Yeah, too subtle for him or her to get the irony of those two statements.
The other thing about this excitement people have house prices going up in their area. – Unless they are going to sell and downscale and take the profit how do they think the money will actually materialise? Or do they think the value is a tangible thing?
How is in increased house value going to make you any wealthier?
In our case, our increasing house value is making us poorer as our rates have gone up $400 in 4 years due to an artificial increase. The bank has told me our house prices have gone up because the large houses on the new development around us have a high value and that is pushing ours up.
Its all fake. The way the housing market works is rigged against housing being an accessible affordable necessity for all.
Rosie
Increased valuation means an increased lending limit – which feels like wealth to the shortsighted. The rates downside is something that drives residents out of communities and frees their properties for landbankers to acquire.
“Increased valuation means an increased lending limit –”
Ok, got that. btw, when a I was shopping around for a new fixed mortgage rate I was looking an offer from another bank. Although the QV valuation had said the house had an increased by $30K the person at the bank who told me the banks uses a different approach to valuation (?!?) said our valuation had gone up by $60K! so based on that we had enough equity for that bank to take us on as a home loan customer. (I didn’t go with it, I got my bank to match it as much as they could – too much hassle otherwise)
So suddenly there is extra lending opportunities. I see what you are saying. But this is just daft. Why would you willingly take on more debt, eg trade up to bigger flasher house just because you could. You’d be a fool as you’d be more indebted no?
Rosie, changing banks is a piece of cake these days. When I changed a couple of years ago, mortgage, credit card, savings and cheque was all done by my new bank. Just had to go in and sign some paperwork.
Thing is it was going to cost. There was the cost of leaving the other bank which the new bank would only partially cover, and I also didn’t want to take my other accounts and insurance to the new bank, which was a condition of them giving me a home loan.
Lol, I did make them earn their money. It basically got down to the two banks trying to out do each other with reducing that fee and giving that incentive etc but in the end, it was easier to stay with kiwibank and get a fixed rate of 4.25% down from 5.25%. BNZ had offered 4.19% so it worked out pretty well.
The whole exercise was really to get my bank to sit up and take me seriously, I never fully intended to move. I also didn’t want to move to a foreign owned bank either. One of the main reasons I’m with Kiwibank is because we own it.
Rosie: “Why would you willingly take on more debt, eg trade up to bigger flasher house just because you could. You’d be a fool as you’d be more indebted no?”
Not only that, Rosie, but when the bubble bursts, those sitting on a mortgage for what was a 2 million house will lose a helluva lot more than those sitting on the mortgage for what was a half-million house.
AND they’ll still have the original mortgage to pay, even though its now worth more than the house.
Affordable good housing must be the corner stone of any modern democracy without it we are no more than serfs https://t.co/w2sh8hgNQu— Harry Leslie Smith (@Harryslaststand) March 3, 2016
interesting article looking at the rise of Trump . . .
Various pundits have pointed out that Donald Trump is a nightmare of the Republican Party’s own making. Since Richard Nixon first began exploiting the ‘culture wars’ to deliberately woo socially conservative Democrat voters in the early 1970s, the GOP’s dependence on reactionary populism has grown increasingly dangerous. The racial dog-whistles have become more audible and the anger of the ‘angry white men’ harder to contain within a political machine whose ultimate purpose is to defend corporate and elite interests.
The contradiction that was brilliantly papered-over by the likes of Reagan, Gingrich and Rove, between alienated grass-roots conservatives and big money, has broken cover. One of Trump’s main virtues in the eyes of his supporters is that he ‘says what he thinks’, and the fact that it is incoherent is only further proof of his honesty. Coherence is viewed as an artefact of political management, and the Republican hardcore have had enough of that . . .
“Because her name was already known to the offender, and Corrections used generic work email addresses, Mr Davis did not feel he had revealed any new information, or put the officer in any danger”
Yeah I can just imagine the left letting this one go if it had been a National MP that had done this
We probably would because we have such an abundance of material. The Key government is frankly a disaster for New Zealand, there is no metric upon which they are not a disaster, we don’t have to beat up pitiful shite like this.
What you have here is a fatuous accusation like the Clark forgery bullshit and you cackle like a goose up to its ankles in good luck. To attain any level of credibility you must look objectively at what is happening.
No doubt the tame MSM can be stimulated to make disapproving noises – but Collins complaining about impropriety is like Tamerlane reproaching someone for unnecessary roughness.
Context is everything – was the Whale recommending peace and civility? And what did the staffer have to say about it all – Collins is quite capable of taking umbrage over a non-issue for her own purposes.
Collins …………….. who’s friends with Cameron Slater and has been sacked from cabinet once already.
I would rate this ex tax lawyer the most corrupt justice and police minister we have ever had ………………
Seems like her free-styling make it up as you go approach is still the same …..
“Its a pretty obvious effort to front-foot and limit the bad publicity bubbling out of her portfolio. Its also illegal. Section 161 of the Corrections Act 2004 gives MP’s an absolute right to visit prisons and talk to prisoners at any time. This right is not subject to Ministerial approval or prior notification, and for good reason: its to ensure independent eyes on the system and to allow problems to be exposed” http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/
Does illegal mean competent in PukeR speak ???????
“Tonight’s Politics Panel talks about yesterday’s Super Tuesday results, how Hillary advisers are trying to appeal to Trump supporters, and whether Trump is holding Chris Christie hostage. Thom discusses the presidential candidates’ economic policies with economist Marshall Auerback and in tonight’s Daily Take Thom debunks the myth that Democrats are bad for business.”
I agree PR, although would seem highly unusual for a sitting member to be deselected. I would have thought their instinct would be to ride it out and hope it blows over as per Bill English’s “nothing to see here” comments. Clearly the local media down here know there is more to run on this or they would not be giving it so much oxygen.
Yes, quite happy to discuss employment matters when it is seen to corroborate his version of events. Amateur mistake that calls into question his suitability for role. Luckily for him the local Nats have kept their public discipline.
So to recap. A total of three staff have resigned, there is something about a secret recording which some National Party members would like to get to the bottom of and to top it off the kid releases private and confidential employment documents, a resignation letter, to the media. (See BLiP 6.2)
Great stuff there kiddo. Well on your way as a Dirty Politics cadet. To pass on private communications you’d either have to be ignorant of the way such comms should be appropriately handled, which he shouldn’t be, as he has worked at Parliament and would understand protocols. OR you are wanting to turn the view around and make it look like you’re the victim and act in a way that is in keeping with the DP handbook?
Listening to the crowd it seems America is ready to elect a president who makes blowjob jokes about his political opponents.
All class.
/
Thursday, blasting the former Massachusetts governor for “begging” for his endorsement four years ago only to sharply criticize him now.
“I don’t know what happened to him,” Trump said during a rally in Portland, Maine. “You can see how loyal he is. He was begging for my endorsement. I could have said, ‘Mitt, drop to your knees.’ He would have dropped to his knees.”
Y’know, I can see Trump doing the ponytail thing, publicly talking about peeing in the shower and “feeding the chickens”, really off jokes to foreign heads of state, no problem. I still can’t picture Trump climbing into a cage to “pick up the soap” though.
He could’ve meant either. It’s being interpreted as a BJ reference by some reporters.
He’ll get away with it because like you say it’s interpreted by what’s in the mind of the listener/reader. I shudder to think Trump might become POTUS but as a GOP candidate he’s endlessly entertaining. 🙂
The GOP establishment’s wheeled Mitt Romney out with a robotic script delivery I guess as their first shot across the bows of Donald J. He’s already blown Mitt out of the water.
How outrageous!!! How can the council pursue costs when the commissioners said the river needed greater environmental protection?
More info please.
Also looking forward to seeing how much legal fees the council have spent pursuing a few individuals who appear to be trying to make the water safer for the community the council are supposed to work for!
The council has apparently spent almost $300,000 attacking this group. Group has also just won a big environmental award. Something seriously wrong in regional government in Taranaki.
Ok. Well, If it’s any reassurance at all, Iain Lee Galloway used to be an organiser for the NZNO, so he has some sympathies in that area.
I understand your reluctance to trust Labour on working with the National government on a major piece of employment legislation when Andrew Little rang alarm bells last year with his mention of “tweaking” the 90 day act, when addressing a bunch of business people in the Hutt.
It took me two weeks to get an answer from Grant Robertson – I was asking him to clarify Labour’s poistion, and I still felt uneasy about the response.
Believe me, as a former union organiser myself as a job seeker in today’s use and abuse job market I’m hypersensitive to how such talks with National will proceed. The framework that Iain provided did give me some reassurance that they are at least approaching this the right way.
Legislation is only part of addressing the wrongs that are occurring however. There must be employer cultural change and employees must learn to regain their self respect and dignity – we’ve been brutalised for years and to a certain degree given up on the belief we can have better work lives.
All the above will take years and it will be a difficult transition for some.
Mr Galloway would do well to come on this site and explain himself.
Labour have no digital means of engaging since they shut down Red Alert.
So they may as well actually front up here.
I have received no other communications from Labour about why they are cutting a deal with National on our employment law. Their media releases on the matter were raw spin.
I’m not interested in cultural change: legislative change is the only thing that will lead cultural change in this area.
Suggestion for a new slogan for Labour, since it’s supposed to be “rebranding” itself this year:
“Sprinkling the very best glitter on National’s turds.”
A bit more seriously, again, I think that it’s indicative of Labour’s closed-door culture and Little’s past as a negotiator who worked as part of a hierarchically-structured organisation on behalf of subscribers.
In essences, it’s “trust us, we’ll get you the best deal, then you can vote.” Public, democratic politics is messier, more overtly populist, more dynamic.
Closed-door dealmaking only alienates the base. Bloviating press releases like Iain L-G’s go straight into the recycling bin.
That alienation is only going to get worse with a younger generation who actually knows how to use social media. Little wouldn’t dream of tweeting from a meeting, a millennial wouldn’t dream of not doing business that way.
Hi Ad. That link I sent WAS Labour fronting up on this site. Iain Lees Galloway explained their strategy. If you’re a Labour party member you should have received an email earlier this week – explaining their position.
Agree that legislative change must come first to then filter down to cultural change. Of course it does.
As a vulnerable worker in often precarious work situations I know first hand how the culture has changed as a direct result of legislation. But employers won’t change their attitudes based on new rules – their workers have to hold them to account and push for their rights – this is culture change and it HAS to happen. Believe me, even the ads posted for jobs these days are hostile, insulting and patronising. Thats to do with culture, not legislation.
You may not interested in culture change, but as someone hugely affected by employer attitudes I am.
Rosie, Labour wants to remove the ability for employers to put people on contracts where they are on call with no permanent hours. Implying, apart from being given a number of permanent hours, Labour are not seeking compensation for workers being on call.
If this is the case, this is insufficient protection for workers, thus far from reassuring.
Valid point re the compensation for on call workers. As far as I know they were using “set minimum hours” as a base. I don’t know what happens after that.
Maybe email Iain himself. From time to time I email MP’s when something isn’t clear. Sometimes you need to give them a prod as a reminder to respond.
I don’t know what to say. It was just a practical suggestion, regardless of what anyone’s expectations might be of their MP’s, you know, things like responding to questions in public forum.
If you do email him, you can copy his answer into a comment of Open Mike and then we’ll all know.
It’s sort of like Labour has sold the essence of its very name. “Labour” was formed to represent workers, and here we have it supporting a bit of legislation by its polar opposite that concerns the very people it was formed to represent.
Worse, i read someplace that fair compensation shoul be paid, and so all Labour needed to do was speak to that, in parliament. i.e more than the dole, less that the minimum wage per hour to wait. But not it has to be a fight not a principled negoiation.
Years ago, Jim Mora called that bag of wind Barack Obama “the leading
orator of our time”; now look at who he’s calling “quite a thinker”. The Panel, RNZ National, Friday 4 March 2016
Jim Mora, Ali Jones, Selwyn Manning, Zara Potts
This piece of penetrating analysis occurred about halfway through the program….
JIM MORA: It’s interesting, all these secret Trump supporters. An Hispanic woman whose family escaped from Castro’s Cuba says she will vote for Trump and so will all her acquaintances. She said political correctness is the beginning of the end. And you know, she’s quite a thinker. …
ALI JONES: He’s a racist bully.
MORA: But they aren’t all, by any means, the red-necked owners of guns…..
Piss off Soper…….what evidence is there that ‘Prince Max’ is being cyberbullied……none except the whining of an effete daddy grasping at the straws of political lift, off the back of his own blood if needs be. That’s no evidence. Daddy’s doing a number – that’s all that whining amounts to.
In any event, Max is right into it. “Me asleep on Air Force One” as he Instagrams an obviously staged pic’ of himself. What ? The son of PMONZ trying to put himself across the son of POTUS. Gimme a break !
You’re boring and unartful Soper, even to yourself. That’s why you’re driven to make yourself part of the story. Winston Peters had your measure years ago in John McCain’s office in Washington DC. Remember that one Soper……? You didn’t learn did ya ? Still the old wahanui.
This excerpt from 1943 in the Evening Post just about sums up this govt of today and there attitude Just change the names as you see fit to today’s world
This is the shit that Key bastard wants to keep going
“Because of the attacks made on the trade union movement by the Nationalists during the election campaign it appears necessary to express the views on this point of an organisation which represents 38,000 workers,” said Mr. F. P. Walsh, president of the Wellington Trades Council of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, in a statement today.
“Mr. Holland’s attack on the trade union leaders reveals that he is fundamentally opposed to industrial unionism,” said Mr. Walsh. “Like his political ancestors throughout the past century Mr. Holland would be delighted with a leaderless trade union movement. The Nationalists, like all Tories of the past, hate the leaders of trade unions because the activities of those leaders, and their insistence on fair play for the workers, disturb the tranquillity of those who enjoy easy profits and big dividends from organised business. “Members of trade unions throughout the country have had to put up with a great deal of abuse of their leaders, whom the Nationalists term ‘Labour bosses.’ That Nationalist attitude was also adopted by the Lee Party. They side-stepped the fact that the trade union movement, by reason of its constitution, rules, and love of liberty, has no dictators. Its leaders are elected annually on democratic principles. “What the trades union movement has accomplished on behalf of the workers and the people as a whole, not only in ameliorating labour conditions, but in social services generally, is appreciated by everybody. But we realise that a victory of the Fascist Powers in the present war would destroy all that has been achieved, and we are wholeheartedly behind the Government in its administration of the war effort of the Dominion. THE WAR EFFORT. “Yet the attitude taken up by the Nationalists during the election has been definitely damaging to that war effort. For political gain and to help the employing class the Nationalists advocated a reduced military effort. To catch a few votes they set out to capitalise on the furlough draft, regardless of the fact that the course they advocated would have jeopardised the chances of any further men being granted a well-earned holiday in New Zealand. “The Nationalists also attempted to weaken New Zealand’s war effort on the home front. They attacked every law and every provision for maintaining full efficiency in defence and in military training for overseas. They endeavoured to” turn people’s wartime sacrifices, and wartime shortages of commodities, and inevitable wartime inconveniences into political grievances. They tried to convince the people that they would be better off if all the measures for their protection against wartime difficulties were removed. They advocated that prices should be left to the will of private enterprise, and that nothing should be protected except the old Tory privilege of grabbing all the good things of life. “In all of these actions the Nationalists sapped the morale of the nation. “Another enemy of our war effort was the doctrine that the war could be paid for without any cost to the people of the country. “The people showed by their votes that they are not so gullible as the glib but muddle-headed apostles of easy money who contested the election. The people of New Zealand showed that they have a true understanding of the fact that the war has to be paid for by ourselves, out of the goods and services that we produce, and that no jugglery can avoid it. INDUSTRIAL LABOUR’S PLEDGE. “The workers of New Zealand are, therefore, determined to work wholeheartedly to increase their production and thus do all that is in their power towards achieving victory. •’They are convinced also that the I industrial conditions under which they can do their best are only possible under the Labour Government. “The whole of organised industrial labour, therefore, gives its pledge that it will continue to work to its utmost to increase the production of the Dominion, and to support the Labour Government in its policy of carrying on the war without any relaxation, and at the same time maintaining the highest possible standard of living in fair play to all sections of the community.”
The war being today, the TPPA
We are going to get that little tory prick one way or another
Sorry – as I do appreciate that OM is special and not a tech forum !
However it is difficult to be anywhere else on TS using FireFox 44.0.2 on FC2x – just renders a “Content Encoding Error”.
This message is posted using IE11 on Windows8.1 – not where I wish to be – get me out of here please !
And Chrome 48.0.2564.116 (64-bit) on FC2x
ERR_CONTENT_DECODING_FAILED
Was all good till today
No cache/cookies retained in either FC2x browser and W8/IE11 VM uses the same network and ISP
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The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
RNZ News A group of academic staff at New Zealand’s largest university have expressed concern at the administration’s move to block a protest encampment that was planned to take place on campus calling for support for the rights of Palestinians. This week, the University of Auckland warned that while it ...
Genterwocky After a hard days marching, Sir Doocey calls in at the Village Tavern For a pint of ale and a pork pie. The grim villagers stare at him. “Do not be travelling on the forest road,” warns a crusty old beak. “And why is that, antique peasant?” Grins Sir ...
Political conferences after a party returns to power are usually a chance for some healthy, even unhealthy backslapping. Yet National Party president Sylvia Wood’s address to its mainland representatives on Saturday hardly contained the unalloyed delight that one might have expected following National’s escape from the wilderness of opposition. Yes, ...
Comment: Almost half the world is voting in national elections this year and artificial intelligence is the elephant in the room. There are genuine fears AI-generated or AI-edited deepfakes will potentially manipulate election outcomes not just in the US and UK, but critically in countries such as India. For that ...
Ahead of the reality franchise’s return to New Zealand, allow us to introduce the eight brides and grooms. Chuck on a veil and tie back your man bun, because it’s time to say “I do” to a new season of Married at First Sight NZ. The reality TV “social experiment” ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Norton, Professor in the Practice of Higher Education Policy, Australian National University Every year on June 1, student debt in Australia is indexed to inflation. In 2023, high inflation pushed the indexation rate to 7.1%, the highest since 1990. This ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Changes in the May 14 budget will cut the student debt of more than three million people, wiping more than $3 billion from what people owe. The government will cap the HELP indexation rate ...
Asia Pacific Report The prosecutor’s office at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has appealed for an end to what it calls intimidation of its staff, saying such threats could constitute an offence against the “administration of justice” by the world’s permanent war crimes court. The Hague-based office of ICC Prosecutor ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A women’s union in New Caledonia has staged a sit-in protest this week to support senior Kanak indigenous journalist Thérèse Waia, who works for public broadcaster Nouvelle-Calédonie la Première, after a smear attack by critics. The peaceful demonstration was held on ...
New Zealand Food Safety is monitoring overseas recalls of Indian packaged spice products manufactured by MDH and Everest due to concerns over a cancer-causing pesticide. ...
By Stephen Wright and Stefan Armbruster of BenarNews Fiji’s ranking in a global press freedom index has jumped into the top tier of countries with free or mostly free media after its government last year repealed a draconian law that threatened journalists with prison for doing their jobs. Fiji’s improvement ...
We might be in Invercargill but all anyone can talk about is Gore. Specifically, Salford Street. That’s where three-year-old Lachlan Jones lived, south of the centre of town, between the A&P Showgrounds and the Mataura River. Roughly 1.2 km away from the single level home he lived in with his ...
MONDAY I lined up the latest round of civil servants from city hall against the wall, and signalled for the firing squad to drop their rifles. I stepped up onto a wooden crate to look at the office workers in the eye. But that didn’t feel right, so I found ...
Keen hiker and second-year MSc student Liam Hewson wears two hats when he’s in the great outdoors. “The scientist in me appreciates nature and goes, ‘Oh, there’s that thing and there’s another thing,’ but then the tramper and the outdoorsy person in me thinks, ‘Cool bush.’” Born and bred in ...
After a long and illustrious career as a goal kicker, Dan Carter’s favourite way to unwind is… kicking goals. Why can’t he get enough of it? And what it’s like to watch him do it for an hour straight? A semicircle of people wielding cameras and phones has formed in ...
Dame Susan Devoy takes us through her life in television, including late night ER debriefs, her proudest CTI moment and the show she watches in secret. Quite aside from her four world champion squash titles, Dame Susan Devoy will likely go down in history as one of the best Celebrity ...
Hera Lindsay Bird reveals the best places in Ōtepoti to score more for your apocalypse-prep book hoard.Sometimes I get the feeling I’ve been killed in a car crash, and this second half of my life is just the brain unspooling itself, like one of those episodes of a hospital ...
ThreeNow’s new murder mystery series takes us on a dark, damp journey into the Australian wilderness.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. High Country is ThreeNow’s new Australian eight-part crime drama, set in a remote part of the Victorian highlands. It tells ...
Introducing a new way to read The Spinoff every weekend. After nearly 10 years of being an online magazine, we’re finally embracing the weekend liftout. Despite our best efforts to convince you otherwise, writers and editors at The Spinoff don’t work weekend. It is through the sheer power of technology ...
Tip one: let yourself be nurtured by this big old man. Tip two: don’t ask him to adopt you. So, you’ve arrived at your first session with a new therapist. He tells you to make yourself comfortable and you opt for the tweed armchair, hoping it makes you look like ...
I didn’t know books could open you back up; that there were books that stayed with you, where reading was like a chemical event. I knew nothing.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.Not too long ago, I was listening to the American ...
Former Olympic swimmer James Magnussen has already started training for the Enhanced games, though says he won’t start taking performance enhancing substances until about nine months out from the competition. The Australian world champion was the first athlete to be announced by Enhanced, but he says the organisation has had ...
Everyone thinks he’s dead. Every day they expect his body to be washed up along the coast. Most likely up Karitane way, the way the tide’s running. But nobody’ll be too surprised if his body’s never found. Even in death he wouldn’t have wished for such attention. He would have ...
Council members voted 21 to 4 in favour of Ahluwalia returning to the Laucala campus following a much-awaited meeting in Vanuatu this week. It comes as USP and its two unions — the Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff (AUSPS) and the Administration and Support Staff Union ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicola Henry, Professor & Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Social and Global Studies Centre, RMIT University Shutterstock Following an emergency meeting of the National Cabinet this week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a raft of measures to tackle the problem ...
Analysis - A poll showing the opposition is more popular than the government raises questions, politicians go through their 'trial by pay rise' and a Green MP loses her cool in the debating chamber. ...
The entire stretch of Tokomaru Bay on the East Coast will be subject to a joint customary marine title for two hapū, and extending up to four miles out to sea. A High Court judge has found the two groups, who during the case settled a dispute over boundaries for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Hall, Lecturer, Media & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University A longstanding feud between TikTok and Universal Music Group seems to have finally reached an end, with both parties signing a deal that will see Universal-backed music returned to the social media ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Siobhan O’Dean, Postdoctoral Research Associate, The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney After several highly publicised alleged murders of women in Australia, the Albanese government this week pledged more than A$925 million over five years ...
Political parties have now fully disclosed the donations they received last year - with National getting more than double the cash of any other party. ...
A Pacific regionalism expert has called out New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters for withholding information from the public on AUKUS military pact. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard de Grijs, Professor of Astrophysics, Macquarie University Bruno Scramgnon/Pexels All systems are “go” for tonight’s launch of China’s next step in a carefully planned lunar exploration program. Placed on top of a powerful Long March 5 rocket, the Chang’e 6 ...
National returned a massive donation the day after a Newsroom story linked the donors to a property being investigated for operating unlawfully as a migrant workers’ hostel. The party’s 2023 donation filings, released on Friday, show it returned a $200,000 donation from Buen Holdings on August 23. That was the ...
Pacific Media Watch New Zealand has slumped to an unprecedented 19th place in the annual Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index survey released today on World Press Freedom Day — May 3. This was a drop of six places from 13th last year when it slipped out of its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua Black, Political Historian and Administrator Officer, Australian Historical Association, Australian National University Australia has had its fair share of public record-keeping controversies in recent years. Some have been mere farce, as in the case of two formerly government-owned filing cabinets (containing ...
Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), a United Nations-affiliated organization dedicated to fostering peace through civilian-led initiatives, has issued a statement in response to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. ...
A poem by Tessa Keenan, from AUP New Poets 10. Mātou These days we are a photograph; one of a farm strewn with cows that used to be bright harakeke or swamp. The kids point at it and say the sun sits behind a smudge (left by someone at Christmas); ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (Faber & Faber, $25)The masterful Irish writer ...
Marriage and civil union statistics record the number of marriages and civil unions registered in New Zealand each year, and divorce statistics record the number of divorces granted in New Zealand each year. Key facts Marriages and civil unions In ...
Marriage and civil union statistics record the number of marriages and civil unions registered in New Zealand each year, and divorce statistics record the number of divorces granted in New Zealand each year. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lennon Y.C. Chang, Associate Professor of Cyber Risk and Policy, Deakin University Taiwan stands out as a beacon of democracy, innovation and resilience in an increasingly autocratic region. But this is under growing threat. In recent years, China has used a variety ...
In this excerpt from her new memoir, Dame Susan Devoy remembers her turn as star contestant on the 2022 season of Celebrity Treasure Island. The most anxious time of every day was pre-elimination, when you knew this could be your final day on the show. I felt such contradictory emotions, ...
A week that began in triumph ended in an all-too-familiar disaster for the Green Party. Duncan Greive asks if there’s something in the mission that breaks its best and brightest. A long, strange week for the Green party began with a fantastic poll result. On one level this is hardly ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Vanuatu’s former prime minister and opposition MP Ishmael Kalsakau has stepped down — just two days after he confirmed he was the rightful opposition leader. Kalsakau, MP for Port Vila, confirmed to ABC’s Pacific Beat, and the Vanuatu Daily Post on Thursday that he ...
What’s to blame for the coalition’s choppy start? Six months in, and the mojo meter is in the doldrums. A new poll would put National out of power and sees its leader, Chris Luxon, sliding in popularity. How much is it about policy, how much coalition management and a perception ...
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The world has been experiencing a productivity slowdown, from which New Zealand has not been exempt. COVID-19 temporarily boosted labour productivity, but more recently, productivity has retreated. The overall trend since 2007 has been one of slow productivity ...
What’s more wasteful than spending $315k on syrup and machine maintenance? Trying to drum up a controversy about it.Cast your mind back to the pre-pandemic idylls of 2019. A “rat” was a disgusting rodent and not a self-administered plague test; the sixth Labour government was in power; and the ...
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rwnj coworker, yesterday: “awesome, property prices in my suburb are shooting up and i am going to make 500k woohoo!”
rwnj coworker, later: “i hate paying taxes to lazy bludgers that never get off their arses”
my reply: “white collar criminals are the real problem mate”. Too subtle?
Best answer to the second drivel is to point out that there are always so many more bludgers under National.
Reply to rwnj
“How are your kids going to buy a house?”
Yeah, too subtle for him or her to get the irony of those two statements.
The other thing about this excitement people have house prices going up in their area. – Unless they are going to sell and downscale and take the profit how do they think the money will actually materialise? Or do they think the value is a tangible thing?
How is in increased house value going to make you any wealthier?
In our case, our increasing house value is making us poorer as our rates have gone up $400 in 4 years due to an artificial increase. The bank has told me our house prices have gone up because the large houses on the new development around us have a high value and that is pushing ours up.
Its all fake. The way the housing market works is rigged against housing being an accessible affordable necessity for all.
Rosie
Increased valuation means an increased lending limit – which feels like wealth to the shortsighted. The rates downside is something that drives residents out of communities and frees their properties for landbankers to acquire.
+1
“Increased valuation means an increased lending limit –”
Ok, got that. btw, when a I was shopping around for a new fixed mortgage rate I was looking an offer from another bank. Although the QV valuation had said the house had an increased by $30K the person at the bank who told me the banks uses a different approach to valuation (?!?) said our valuation had gone up by $60K! so based on that we had enough equity for that bank to take us on as a home loan customer. (I didn’t go with it, I got my bank to match it as much as they could – too much hassle otherwise)
So suddenly there is extra lending opportunities. I see what you are saying. But this is just daft. Why would you willingly take on more debt, eg trade up to bigger flasher house just because you could. You’d be a fool as you’d be more indebted no?
Rosie, changing banks is a piece of cake these days. When I changed a couple of years ago, mortgage, credit card, savings and cheque was all done by my new bank. Just had to go in and sign some paperwork.
Make them earn their money I say.
Thing is it was going to cost. There was the cost of leaving the other bank which the new bank would only partially cover, and I also didn’t want to take my other accounts and insurance to the new bank, which was a condition of them giving me a home loan.
Lol, I did make them earn their money. It basically got down to the two banks trying to out do each other with reducing that fee and giving that incentive etc but in the end, it was easier to stay with kiwibank and get a fixed rate of 4.25% down from 5.25%. BNZ had offered 4.19% so it worked out pretty well.
The whole exercise was really to get my bank to sit up and take me seriously, I never fully intended to move. I also didn’t want to move to a foreign owned bank either. One of the main reasons I’m with Kiwibank is because we own it.
Rosie: “Why would you willingly take on more debt, eg trade up to bigger flasher house just because you could. You’d be a fool as you’d be more indebted no?”
Not only that, Rosie, but when the bubble bursts, those sitting on a mortgage for what was a 2 million house will lose a helluva lot more than those sitting on the mortgage for what was a half-million house.
AND they’ll still have the original mortgage to pay, even though its now worth more than the house.
And what a hard lesson in greed that would be!
This discussion reminds of a book I haven’t read yet. Jane Kelseys F.I.R.E book about our finance, insurance and real estate industries.
Anyone read it?
should have asked him if he would have enough money to buy another house in the same neighbourhood were he to sell his house.
This:
‘
interesting article looking at the rise of Trump . . .
http://www.perc.org.uk/project_posts/trump-and-the-charisma-of-unreason/
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11599390
I don’t think Kelvin Davis is going to be making easy hits now that someone competent is in charge of corrections
Who would that be? I thought it was Collins.
“Because her name was already known to the offender, and Corrections used generic work email addresses, Mr Davis did not feel he had revealed any new information, or put the officer in any danger”
Yeah I can just imagine the left letting this one go if it had been a National MP that had done this
We probably would because we have such an abundance of material. The Key government is frankly a disaster for New Zealand, there is no metric upon which they are not a disaster, we don’t have to beat up pitiful shite like this.
What you have here is a fatuous accusation like the Clark forgery bullshit and you cackle like a goose up to its ankles in good luck. To attain any level of credibility you must look objectively at what is happening.
No doubt the tame MSM can be stimulated to make disapproving noises – but Collins complaining about impropriety is like Tamerlane reproaching someone for unnecessary roughness.
So basically if National does it = bad but if Labour does it = its ok because National does it as well
I’m sure I’ve heard that claim somewhere before
No you read it – that meme’s on your tr0ll instruction sheet – you’re not supposed to put that online, they’ll probably dock your pay now.
Naah I’m in tight with the smoking room so its all good, nepotism is a wonderful thing 🙂
Instamax – it’s you! I guess it was inevitable what with the DJ thing not panning out.
Witness the wailing and gnashing of teeth when Cameron Slater published Nicki Hager’s address (even though he’s in the phone book)!
Context is everything – was the Whale recommending peace and civility? And what did the staffer have to say about it all – Collins is quite capable of taking umbrage over a non-issue for her own purposes.
Collins …………….. who’s friends with Cameron Slater and has been sacked from cabinet once already.
I would rate this ex tax lawyer the most corrupt justice and police minister we have ever had ………………
Seems like her free-styling make it up as you go approach is still the same …..
“Its a pretty obvious effort to front-foot and limit the bad publicity bubbling out of her portfolio. Its also illegal. Section 161 of the Corrections Act 2004 gives MP’s an absolute right to visit prisons and talk to prisoners at any time. This right is not subject to Ministerial approval or prior notification, and for good reason: its to ensure independent eyes on the system and to allow problems to be exposed”
http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/
Does illegal mean competent in PukeR speak ???????
I didn’t know that National had outsourced the Minister of Corrections to a party of the Left.
‘Is Trump holding Christie hostage?’
https://www.rt.com/shows/big-picture/334370-super-tuesday-presidential-candidates/
“Tonight’s Politics Panel talks about yesterday’s Super Tuesday results, how Hillary advisers are trying to appeal to Trump supporters, and whether Trump is holding Chris Christie hostage. Thom discusses the presidential candidates’ economic policies with economist Marshall Auerback and in tonight’s Daily Take Thom debunks the myth that Democrats are bad for business.”
The continuing saga of Todd Barclay.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/politics/375242/claim-secret-recording
Time to cut him loose, its a safe seat so it should go to someone deserving
I agree PR, although would seem highly unusual for a sitting member to be deselected. I would have thought their instinct would be to ride it out and hope it blows over as per Bill English’s “nothing to see here” comments. Clearly the local media down here know there is more to run on this or they would not be giving it so much oxygen.
I’ll also add someone local and deserving
‘
So, Todd Barclay can’t talk about employment matters but he can release a resignation letter to the media. What a creepy chap he is.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/politics/375034/barclay-apologises-release-letter
Yes, quite happy to discuss employment matters when it is seen to corroborate his version of events. Amateur mistake that calls into question his suitability for role. Luckily for him the local Nats have kept their public discipline.
So to recap. A total of three staff have resigned, there is something about a secret recording which some National Party members would like to get to the bottom of and to top it off the kid releases private and confidential employment documents, a resignation letter, to the media. (See BLiP 6.2)
Great stuff there kiddo. Well on your way as a Dirty Politics cadet. To pass on private communications you’d either have to be ignorant of the way such comms should be appropriately handled, which he shouldn’t be, as he has worked at Parliament and would understand protocols. OR you are wanting to turn the view around and make it look like you’re the victim and act in a way that is in keeping with the DP handbook?
Nice new mobile site, soo much faster and cleaner. Thanks lprent
Listening to the crowd it seems America is ready to elect a president who makes blowjob jokes about his political opponents.
All class.
/
Thursday, blasting the former Massachusetts governor for “begging” for his endorsement four years ago only to sharply criticize him now.
“I don’t know what happened to him,” Trump said during a rally in Portland, Maine. “You can see how loyal he is. He was begging for my endorsement. I could have said, ‘Mitt, drop to your knees.’ He would have dropped to his knees.”
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/03/politics/donald-trump-mitt-romney-would-have-dropped-to-his-knees-for-my-endorsement/
Y’know, I can see Trump doing the ponytail thing, publicly talking about peeing in the shower and “feeding the chickens”, really off jokes to foreign heads of state, no problem. I still can’t picture Trump climbing into a cage to “pick up the soap” though.
Gosh joe90.
I thought he meant go down on your knees and beg.
To the pure all things are pure I guess.
He could’ve meant either. It’s being interpreted as a BJ reference by some reporters.
He’ll get away with it because like you say it’s interpreted by what’s in the mind of the listener/reader. I shudder to think Trump might become POTUS but as a GOP candidate he’s endlessly entertaining. 🙂
The GOP establishment’s wheeled Mitt Romney out with a robotic script delivery I guess as their first shot across the bows of Donald J. He’s already blown Mitt out of the water.
Please will people help the Waitara Three. Being sued for bankruptcy by a very vindictive regional council run by a Fonterra man https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/supportthewaitara3/
+100 Sirenia
How outrageous!!! How can the council pursue costs when the commissioners said the river needed greater environmental protection?
More info please.
Also looking forward to seeing how much legal fees the council have spent pursuing a few individuals who appear to be trying to make the water safer for the community the council are supposed to work for!
The council has apparently spent almost $300,000 attacking this group. Group has also just won a big environmental award. Something seriously wrong in regional government in Taranaki.
I just wondering if people in the round world have heard of this new threat ;
http://thehackernews.com/2016/03/drown-attack-openssl-vulnerability.html
Should be in the news. Cybersecurity is one of the Govt.s focus points is it not?
If TRP is out there could I please get an opinion on Labour’s stance on this new National employment legislation?
I just detest the idea of Labour agreeing with National about any kind of employment legislation.
I would hate to think it’s a precursor to the ‘flexibility’ Labour will espouse from Robertson’s ridiculous ‘Future Of Work’.
Check this out – from the horses mouth. Iain Lees Galloway talks us through Labour’s strategy.
http://thestandard.org.nz/iain-lees-galloway-were-winning-on-zero-hour-contracts/
I was looking for a union view.
I don’t yet trust Labour on this issue after folding on 90 day fire at will.
Ok. Well, If it’s any reassurance at all, Iain Lee Galloway used to be an organiser for the NZNO, so he has some sympathies in that area.
I understand your reluctance to trust Labour on working with the National government on a major piece of employment legislation when Andrew Little rang alarm bells last year with his mention of “tweaking” the 90 day act, when addressing a bunch of business people in the Hutt.
It took me two weeks to get an answer from Grant Robertson – I was asking him to clarify Labour’s poistion, and I still felt uneasy about the response.
Believe me, as a former union organiser myself as a job seeker in today’s use and abuse job market I’m hypersensitive to how such talks with National will proceed. The framework that Iain provided did give me some reassurance that they are at least approaching this the right way.
Legislation is only part of addressing the wrongs that are occurring however. There must be employer cultural change and employees must learn to regain their self respect and dignity – we’ve been brutalised for years and to a certain degree given up on the belief we can have better work lives.
All the above will take years and it will be a difficult transition for some.
Mr Galloway would do well to come on this site and explain himself.
Labour have no digital means of engaging since they shut down Red Alert.
So they may as well actually front up here.
I have received no other communications from Labour about why they are cutting a deal with National on our employment law. Their media releases on the matter were raw spin.
I’m not interested in cultural change: legislative change is the only thing that will lead cultural change in this area.
Front up someone.
He fronted up the other day.
I was hoping for a reply, but have yet to receive one. Which, is far from reassuring.
Cheers, didn’t realize that he’d come on.
I stand corrected.
“Cheers, didn’t realize that he’d come on.’
Well, that’s exactly what I clearly pointed out to you in my link provided to you 20 minutes after you suggested Labour needed to front up.
Maybe I’m just talking to a brick wall.
Why am I not surprised?
OK, because I’m a cynical bastard.
Suggestion for a new slogan for Labour, since it’s supposed to be “rebranding” itself this year:
“Sprinkling the very best glitter on National’s turds.”
A bit more seriously, again, I think that it’s indicative of Labour’s closed-door culture and Little’s past as a negotiator who worked as part of a hierarchically-structured organisation on behalf of subscribers.
In essences, it’s “trust us, we’ll get you the best deal, then you can vote.” Public, democratic politics is messier, more overtly populist, more dynamic.
Closed-door dealmaking only alienates the base. Bloviating press releases like Iain L-G’s go straight into the recycling bin.
That alienation is only going to get worse with a younger generation who actually knows how to use social media. Little wouldn’t dream of tweeting from a meeting, a millennial wouldn’t dream of not doing business that way.
Hi Ad. That link I sent WAS Labour fronting up on this site. Iain Lees Galloway explained their strategy. If you’re a Labour party member you should have received an email earlier this week – explaining their position.
Agree that legislative change must come first to then filter down to cultural change. Of course it does.
As a vulnerable worker in often precarious work situations I know first hand how the culture has changed as a direct result of legislation. But employers won’t change their attitudes based on new rules – their workers have to hold them to account and push for their rights – this is culture change and it HAS to happen. Believe me, even the ads posted for jobs these days are hostile, insulting and patronising. Thats to do with culture, not legislation.
You may not interested in culture change, but as someone hugely affected by employer attitudes I am.
Rosie, Labour wants to remove the ability for employers to put people on contracts where they are on call with no permanent hours. Implying, apart from being given a number of permanent hours, Labour are not seeking compensation for workers being on call.
If this is the case, this is insufficient protection for workers, thus far from reassuring.
Still waiting for Iain to clear this up.
Valid point re the compensation for on call workers. As far as I know they were using “set minimum hours” as a base. I don’t know what happens after that.
Maybe email Iain himself. From time to time I email MP’s when something isn’t clear. Sometimes you need to give them a prod as a reminder to respond.
In regards to emailing him, It’s Iain’s job to inform the public on such matters. Not just individuals that can be bothered to email him.
Moreover, he chose to utilize this site, but failed to keep up with communications.
He really needs to clear this matter up.
Furthermore, what with the 90 days and TPP, they can’t afford to mess this up.
I don’t know what to say. It was just a practical suggestion, regardless of what anyone’s expectations might be of their MP’s, you know, things like responding to questions in public forum.
If you do email him, you can copy his answer into a comment of Open Mike and then we’ll all know.
And get this, the Greens claim to not have seen the changes made. What happen to working closer together with their potential coalition partners?
I’m still awaiting his reply to my questions.
It’s sort of like Labour has sold the essence of its very name. “Labour” was formed to represent workers, and here we have it supporting a bit of legislation by its polar opposite that concerns the very people it was formed to represent.
Natbour.
Labours argument is voting against it would mean leaving thousands of New Zealanders stuck in zero hour contracts.
However, If zero hour contracts remain, they will vote against it. Go figure?
There seems to be no discussion on attaining fiscal compensation for those on-call.
Worse, i read someplace that fair compensation shoul be paid, and so all Labour needed to do was speak to that, in parliament. i.e more than the dole, less that the minimum wage per hour to wait. But not it has to be a fight not a principled negoiation.
Don’t blame Robertson, blame the writer for The Economist he plagiarised.
https://garethsworld.com/blog/health/pharmac-and-the-crazies-john-key-admits-mistake-andrew-little-looks-to-repeat-it/
Normally I’d be using it as proof that Littles stuffed up again but since its Gareth Morgan saying it…
Racist cops deny problem. They’ll deal with it as well as they deal with their internal rape culture no doubt.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/298060/police-reject-africans'-claims-of-racial-abuse
Watch this go through the usual stages:
1. “No problem”, belittle the victim.
2. Under duress, pretend to hold an inquiry and issue new “guidelines.”
3. Claim that the new guidelines have solved the problem.
4. “No problem, we dealt with it long ago, it’s historical.” Belittle the victim.
In the interests of efficiency, the current government will allow them to go directly from stage 1 to 4.
Some monkeys were bypassed by evolution alright – so they shaved and put on blue suits.
Years ago, Jim Mora called that bag of wind Barack Obama “the leading
orator of our time”; now look at who he’s calling “quite a thinker”.
The Panel, RNZ National, Friday 4 March 2016
Jim Mora, Ali Jones, Selwyn Manning, Zara Potts
This piece of penetrating analysis occurred about halfway through the program….
JIM MORA: It’s interesting, all these secret Trump supporters. An Hispanic woman whose family escaped from Castro’s Cuba says she will vote for Trump and so will all her acquaintances. She said political correctness is the beginning of the end. And you know, she’s quite a thinker. …
ALI JONES: He’s a racist bully.
MORA: But they aren’t all, by any means, the red-necked owners of guns…..
Haha some of my mates think I should buy this piece of history.
Of course I see it as history showing Tory Prime Minister getting benefits from socialist ownership.
Of course the Tory’s win when it’s in private ownership as well.
It’s just the rest of us that miss out when stuff is sold off.
Muldoons free NZR pass.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=1044490240
On a more serious note some time back there were some posts referring to the Ottoman massacre of Armenians.
This photographer has increased awareness of this in a pretty cool way.
http://www.dianamarkosian.com/pages/1915
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11599987
Piss off Soper…….what evidence is there that ‘Prince Max’ is being cyberbullied……none except the whining of an effete daddy grasping at the straws of political lift, off the back of his own blood if needs be. That’s no evidence. Daddy’s doing a number – that’s all that whining amounts to.
In any event, Max is right into it. “Me asleep on Air Force One” as he Instagrams an obviously staged pic’ of himself. What ? The son of PMONZ trying to put himself across the son of POTUS. Gimme a break !
You’re boring and unartful Soper, even to yourself. That’s why you’re driven to make yourself part of the story. Winston Peters had your measure years ago in John McCain’s office in Washington DC. Remember that one Soper……? You didn’t learn did ya ? Still the old wahanui.
Interesting, http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/03/secret-donald-trump-voters-speak-out?CMP=twt_gu
wow
This excerpt from 1943 in the Evening Post just about sums up this govt of today and there attitude Just change the names as you see fit to today’s world
This is the shit that Key bastard wants to keep going
“Because of the attacks made on the trade union movement by the Nationalists during the election campaign it appears necessary to express the views on this point of an organisation which represents 38,000 workers,” said Mr. F. P. Walsh, president of the Wellington Trades Council of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, in a statement today.
“Mr. Holland’s attack on the trade union leaders reveals that he is fundamentally opposed to industrial unionism,” said Mr. Walsh. “Like his political ancestors throughout the past century Mr. Holland would be delighted with a leaderless trade union movement. The Nationalists, like all Tories of the past, hate the leaders of trade unions because the activities of those leaders, and their insistence on fair play for the workers, disturb the tranquillity of those who enjoy easy profits and big dividends from organised business. “Members of trade unions throughout the country have had to put up with a great deal of abuse of their leaders, whom the Nationalists term ‘Labour bosses.’ That Nationalist attitude was also adopted by the Lee Party. They side-stepped the fact that the trade union movement, by reason of its constitution, rules, and love of liberty, has no dictators. Its leaders are elected annually on democratic principles. “What the trades union movement has accomplished on behalf of the workers and the people as a whole, not only in ameliorating labour conditions, but in social services generally, is appreciated by everybody. But we realise that a victory of the Fascist Powers in the present war would destroy all that has been achieved, and we are wholeheartedly behind the Government in its administration of the war effort of the Dominion. THE WAR EFFORT. “Yet the attitude taken up by the Nationalists during the election has been definitely damaging to that war effort. For political gain and to help the employing class the Nationalists advocated a reduced military effort. To catch a few votes they set out to capitalise on the furlough draft, regardless of the fact that the course they advocated would have jeopardised the chances of any further men being granted a well-earned holiday in New Zealand. “The Nationalists also attempted to weaken New Zealand’s war effort on the home front. They attacked every law and every provision for maintaining full efficiency in defence and in military training for overseas. They endeavoured to” turn people’s wartime sacrifices, and wartime shortages of commodities, and inevitable wartime inconveniences into political grievances. They tried to convince the people that they would be better off if all the measures for their protection against wartime difficulties were removed. They advocated that prices should be left to the will of private enterprise, and that nothing should be protected except the old Tory privilege of grabbing all the good things of life. “In all of these actions the Nationalists sapped the morale of the nation. “Another enemy of our war effort was the doctrine that the war could be paid for without any cost to the people of the country. “The people showed by their votes that they are not so gullible as the glib but muddle-headed apostles of easy money who contested the election. The people of New Zealand showed that they have a true understanding of the fact that the war has to be paid for by ourselves, out of the goods and services that we produce, and that no jugglery can avoid it. INDUSTRIAL LABOUR’S PLEDGE. “The workers of New Zealand are, therefore, determined to work wholeheartedly to increase their production and thus do all that is in their power towards achieving victory. •’They are convinced also that the I industrial conditions under which they can do their best are only possible under the Labour Government. “The whole of organised industrial labour, therefore, gives its pledge that it will continue to work to its utmost to increase the production of the Dominion, and to support the Labour Government in its policy of carrying on the war without any relaxation, and at the same time maintaining the highest possible standard of living in fair play to all sections of the community.”
The war being today, the TPPA
We are going to get that little tory prick one way or another
Sorry – as I do appreciate that OM is special and not a tech forum !
However it is difficult to be anywhere else on TS using FireFox 44.0.2 on FC2x – just renders a “Content Encoding Error”.
This message is posted using IE11 on Windows8.1 – not where I wish to be – get me out of here please !
All was good till 44.0.2 upgrade yesterday.
And Chrome 48.0.2564.116 (64-bit) on FC2x
ERR_CONTENT_DECODING_FAILED
Was all good till today
No cache/cookies retained in either FC2x browser and W8/IE11 VM uses the same network and ISP
Change the flag for a bag of of DAGS