Open mike 02/05/2024
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Chris Trotter is now on Substack visit him at christrotter418256.substack.com ...2 hours ago - Australia should work with South Korea to secure undersea cables
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Bargaining between the PSA and Oranga Tamariki over the collective agreement is intensifying – with more strike action likely, while the Employment Relations Authority has ordered facilitation. More than 850 laboratory staff are walking off their jobs in a week of rolling strike action. Union coverage CTU: Confidence in ...11 hours ago - The permanent Australia-China contest in the South Pacific
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Every time that I see ya,A lightning bolt fills the room,The underbelly of Paris,She sings her favourite tune,She'll drink you under the table,She'll show you a trick or two,But every time that I left her,I missed the things she would doSongwriters: Kelly JonesThis morning, I posted - Are you excited ...1 day ago - Bernard’s Soliloquy for the week to March 23
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Ooh you're a cool catComing on strong with all the chit chatOoh you're alrightHanging out and stealing all the limelightOoh messing with the beat of my heart yeah!Songwriters: Freddie Mercury / John Deacon.It would be a tad ironic; I can see it now. “Yeah, I didn’t unsubscribe when he said ...3 days ago - Friday 21 March
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- Tuesday 18 March
The Labour Inspectorate could soon be knocking on the door of hundreds of businesses nation-wide, as it launches a major crackdown on those not abiding by the law. NorthTec staff are on edge as Northland’s leading polytechnic proposes to stop 11 programmes across primary industries, forestry, and construction. Union coverage ...6 days ago
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What've I gotta do to make you love me?What've I gotta do to make you care?What do I do when lightning strikes me?And I wake up and find that you're not thereWhat've I gotta do to make you want me?Mmm hmm, what've I gotta do to be heard?What do I ...7 days ago - A Palate Cleanser
- Release: Govt must tackle meth use crisis
New data shows methamphetamine use is spiralling out of control while the Government sits on its hands. ...12 hours ago - Release: Govt’s continued lack of action on Gaza condemned
Hundreds more Palestinians have died in recent days as Israel’s assault on Gaza continues and humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, is blocked. ...3 days ago
- Release: National at sea over Defence jobs
National is looking to cut hundreds of jobs at New Zealand’s Defence Force, while at the same time it talks up plans to increase focus and spending in Defence. ...4 days ago
- Release: National standards returning by stealth
It’s been revealed that the Government is secretly trying to bring back a ‘one-size fits all’ standardised test – a decision that has shocked school principals. ...4 days ago
- Release: Kiwis still struggling as economy stumbles along
Kiwis aren’t feeling any better off despite figures showing a very slight growth in GDP in the December quarter. ...4 days ago
- Greens call for compassionate release of Dean Wickliffe
The Green Party is calling for the compassionate release of Dean Wickliffe, a 77-year-old kaumātua on hunger strike at the Spring Hill Corrections Facility, after visiting him at the prison. ...5 days ago - Another failed ETS auction, another indictment on the Govt’s climate credibility
The ETS auction’s failure today is yet another clear sign that the Government is failing us all on climate action. ...5 days ago
- Release: Luxon quick to give away principled position on nukes
Christopher Luxon seems to have thrown New Zealand’s principled anti-nuclear advocacy under a bus. ...5 days ago
- NZ must act on Israel’s slaughter of children
The Green Party is calling on Government MPs to support Chlöe Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence and illegal actions in Palestine, following another day of appalling violence against civilians in Gaza. ...5 days ago
- Release: Still no certainty for disability communities
One year on from the Government’s abrupt and callous changes to disability funding, the community still has no idea what the future holds. ...6 days ago
- Green Party backs volunteer firefighters in their call for ACC recognition
The Green Party stands in support of volunteer firefighters petitioning the Government to step up and change legislation to provide volunteers the same ACC coverage and benefits as their paid counterparts. ...6 days ago
- Stand Up for Palestine: A Call to Action Against Israels Treacherous Attack
At 2.30am local time, Israel launched a treacherous attack on Gaza killing more than 300 defenceless civilians while they slept. Many of them were children. This followed a more than 2 week-long blockade by Israel on the entry of all goods and aid into Gaza. Israel deliberately targeted densely populated ...6 days ago
- MP Views: Living Strong, The Economy, Servicing Our Nation, The Golden Egg, and 4 Year Terms
Living Strong, Aging Well There is much discussion around the health of our older New Zealanders and how we can age well. In reality, the delivery of health services accounts for only a relatively small percentage of health outcomes as we age. Significantly, dry warm housing, nutrition, exercise, social connection, ...1 week ago - Shane Jones has no shame
Shane Jones’ display on Q&A showed how out of touch he and this Government are with our communities and how in sync they are with companies with little concern for people and planet. ...1 week ago
- Release: National botches health funding numbers
Health Minister Simeon Brown’s claim that the Government has put $16.68 billion into the health system over three years is wrong. ...1 week ago
- Government tramples on the rights of disabled migrant children
The Green Party is condemning the Government’s move to tighten access to visas for disabled children. ...1 week ago
- Release: Auckland needs second harbour crossing
Labour supports Minister Chris Bishop’s call for input on the second Waitematā Harbour crossing. ...1 week ago
- Speech: Barbara Edmonds’ speech to NZ Investment Summit 2025
I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak to you today about how we make overseas investment work for all New Zealanders. ...1 week ago
- Release: Labour does not support PPPs for prisons
Labour does not support the private ownership of core infrastructure like schools, hospitals and prisons, which will only see worse outcomes for Kiwis. ...1 week ago
- Dunedin Futures report should be a wake-up call
The newly released report on the South Dunedin Future Programme must be a wake-up call for our Government. ...1 week ago
- Release: Members’ Bill makes wage theft a crime
Workers will now be able to go to the Police and report their employer if they are not being paid wages they’re owed. ...2 weeks ago
- Missed opportunity to stop the stealing of Māori land
The Green Party is disappointed the Government voted down Hūhana Lyndon’s member’s Bill, which would have prevented further alienation of Māori land through the Public Works Act. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour supports sanctions against Israel’s illegal occupation
The Labour Party will support Chloe Swarbrick’s member’s bill which would allow sanctions against Israel for its illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territories. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Govt procurement plan cuts wages and trashes the environment
The Government’s new procurement rules are a blatant attack on workers and the environment, showing once again that National’s priorities are completely out of touch with everyday Kiwis. ...2 weeks ago
- Procurement proposals pose risk to people and planet
The Green Party is concerned by the impact the Government’s proposed changes to procurement processes could have on people and planet. ...2 weeks ago
- Just six Government MPs needed to pass Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill
With Labour and Te Pāti Māori’s official support, Opposition parties are officially aligned to progress Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in Palestine. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour’s approach to Māori economy benefits all
Under Labour, the Māori economy went from strength to strength according to the latest report released by MBIE. ...2 weeks ago
- 20 Years of Success Down the Drain: Govt Gut Whānau Ora
Te Pāti Māori extends our deepest aroha to the 500 plus Whānau Ora workers who have been advised today that the govt will be dismantling their contracts. For twenty years , Whānau Ora has been helping families, delivering life-changing support through a kaupapa Māori approach. It has built trust where ...2 weeks ago
- Green Party launches petition to allow Pacific whānau visa-free access
The Green Party is launching a petition calling on the Government to extend visa-free travel to visitors from Pacific Island nations. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour welcomes reinstatement of Heath NZ board
Labour welcomes Simeon Brown’s move to reinstate a board at Health New Zealand, bringing the destructive and secretive tenure of commissioner Lester Levy to an end. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ’s Public Health system dealt yet another blow
This morning’s announcement by the Health Minister regarding a major overhaul of the public health sector levels yet another blow to the country’s essential services. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Chris Hipkins’ State of the Nation address
Ngā mihi ki a koutou katoa It is a great pleasure to be here with you this morning. ...2 weeks ago
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New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill that will ensure employment decisions in the public service are based on merit and not on forced woke ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ targets. “This Bill would put an end to the woke left-wing social engineering and diversity targets in the public sector. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour outlines priorities of next Govt
The next Labour Government will prioritise jobs, health and homes so Kiwis and Kiwi businesses have the opportunity to thrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Refreshed team to drive Labour’s 2026 priorities
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has unveiled a new economic team as part of a caucus reshuffle. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour calls for end to police referrals to Destiny programmes
Police have referred 20 offenders to Destiny Church-affiliated programmes Man Up and Legacy as ‘wellness providers’ in the last year, raising concerns that those seeking help are being recruited into a harmful organisation. ...3 weeks ago
- Good Riddance: Prebble Resigns from Waitangi Tribunal
Te Pāti Māori welcomes the resignation of Richard Prebble from the Waitangi Tribunal. His appointment in October 2024 was a disgrace- another example of this government undermining Te Tiriti o Waitangi by appointing a former ACT leader who has spent his career attacking Māori rights. “Regardless of the reason for ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Labour calls on Govt to condemn Israel’s aid blockade
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Another Greens MP seems to have lost the plot. Which one's next?
Perhaps we never gave Shaw enough credit for keeping them all on a short lead.
Green MP Julie Anne Genter apologises after confrontation with Minister Matt Doocey, could face further action – NZ Herald
Thanks for the "crickets". Shaw the best of them. Not the same without Norman. Now Fitzsimmons and Donald were real Greens … . Bring back Nandor.
I wonder why she thought that a Minister had a lack of basic knowledge of their portfolio?
There is no excuse for any MP to behave like that in Parliament no matter how heated the debate gets.
Thats ugly, needs to be sanctioned accordingly as a deterent.
Wow! Waving papers in front of someones face is SO threatening. Dooley was clearly afraid for his life. No mention of when National's Muldoon used to brandish his fist in front of Labour members' faces. Silly thing to do by an experienced MP but a good excuse for a National Party sympathy campaign based on bs and hypocrisy.
Getting out of your seat in the middle of a debate and confronting someone face to face to argue the point is the issue.
If that was permitted then parliament would turn into a circus (if it isn't one already).
Is it really that difficult for our MPs to simply sit there, listen, and wait for their turn to speak? Other than primary school what kind or work place allows for the kind of childish tantrum throwing that goes on in parliament.
Just imagine if a male National MP had crossed the floor and waved papers in the face of JAG or any other female Green or Labour MP. I bet that would of upset you.
Muldoon is going back a bit in time! What about Mallard and actual punch ups if you want to bring up incidents from decades ago.
I've met Genter, she doesn't come across as someone you'd be scared of getting a beating from. Just another excuse for you to Green bash Jimmy and thats all. Hope you are as proactive when Shane Jones next threatens someone.
the problem is the precedent it sets.
I've met Sam Uffindell briefly. He also doesn't come across as someone you'd be scared of getting a beating from.
Uffindell? Wooden, I reckon.
Maybe if you'd had the opportunity to get to know him better
I never got to meet him when he was sixteen. Could have been interesting as I was younger back then too.
Weren't we all, Jimmy, weren't we all.
Heh, that would be Sam-“hey it’s still early in the night…let’s go out clubbing!!…
it was fucking stupid from an experienced MP not least* because of the politicking that follows. The only excuse I can think of is that she was having a bad day, and I bet the reactionary right knows exactly what to do with that.
*it's also bizarre. Afaik this is way outside of normal behaviour in the House. I don't care what Muldoon did, I care what left MPs do and how they set the tone and expectations.
Mike the Lefty @ 1.3
What about the occasion John Key made a cut throat gesture to Phil Goff. Goff had done nothing, Just sitting quietly in his seat. A prime minister n'all too!
Disgusting behaviour. I'd have a few pages waved in my face any day.
Edit: caught on camera too.
It was stupid from such an experienced MP and she faced the consequences.
Gonna be real honest and say that I think she is by far the person who has the most experience and vision on urban planning, transport and design, and is probably the only person in parliament who would understand the question "how can we design cities to facilitate a play-based childhood".
Matt Doocey's claim to fame is some good cross-party work on mental health and that he worked for the disgraced Tavistock. On the issue of transport, urban planning and design, he should defer to his betters.
She probably just lost it and wanted to shove some facts in his face. I don't approve, but I do understand.
Honestly, I’d like to get into parliament and shake the Cass report in Doocey’s face. And then I would turn around and shake the Cass report in the face of the entire Green Party, and also every other party.
lol, same.
Genter is an asset for parliament and the Greens. People using this as a reason to diss her generally are just politicking.
She realised it was dumb and apologised immediately. I'd like to know what Doocey said to her to incite this reaction.
It doesn’t matter what he said, Genter is responsible for her actions, or reaction to another’s comments.
As I’ve learned myself (from bitter experience) it’s the (over) reaction to someone else that gets one into trouble.
BG already said she had taken responsibility.
good point, I doubt this came out of the blue.
There is also the problems of the past 12 montks and Green MPs. They can't afford stupid shit like this.
It seems to do them no harm in the polls. Or maybe that is the Chloe effect.
To be clear, she didn't apologise immediately.
There were 'a couple of speakers' before the Speaker was recalled. Then…
"Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee was eventually recalled to deal with the outburst. "I just said it is totally inappropriate," Brownlee said. Only then did Genter apologise."
'She's a bully': Newshub reveals new allegation of intimidation against Green MP (msn.com)
It also seems Genter may have form.
"Swarbrick did acknowledge Genter had been talked to about a prior incident of poor behaviour during a media interview."
Julie Anne Genter confrontation: Green Party says ‘disciplinary process’ under way into MP’s behaviour, privileges complaints laid – NZ Herald
…and…
"Last week, Genter stopped by and Newcombe said the pair got into a heated exchange about Genter's advocacy for the cycleways. "She was very intimidating. She pulled out her phone, she put the phone camera right in my face and I was like 'Okay, you need to leave now' and then she started yelling and screaming over me that I didn't care about her kids cycling," Newcombe said. Newshub asked Green co-leader Marama Davidson about the florist's encounter to which she replied: "I understand that Julie Anne did pull a phone out and video the florist – that is completely unacceptable." "
'She's a bully': Newshub reveals new allegation of intimidation against Green MP (msn.com)
I've heard from others that Doocey was involved with Tavistock, but I haven't been able to find anything to confirm it. Do you have a link to confirm?
Rage is a rational response to clowns of all stripes and their fact-free reckons, particularly if you are someone who actually knows something about a topic and you suspect that their idiocy is driven by malice.
But the behaviour can't be excused – both because Parliament requires proper behaviour to function, and because every politician who is at all left of what constitutes the notional centre of the day, will be beaten up and dragged through the dirt for an extended period of time for this sort of thing.
Whilst not condoning what Julie Anne Genter did in Parliament yesterday, (though I would be curious to know what brought it on – what Matt Doocey may have done/said to her), it's not exactly unknown for National MPs to act in a similar fashion. I reckon JAG's actions were pretty mild in comparison to Tim van de Molen's threatening outburst to Shanan Halbert.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/496823/national-mp-tim-van-de-molen-censured-by-parliament
Difference is that Van de Molen didn't exhibit his bad behaviour in the House, in front of the cameras.
Outstandingly stupid of Genter – and I do expect better of her.
Watching an ethno-nationalist Jewish mob (self-identified themselves as such) attacking the pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA rmade me think the US authorities had downloaded yet another Israeli tactic of oppression. Mobs of murderous Jewish settlers rampaging through Palestinian settlements while the IDF looks on benignly is routine there.
No wonder the mob at UCLA felt they could act with total immunity, its been happening on the West Bank while the USA provided the weapons to do it for decades.
+100 Sanc
There's a theory that the tactics employed in the colonies eventually make their way back to the heart of empire – as though they were just a dress-rehearsal. That may partly explain the apparent contradiction of why the anti-Semitic far-right in the US so love Israel – they just like the cut of their jib and how they go about doing the things necessary to make [insert name of country here] great again.
The mind boggling thing is this extreme police violence has been triggered by middle class kids being idealists. The signal to police & mob violence is clearly coming from university administrators – something that reveals the fault lines between elite institution students, who are largely motivated by youthful idealism, and the colonisation of university administration by authoritarian neoliberal managers. It perhaps explains the deep trouble so many universities are in at the moment in the USA, where a predatory approach to student fees has seen enrollments plumet (according to Ted Goia, elite tertiary educational institutions are going under at the rate of one every week at the moment). The idea that university authorities should order riot police to attack their own students on campus, or that the university security should stand by while an out of control mob attacked students on their campus, is outrageous to the extreme.
God only knows how unhinged the police reaction would be if Huey P Newton and 100 Black Panthers were on hand to fight back!
Well put Sanctuary.
It used to be that these types of provocations were hidden but we now get to see the violence directed at protest that fundamentally affects power. As well as this, video exists of the same type of Israel flag wavers, in direct confontation with Palestinian supporters, shouting "kill the Jews" in order to get the Palestine supporters arrested. We need to be aware of these old tried and true tactics.
It was students that raised the US out of the moral morass that was the Vietnam war. It may be that they can do it again for Palestine.
What on earth is Sir Jinx Key doing in Parliament? Front and centre! Rallying the troops? It didn’t work before so I don’t see his appearance being of any use now. T-Shirts! Pop ups in parliament! Just to prop up that Lummox Luxon. Reeks of desperation. So very sad for the dynamic dick,… not really… but . I feel a big positive spin for the COC coming on from compliant media. I wonder who will be first up.
And Helen Clark sounded so presidential on RNZ's Morning Report today.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018936640/former-pm-helen-clark-on-aukus-pillar-two
Younger than Biden and Trump right?
That was such a good interview from Helen Clark. Everyone just chucking their marbles around with China it is so good to hear a voice of sanity. The logic that says that the nation that trades more than any other is going to trash its relations with those nations just because, is idiotic. Joining the US in its "containment strategy" against our largest trading partner, which US refuses to open trading to us is mindless.
Of course, Helen was a little more diplomatic but it's virtually what she said.
+100 Sub
Anyone want to have a crack at explaining what James Shaw's new job is?
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/515700/james-shaw-s-valedictory-and-his-new-roles
Morrison's owns infrastructure companies such as Infratil.
https://morrisonglobal.com/
And a Public Infrastructure Partnership Fund (PIP Fund)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrison_%26_Co
He will be an operating partner – in a role “focused on driving the next generation of investment".
https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/news-in-brief/morrison-appoints-james-shaw
sure, but I don't know what any of that means.
That's a natural step for Shaw. And a strong signal from HRL Morrisons that the sustainability investor truly values policy expertise inside their management entity. Their investment themes are here:
Innovative Investing with Morrison: Alternative Asset Management – Morrison – Morrison (morrisonglobal.com)
They run Infratil.
Infratil are a very long-term investor in sustainable energy projects. They tend to be long-term holds. Way back in the day they started out of the asset privatisation, and kept growing under the charismatic Lloyd Morrison.
Who we invest in – Infratil
Under Mark Bogoievski they massively expanded into buying telco companies and datacentres.
I'd rank Infratil as our most successful listed company, if you have the patience for medium-term holds which is what infrastructure stocks are.
Also HRL Morrison at that level is a whole bunch more useful to the world than Shaw getting recycled into a government entity like NZSuperFund or ACC.
Shaw is one of the few elected members on either side of the house who operate outside the Wellington policy bubble and easily in the commercial world.
First half of my professional life I used to think doing good for the world was only possible inside the public sector. In this country it's almost the reverse.
why is that so for NZ?
We have had since the late 1980s a public service that is under-led and poorly resourced,
with no cross-departmental strategy or even an attempt at it,
disaggregated by deep funder-policy-provider spits,
under-regulated or worse self-regulating,
disconnected from independent policy contests in academia or NGOs,
far too many entities for the scale of land people and social complexity
consistently incoherent governments that change course or go through deliberate binge-purge cycles like the current and last one,
bosses that change at least every 3 years,
consistently poor execution of major projects due to generalist management,
disdain from much of the public that is reciprocated by so much of the public service in Wellington, and
a rapid shrinking in the entire public sphere of influence in New Zealand in the 1990s that we've never recovered from.
Watching the police clearing Palestine liberation protestors from US campuses, I'm thinking about the ways in which this is different from clearing freedom protestors from Parliament grounds.
https://twitter.com/NaomiMaePhD/status/1785657833750516155
The freedom protestors had a number of problems in terms of legitimacy of protest. The death threats and inability to deal with the storm the citadel bros in their ranks and the abuse of locals outside the protest area are the main ones I see. And the denial that those were issues.
But in terms of occupation, they had as much right to be there as the students in the US.
Which leaves us with the idea that some protests are legitimate because of the politics/goals, and some aren't. And who gets to decide.
For clarity, I think the US campus occupations are righteous and I hope they regroup and continue. This is one of the few things I’ve seen that has the potential to force the US government position on the genocide in Palestine to change.
I also think there are some mistakes in the way they are doing this that are going to create serious divisions in an already divided country.
And I'm deeply depressed that those kids aren't doing this over climate, and what this means for life on planet earth.
It's their Vietnam moment. Remember that war raised the consciousness of a whole new generation.
I really hope so.
They don't appear to have achieved any change though, iraq×2 Afghanistan,,
Shit the only war they should be in is slapping poots back in his box and they not really trying there
there's a genocide happening, some of the students will have family and friends in Palestine. Protesting that is appropriate.
There were huge protests against the invasion of Iraq. Those changed how we think about war and the West's involvement.
The difference is tens of thousands of poor working class US kids were getting killed and injured in Vietnam. Everyone knew someone who was in Vietnam fighting.
Although the US is donkey deep in Palestine, there aren't feet on the ground in the same way as Vietnam. For most American's it is still someone else's war.
It's also gendocide.
Agree with this. The US population is massively inwards looking.
Other people being killed in a far-away country isn't really 'real' to them. What matters is 'that nice Mrs Johnston at the corner store has had a son killed in Vietnam. Why are we fighting there anyway'.
And that only really kicks into place with conscription – if professional soldiers (even US ones) are killed, there is an element of 'well, they chose to be there'.
Americans tend to get exercised about US citizens and soldiers being killed by terrorist ambushes, but not about professional soldiers being killed fighting.
Just seeking major US universities cave on this is truly sad.
Lest one forgets the number of armed civilians patrolling US streets in utes after the 2020 election.
"seeing"
David Seymour is apparently looking into packaged school lunches. Muesli bars and the like. Not surprising that he would resent money being spent on a hot meal in winter for the children. His mean-spiritedness to the fore as usual.
It'll be unchanged for now (Labour funded to the end of this year) and it seems it will be in the 2025 budget – waiting for a review.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2024/05/free-school-lunches-scheme-to-get-temporary-funding-until-
I read somewhere today that Seymour was proposing to cut fresh fruit and vegetables and instead use tinned fruit and tinned beans. (Can't remember where.)
Really going a bit far there. Generations of Kiwi kids have had a lunch consisting of a couple of sandwiches and an apple (with a biscuit or piece of home baking, if you were lucky). None of us died for the want of a hot lunch in winter; or had our schooling affected.
The provision of a meal for kids whose parents don't or can't provide them with lunch, is one thing. Insisting that it be a catering quality hot meal, is something quite different.
No. Because the vast majority of us got a hot evening meal. Many of these 'poor' kids don't get hot meals full stop. So a hot lunch is important and helps them learn at school. A fuller belly leads to a fuller mind.
There is no evidence, whatsoever, that having a hot lunch makes up for not having a hot meal at the end of the day.
Having lunch, yes. But not a cooked meal.
“Three great forces rule the world: stupidity, fear and greed.” – Einstein
Seymour mingy? Maybe – he understands the ‘benefits’ of keeping some Kiwis hungry.
Anyone in Labour want to talk to the press (and the party ‘leader’ while you’re at it) about how policy is made or is supposed to be made in Labour?
18 seats the Greens. That will grow if Labour keeps on as is.
Audrey Young (and potentially the leader’s office who knows) is setting out their own axis of evil in Labour who, shock, horror, want tax reform. This is a mildly left wing position. It is being positioned as a hardliner group. Oh my god, one of these rabid socialists is allegedly Phil Twyford. Another is the IMF.
Surely policy has a lot of bottom up development? The party membership is in favour of something and it gets suggested.
Anyway, Labour looking like NZF with less initiative isn’t getting my vote back.
Labour Party policy development has a lot of opportunities for involvement of the general membership, so we don't always get everything we want, but there's a chance to provide input and get more involved if we want to be.
JAG will not be attending Parliament today. Anyone else see that coming?
Hipkins has taken on a most formidable opponent in Winston Peters.
Live: Chris Hipkins says Winston Peters’ has ‘embarrassed the country’ with remarks | Stuff
Hipkins will have been begging for this kind of fight when Labour arranged for the foreign affairs debate in the Parliament chamber with Helen Clark, ex-Minister Carr and other notables.
Finally Hipkins has found a useful policy target in foreign policy. Problem is, up against Peters and MFAT and the defence establishment, the best Hipkins will achieve is a dent, not a wound.
Still, best of luck Hipkins.
I suppose chip chip chip at the bottom of the wall is the theory, if you watch any of those demolition disaster shorts online. Hit and move on targets.
The only problem is the left block has achieved most of late with Hipkins not taking the lead, so by and large the public forget about him also having recently been PM and not well liked.
Helen Clark's twitter has been interesting.
Helen Clark kept Winston on a very short lead when he was Foreign Affairs Minister.
He had 2 Associate Ministers – Phil Goff to do the heavy lifting with policy etc, and Chris Carter to do the relationship building and general "schmoozing".
Plus lots of air tickets to comfortable places and pre-written speeches.
Attacking Peters on his own ground is a losing proposition. There is no way that Hipkins can out-demagogue Peters on Foreign Policy. Debate and Speechifying is Peters' strong point. It's not a significant strength for Hipkins.
I thought bombast and bullshit were Peter's 'strong point'…
Correction:..I left out 'bluster'..
And evidence that Hipkins has any ability to counter any or all of these?
Peters is like a shark in the water to controversial debate. Feeding him is not the solution.
Labour is unwilling to make it a contest on economic policy while they have none, so it is merely opposition to austerity and the poverty of vision. And issues such as AUKUS.
But others want a 1984 and 1975 reprise. In that Clark talks about a non aligned Pacific (despite Five Eyes, NATO+ and security alliance with Oz).
Labour’s potential disagreement on AUKUS seems more like the decision of English to support the coalition of the willing in 2003 (with UK and Oz) than that.
My ears have been popping for about half an hour, so I know someone in Wellington is angry and has access to advanced tech – destablising the left wing ear.In 2003 the police actually visited the home to act as lackey for a foreign interest supporting the war on the secular left of Iraq and here conflict with China over Taiwan.
Labour should propose a full dfence Treaty with Australia.
We are near fully interoperable already. So it sounds a lot bolder than it is.
Well overdue to re-write the 1944 Canberra Pact.
There is also CDR (Common Defence Relations) which Labour signed in between 87 & 90. Which was meant to further enhanced the ANZAC Treaty (Canberra Pact), but unfortunately the National Party of the 90's completely trashed it with the Savaged Defence Cuts of the 90's & Labour Alliance Coalition finally killing it off with the disbanding of the RNZAF Strike Wing along with any hope of the 3rd ANZAC Frigate or the cancelling of the option for 8 C130J's on the back of the RAAF order in the early 2000's.
My gut feeling atm, IRT centre left Politics in NZ atm IRT to the NZDF/ MoD & Veterans Affairs we are likely to a repeat of the early 2000's if & when this chaos Coalition collapses.
As the Green's & TPM would force NZLP not to invest the NZDF capabilities & if so the absolute bare minimum in non combat capabilities let alone Defence assets aka infrastructure because both parties still believe that the Sth Pacific is a "benign strategic environment".
The Sth Pacific has never been a benign strategic environment, especially since the White Fella aka The European's turned up & of recent times Japan post WW1 & now China. Now throw in CC & the competition for Natural resources ie Timber, POL, Fisheries & resources etc the Sth Pacific & the Sth Ocean is ripe for pillaging atm.
Which means country's like NZ now not only have to rely on Diplomacy, but now have to start carrying a bloody big stick (well equipped & combat capable/ focus NZDF) as well & be prepared to use bloody thing as well!
Hipkins should have sat this one out. It's not MFAT or the defence establishment he's fighting, it's that Peter's claims are not new.
How Bob Carr became China's pawn (archive.is)
When our MPs on the Inter Parliamentary Alliance on China are hacked, by China together with our leading China security expert, and our own agency doesn't have the guts to actually inform them, it's probably time for Clark and Carr to just front up and admit times have changed and they are actually wrong.
China is a security threat to us.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/former-mps-angry-government-didnt-warn-them-they-were-targeted-in-china-backed-cyberattack/EBNYAK2G6BHIRDHZLLNJ5VHEXM/
Yep.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/a-response-to-helen-clarks-criticism-of-new-zealand-foreign-policy-dr-reuben-steff/VHK4DSIOXBG6RMOEADP5PFPCEQ/