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Open mike 03/12/2012

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, December 3rd, 2012 - 83 comments
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

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83 comments on “Open mike 03/12/2012”

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  1. Jenny 1
    3 December 2012 at 6:20 am

    GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD MORNING, VIETNAM!!! Hey, this is not a test! This is rock-‘n’-roll! Time to rock it from the Delta to the DMZ!

  2. kiwicommie 2
    3 December 2012 at 8:54 am

    Out of touch political elite raise their own salaries, while forcing the rest of us to suffer austerity measures and job cuts: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/employment/news/article.cfm?c_id=11&objectid=10850797

    • weka 2.1
      3 December 2012 at 9:09 am

       

      Mr Allen said his salary was set by the State Services Commission after a thorough performance review process.
      “And I’ve never done a job for the money.”
       

      Yeah, right.

      • kiwicommie 2.1.1
        3 December 2012 at 9:42 am

        Just putting together a few articles:

        Foreign Affairs:
        “The increase took Mr Allen’s salary to between $620,000 and $630,000 a year.”
        “”And I’ve never done a job for the money.”
        “He did not think it was a bad look to take the increase, saying the changes at Mfat were necessary and beneficial for New Zealand.”
        http://www.nzherald.co.nz/employment/news/article.cfm?c_id=11&objectid=10850797

        Meridian Energy:
        “Former Meridian Energy chief executive Tim Lusk was paid $1.37 million, including more than $800,000 in bonuses, during his last six months with the state-owned power company.

        Mr Lusk’s pay during a period when Meridian’s profits fell sharply was disclosed in its annual report, which also revealed the company’s generous pay to other top executives.”

        “But the year to June was not a good one for Meridian, New Zealand’s largest power company. Its net profit fell from $303.1 million to $74.6 million.”
        http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wages-and-salaries/news/article.cfm?c_id=277&objectid=10844284

        Mighty River Power:

        “Mighty River chief executive Doug Heffernan – already one of the highest-paid bosses on the Government’s payroll – is to receive a $500,000 bonus after steering the company through its partial privatisation next year.”

        “Green Party co-leader Russel Norman said Dr Heffernan’s retention bonus was “incredible”.

        “Who’s going to pay for it? Electricity consumers. It’s yet another cost to the Government’s privatisation programme.”

        Dr Norman said the bonus came at a time when many New Zealanders were struggling.

        “We’ve already got a problem with massive inequality, and part of that is because of the overpaying of top-end wages.”
        http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wages-and-salaries/news/article.cfm?c_id=277&objectid=10841749

        • vto 2.1.1.1
          3 December 2012 at 9:48 am

          “Dr Norman said the bonus came at a time when many New Zealanders were struggling.

          “We’ve already got a problem with massive inequality, and part of that is because of the overpaying of top-end wages.” ”

          In order to highlight these goings-on to the wider public the Greens should announce similar increases to the lowest paid. Announce that the minimum wage will rise by the same amount that the top paid people in NZ have received over the last ten years.

    • vto 2.2
      3 December 2012 at 9:09 am

      These are the times we live in kiwicommie.

      • kiwicommie 2.2.1
        3 December 2012 at 9:50 am

        Just counting down the days myself, am leaving New Zealand fairly soon; have the air tickets booked. If things are better after the 2014 election i.e. National is out, then I will likely return. I am going to stay with family, because there are no jobs or future for me here as a young person.

        • David H 2.2.1.1
          3 December 2012 at 7:00 pm

          I wish i could afford to leave this country with it’s Mickey Mouse Political system, and the grasping greedies in power. And it’s not going to get any better, with the stutterer, and the Fat controller, in charge of the Labour Party. No i reckon we are going to be stuck with Key and co for at least another 3 years. And that will be a disaster.

    • muzza 2.3
      3 December 2012 at 9:49 am

      Its called hush money in old language.

      Not out of touch, so much as so bent, there is no other possible outcomes

      “And I’ve never done a job for the money.

      Translation – I’m being dropped into the positions I have because in my past there are *things* being used agaisnt me, which is why I am sitting at the top of MfAT – My job is to make sure the changes are rammed through, my past ensures I will implement the instructions!

      • kiwicommie 2.3.1
        3 December 2012 at 9:54 am

        I have shown a few of these articles to my friends in the states, to them the level of corruption and waste is astounding; and they live in a country where there are big lobby groups.

        • muzza 2.3.1.1
          3 December 2012 at 11:27 am

          Yeah its reached staggeringly obvious, decades back.

          NZ – *Perceived* least corrupt country/100% Pure, and so on!

  3. Derek Seymour 3
    3 December 2012 at 9:07 am

    Come join the revolution. Contributers required for free web-based paper on the Northshore.

    http://northshorefreepress.wordpress.com/

  4. Draco T Bastard 4
    3 December 2012 at 9:12 am

    Worth a read:

    “The secrecy surrounding the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) has been given a resounding thumbs down in a Consumerlink poll conducted in mid-November”, according to Professor Jane Kelsey, a critic of the TPPA who commissioned the poll.

    Almost two out of three New Zealanders think the contents of the latest and biggest free trade agreement should be made public before the negotiations are completed and any deal is signed.

  5. Lanthanide 5
    3 December 2012 at 9:27 am

    The simplistic, to the point of being spin, analysis by the MSM of the recent polls continues.

    They started trumpeting that Labour + Greens would beat National 48% to 44%, but there is no second thought given to NZ First, who slipped to just 4% in the polls. That’s sufficient for their vote to be entirely written off when considering seats, but is a rather unlikely electoral result, especially given their recent polling in Roy Morgan.

    If you put NZFirst in at 5% and allocate them seats, the entire situation shifts dramatically. But nary a mention of that by the MSM. I guess they figure the public has such short attention spans that they couldn’t understand a hypothetical outcome (and yet other times they happily provide them – go figure).

    • Pascal's bookie 5.1
      3 December 2012 at 9:50 am

      I have to say it’s pretty unfair to criticise the media for reporting on the polls as they actually exist, rather than adjusting for what they might think ought to have happened instead.

      Take a poll, report on the results of the poll.

      I wouldn’t be at all surprised if NZF has dropped below 5, and won’t be surprised if they stay there either.

      • weka 5.1.1
        3 December 2012 at 10:03 am

        They could report on the NZF drop and what its implications are.

        • Lanthanide 5.1.1.1
          3 December 2012 at 10:25 am

          Yes weka. Instead, nary anything was said about NZFirst. Nor the potential for the 4% threshold change to allow them back in.

          My other point is that they just take a poll and then act like if an election was held, that’s what the results would be. They don’t look at past polls except the most recent and compare to that one. They (TV1/TV3) don’t look at other polls published by other media outfits and comment on whether they agree or not. At the end they state the margin of error, but it’s pretty clear that even the senior political editors don’t *truly* understand what it means (read Nate Silver to get an idea).

          Simplistic analysis that borders on spin.

          • Pascal's bookie 5.1.1.1.1
            3 December 2012 at 10:38 am

            You’re kind of ignoring the constraints they are operating under. You’ve got a few minutes to report on a poll that you and a polling outfit have conducted. You ahve to pitch it at people who don’t understand stats, and get their news from 6 o’clock bulletins.

            “Nate Silver” isn’t a magic spell. There is a reason he did what he did in a specialist blog (not even the print edition) on the NYT website.

            • Lanthanide 5.1.1.1.1.1
              3 December 2012 at 12:22 pm

              1. Fairfax has no such time constraints on their articles: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8025925/Polls-have-Labour-closing-in-on-Nats

              The only substantive thing in that about NZ First is quotes from Key.

              2. Not really sure what you mean by “Nate Silver” not being a magic spell. I simply meant that as an illustration for why I don’t believe the senior political editors truly understand what the “margin of error” is, and yet they dutifully report it at the end of every story about polls. This is evidenced by the fact that if they get a poll that shows a big shift compared to the previous poll (as has happened a couple of times this year already), they don’t try and do any analysis on it or temper with it by references to the poll’s margin of error or about the method used to generate the poll as anyone who was interested in honestly reporting on the polls would (as Nate Silver does), instead they try and justify the move with sound-bite and vapid analysis of ‘recent political events’ even if there really isn’t much of interest that had happened.

    • gobsmacked 6.2
      3 December 2012 at 10:07 am

      Good on Russel.

      The Greens have given Labour/Shearer plenty of time and opportunity to distance themselves from Jones’ attacks. Nothing happened, so now they’re fully entitled to hit back.

      Shearer (or his puppeteers) seem to think they can go through two more years just treating Green votes as a free ticket to the Treasury benches. They’d better wake up.

      • BM 6.2.1
        3 December 2012 at 10:15 am

        I don’t see an issue with Shane Jones having a go at the Greens.
        Labour != Greens.

        • Draco T Bastard 6.2.1.1
          3 December 2012 at 10:42 am

          You may not but Labour should do. From what I’ve seen on here the Labour members certainly understand.

        • felix 6.2.1.2
          3 December 2012 at 12:04 pm

          Who gives a fuck whether you see it, BM.

          You don’t support Labour OR the Greens. You don’t want EITHER to succeed.

          • BM 6.2.1.2.1
            3 December 2012 at 1:14 pm

            I’d prefer Labour to have the lions share of the left vote with the Greens making up the numbers.
            The less chance of the Greens moon bat economic policies seen the light of day, the better it is for NZ.

            Facts are, the Greens are considered extremist nut bars by a good proportion of the voting public, in my view it doesn’t help Labour if they’re seen as being too cosy with the Greens.
            Having Jones lob a few shells into the Greens camp helps to alleviate those concerns

            • Colonial Viper 6.2.1.2.1.1
              3 December 2012 at 1:32 pm

              Funny, I always thought the “extremist” nutbars were the ones who think that infinite economic growth on a finite planet is the way to go.

              And that letting the very wealthy hoard even more money and resources while others go without, is a good idea.

            • Fortran 6.2.1.2.1.2
              3 December 2012 at 1:35 pm

              BM

              Problem is that Russel Norman will make such Green policy demands of Labour that cannot be acceptable to them.
              Without acceeding to these demands Labour will not be able to govern.
              Not as pretty picture.

              • David H …
                3 December 2012 at 7:09 pm

                And what makes you think that Labour can govern with Shearer at any time??

                I reckon Porky Pig and Elmer Fudd, could govern better than Shearer or Key.

            • Draco T Bastard 6.2.1.2.1.3
              3 December 2012 at 1:50 pm

              It’s National and Act that are the true nutjobs. Their economics are truly delusional and require that the country impoverish itself to allow a few people to have more money in the bank. Labour aren’t much better although they, at least, seem to finally be waking up to what the scientists are saying as far as the environment goes.

              • BM …
                3 December 2012 at 2:20 pm

                The Greens are going to bet the house on peak oil, that’s the problem.

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  3 December 2012 at 2:28 pm

                  So, planning for the downturn in available fossil fuels is bad?

                  Yeah, I’d say that proves that you RWNJs are completely divorced from reality.

                  • BM …
                    3 December 2012 at 2:40 pm

                    Most of the Greens economic ideas seem to be geared up around the peak oil.
                    One thing I have learnt is that nothing is set in stone, to bet everything on some future event is foolish in the extreme.

                    • PJ …
                      3 December 2012 at 3:08 pm

                      What, like returning to surplus by 2014-15?

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      3 December 2012 at 3:14 pm

                      A future event that happened 5 or 6 years ago. And, yes, I’m quite aware of fracking and unconventional oil. Suffice to say, I don’t think they’ll get the type of return that the pro-oilers expect and they will, of course, trash the environment even more. 4 degrees is catastrophe, 6 degrees is Hell. We’re on track for the former and the unconventional oils will put us on track for the latter.

                      Again, you show just how disconnected from reality you are.

                    • BM …
                      3 December 2012 at 4:07 pm

                      Not the actual peak oil event , the after effects of peak oil.

                      Having some guy running for parliament who is so certain that the world economy is going to collapse in the near future and believes that the best way forward for NZ is detaching us from the global economy and in the process destroying the NZ economy is criminal.

                      If Norman takes us down that path there will be hell to pay.

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      3 December 2012 at 4:53 pm

                      Um, why would broadening the NZ economy, making it independent of oil supplies and protecting the environment (the part that the economy can’t do without) destroy the economy?

                    • Pascal's bookie …
                      3 December 2012 at 5:25 pm

                      Most everything of ‘getting ready for the effects of peak oil’ is about using energy more efficiently.

                      If it never happens, you’re still better off.

                    • BM …
                      3 December 2012 at 6:38 pm

                      No we won’t, our dollar will be worth dirt, the only one doing well will be wheelbarrow manufacturers, every one else will be fucked.

                      I guess Norman can always escape back to Oz if his theory turns out to be shit, tough luck for any one else.

                    • Pascal's bookie …
                      3 December 2012 at 6:45 pm

                      You’re demented old chap. Have a lie down.

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      3 December 2012 at 7:15 pm

                      No we won’t, our dollar will be worth dirt, the only one doing well will be wheelbarrow manufacturers, every one else will be fucked.

                      And thus push us to develop technologies and other stuff that develops society here rather than importing. We won’t be fucked but be in a new boom times according to standard economic theory. Of course, standard economic theory is BS anyway and is just a justification for capitalism and the undermining of society.

            • felix 6.2.1.2.1.4
              3 December 2012 at 5:58 pm

              “I’d prefer Labour to have the lions share of the left vote with the Greens making up the numbers.”

              BM, I addressed this already. You’re a right winger. Of course you want the more-right-wing party to have more say than the less-right-wing party.

              This site, on the other hand, is run for the benefit of the (small “l”) labour movement. It’s for people who want to promote left-wing ideas. It’s for people who’s interests are the opposite of your interests.

              So why should anyone here care what you think?

              • BM …
                3 December 2012 at 6:23 pm

                Is Labour not left wing?

                • Socialist Paddy …
                  3 December 2012 at 7:07 pm

                  Hey BM

                  If you want to reduce the say of the Greens in the Government after the next election party vote Labour.

                  • BM …
                    3 December 2012 at 7:13 pm

                    I’m starting to like the look of Shearer,the way he eviscerated Cunliffe was indeed pleasing, once he brings back Tamahere and shit cans all the liberals, I may be tempted to vote Labour.

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      3 December 2012 at 7:16 pm

                      Once he does that, and it looks like he will, then the true name of Labour will be National.

                    • felix …
                      3 December 2012 at 7:53 pm

                      I’m starting to like the look of National. I like the way Key dealt with that fucking grasshopper.

                      As soon as he gets rid of all the right-wingers, corporate crooks, dirty fed farmers, authoritarians, populist lightweights, neoliberals, neocons, religious extremists, homophobes, racists, misogynists and enablers, I’ll totes think about giving them a tick.

                    • Socialist Paddy …
                      3 December 2012 at 7:58 pm

                      Aye especially if he commits to doing something about poverty and global warming.

        • Murray Olsen 6.2.1.3
          3 December 2012 at 4:57 pm

          Labour’s not National either, but Shane Jones might as well be.

      • Jim Nald - Once Was National 6.2.2
        3 December 2012 at 10:52 am

        +1. Indeed.

        I never thought I would see the day arrive so soon when I would be in broad agreement with Russel Norman’s comments.

        He has indeed been gracious in giving the Shearer-Robertson leadership time to respond. There should have been more than enough hours, days and weeks for them to receive internal polling and focus groups from left, right & centre.

        “Deafening silence” is generous and charitable. Comatose or persistent vegetative state would be more apt.

    • vto 6.3
      3 December 2012 at 10:11 am

      Good work Russel.

      What say thee Shane Jones? Or are your clear conflicts and compromised positions too great for someone like you to overcome? Perhaps Labour needs a bigger man instead of wee man Jones.

    • Draco T Bastard 6.4
      3 December 2012 at 10:40 am

      Quoting article:

      The mistreatment of crews working on foreign chartered vessels has been well documented; they are essentially slave labour. The National Government has taken far too long to start to address this and Mr Jones played a part in allowing this disgrace to happen in the first place.

      The Greens Strike Back

      Now, we need all the parties on the left to say what they’re going to do about this slavery.

  7. historyman 7
    3 December 2012 at 10:33 am

    People who do not know history are destined to repeat it.

  8. millsy 8
    3 December 2012 at 11:15 am

    4 year term?

    Discuss.

    • Pascal's bookie 8.1
      3 December 2012 at 11:31 am

      I’m unconvinced it’s necessary.

      Pollies and technocrats whinge about ‘boohoo not enough time to do the things that really need to be done’ and all I hear is ‘whah whah no one agrees with me that these things actually do need to be done, and I can’t be arsed convincing them, or my convincing attempts have all failed’

      Pollies in NZ have a very easy time of it. No executive veto, no second house, a court system that is respectful of parliamentary sovereignty.

      The only thing holding them back from doing things is the threat of not being re-elected, the arg’s for a 4 year term mostly revolve around diluting that.

      • vto 8.1.1
        3 December 2012 at 11:55 am

        Yep p’s b and that equates to accreting more power to their offices. Such a move is in the completely wrong direction. The power needs to be heading back to the people, not away from the people. As such, I advocate for 2 year terms.

        • Lanthanide 8.1.1.1
          3 December 2012 at 12:15 pm

          You might want to read up on the US congress and how the 2 year terms pretty much deadlock their system and prevent any real work from being done, since they’re effectively permanently campaigning and fundraising.

          • Pascal's bookie 8.1.1.1.1
            3 December 2012 at 12:22 pm

            That’s not the electoral system’s fault. If it was, it would have always been thus.

            Senators have a six year term, and lo and behold, they have become more and more obstructive and partisan over the last couple of decades. Perhaps we should give them a ten year term?

            • Lanthanide 8.1.1.1.1.1
              3 December 2012 at 12:30 pm

              “Senators have a six year term, and lo and behold, they have become more and more obstructive and partisan over the last couple of decades. Perhaps we should give them a ten year term?”

              Or perhaps, 6 years is too long, 2 years is too short, and they should split the difference and make it 4? Much like the presidency already is?

              • Pascal's bookie …
                3 December 2012 at 12:53 pm

                I suspect the problem in the US is that the congress has largely given up its role as being a check on the presidency; the system has become parliamentary in reality with the President’s party doing what it can to support the Presidency, and the other party opposing.

                The constitution is basically 100 years or so out of date. If you look back, for most of its history the US parties have not been ideological, you had conservatives and reformers in both parties. Getting things done meant forming cross-party coalitions, rather then getting party based majorities.

                Starting in the late sixties, and accelerating after Reagan, the parties have become more homogenised and internally coherent, and thus, partisan in their dealings with the presidency.

          • vto 8.1.1.1.2
            3 December 2012 at 12:22 pm

            There is very little of their supposed “real work” that I rate.

            Alternatively, longer terms on the sole proviso that referendums are held and followed on all main planks of change.

            The power must be driven back to the people, not towards the politicians and their paymasters. Why on earth would anyone want to give the politicians more power?

            Concentrated power leads directly to this, amongst much more…… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyUagbsg-HI …. lest we forget

            • Lanthanide 8.1.1.1.2.1
              3 December 2012 at 12:32 pm

              I would easily and willingly agree to a 4 year term if there were improved provisions for binding referenda.

              Failing that, 3 years vs 4 years term, I’m mostly undecided although slightly leaning toward 4 years. One big difference between us and the rest of the world (which largely has longer terms) is our unicameral system, so there’s that.

              • KJT …
                3 December 2012 at 3:14 pm

                50 000 people can trigger a binding referendum in Switzerland.

                Despite twice our population.

                Time we had democracy also.

  9. muzza 9
    3 December 2012 at 12:09 pm

    So TVNZ screened the documentary about a *concerned jurer* from the Bain trial, and raised *questions* around the topic of compenation about 8/9 days ago, now we see This from Stuff

    HERE is some angles about the TVNZ *documentary* from LF.

  10. Dave Kennedy (bsprout) 10
    3 December 2012 at 1:24 pm

    We need to work out robust ways of working together and managing a future coalition, and not giving free rein to bullying mavericks. http://localbodies-bsprout.blogspot.co.nz/2012/12/greens-want-more-disciplined-labour.html

  11. aerobubble 11
    3 December 2012 at 2:10 pm

    Moral of the Hobbit fiasco. When the high dollar, and Movie company financial troubles set to destroy your movie, and you go to the tax payer to bail youself out, remember that your brand, in a time of global depression could be hurt by the anti-union-low-wages attack of the government of the day.
    Unless of course, here’s the moral, you lead characters have big hairy feet and pointed ears.

  12. Draco T Bastard 12
    3 December 2012 at 2:30 pm

    The Tumeke NZ Blogger Alignment Awards 2012

    Without further ado, here are this years Tumeke NZ Blogger Alignment Awards 2012, with much referencing to Wiki for the Dungeons & Dragons alignment descriptions.

  13. Draco T Bastard 13
    3 December 2012 at 3:01 pm

    Opinion divided on ‘100% Pure’

    As Gareth Morgan and Susan Guthrie the other day pointed out in another outstanding missive, farmers who rely on irrigation to support stock, who grow crops or vegetables, or practice dairy farming with industrial intensity… “reap private benefit from their activity but pay very little to cover the environmental damage they cause, some of it irreversible, the rest requiring clean-up which the general public has to pay for. The natural injustice in this is a no-brainer”.

    There’s really not much to say about it – you really can’t pick and choose your facts.

    • vto 13.1
      3 December 2012 at 3:18 pm

      It is in fact worse than that Draco…

      Not only do WE have to pay to clean up the shit from their business…

      WE also have to pay for them to create it in the first instance. For example, taxpayers are forking out $400million to help with irrigation projects. Another for example, Central Plains Water gets locans form old lady ratepayers in the Selwyn District to forward their private irrigation schemes.

      It is simply disgusting.

      How about some farmers out there step up and explain …………….

  14. Draco T Bastard 14
    3 December 2012 at 5:23 pm

    And Tamihere proves that a leopard can’t change its spots.

    Ms O’Brien asked him this morning if he was sexist, a misogynist or a homophobe, and he took to the radio waves to voice his anger.

    “Tova, go jump in the lake you stupid little girl,” he said.

    Yep, just the same old bigoted git – and now a member of Labour and likely to become a candidate.

    • QoT 14.1
      3 December 2012 at 6:59 pm

      Don’t you especially love how he waited till she was gone and he was safely ensconced behind his microphone to insult her? That’s very brave.

      • Jim Nald - Once Was National 14.1.1
        3 December 2012 at 8:02 pm

        Who needs to bring Paul Henry back from across the ditch when Labour has opened its doors, taken in a talking disaster and given him party membership ?

        John Tamihere = Labour’s in-house Paul Henry.

        John Key and Natz are lovin’ it.

    • karol 14.2
      3 December 2012 at 7:03 pm

      Not if Nanaia has her way!

  15. Draco T Bastard 15
    3 December 2012 at 6:25 pm

    Govt might overrule broadband pricing advice:

    John Key says the government will not rule out using legislation to overrule Commerce Commission recommendations for wholesale broadband pricing.

    Yep, the government seems to be more concerned with a private companies profit than the best interests of the country.

    And just think, if we hadn’t deregulated and sold off Telecom then we would a) be several billion dollars better off, b) have most of the country already on FttH c) not having these regulatory issues and d) not have a government more concerned with the interests of a private company over the interests of the country.

  16. muzza 16
    3 December 2012 at 9:02 pm

    Christchurch GP earned $750,00 for compo assessment work but falsely claimed further $18,300 for expenses.

    Dr Wright, a 52-year old Christchurch GP who has been working as locum GP in Rangiora, was sentenced to 150 hours of community work on October 25 for receiving $18,300 from ACC that he was not entitled to.

    In the dual meaning of the initials G.C, this guy has the negative nicely covered off!

  17. prism 17
    3 December 2012 at 9:18 pm

    Read Colonial vipers item at 8 and lots of 1’s at 2.19 pm on the USA direction.
    This reminded me of a future talker on 9toNoon this morning:

    09:40 Trends shaping the future of the world economy and what this will mean for NZ
    The executive editor of The Economist, Dr Daniel Franklin. He is in New Zealand as a guest of Massey University and is delivering the keynote address at the new New Zealand Forum, which will discuss New Zealand’s future. Daniel is also the editor of Megachange: The World in 2050, a book published this year about the mega-trends shaping the future of the globe.

    Don’t know what I think about him – have to listen again.

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    New figures showing that student loan defaulters have now clocked over $1 billion in debt highlights National's failure to combat spiralling student loan debt, Labour's Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says. "Threatening to arrest returning student loan borrowers at the ...
    Labour
    3 days ago

  • Foreign Students just a commodity to National
    National MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi has confirmed that his party sees international students as nothing more than a commodity, says Labour's Immigration spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway. "Mr Bakshi’s appalling comparison of some students to 'faulty fridges' that should be returned to ...
    Labour
    3 days ago

  • Tolley’s spin on Education spend doesn’t add up
    National’s spin about school funding won’t wash with parents who are paying more and more of the cost of their kids’ education every year, says Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins.  “All the spin in the world can’t hide the fact ...
    Labour
    3 days ago

  • National not facing up to export challenge
    “The latest export data from Statistics New Zealand paints a picture of an economy which is not paying its way in the world, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson. “Exports fell 9% - led by milk powder exports falling to ...
    Labour
    3 days ago

  • Correction over Talley’s statement
    Labour’s Workplace Relations spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway has been advised by AFFCO Ltd that AFFCO is not advertising for staff in the Manawatu through MSD as stated in a press statement released earlier today.  “I have been advised by AFFCO that ...
    Labour
    6 days ago

  • Minister, cut your losses – withdraw this doomed Bill
    Local Government Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga’s request for a five month extension on the report back date for the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill (No 2) is an admission that the Bill is fundamentally flawed, says Labour’s Local Government Spokesperson ...
    Labour
    6 days ago

  • Coleman’s cuts create crisis
    Mental health services in New Zealand are in a state of crisis with Youthline saying that calls for extreme depression doubled last year, says Labour’s Associate Health spokesperson Dr David Clark.  “About 150 young Kiwis are missing out on help ...
    Labour
    6 days ago

  • Government helping Talley’s to break workers
    The Ministry for Social Development appears to be assisting Talley’s-Affco replace experienced workers effectively locked out by the company, say Labour’s Social Development spokesperson Carmel Sepuloni and Workplace Relations spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway. “MSD is advertising for meat processing workers for ...
    Labour
    6 days ago

  • Electives lag due to $1.7 billion hole
    The lag in hip and knee replacements is a direct consequence of the Government’s $1.7 billion underfunding of health, says Labour’s Associate Health spokesperson Dr David Clark.  “A comprehensive study by the University of Otago says that the rate of ...
    Labour
    7 days ago

  • Speech to Master Builders’ Constructive conference
    Today’s all about being Constructive. And that is good because I believe there is a hunger out there for positive solutions. We must be able to believe there can be a better future. ...
    Labour
    7 days ago

  • Māori Party housing plan complete failure
    The Māori Party’s housing plan to put more Māori into more homes has been a complete failure with fewer than five loans granted per year, says Labour’s Maori Development spokesperson Kelvin Davis. ...
    Labour
    1 week ago

  • Fund IRD better to go after tax avoiders
    National’s Tax Working Group used the following graph (p30) in 2010 as part of their justification to cut the top tax rate. The big peaks around the top tax threshold were evidence of a suspiciously high number of taxpayers ...
    GreensBy robert.ashe
    1 week ago

  • Pasifika youth ignored by the Government
    The Adolescent Health Research Group’s new report on the wellbeing of young Pacific people shines a spotlight on the Government’s failure  to deliver any “brighter future” for them, says Labour’s Pacific Island Affairs spokesperson Su’a William Sio.  “Their research shows ...
    Labour
    1 week ago

  • Police in the provinces are dissatisfied
    Police in the cities of Gisborne, Napier and Hastings are a lot more unhappy than their big city cousins says Labour’s Police Spokesman Stuart Nash.     “In fact the top four districts for enjoyable work within NZ Police are ...
    Labour
    1 week ago

  • Govt action needed after Wheeler holds
    The Reserve Bank Governor’s warning that “excessive house price inflation” is posing a risk to financial stability puts the pressure back on the Government to take action to address the housing crisis, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson. “Graeme Wheeler’s ...
    Labour
    1 week ago

  • Minister confirms – new ministry only about abuse
    ...
    Labour
    1 week ago

  • Silver Ferns Farms decision a tragedy
    The rubber stamping by the Overseas Investment Office of the Shanghai Maling buyout of Silver Fern Farms is a sorry day for the once proud New Zealand meat sector, says Labour’s spokesperson for Primary Industries, Damien O’Connor.  “Generations of Kiwis ...
    Labour
    1 week ago

  • Benching Nick Smith first step to Kermadec solution
    Side-lining Nick Smith must be the first step in sorting out the Government's Kermadec debacle, says Labour's Fisheries Spokesperson Rino Tirikatene. “Last week Labour called for Nick Smith to be removed from further negotiations with Te Ohu Kaimoana over the ...
    Labour
    1 week ago

  • Parents, schools, teachers oppose bulk funding
    Overwhelming opposition to the National Government’s school bulk funding proposal is unsurprising and Hekia Parata should now unequivocally rule out proceeding with the idea, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says. “Bulk funding could only lead to bigger class sizes or ...
    Labour
    1 week ago

  • MBIE gives up on enforcing the law
      The Government must provide labour inspectors with the resources they need to enforce basic employment law after reports that MBIE is only prosecuting the worst cases, says Labour’s Workplace Relations and Safety spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway.  “Today’s news that MBIE ...
    Labour
    1 week ago

  • West Coast population declines amid bleak economic forecast
    Despite the country experiencing record population growth, the number of people living in the West Coast fell, highlighting struggles in the region from low commodity prices and a poor economic forecast, says Labour’s Economic Development spokesperson David Clark. “The latest ...
    Labour
    1 week ago

  • Recovery roadblocks cause for concern
    Strong pressure on mental health services, a flagging local economy and widespread issues with dodgy earthquake repairs are all causes for concern for people in Canterbury according to a new survey, says Labour’s Canterbury spokesperson Megan Woods. “Today the CDHB’s ...
    Labour
    1 week ago

  • Motel purchase must not kick people onto the street
    The Government’s purchase of a South Auckland motel to house the homeless must come with a promise that the current long term tenants will not be kicked out onto the streets, says Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. “It is bizarre ...
    Labour
    1 week ago

  • Not everyone singing along to so-called rock star economy
    The Westpac McDermott Miller Confidence Survey shows there is serious unease about the economy’s ability to deliver benefits to many New Zealanders, despite the Government trumpeting headline figures, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson. “According to this survey a significantly ...
    Labour
    1 week ago

  • Youth no better off under National’s “guarantee”
    John Key’s Youth Guarantee is such a spectacular failure that those who undertake the programme are more likely to end up on a benefit and less likely to end up in full-time employment than those who don’t, Leader of the ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • More low-skilled students becoming residents
    New figures showing international students now make up nearly 40 per cent of all principal applicants approved for New Zealand residency and that their skill level has fallen dramatically, are further evidence that National’s immigration system is broken, says Labour’s ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • 35% of offshore speculators paying no tax
    Offshore investors are aggressively exploiting tax breaks to pay no tax on their rental properties according to IRD data released by Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. “35% of offshore investors are paying no tax on their properties, and are pocketing ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Friday fish dump stinks
    This government has dumped bad news on a Friday to try to avoid political scrutiny in Parliament, says Labour’s Environment spokesperson David Parker. ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • OECD report card: National must try harder
    The OECD report on education shows there’s much more to be done for young Kiwis, Labour’s education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says. ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Kermadec stoush shows Maori Party double-standards
    The Māori Party’s reaction to the trampled Treaty rights and the Government’s lack of consultation on the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary reeks of the same arrogant mismanagement of the unpopular Maori land reforms, Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP Meka Whaitiri says. ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Flawed fish dumping calls
    The finding that MPI failed to properly enforce the law even when it had evidence of fish dumping seriously damages the trust and credibility of the Ministry, the industry and this Government, Labour's Fisheries Spokesperson Rino Tirikatene says. ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Sidestepping Smith should be side-lined
    Nick Smith's arrogance and disrespect towards Māori is putting the future of the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary at risk and he needs to excuse himself from further negotiations with Te Ohu Kaimoana, Labour's Fisheries spokesperson Rino Tirikatene says. ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Government must respond to cash for jobs scam
    Urgent Government action is required to halt  the emerging cash-for-jobs immigration scandal that is taking hold in New Zealand says Labour’s Immigration Spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway.  “Stories of rogue immigration agents scamming thousands of dollars from migrant workers are just further ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Government dragging its feet on surgical mesh
    Jonathan Coleman is dragging his feet over any action to protect New Zealanders from more disasters with surgical mesh, says Health Spokesperson Annette King.  “The Government’s pathetic response is to claim all will be fixed by a new regime to ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Labour’s baby number app goes gangbusters
    An interactive tool that celebrates Labour’s achievements in health over the decades has become an online hit, says Labour’s Health spokesperson Annette King.  “Since the tool was launched last night, 18 thousand people have used it to find their baby ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Real disposable income falls in last three months
    Kiwis are working harder than ever but real disposable income per person fell in the last quarter thanks to record population increases, Labour’s Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson said. ‘In Budget 2016 the National Government said that what mattered most for ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Baby number app celebrates Labour achievements
    Labour has launched an interactive tool that allows New Zealanders to take a look back at our achievements in health over the decades, says Labour’s Health spokesperson Annette King.  “Today is the 78th anniversary of the Social Security Act 1938, ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Legal experts unpick Māori land reforms
    One of New Zealand’s top law firms has joined the chorus of legal experts heavily critical of the controversial Te Ture Whenua Maori Bill, adding more weight to the evidence that the reforms fall well beneath the robust legal standards ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Industries most reliant on immigration worst offenders
    The industries most reliant on immigration are the worst offenders when it comes to meeting their most basic employment obligations, says Labour’s Immigration spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway.  “The industries that are most reliant on immigration are Hospitality, Administration, Agriculture, Forestry and ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Time to remove law that discriminates against sole parents
    It’s time to repeal a harmful law that sanctions those who do not name the other parent of their child, Labour’s Social Development Spokesperson Carmel Sepuloni says. “Every week, 17,000 children are missing out because their sole parent is being ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Government handling of Kermadecs threatens Treaty rights
    ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Prime Minister should give Police Minister some backbone
    The Prime Minister should condemn the ridiculously light sentence given to Nikolas Delegat for seriously assaulting a police woman, Labour’s Police spokesman Stuart Nash says. ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Government listens to Labour on family violence
    Labour is pleased the Government has finally acted on strengthening a range of measures against family violence, says Labour’s spokesperson on Family Violence Poto Williams.  “Some of the latest changes including a new family violence offence of non-fatal strangulation is ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

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