Open mike 02/06/2012

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, June 2nd, 2012 - 81 comments
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner).

Step right up to the mike…

81 comments on “Open mike 02/06/2012 ”

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  1. Carol 1
    2 June 2012 at 7:23 am

    The reported statement in 2005 about the reasons for the Shonkey one sending his children to private schools has gone viral:

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10810207

    The Prime Minister told the Listener he sent his children to private schools for educational reasons, including smaller classes and better resources.

    It was not a direct quote, but a picture of Mr Key with the comment alongside was posted on Facebook yesterday and by last night had appeared on numerous blogs and been shared by more than 6000 people.

    Power to the people!

    PS: Pity about the comic piece beside this article, with a photo of a comedian with a ludicrous speech bubble spewing out of his mouth.

  2. Carol 2
    2 June 2012 at 7:43 am

    Out-sourcing copy editors off-shore leads to some real stuff-ups in the headlines – like this one for the NZ Herald.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10810205

    Surely the headline should read:

    Marauding police surround students
    and not vice versa as seen this morning on the NZH online?

    • yeshe 2.1
      2 June 2012 at 7:53 am

      Carol .. do they really out-source copy editng offshore ? Where to ??

    • seeker 2.2
      2 June 2012 at 8:21 am

      Well said Carol. Was furious when I saw this headline. Nearly choked over a cup of tea when I saw the 4.30pm TVNZ news yesterday and saw police lifting people by their necks using armholds and fingers around throats, crushing a person’s head by their neck into the concreted ground and then saw a policeman pull his arm back and really punch a student hard at least a couple of times. I was absolutely stunned and horrified .The students were passive and to their absolute credit did not retaliate.This video was sanitised by the time it reached the six o’ clock news, I could find it nowhere on the TVNZ site. Thus I went to TV3 and found much of what I previously witnessed, however there was only a slight glimpse of the policeman punching some one.I saved them in case they ‘disappeared’ too.

      Student protests Auckland Queen Street, Friday, June1st 2012 TV3:
      Violent strangling punching from police 10.36pm
      http://www.3news.co.nz/More-protests-to-come—students/tabid/309/articleID/256436/Default.aspx

      “Three police to one woman” 3.07pm
      http://www.3news.co.nz/Arrests-at-student-anti-Budget-protest/tabid/423/articleID/256395/Default.aspx

      6.01 news Jane Liscome,, some violence from police shown
      http://www.3news.co.nz/Dozens-of-arrests-as-students-protest/tabid/309/articleID/256414/Default.aspx

      Why were some of the police so dangerous? Have they not had training into how to handle peaceful protests?

      It seems, from the Herald story you have just linked to that someone is spinning. Even Bill English’ part in the provocation was watered down. This type of untruthful and ‘spin’ reporting infuriates me.
      It could have been my son, who is a student in Auckland, that could have been manhandled like this by the police. My fury would have known no bounds, and misrepresentation of the facts would have poured further fuel on my anger.

      • Dr Terry 2.2.1
        2 June 2012 at 10:16 am

        Peaceful protest has become no longer a democratic right in this country. Violent police learned their stuff elsewhere – you can guess where.

    • muzza 2.3
      2 June 2012 at 9:02 am

      The headline is a disgrace alright…

      I’m just windering how long it takes til people start to understand, what “outsourcing” is really all about.

      Much more to it than face value!

      This country is heading into very dark places, which people seem to think won’t happen here.

      If it happens abroad, it WILL come to NZ!

    • weka 2.4
      2 June 2012 at 11:08 am

      I posted this in the other thread. Marauding is the wrong word. It means pillaging, looting, pirating etc. Someone should complain.

  4. Pete George 4
    2 June 2012 at 8:26 am

    Standard authors – do you want to support a campaign to get a debate on the future of our Super?

    This is not about specific options for Super at this stage, it’s to build a campaign for dealing with and debating super. Super is one of the most important issues facing us over the next half century. We need to discuss it and deal with it.

    David Shearer is pushing for a cross party discussion. And according to Duncan Garner:

    – The Greens have said yes,
    – ACT would join,
    – the Maori Party want in,
    – Hone Harawira won’t say no
    – and Winston Peters could be tempted.
    – Peter Dunne says everyone must join up for this to have credibility.

    SO how about cross-blog support for this? Combine the power of the blogs. Post a blog, or comment here in support.

    BADASS – Bloggers Advancing Debate About Super Solutions

    • Bill 4.1
      2 June 2012 at 10:03 am

      No.

      The deal that accompanied the end of chattel slavery was that us ‘new found’ slaves for rent (forced into the position through violent dispossession and enclosure) would be allowed to work our way to freedom. Ie, we would rent our labour for a number of years and in return it was acknowledged we wouldn’t be forced to rent ourselves out in later years.

      Okay, it wasn’t exactly a deal. It was an imposition. And that’s why many people died or had their lives ruined, first in resistence, and then, when that was quashed, attempting to improve various aspects of our end of ‘the deal’.

      And now we are being told….well no, this is what we’re not being told…that our wages have been driven so low by those seeking to profit from our labour, that government cannot raise enough money from us in the way of taxes to provide for retirement. What we are being told is that we need to rent ourselves out for a larger proportion of our life span because….because, well shit… just because really. But not because profits, unlike people, have to remain inviolate.

      • Pete George 4.1.1
        2 June 2012 at 3:18 pm

        No what? No to doing anything about it?

        Or do you have another viable solution to talking about all the options are working out a sustainable way forward?

        • Bill 4.1.1.1
          2 June 2012 at 6:48 pm

          The ‘no’ refers to the fact that any such debate should be off the table. Why should it be off the table? Read my comment. Any government daring to make even the slightest hint of extending the years of rented out labour would, in a society that knew its history, be ‘gone by lunch time’.

          And anyway, what is the ‘it’ that something needs done about Pete? I guess in your world it simply couldn’t be the enormous and continuely rising rate of profit that has essentially diverted resources away from workers and by extension governments and so society at large.

          You want a sustainable way forward Pete? Well how about you firts of all recognise what it is that is unsustainable? Here’s a hint, it’s capitalism and its demand for growth. So whatever sustainable way it is that we might develop going forwards; this isn’t it Pete.

          And even within the parameters of Capitalism…since I doubt you’ll ever get beyond a quizzical DUH? when trying to get your head around why some people might not be enamored by the whole shebang…. selectively picking out little bits of so-called ‘economic unsustainability’ and not looking at how that transpired…refusing to look at the bigger picture,the context… is a sheer fucking dishonest nonsense that any politician, for having brought it into the arena of public debate, should fucking swing for.

          • Pete George 4.1.1.1.1
            2 June 2012 at 7:09 pm

            I’ve acknowledged the capitalism ponzi problem for quite a while Bill.

            I’m far less certain that a complete change in economic system is necessary to attain sustainability. One of the biggest impediments is the entrenched attitude of most of the population who are addicted to consumerism.

    • Dr Terry 4.2
      2 June 2012 at 10:19 am

      I fail to see National mentioned in your cross-party list, is this an error? I think my sight is alright. Are all the others truly likely to get far?

      • Pete George 4.2.1
        2 June 2012 at 3:25 pm

        Not an error, Nationbal’s current position is to do nothing and change nothing, while Key is still PM. English says the same – see National’s toes dug in Super.

        So we have four options:
        1. Go the National way and kick the can down the road, until 2014, or 2017, or…
        2. Build support and pressure to “encourage” National to change their minds and at least start the discussion necessary to address it.
        3. Ignore National’s intransigence and do as much work as possible discussing and investigating and decidedin amongst everyone else so that when the next Non-National led government gets in any changes can be started as soon as possible.
        4. Wait and hope for Bill’s revolution (and hope there are no adverse effects or unforeseen consequences and hope that there’s a miracle transformation to go with it).

        • mike e 4.2.1.1
          2 June 2012 at 5:40 pm

          pg hair should grow some and sort it out with national he could force national to stop wasting time and fobbing the issue.No plan National and by default the hair the MP for Ohairyu

          • Pete George 4.2.1.1.1
            2 June 2012 at 5:59 pm

            he could force national to stop wasting time and fobbing the issue

            I don’t know how you think he could do that. He can’t force National or any other party to do anything.

            UF does have an agreement with National to have a discussion paper on super this term, and National have said they will honour that commitment (Bill Enlish reeaffirmed that on Thursday). So that’s a toe in the door opportunity. I’m doing what I can to help make the most of that toe in the door, and trying to involve any other party that is willing to be involved as much as possible.

            This BADASS initiative could help in this respect, the wider and larger the public support for doing soemthing the more more that can be done, sooner. Maybe not as soon as some of us would prefer, but it’s far better than doing nothing.

            • mickysavage 4.2.1.1.1.1
              2 June 2012 at 6:08 pm

              Pete stop trying to gain the cudos for this.  Labour and the Greens are the only parties brave enough to raise this as an issue and discuss it.  UF just confused the issue by proposing something that actually achieved nothing.

              If you want to do something of use persuade the follicled one to withdraw support for the Government.  This is the one and only thing UF could do if it is interested in achieving a solution. 

              • Pete George …
                2 June 2012 at 6:17 pm

                That’s one of the sillier things you’ve said. It would make a mockery of a coalition agreement and our MMP if UF withdrew support from the Government.

                And it would remove the one guaranteed chance of official Super discussions.That opportunity can be used to the max, or ignored, which would probably result in no progress on Super this term.

                I don’t expect you to understand non-partisan practical politics, but I know some in Labour do.

                • Pascal's bookie …
                  2 June 2012 at 6:25 pm

                  Pete, seeing National has said they are not at all interested in substantive talks, then what can be done?

                  UFs coalition agreement is a farce that will achieve nothing on this. It’s designed to achieve nothing on this. Signing up to it was an agreement by Dunne that nothing will be actually done.

                  So he either honours it, and toes national’s ‘do nothing’ line, or he tries to get a majority in parliament to do something without national. But the coalition agreement thing cannot be a part of getting anything done, because it is with National, who are adament that they are not going to do anything.

                  • Pete George …
                    2 June 2012 at 6:35 pm

                    seeing National has said they are not at all interested in substantive talks, then what can be done?

                    Simple. All other parties can work together to ensure there are substantive talks.

                    Even if Labour was leading government now nothing would actually be changing this term, they were only proposing signalling change starting in 2020.

                    But now there is a guaranteed opportunity to begin a discussion which can be used to prepare for when we have a government willing to act on it.

                    Suggest a better way to do it.

                    • Pascal's bookie …
                      2 June 2012 at 6:48 pm

                      But now there is a guaranteed opportunity to begin a discussion which can be used to prepare for when we have a government willing to act on it.

                      There is always an opportunity to talk about it Pete, and it’s always gauranteed. But the coalition agreement ‘talk’ is guaranteed to fail. It’s predetermined to fail. It’s between National and UF, and National have said they are not for changing.

                      Suggest a better way to do it.

                      how about the various parties work out what they want to do in terms of policy, advocate for those policies, and then we put it up to a vote from the entire electorate in the form of an election, After that election the parties elected to parliament will negotiate untill some combination can form a government and implement policy.

                      that sounds a lot better to me than a bunch of undemocratic back room dealiing

                • mickysavage …
                  2 June 2012 at 6:35 pm

                  Well two predictions Petey.  Absolutely nothing will be done this term to address the issue of future retirement pressures.  And the coiffured one will continue to receive his grossly excessive salary and get driven around by limos paid with our coin.

                  • Pete George …
                    2 June 2012 at 6:42 pm

                    When does he “get driven around by limos”? I think that’s an uninformed criticism based on no facts. As far as I know he drives himself around Wellington in an ordinary sort of car.

                    • mickysavage …
                      2 June 2012 at 6:48 pm

                      Baubles of office, Pete, baubles of office.

                      And stop diverting.  If you are keen to do something about retirement then persuade UF to jump up and down and insist on National at least talking about the subject.  Labour and the Greens will happily take part in the discussion. 

                    • Pete George …
                      2 June 2012 at 7:12 pm

                      You’re the one who baubled on with diversions, remember?

                      persuade UF to jump up and down and insist on National at least talking about the subject

                      Keep up. UF have already got a (C&S) commitment from National to talk about it. No other party has managed that yet.

                    • mickysavage …
                      2 June 2012 at 7:19 pm

                      Well talk about it all you want Petey but I repeat prediction one:

                      Absolutely nothing will be done this term to address the issue of future retirement pressures.

                    • weka …
                      2 June 2012 at 7:21 pm

                      “Well talk about it all you want Petey”
                       
                      AaaaRRRGGGGGGG.

                    • Pete George …
                      2 June 2012 at 7:42 pm

                      Absolutely nothing will be done this term to address the issue of future retirement pressures.

                      If everyone buys into that then you will be right. If enough people are prepared to stand up and push, then it will at least perpare the way.

                      Maybe you should talk to David Shearer, it seems to be a major priority of his, he is talking to other parties about it quietly and proposing co-operative action publicly.

                      Once again it seems I’m more supportive of what your leader is doing than you are. Why don’t you get in behind him on that, help drive it. I think it needs an inside/outside parliament multi party approach. I’m happy to work with you on it.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      2 June 2012 at 7:50 pm

                      Just print the money to cover the super needs. Whats the problem again?

                    • mickysavage …
                      2 June 2012 at 7:53 pm

                      Sorry Weka, my bad …

        • Dr Terry 4.2.1.2
          2 June 2012 at 8:11 pm

          Yes, I think we can only do what is manageable, given the Key intransigence. Hopefully such cross-party consultation as might be possible will at least be persuasive with the public.Points 2 and 3 look positive possibilities. I agree with your comment on National’s current position.

    • millsy 4.3
      2 June 2012 at 10:24 am

      We only need to look at places like the USA, whese we see retirees having to live on the street or work in low wage jobs because their retirement savings were wiped out in various crashes, or their employer was able to get out of making good on their pension obligations, ie United Airlines, various city and local governments, etc, to be thankful of the existence of NZ Super, which is only becoming expensive because of 20 years of tax cuts, especially in terms of wealth taxes.

      I have noticed that those who scream the loudest about this are those who:

      1) Work in the financial sector and would make a lot money from managing pension accounts, or advising people where to invest for their retirements.
      2) Those who have a secure retirement to look forward to
      3) Those looking for cheap labour
      4) People who just resent people on low incomes/state assistance.

      • KJT 4.3.1
        2 June 2012 at 11:27 am

        Don’t forget those in sedentary jobs, who can easily work until 80.

        Are happy to make those work on whose more demanding jobs destroy their physical or mental health.
        Unfortunately enough to make work difficult, but not enough to get an invalids benefit.

      • Foreign Waka 4.3.2
        2 June 2012 at 12:11 pm

        You hit the nail on the head. The only group whose funding is affording the lifestyle of the abysmal greedy with some sort of “guaranty” is the taxpayer. The longer they can milk this group the better for them. Naturally.

  5. travellerev 5
    2 June 2012 at 9:38 am

    Four years ago Comedian and Guardian journalist Charlie Skelton went to Greece to rapport and possibly ridicule the “conspiracy” theorists who tried to attend the Global population to the fact that on average 200 of the richest and most powerful people met in secret to “talk freely”about global affairs. That was four years ago.
    But when Charlie was followed and bullied and scared shitless by some of the Bilderberg goons he decided to have a closer look.
    Today Charlie after following BIlderberg and visiting each consecutive Bilderberg meeting (Outside with all the other Bilderberg watchers) Charlie talks a very different tune.
    So here is Charlie in the Guardian for those of you still firmly entrenched in the artificial Left/Right political paradigm.

    • weka 5.1
      2 June 2012 at 2:01 pm

      If the meetings are in secret, how could anyone follow them? I will go read the article though.

    • weka 5.2
      2 June 2012 at 2:10 pm

      Sorry, couldn’t finish it. It was funny, but my eyes started glazing over at the lists of people who I was supposed to know the significance of but didn’t. Does it actually get to explain anything?

  6. Jellytussle 6
    2 June 2012 at 11:15 am

    I had to laugh at Hansard the other day. (http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Debates/Debates/d/c/9/50HansD_20120530_00000012-Questions-for-Oral-Answer-Questions-to-Ministers.htm)

    Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I think that is one of the factors. I also agree with the OECD when, in 2010, we were rated as having the second-to-best water quality, by Yale and Columbia.

    Dr Russel Norman: Is the Prime Minister aware that the Yale report that he just quoted from has now been updated and our ranking has moved from second to 43rd, and does his Government take credit for the movement in our ranking in the Yale report from second to 43rd?

    • weka 6.1
      2 June 2012 at 11:20 am

      Lol. What a bunch of clowns we have running the place.

      • seeker 6.1.1
        2 June 2012 at 11:27 am

        So true weka.

      • muzza 6.1.2
        2 June 2012 at 6:38 pm

        They are not clowns, they are actors filling their role in a script!

        Believing they are simply inept is to be missing a much more serious problem!

    • Dv 6.2
      2 June 2012 at 11:25 am

      What was very interesting is Norman was NOT allowed to table the latest Yale report.

      If we ignore it it does not exist!,

      • seeker 6.2.1
        2 June 2012 at 11:56 am

        On Red Alert May 30, David Cunliffe spoke about a similar thing happening to him under a post entitled “Spin, damned spin, and Steven Joyce
        http://blog.labour.org.nz/

        “In response to parliamentary oral question 7 today, economic development Minister Steven Joyce tried to deflect today’s announced cut to New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) 2012 growth forecast to a “stagnant” 1.5%, by saying this was all due to the supposed increase in the domestic savings rate.

        Perhaps he was hoping that, as the NZIER publication is subscription-only, it was not going to be available to the Opposition, or to the public, and we would be unaware of his spin.

        The problem for him, though, is I had the report in my hand and then I sought to table it.

        National withheld leave for me to do so, to prevent you from judging for yourself.”

        So David C posted the overview of the report to undermine Joyce’s spin and counteract this national MO of preventing tabling of information that national wants to ignore or deny. In other words, “what Mr Joyce thinks he can get away with in Question Time if no one is checking.”

      • Draco T Bastard 6.2.2
        2 June 2012 at 1:03 pm

        Yeah, I’ve noticed recently that NACT are objecting to tabling any material that shows just how bad they are.

        • Lanthanide 6.2.2.1
          2 June 2012 at 4:31 pm

          What are the rules and the purpose for objecting to things being tabled?

          • Jackal 6.2.2.1.1
            2 June 2012 at 5:54 pm

            It’s the intent of Standing Orders 368 and 374 to allow members of the House to be informed on matters not readily available to it by the tabling of documents. It’s meant to be a way for an assertion to be backed up with evidence.

            You need to seek leave to table documents that are outside the scope of parliament or normal avenues of information gathering. There are meant to be good grounds to object to somebody seeking leave, however National MP’s have taken to abusing the process because there is so much information available that they would prefer was not officially registered.

            While the Hansard is not required to log who is objecting to the tabling of documents and the Speaker continues to allow objections without good reason, such abuses of the system will continue.

    • Dr Terry 6.3
      2 June 2012 at 8:16 pm

      Delightful! Thanks for spotting this. Good too for Russell Norman. How we need him now and, I hope, well into the future.

  7. just saying 7
    2 June 2012 at 11:25 am

    I’ve just upgraded firefox, and now find ‘The Standard’ format slighly different, and irritatingly, lots of boxes popping up offering different kinds of ‘help’. Anyone else experiencing this?

    • Bill 7.1
      2 June 2012 at 11:34 am

      Using Firefox 12, which is apparently all up to date. And no problems.

    • Draco T Bastard 7.2
      2 June 2012 at 1:06 pm

      Nope.

      • just saying 7.2.1
        2 June 2012 at 1:25 pm

        Maybe a dictionary, or a spell check, or a quick, find will come in handy. Eventually.

    • weka 7.3
      2 June 2012 at 2:12 pm

      A month or so ago something changed in Firefox so that whenever I click on the reply link it opens the box but then jumps me to the bottom of the page so I have to scroll back up.
       
      Re the help popups, have you looked in the Preference settings?

      • just saying 7.3.1
        2 June 2012 at 2:25 pm

        Thanks Weka.
        Yes it is mainly in the reply box. I can’t get in because it wants to spell check or offers me other tools before I’ve even got my cursor into the box, let alone written anything, and often blocks me getting into the box with the “help”.
        I’ll try the preference settings.
        btw I should have said that I don’t bother much with spelling and grammar rather than that I don’t often need it 😀

      • Te Reo Putake 7.3.2
        2 June 2012 at 3:27 pm

        Weka, this has been a bug in Firefox for ages. It’s mildly annoying, particularly on posts with lots of comments, but I’ve learned to live with it! The other oddity is the comments RSS feed seems to be very short (ie. only a few comments) compared to other browsers.

        • ropata 7.3.2.1
          2 June 2012 at 4:01 pm

          Check you have the latest version of Firefox (v12)
          Disable add-ons (for example, NoScript) that could interfere with the comment box
          Or try Google Chrome…

        • Draco T Bastard 7.3.2.2
          2 June 2012 at 5:31 pm

          this has been a bug in Firefox for ages.

          Doesn’t do that for me.

          The other oddity is the comments RSS feed seems to be very short (ie. only a few comments) compared to other browsers.

          I believe that Lynn shortened the RSS feeds to save on bandwidth.

          • lprent 7.3.2.2.1
            3 June 2012 at 9:03 am

            Not comments. Just the posts which got clipped to the excerpt from the front page.Worked a treat – our expensive overseas traffic dropped quite a lot.

      • Jackal 7.3.3
        2 June 2012 at 6:30 pm

        You might want to remove super cookies as well weka, as they can cause all sorts of problems. Here’s a helpful post outlining the process.

        Have you guys heard of the Flame virus? Now that’s some scary stuff.

      • Vicky32 7.3.4
        3 June 2012 at 5:49 pm

        A month or so ago something changed in Firefox so that whenever I click on the reply link it opens the box but then jumps me to the bottom of the page so I have to scroll back up.

        I have the same experience, and have to faff about finding it, as well, which is a pain on dial up, I tell you!

      • Vicky32 7.3.5
        3 June 2012 at 5:53 pm

        A month or so ago something changed in Firefox so that whenever I click on the reply link it opens the box but then jumps me to the bottom of the page so I have to scroll back up.

        I have the same experience, and have to faff about finding it, as well, which is a pain on dial up, I tell you!
        I tried to post this and got ‘internal server error’… whatever that means!
        When trying to post this comment I got an ‘internal server error’, and the advice that I ought to contact you, and detail what I might have done to cause the problem – to which the answer is “blowed if I know’!

        ”    month or so ago something changed in Firefox so that whenever I click on the reply link it opens the box but then jumps me to the bottom of the page so I have to scroll back up.

        I have the same experience, and have to faff about finding it, as well, which is a pain on dial up, I tell you!”

    • Murray Olsen 7.4
      2 June 2012 at 10:08 pm

      No problem with Firefox on my Mac, except for the way Apple manufacture them.

  8. millsy 8
    2 June 2012 at 12:33 pm

    Has anyone heard any more news about the PoA dispute?

    PoA and MUNZ went back to negotiations but after that, everything went quiet..

    Is there going to be a new CEA? What about the contracting out plans?

    • KJT 8.1
      2 June 2012 at 1:37 pm

      Last I heard POAL were waiting for the POAL industrial relations ACT to be enacted so they did not have to negotiate. Good faith or otherwise.

      POAL’s lawyer died and the court cases were adjourned, so at present they are talking, but MUNZ has no illusions that POAL will not have another go at casualisation when the law is changed.

  9. muzza 9
    2 June 2012 at 12:38 pm

    A majority of countries in the 47-nation rights council supported a US and Arab-led resolution condemning the “outrageous use of force against the civilian population” in Houla.

    –Hey who are the Arab League anyway (not using the name Arab League anymore I notice…Oh thats right, Bahrain, Qatar and other assorted murderers, liers and dictators…But they are monarchist states, so part of the imperial love fest!

    –Good old NZH still playing its part in the global narrative relay system for the imperialists!

    Still no mention of the death squads, or the sects all now killing eachother…Nah its as simple as the Syrian Govt Forces against the “rebel” civillians! Nice and simply packaged for very stupid people!

  11. Te Reo Putake 11
    2 June 2012 at 2:55 pm

    At a Labour regional conference. Biggest turnout in years! Great speech from David Shearer, very confident and looking more and more like the next PM. DC up now, talking about our future clean tech economy. Grant Robertson next.
     
    Its been an interesting approach from the leadership, asking questions of the participants, rather than lecturing from on high. The discussion paper on the ongoing organisational review has been received really well and has stimulated a lot of talk among the delegates. Presumably that will flow on into the remits session tomorrow, where there is going to be some robust debate on how we re-engage the voters, particularly the lower paid enrolled non voters.

    • Anne 11.1
      2 June 2012 at 4:35 pm

      Sounds like a repeat performance of last week-end’s Auck./Northland conference TRP. I liked the way Shearer brought in his senior colleagues to answer questions specific to their portfolios. It wasn’t that he couldn’t answer them himself, but he presumably wants them to share the platform with him. I found it very refreshing and suggests Labour is going to do the opposite to National and promote themselves as a well-oiled team rather than a one man band.

      Was that the reason certain sections of the media – mainstream and elsewhere – were recently trying to create a perception of Labour caucus division with talk of warring factions and caucus rows?

      • Te Reo Putake 11.1.1
        2 June 2012 at 5:31 pm

        No sign of division at all, there are 8 MP’s, all singing from the same song sheet. The day has just finished with an excellent presentation from Young Labour. We are so lucky having these young activists coming through, they are just so positive, so ready to be part of the political future of NZ!

    • muzza 11.2
      2 June 2012 at 6:47 pm

      Interested to hear thoughts on what you believe, yet another change in government is really going to achieve for NZ, seriously its an honest question..Dont come back with we wont sell assets etc!

      Until you hear them talking about RBNZ audits, or printing project funds, as is our sovereign right to do, then you can forget about it…

      Young activists coming through, so lucky…Voice come on bro, these peoople have got nothing, nothing to offer NZ long term survivial, and as long as people such as yourself continue to believe that, then all I can do is say, thanks very much for being part of the problem, would you have a think about some self evaluation!

      Blah blah blah, waste of time because the serious issues are out of our parliaments hands!

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  • Anzac Commemorative Address, Buttes New British Cemetery Belgium
    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 ...
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    8 hours ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    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 ...
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    1 day ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    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 ...
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    1 day ago

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    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 ...
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    2 days ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    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 ...
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    3 days ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    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 ...
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    3 days ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    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 ...
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    4 days ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    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 ...
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    4 days ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    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 ...
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    4 days ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    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 ...
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    4 days ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    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 ...
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    4 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    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 ...
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    4 days ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    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 ...
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    4 days ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    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 ...
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    4 days ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    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 ...
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    4 days ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    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 ...
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    5 days ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    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 ...
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    6 days ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “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 ...
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    6 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    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 ...
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    7 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    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 ...
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    1 week ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    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 ...
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    1 week ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    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 ...
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    1 week ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    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 ...
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    1 week ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    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 ...
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    1 week ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    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 ...
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    1 week ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    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 ...
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    1 week ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    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 ...
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    1 week ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    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 ...
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    1 week ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    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 ...
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    1 week ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    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 ...
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    1 week ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    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 - ...
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    1 week ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    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 ...
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    1 week ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    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 ...
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    1 week ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    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 ...
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    1 week ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    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 ...
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    1 week ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    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 ...
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    1 week ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    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 ...
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    1 week ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    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 ...
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    1 week ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    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 ...
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    1 week ago

  • Opinion: It’s time for an arts and creative sector strategy
    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 ...
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    1 week ago

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