – Bill
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
[2 months]
I’m not logged in as a moderator from my current location, but this earns d4j a ban in my book. Trolling, diversion, ugly and unoriginal.
(The sad part is that once upon a time you were better than this d4j).
RedLogix I was being nice NZ needs a Labour Party with integrity and honest principles.
Not really. Another party can rise and take over where MJS left off.
Just like the Greens are doing in fact.
🙄
So at least I have the schadenfreude of listening to your wailing to enjoy.
In any case, lower-case greens. Dad was never “better than this”.
Dunno about the leadership change cleaning outdead wood from Labour, but it seems to have helped clean tories away from TS 🙂
They’re just waiting for the focus grouped replies to come back from T/C and DPF.
Nah, I was thinking more of the longer-term attrition due to playing in mod traffic 🙂
Yanis Varoufakis from May Ted Talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB4s5b9NL3I
Capitalism will eat democracy — unless we speak up