It is no wonder that people are so very cynical about politics and politicians…
witness the Kiwibuild reset…
Gone from building homes to encourage a greater supply
To providing financial assistance to encourage a greater demand
Watch demand soar, house values rise again, and Labour get back into power off the back of it..
pfftt….
Labour has just kicked the entire housing issue down the road again… just like John Key… who propelled property prices (and hence electability) off the back of immigration…
The government had the chance to reboot the home ownership schemes that were in place before the 1990's but completely bottled it in favour of loading people up with more debt, and some charity run rent to own scheme for the 'poor', which is probably as expensive to them as renting.
And no, Judith, 'relaxing planning laws' will NOT make a single cheap house.
This current Labour Government would not have a f#%king clue when it comes to solving this Housing Crisis, Twitford was so out of his depth and over his head in water it was not even funny IMHO ?
Surprised you have a wall to bang your head against. Given the duopoly of westfarmers and fletchers on building supplies and the lack of government action to fix it, i would have thought the wall is more valuable than the head you bang against it
Kiwi's drowning in debt, paying for high priced rubbish houses driven by Asian House Price Speculators, John Key's Housing Ponzi Scheme funded by the Ozzie Banks ?
for the first time – i am thinking this gummint may not be re-elected.
You're thinking people will return National to power due to its proven competence in dealing with the housing crisis, maybe?
I'm not sure what "competence" people want to see here. So many voters have a vested interest in high property prices that most of the serious moves the government could make would see them thrown out of office. Understandably, the governing parties don't see being chucked out after one term as a demonstration of "competence," so they're not doing those things.
That leaves building more state houses, which they are doing. But even there, National's boxed them in with a shortage of tradespeople and the inability to borrow large sums of money. Being the government isn't a doddle.
borrow to build HNZ stock = nil net debt and as it is balance sheet has no effect on surplus.
anyway we don’t have targets anymore 😉, so there is no issue
National did not cock up kiwiwbuild, not did they make labour increase their target from an unobtainable 50,000 to 100,000. Labour’s arrogance and a poor selection of minister are the reason for this failure 🤬
Poor selection of Minister nails it. That arrogant vacuous Twyford may well be an appropriate choice for looking after the Parlimentary broom cupboard, but not as Minister for what is one of the most important portfolios of the government.
Labours blind faith in it's liberal free market ideology is in fact the reason why this Labour party can't and never could fix NZ's housing disaster, they will never be the fearless transformative progressive political party that is needed to overcome the many mountains we need to climb as a country..that is unfortunately just a fact.
And I would say that yes Labour could easily lose the next election…hard to imagine a more perverse loss…or for that matter even just scraping back into office in a run against the most unliked National leader in probably their entire history would be a humiliation…although not according to many third way Labour supporters on this forum, who seem to think that getting into power is all politics is about, at any cost, including losing the very essence of what a Labour Party should actually stand for, which bothers them not one iota.
Hate to think of a loss, as Nats offer little. BUT now we are seeing that we cannot believe what Labour promises to be delivered. Megan Woods "we are not reneging on any election promises" . I would suggest minister to read what you went to the election on and listen to the 2nd link.
9 MONTHS (wasted) in the making and there are hardly any answers or detail " as many as we can as quick as we can" – How does that install confidence for those wanting to enter the housing market ??
Megan Woods hasn't even done any modelling what income levels will apply, rent to buy scheme what equity will build up.
The ability of those that we are given to vote on, it appears to me that we vote on the lesser or 2 evils option.
We've had lots of lefter than Labour parties here. Including some that have been in Parliament, even government. Which one would you like Labour to be more like? Socialist Aotearoa? Mana? IMP? Progressive? Alliance? Communist League?
Do you notice anything those parties all have in common?
Don't worry, Jude has offered to work with Labour to sort out this absolute cluster-f**k-of-mega-proportions (she really is a selfless, giving person) so if Labour do want to fix this mess-of-thier-own-making all they have to do is accept the olive branch and let Jude take over 🙂
Remember when Jude was writing to Twyford to get builders in her electorate lined up for Kiwibuild projects…… she seems to have forgotten 'then Jude' to 'now Jude'
"Housing Minister Phil Twyford has accused his Opposition counterpart of bagging KiwiBuild in one breath, then asking for it to fund developments in her electorate the next.
Judith Collins has admitted writing a letter to Mr Twyford asking about a new Papakura apartment block's eligibility for KiwiBuild, but denies that constitutes an endorsement of the Labour-led programme."
Naturally when Jude is accusing someone of lying – shes standing in front of the mirror.
Has it ever occured to you that a political party could run on a manifesto that they actually believe in and will stand for no matter what the fallout might be?
Has it ever occurred to you that a political party can achieve more by remaining in power through several elections in order to make gains in more areas and consolidate gains made in previous terms?
It's a shitload easier for a new government to reverse something introduced a year or two ago that half the population is firmly against and a fair chunk of the rest think may be a step too far, compared to trying to reverse something introduced four or five years ago that's bedded in and didn't arouse quite such strong opposition to begin with.
Yep. It's how you get lasting change. The other lot used it to get us here, we need to use it to go back in a better direction. Going for the glorious revolution will last exactly until the next election.
If you're looking for your idea of "transformational", you're being unrealistic expecting Labour to push anywhere near as much as you would like. They are fighting for the centre voters, after all. And what looks transformational to those centre voters will look like insipid incremental centrism to you.
You'd be much better off putting your hopes and efforts into a party like the Greens – that are consciously targeted at a small part of the electorate, and try to lift them to where Greens plus Labour don't need anyone else.
Even if the manifesto, when put into practise, turns out to be unrealistically optomistic?
Besides some management issues, the kiwibuild output was managable but the model of implementation turned out to be unworkable – mostly due to the partnership with developers.
I think they should have figured out a timeline for the 100k homes (split into different types – developer partnerships, new state homes, and government developments), rather than nuking the target completely. I.e. kept the plan for the number of homes but adjusted the timeline. But sticking to the timeline and the number was unworkable.
The manifesto did offer alternatives ie reduce the demand side by flattening the curve.Far more cost effective and sustainable.
In total, these changes are estimated to reduce net migration by 20,000-30,000. Without these changes there would be up to 10,000 more houses needed and up to 20,000 more vehicles on our roads annually. Our immigration system will be regularly reviewed to ensure it is functioning well.
Well, nothing except the failure of a flagship policy, which is a pretty substantial blow to any government.
When your work involves massive high-stakes projects, your failures are very public and humiliating. But if my work experience has taught me anything, it's taught me that when people have done their best and failed you might feel like berating them for incompetence, but actually doing it isn't going to improve their productivity and it saps morale in a much wider group than the one you're addressing.
And national has . Bridges was a prosecutor – a glorified public servant.
English was a treasury analyst- for a few years- before 30 years in Parliament but they worked the 'farming adjacent' thing to cover that up.
Nick Smith didnt work in his family bridge building company after graduate school , 30 years in Parliament.
Paula's background started with the Napier Tattoo Club and the Stag Truck stop but found it too hard and stayed on the DPB. Newspapers have lawyers letters from PB telling them not to get the time lines for above 3 mixed up.
McClay worked as chief of staff for some UK EU poobah.
Goldsmith has been in beehive or MPs/Ministers offices much like Bishop , Kaye and Willis
i think that kiwibuild needs to be identified for what it is:
middle-class welfare..
in no way is it designed to help those who need it the most..
and so as a concept should be canned..
and as corin dann asked megan wood this morning:(i paraphrase..)
'why doesn't labour return to its' knitting – and forget about being in the market – and focus on building state houses..?'
to which i can only say 'hear..!..hear..!'..
and would also mention again how post ww2 10,000 houses a year were built..(surely there must be historians/theses knowing the mechanics of how that was done – surely it would e of value to at least look there..?..)
my understanding is that some 1,500 state houses have been built – and that is good..but it almost seems like it is something labour is ashamed of – they have sold that fact/success so poorly – it must be deliberate – and i see it as part of labour pandering to that tory swing-voter and trying not to offend..
so like corin dann sez – labour should proudly commit to house the homeless/poor – and to go full tilt into state house building..(and not gimcrack-hovels..!)
the rent-to-buy/shared-equity ideas look good – on the surface – the devil will be in the detail/criterea..(fingers still crossed there..)
i also feel the obvious moves are into pre-built etc..
and why not a mortgage-fund where those who want to – can present concepts of alternative/much-cheaper buildings – and get funding for them..?
(and of course councils need to be made to toe that line – their arbitrary/subjective bullshit has to be swept away…)
I wonder … actually 2 things. One, why Chris Trotter argued against a Left coalition this time? That is a story I haven't been able to understand.
Two, why is most commenting on Open Mike done before the evening? Seems as unnatural as vampires in sunlight to me. Hoary with the glory of dawn's bracing air? Relaxing contemplative does best after the day's activity, he proposes.
You can support the left and still be critical of this government. I am not all of a sudden going to break the habit of a lifetime and begin voting for National.
At the same time, I am not going to pretend that noting is wrong with this government. They made bold statements and promises in 2017 and should be held to account against what they were voted in on.
Simply saying 'but at least we tried' isn't good enough. That just encourages future politicians to make grand unrealistic promises without ever having to deliver on them
Does anyone have the expertise to comment on whether it is proper that the prosecutor of a case which has been "resolved" then contacts media themselves and more or less tries to publicly "relitigate" an outcome he had agreed to.
I am aware that not all is always as it seems, but now that more details of whatever occurred have been published it appears that normally such a case would not have made news or headlines without the "political" interest, that interest in fact should have no bearing on the case or its outcome.
What would be the motivation for the prosecutor himself in contacting the media and does anyone know if this is "proper"?
"But, despite the plea deal, prosecutor David Johnstone wished to outline the Crown's position in an email to the Herald and other journalists who covered the trial.
It was in response to an earlier media statement by the accused's lawyer Emma Priest."
Reading the article, I guess the prosecutor was left little alternative, after the defence lawyer had already approached the media with inflammatory and incorrect claims.
Of more interest, why does the guilty party still have name suppression? Very unusual, something usually reserved for All Blacks and other Neanderthals. Must be some politicians son eh.
I nearly mentioned the defendant's solicitor speaking to media but it looked clear that media asked for comment and got it, I'm not sure why they didn't ask for comment from the prosecutor's office he could have made a comment that was relevant to the case and the outcome in an immediate manner not in hindsight.
½ of NZ could tell you which politicians son, there have been "interesting" cases that are not specific to "All Blacks and other Neanderthals", the case may well be that they are all Neanderthals.
Anyway do you think this case would be in the media if it hadn't been a "politician's" son?
"approached the media with inflammatory and incorrect claims."
The accused was offered and pleaded to 2 x assault charges. ( the crimes have same
The sexual assault charges where all withdrawn, so that is saying there was no sexual assault as alleged by the Crown. Exactly as the lawyer claimed during ( and before ?) the trial.
I am female and over 60, not that has any bearing other than I have children and grandchildren because I am, and now they are, aware of what happens in certain settings it is my certain view that had it not been able to be made political no one would have been even aware of what happened.
How many times in people's lives has this sort of thing happened it is not excusable but it is the reality of out of control drunken behaviour, whoever his parents are they are probably really glad he was not in charge of a vehicle.
That aside is this the same sort of "fair" trial that one of his peers would have had and is the prosecutor allowed to contact media the way he did?
The sexual assault charges where all withdrawn, so that is saying there was no sexual assault as alleged by the Crown.
Yes and no.
Plea deals are a sad but important part of the process. The greatly lower the workload of the justice system. And yes, one is legally "innocent until proven guilty". But that doesn't mean there was no sexual assault (legally the complaint still was made), nor does it mean the guy is the victim his lawyer is making him out to be.
This was in the middle of a jury trial. thats a fanciful claim about lowering workload. It happens the other way too…multiple charges are 'pre-loaded' to makes the crime stats look good when a single charge will do.
Weak case , to throw in the towel by the Crown in middle of trial, after most of the witnesses called. Were the crown afraid the judge might dismiss the case , after application by the defence , before the jury retired ?
I wouldnt say I was a habitue of the courts, but isnt it the defendants who are finally convinced by their lawyers to plead guilty to trial charges
No case is 100%. Jury trials can be unpredictable. Sexual assault trials are also notoriously difficult to prosecute.
So the prosecution risk the guy walking away. The guy risks getting a sexual assault conviction. So prosecution and defence find a happy medium of the charges that are mild enough for him to wear but are at least some measure of punishment for the prosecution.
It's not ideal, but then ideally people wouldn't assault other people, sexually or otherwise.
So when was the last time the Crown took the defendants offer to settle in the middle of a jury trial. There is no saving of lawyers time and court time at that stage.
The defence opening statement was 'this isnt a sexual assault' case.
Yes I have been called for jury duty , and yes they have a second case line up if the first case settles on the 'step of the court'.
This is practically a settlement just before the judge instructs the jury .
The only possible later time is before the jury returns
Middle of the road enough probably to think "there but for the grace of . . ." on both sides of the offending behaviour and/or you let them out of you sight for five mins. There few things more reckless and sad than a young male trying to make an impression or fit in especially when drunk, something that probably needed to be in court, especially one of public opinion, is how they got access to alcohol – or was the person of age – without supervision around the younger ones.
Because he has pleaded guilty and still has name suppression. The establishment, whether National, Labour or other, ALWAYS protects ts it's own. Besides, I think by now most know the identity.
A formal criminal complaint for hate propaganda has been filed with the Ottawa Police Service against the Canadian Islamophobic news outlet Rebel News Network Ltd., and its directors Ezra Levant, Hamish Marshall and Hannah Vanderkooy, as well as former Rebel News presenter Faith Bazos (aka Faith Goldy).
[…]
The complaint alleges Rebel News Network have breached s. 319(2) of the Canadian Criminal Code by wilfully promoting hatred of the Muslim community through hate propaganda published through the Rebel News Network website and Youtube channel.
While not formally named as there is no evidence any of his activities took place in Canada, the complaint relies heavily on content created by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (aka Tommy Robinson) as evidence of them disseminating xenophobic anti-Muslim content. Videos produced by Faith Goldy are also highlighted in the complaint.
Not sure why this tweet provoked your frustration @marwilliamson. I simply noted that you deleted a tweet.
I did not editorialize.
With respect to your offer to have an "public dialogue," thank you but I am reserving my time to speak to candidates who qualified for the debate. https://t.co/HdrbJXwP7E
I'm confident we've got plenty that think they fully understand quantum physics. And string theory. And how those explain the interconnectedness of cosmic consciousnesses.
TBF, it takes a MAGAmoron to break the law with a weather forecast.
Per 18 U.S. Code 2074:
“Whoever knowingly issues any counterfeit weather forecast… published by (a) branch of the Government service, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ninety days, or both.”https://t.co/qq9aDyzidF
Amazing how the computer generated forecast from Thu – as shown above- essentially was as wrong as Trump as they had the centre 5 days later in middle of Florida.
and his answers are exactly like how his brain works – all over the place, repetitive, vainglorious – he's like a mirror to the monster in us all. https://play.stuff.co.nz/details/_6083525676001
Maybe it's not so obvious to everyone what he has drawn there, squint your eyes a little and it all becomes clear… (or maybe just a load of bollocks, if you know what I mean).
You can see what the world's No 1 Ignoramus originally did. He placed a ruler on the last two tracking points of the original map (not coloured in white to denote a possible track only) and figured the "hurricane" was going to end up in Alabama.
Note: hurricane in inverted commas because by then it would have been no more than a depression which still might have brought rain to the south east of Alabama but no hurricane.
Every now and then, shit like this must make some of the less-dim MAGAmorons clue in to the fact Donnie Dimbulb thinks they're all idiots. I really wonder what goes through their heads at that moment of realisation.
As someone who years ago manually drew weather maps (automated now), that second map looks like something from another planet in another dimension. Very funny though.
Who in their right mind would spend an hour scribbling in lots n' lots of squiggly lines that represent nothing but… lots n' lots of squiggly lines? POTUS. America is toast.
The Combover Con will stiff you every time. Even when you're a loyal but vulnerable Repug Senator from a swing state who's up for re-election next year.
Amazing story: the US State Department offered a multi-million dollar bribe to the captain of an Iranian oil tanker if he would divert the ship to a country where the US could seize it https://t.co/saHmp7mqCYpic.twitter.com/qEP8g7K4jj
I thought Megan Woods came across pretty well in the interview with Mike Hosking regarding the kiwi build reset. In fact, she interviews a hell of a lot better than Jacinda does on Tuesday mornings.
VANCOUVER—Fisheries Minister Jonathan Wilkinson announced a further $2.7 million investment in salmon conservation projects, after government officials confirmed Thursday morning that salmon stocks across British Columbia are returning in concerningly low numbers.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, also known as DFO, had previously forecast that 4,795,000 sockeye salmon would return to the Fraser River this year.
As the run starts, that number has been adjusted to 628,000 — just 13 per cent of that original forecast. The state of sockeye salmon is now so dire that some populations “face an imminent threat of extinction,” according to DFO.
This brings back memories of Robert Muldoon and the police activities destroying evidence from The Erebus Crash ?
Hopefully the wet behind the ears Andrew Little from the Labour Party will address this situation in a Royal Commission of Enquiry as Pike River is a Homicide Crime Scene ?
The art of the possible aside, reality says we need a commanding demo-cratist government in control. The whole bloody lesson of the rich's takeover of government in the early 80s from Keynesian social-democracy. Yet reality also says that 's not possible — division of needed ends and impossible(?) means.
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. . American Burlesque As I write this (Wednesday evening, 6 January), the US Presidential election is all but resolved, confirming Joe Biden as the next President of the (Dis-)United State of America. Trump’s turbulent political career has lasted just four years – one of the few single-term US presidents ...
The session started off so well. Annalax – suitably chastised – spent a pleasant morning with his new girlfriend (he would say paramour, of course, but for our purposes, girlfriend is easier*). He told her about Waking World Drow, and their worship of Her Ladyship. And he started ...
In a recent column I wrote for local newspapers, I ventured to suggest that Donald Trump – in addition to being a liar and a cheat, and sexist and racist – was a fascist in the making and would probably try, if he were to lose the election, to defy ...
When I was preparing for my School C English exam I knew I needed some quotes to splash through my essays. But remembering lines was never my strong point, so I tended to look for the low-hanging fruit. We’d studied Shakespeare’s King Lear that year and perhaps the lowest hanging ...
When I went to bed last night, I was expecting today to be eventful. A lot of pouting in Congress as last-ditch Trumpers staged bad-faith "objections" to a democratic election, maybe some rioting on the streets of Washington DC from angry Trump supporters. But I wasn't expecting anything like an ...
Melted ice of the past answers question today? Kate Ashley and a large crew of coauthors wind back the clock to look at Antarctic sea ice behavior in times gone by, in Mid-Holocene Antarctic sea-ice increase driven by marine ice sheet retreat. For armchair scientists following the Antarctic sea ice situation, something jumps out in ...
Christina SzalinskiWhen Martha Field became pregnant in 2005, a singular fear weighed on her mind. Not long before, as a Cornell University graduate student researching how genes and nutrients interact to cause disease, she had seen images of unborn mouse pups smaller than her pinkie nail, some with ...
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidates for President and Vice President respectively for the US 2020 Election, may have dispensed with the erstwhile nemesis, Trump the candidate – but there are numerous critical openings through which much, much worse many out there may yet see fit to ...
I don’t know Taupō well. Even though I stop off there from time to time, I’m always on the way to somewhere else. Usually Taupō means making a hot water puddle in the gritty sand followed by a swim in the lake, noticing with bemusement and resignation the traffic, the ...
Frances Williams, King’s College LondonFor most people, infection with SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes COVID-19 – leads to mild, short-term symptoms, acute respiratory illness, or possibly no symptoms at all. But some people have long-lasting symptoms after their infection – this has been dubbed “long COVID”. Scientists are ...
Last night, a British court ruled that Julian Assange cannot be extradited to the US. Unfortunately, its not because all he is "guilty" of is journalism, or because the offence the US wants to charge him with - espionage - is of an inherently political nature; instead the judge accepted ...
Is the Gender Identity Movement a movement for human liberation, or is it a regressive movement which undermines women’s liberation and promotes sexist stereotypes? Should biological males be allowed to play in women’s sport, use women-only spaces (public toilets, changing rooms, other facilities), be able to have access to everything ...
Ian Whittaker, Nottingham Trent University and Gareth Dorrian, University of BirminghamSpace exploration achieved several notable firsts in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic, including commercial human spaceflight and returning samples of an asteroid to Earth. The coming year is shaping up to be just as interesting. Here are some of ...
Michael Head, University of SouthamptonThe UK has become the first country to authorise the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for public use, with roll-out to start in the first week of 2021. This vaccine is the second to be authorised in the UK – following the Pfizer vaccine. The British government ...
So, Boris Johnson has been footering about in hospitals again. We should be grateful, perhaps, that on this occasion the Clown-in-Chief is only (probably) getting in the way and causing distractions, rather than taking up a bed, vital equipment and resources and adding more strain and danger to exhausted staff.Look at ...
Story of the Week... Toon of the Week... SkS in the News... Coming Soon on SkS... Poster of the Week... SkS Week in Review... Story of the Week... Many Scientists Now Say Global Warming Could Stop Relatively Quickly After Emissions Go to ZeroThat’s one of several recent ...
The situation in the UK is looking catastrophic.Cases: over *70,000* people who were tested in England on 29th December tested positive. This is *not* because there were more tests on that day. It *is* 4 days after Christmas though, around when people who caught Covid on Christmas Day might start ...
by Don Franks For five days over New Year weekend, sixteen prisoners in the archaic pre WW1 block of Waikeria Prison defied authorities by setting fires and occupying the building’s roof. They eventually agreed to surrender after intervention from Maori party co-leader Rawiri Waititi. A message from the protesting men had stated: ...
As we welcome in the new year, our focus is on continuing to keep New Zealanders safe and moving forward with our economic recovery. There’s a lot to get on with, but before we say a final goodbye to 2020, here’s a quick look back at some of the milestones ...
Bay Conservation Cadets launched with first intake Supported with $3.5 million grant Part of $1.245b Jobs for Nature programme to accelerate recover from Covid Cadets will learn skills to protect and enhance environment Environment Minister David Parker today welcomed the first intake of cadets at the launch of the Bay ...
The Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern and the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Mark Brown have announced passengers from the Cook Islands can resume quarantine-free travel into New Zealand from 21 January, enabling access to essential services such as health. “Following confirmation of the Cook Islands’ COVID ...
Jobs for Nature funding is being made available to conservation groups and landowners to employ staff and contractors in a move aimed at boosting local biodiversity-focused projects, Conservation Minister Kiritapu Allan has announced. It is estimated some 400-plus jobs will be created with employment opportunities in ecology, restoration, trapping, ...
The Government has approved an exception class for 1000 international tertiary students, degree level and above, who began their study in New Zealand but were caught offshore when border restrictions began. The exception will allow students to return to New Zealand in stages from April 2021. “Our top priority continues ...
Today’s deal between Meridian and Rio Tinto for the Tiwai smelter to remain open another four years provides time for a managed transition for Southland. “The deal provides welcome certainty to the Southland community by protecting jobs and incomes as the region plans for the future. The Government is committed ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has appointed Anna Curzon to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). The leader of each APEC economy appoints three private sector representatives to ABAC. ABAC provides advice to leaders annually on business priorities. “ABAC helps ensure that APEC’s work programme is informed by business community perspectives ...
The Government’s prudent fiscal management and strong policy programme in the face of the COVID-19 global pandemic have been acknowledged by the credit rating agency Fitch. Fitch has today affirmed New Zealand’s local currency rating at AA+ with a stable outlook and foreign currency rating at AA with a positive ...
The Government is putting in place a suite of additional actions to protect New Zealand from COVID-19, including new emerging variants, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today. “Given the high rates of infection in many countries and evidence of the global spread of more transmissible variants, it’s clear that ...
$36 million of Government funding alongside councils and others for 19 projects Investment will clean up and protect waterways and create local jobs Boots on the ground expected in Q2 of 2021 Funding part of the Jobs for Nature policy package A package of 19 projects will help clean up ...
The commemoration of the 175th anniversary of the Battle of Ruapekapeka represents an opportunity for all New Zealanders to reflect on the role these conflicts have had in creating our modern nation, says Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Kiri Allan. “The Battle at Te Ruapekapeka Pā, which took ...
Babies born with tongue-tie will be assessed and treated consistently under new guidelines released by the Ministry of Health, Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Around 5% to 10% of babies are born with a tongue-tie, or ankyloglossia, in New Zealand each year. At least half can ...
The prisoner disorder event at Waikeria Prison is over, with all remaining prisoners now safely and securely detained, Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says. The majority of those involved in the event are members of the Mongols and Comancheros. Five of the men are deportees from Australia, with three subject to ...
Travellers from the United Kingdom or the United States bound for New Zealand will be required to get a negative test result for COVID-19 before departing, and work is underway to extend the requirement to other long haul flights to New Zealand, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today. “The new PCR test requirement, foreshadowed last ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has added her warm congratulations to the New Zealanders recognised for their contributions to their communities and the country in the New Year 2021 Honours List. “The past year has been one that few of us could have imagined. In spite of all the things that ...
Attorney-General and Minister for the Environment David Parker has congratulated two retired judges who have had their contributions to the country and their communities recognised in the New Year 2021 Honours list. The Hon Tony Randerson QC has been appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio says the New Year’s Honours List 2021 highlights again the outstanding contribution made by Pacific people across Aotearoa. “We are acknowledging the work of 13 Pacific leaders in the New Year’s Honours, representing a number of sectors including health, education, community, sports, the ...
The Government’s investment in digital literacy training for seniors has led to more than 250 people participating so far, helping them stay connected. “COVID-19 has meant older New Zealanders are showing more interest in learning how to use technology like Zoom and Skype so they can to keep in touch ...
Dairy prices increased by 3.9% across the board at the latest Fonterra global auction. The lift followed rises of 1.3% and 4.3% in the December auctions which took dairy prices to their highest level in 11 months, defying those analysts who believed Covid-19 had disrupted dairy markets. In the latest ...
America's Cup team American Magic has spoken publicly after their boat Patriot capsized when on its way to their first win of the Challenger Selection Series yesterday. Patriot dramatically capsized yesterday, becoming temporarily airborne before crashing back into the water and tipping. The boat, helmed by New Zealander Dean Barker, could not be ...
It’s a seemingly age old question: why do Auckland’s beaches become unswimmable after every single downpour? Stewart Sowman-Lund investigates.Ah, the beach. A staple of the New Zealand summer. Unless, of course, you’re based in Auckland and it’s raining. The start of 2021 has been a lot like every other New ...
We have opened a book, among members of the Point of Order team, on how long it will be before the PM offers to sort out the land dispute at Wellington’s Shelly Bay and (to win the double) how much the settlement will cost taxpayers. Just a few weeks ago ...
Breakfast TV news is back for 2021, and Tara Ward got up early to watch. “Thank god it’s almost Christmas,” John Campbell said during the opening minutes of Breakfast’s premiere episode of the year. “2021’s been rough so far. I’m buggered”. We’re all buggered, to be fair, but I’m worried that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Pearson, Professor of Journalism and Social Media, Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research, Griffith University, Griffith University The blame for the recent assault on the US Capitol and President Donald Trump’s broader dismantling of democratic institutions and norms can be ...
Despite a popular and unifying leader of the governing party, divisions both in policy and culture will test the progressive movement, writes Peter McKenzie.‘I think we’re confused.” Marlon Drake is an organiser for the Living Wage Movement. His job takes him all over Wellington, trying to convince businesses to increase ...
Covid-19 Recovery Minister Chris Hipkins says vaccinations should be available to the public by the middle of the year, but other countries are prioritised. ...
It’s as true now as it ever has been: nowhere else offers an education experience like that of Dunedin. But rather than resting on their laurels, the University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic have plans to make the city an even more inspiring place for students.From high in the summit ...
Haggis, neeps and tatties and whisky may not be a traditional spread for a summer gathering in NZ, but trust Auckland city councillor and Kiwi-Scot Cathy Casey on this one. Gie it laldy! Rule one: Hold it on (or near) January 25Robert Burns was born on January 25, 1759. Since the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Tuffley, Senior Lecturer in Applied Ethics & CyberSecurity, Griffith University It could be argued artificial intelligence (AI) is already the indispensable tool of the 21st century. From helping doctors diagnose and treat patients to rapidly advancing new drug discoveries, it’s our ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Kenny, Professor, Australian Studies Institute, Australian National University Through recent natural disasters, global upheavals and a pandemic, Australia’s political centre has largely held. Australians may have disagreed at times, but they have also kept faith with governmental norms, eschewing the false ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Holly Seale, Associate professor, UNSW Health workers are at higher risk of COVID infection and illness. They can also act as extremely efficient transmitters of viruses to others in medical and aged care facilities. That’s why health workers have been prioritised to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jim Orchard, Adjunct Lecturer, Monash University Last week, somewhat overshadowed by the events in Washington, the Democrats took control of the US Senate. The Democrats now hold a small majority in both the House and the Senate until 2022, giving President-elect Joe ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mittul Vahanvati, Lecturer, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University Heatwaves, floods, bushfires: disaster season is upon us again. We can’t prevent hazards or climate change-related extreme weather events but we can prepare for them — not just as individuals ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mandie Shean, Lecturer, School of Education, Edith Cowan University Starting school is an important event for children and a positive experience can set the tone for the rest of their school experience. Some children are excited to attend school for the first ...
Some families in emergency housing are reporting their children are becoming emotionally distressed because of their living conditions. Demand for emergency accommodation has escalated this past year with the number of emergency housing grants increasing by half. Data showed nearly 10,000 people were given an Emergency Housing Special Needs Grant between ...
Summer reissue: Michèle A’Court, Alex Casey and Leonie Hayden are back for a second season of On the Rag, and where better to start than with the mysterious, exhausting world of wellness?First published June 23, 2020.Independent journalism depends on you. Help us stay curious in 2021. The Spinoff’s journalism is ...
With few Covid-19 infections and negiligible natural immunity, New Zealand faces being a victim of its own success when it is left till last to get the vaccines, argues Dr Parmjeet Parmar. ...
Steve Braunias reports on a literary cancelling. The Corrections department has refused to allow Jared Savage's best-selling book Gangland inside prison on the grounds that it "promotes violence and drug use". An inmate at Otago Corrections Facility in Dunedin was sent a copy of the book – but it was ...
New data from the CTU’s annual work life survey shows a snapshot of working people’s experiences and outlook heading out of 2020 and into the new year. Concerningly 42% of respondents cite workplace bullying as an issue in their workplace - a number ...
An international player, selector and self-confessed cricket stats nerd, Penny Kinsella has now played a hand in recording the rich history of the women's game in New Zealand. Penny Kinsella’s cricketing career was perched on the cusp of change for the White Ferns. “My first tour to Australia, we ...
The dramatic capsize of American Magic brought out the best in the America's Cup sailing fraternity. But, Suzanne McFadden asks, what does it mean to the crippled New York Yacht Club campaign and to the Prada Cup? It was a scene as unreal as it was calamitous. Right at the moment the ...
The current number of members of parliament is starting to get too low for the job we expect them to do, argues Alex Braae. As a general rule, with the possible exception of their families, nobody likes backbench MPs. But it’s nevertheless time we accepted that parliament should have more of ...
The experience in the Brazilian city of Manaus reveals how mistaken, and dangerous, the herd-immunity-by-infection theory really is. As families around the world mourn more than two million people dead from Covid-19, the Plan B academics and their PR industry collaborator continue to argue that the New Zealand government should stop ...
As New Zealand gears up to fight climate change, experts warn that we need to actually reduce emissions, not just plant trees to offset our greenhouse gases. ...
A nationwide poll has found majority support for the government to continue to closely monitor abortions in New Zealand and the reasons for it, despite the Ministry of Health recently suggesting that there is not a use for collecting much of this information. ...
The out-of-control growth in gangs, gun crime, and violent gang activity is exposing our communities to dangerous levels of violence that will inevitably end in tragedy, says Sensible Sentencing Trust. “The recent incidents of people being shot and ...
Successive governments have paid lip service to our productivity challenge but have failed to deliver. It's time to establish a Productivity Council charged with prioritising efforts. ...
Understanding the connection between chronic fatigue syndrome and ‘long Covid’ might be helpful in treating symptoms that doctors will find all too easy to dismiss.When people began to report signs of “long Covid”, characterised by a lack of full recovery from the virus and debilitating fatigue, I recognised their stories. ...
Nadine Anne Hura, who never considered herself an artist, reflects on what art and making has taught her.I couldn’t clean or cook or wash the clothes, but I could sew. That’s a lie, I’m a terrible sewer, but I left work early to fossick around in the $1 bin of ...
Summer reissue: In the final episode of this season of Bad News, Alice is joined by Billy T award winner Kura Forrester to look at how well we’re honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi in 2020.First published September 3, 2020.Independent journalism depends on you. Help us stay curious in 2021. The ...
Lucy Revill’s The Residents is a blog about daily life in Wellington that has morphed into a stylish, low-key coffee-table book featuring interviews and photographic portraits of 38 Wellingtonians. In this extract, Revill profiles Eboni Waitere, owner and executive director of Huia Publishers. The Residents features names like Monique Fiso ...
Pacific Media Watch correspondent The pro-independence conflict in West Papua with a missionary plane reportedly being shot down at Intan Jaya has stirred contrasting responses from the TNI/POLRI state sources, church leaders and an independence leader. A shooting caused a plane to catch fire on 6 January 2021 in the ...
“Last year ACT warned that rewarding protestors at Ihumātao with taxpayer money would promote further squatting. We just didn’t think it would happen as quickly as it is in Shelly Bay” says ACT Leader David Seymour. “The prosperity of all ...
Our kindly PM registered her return to work as leader of the nation with yet another statement on the Beehive website, the second in two days (following her appointment of Anna Curzon to the APEC Business Advisory Council on Wednesday). It’s great to know we don’t have to check with ...
A Pūhoi pub is refusing to remove a piece of memorabilia bearing the n-word from its walls. Dr Lachy Paterson looks at the history of the word here, and New Zealand’s complicity in Britain’s shameful slave trading past.Content warning: This article contains racist language and images.On a pub wall in ...
Supermarket shoppers looking for citrus are seeing a sour trend at the moment – some stores are entirely tapped out of lemons. But why? Batches of homemade lemonade will be taking a hit this summer, with life not giving New Zealand shoppers lemons. Prices are high at supermarkets and grocers that ...
You’re born either a cheery soul or a gloomy one, reckons Linda Burgess – but what happens when gene pools from opposite ends of the spectrum collide?In our shoeboxes of photos that we have to sort out before we die or get demented – because who IS that kid on ...
Summer reissue: Prisoner voting rights are something that few in government seem particularly motivated to do anything about. Could a catchy charity single help draw attention to the issue?First published September 1, 2020.Independent journalism depends on you. Help us stay curious in 2021. The Spinoff’s journalism is funded by its ...
Hundreds more Cook Islanders are expected to begin criss-crossing the Pacific, Air NZ will triple the number of flights to Rarotonga next week, and about 300 managed isolation places will be freed up for Kiwis returning from other parts of the world. When Thomas Tarurongo Wynne took a job in Wellington at ...
SPECIAL REPORT:By Ena Manuireva in Auckland It seems a long time ago – some 124 days – since Mā’ohi Nui deplored its first covid-19 related deaths of an elderly woman on 11 September 2020 followed by her husband just hours later, both over the age of 80. The local ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Turnbull, Postdoctoral research associate, UNSW A global coalition of more than 50 countries have this week pledged to protect over 30% of the planet’s lands and seas by the end of this decade. Their reasoning is clear: we need greater protection ...
The Reserve Bank Governor’s apology and claim he will ‘own the issue’ is laughable given the lack of answers and timing of its release. Jordan Williams, a spokesman for the Taxpayers’ Union said: “It’s been five days since they came clean, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olga Kokshagina, Researcher – Innovation & Entrepreneurship, RMIT University Are too many online meetings and notifications getting you down? Online communication tools – from email to virtual chat and video-conferencing – have transformed the way we work. In many respects they’ve made ...
The Reserve Bank acknowledges information about some of its stakeholders may have been breached in a malicious data hack. The Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand has commissioned an independent inquiry into how stakeholders' information was compromised when hackers breached a file sharing service used by the bank. “We ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Caitlin Syme, PhD in Vertebrate Palaeontology, The University of Queensland This story contains spoilers for Ammonite Palaeontologist Mary Anning is known for discovering a multitude of Jurassic fossils from Lyme Regis on England’s Dorset Coast from the age of ten in 1809. ...
A tribute to the sitcoms of old? In the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Yup. Sam Brooks reviews the audacious WandaVision.Nothing sends a chill up my spine like the phrase “Marvel Cinematic Universe”. Since launching in 2008 with Iron Man, the MCU has become a shambling behemoth, with over 23 films (not ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Corbould, Associate Professor, Contemporary Histories Research Group, Deakin University The alt-right, QAnon, paramilitary and Donald Trump-supporting mob that stormed the US Capitol on January 6 claimed they were only doing what the so-called “founding fathers” of the US had done in ...
The Point of Order Ministerial Workload Watchdog and our ever-vigilant Trough Monitor were both triggered yesterday by an item of news from the office of Conservation Minister Kititapu Allan. The minister was drawing attention to new opportunities to dip into the Jobs for Nature programme (and her statement was the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andreas Kupz, Senior Research Fellow, James Cook University In July 1921, a French infant became the first person to receive an experimental vaccine against tuberculosis (TB), after the mother had died from the disease. The vaccine, known as Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), is ...
The first Friday Poem for 2021 is by Wellington poet Rebecca Hawkes.While you were partying I studied the bladeI your ever-loving edgelord God-emperorof the bot army & bitcoin mine subsistingon an IV drip of gamer girl bathwaterfinally my lonelinessis your responsibility………. you seeI need a girlfriend assigned to me by the ...
The arming of police officers in Canterbury was inevitable with the growing numbers and brazenness of the gangs across the country – this should be a permanent step, says Sensible Sentencing Trust. “It is unfortunate that we have come to the point ...
Celebrations in Aotearoa New Zealand to mark the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) will begin on Thursday 21 January with ICAN Aotearoa New Zealand’s Wellington and online event, and continue on Friday ...
Hardly anyone is using their Covid Tracer app. Something needs to change.As the mercury approaches 30°C in Aotearoa, there is a good deal of slipping and slopping, but, let’s face it, piss-all scanning. As few as around 500,000 QR codes are being scanned by users of the NZ Covid Tracer ...
On the East Coast, a group of Māori-owned enterprises is innovating to create new revenue streams while doing what they love.New Zealand’s remote and sparsely populated regions are typically not the best places to create thriving brick-and-mortar businesses. In small communities miles away from any major centres, there are so ...
As we reach the height of summer, it’s not too late to do a safety check on your gas bottle. The Environmental Protection Authority’s Safer Homes programme has some tips and tricks to keep in mind before you fire up the grill. "If you’ve ...
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.AUCKLAND1Troy: The Siege of Troy Retold by Stephen Fry (Michael Joseph, $37)If you’re in any way unsure about ...
“We may as well knock on the gang headquarters around this country and tell them we all give up," says Darroch Ball co-leader of Sensible Sentencing Trust. “It is simply outrageous that violent offender, James Tuwhangai, has been released from ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Ireland, Israel, and Lebanon. Chart by Keith Rankin. The countries with the most recent large outbreaks of Covid19 are those with large numbers of recent recorded cases, but yet to record the deaths that most likely will result. In this camp, this time, are Ireland, Israel ...
RuPaul is in Aotearoa, kicking back in managed isolation to await the filming of an Australasian version of her hugely popular reality show Drag Race. But not everyone is happy about, explains Eli Matthewson. The world’s most famous drag queen, RuPaul, is in New Zealand, the government confirmed earlier this week ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Melleuish, Professor, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong What can we make of Clive Palmer? This week, he announced his United Australia Party (UAP) would not contest the upcoming West Australian state election on March 13. After a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gisela Kaplan, Emeritus Professor in Animal Behaviour, University of New England Have you ever seenmagpies play-fighting with one another, or rolling around in high spirits? Or an apostlebird running at full speed with a stick in its beak, chased by a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Jackson, Program Director, Centre for Policy Development, and Associate Professor of Education, Mitchell Institute, Victoria University Childcare centres across Australia are suffering staff shortages, which have been exacerbated by the COVID crisis. Many childcare workers across Australia left when parents started ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Barrett, Senior Lecturer in Taxation, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Rhetoric plays an important role in tax debate and therefore tax policy. If your side manages to gain traction in the public imagination with labels such as “death ...
*This article was first published on The Conversation and is republished with permission* Whoever leads the Republican Party post-Trump will need to consider how they will maintain the rabid support of his “base”, while working to regain more moderate voters who defected from the party in the 2020 election. In a historic ...
It is no wonder that people are so very cynical about politics and politicians…
witness the Kiwibuild reset…
Gone from building homes to encourage a greater supply
To providing financial assistance to encourage a greater demand
Watch demand soar, house values rise again, and Labour get back into power off the back of it..
pfftt….
Labour has just kicked the entire housing issue down the road again… just like John Key… who propelled property prices (and hence electability) off the back of immigration…
no cred
The government had the chance to reboot the home ownership schemes that were in place before the 1990's but completely bottled it in favour of loading people up with more debt, and some charity run rent to own scheme for the 'poor', which is probably as expensive to them as renting.
And no, Judith, 'relaxing planning laws' will NOT make a single cheap house.
"home ownership schemes that were in place before the 1990's but completely bottled it in favour of loading people up with more debt"
What did you think State Advances was ' pixie dust' ?. You had to pay it back.
Then like now there are various grants to bridge the deposit gap etc
This current Labour Government would not have a f#%king clue when it comes to solving this Housing Crisis, Twitford was so out of his depth and over his head in water it was not even funny IMHO ?
Colmar Brunton just the other month found 60% support for the Kiwibuild scheme to continue…
NZFnearly extinct also Duke of F ?
listening to housing minister megan wood on rnz..
oh dear..!
oh fucken dear..!
(walks over to wall – starts banging forehead against it..)
Surprised you have a wall to bang your head against. Given the duopoly of westfarmers and fletchers on building supplies and the lack of government action to fix it, i would have thought the wall is more valuable than the head you bang against it
Been like that since Adam was a Cowboy, neither Labour or National have the balls to do anything about it ?
i love it how defenders(?) of this mess – are pointing the finger at the useless bastards in the last gummint..
i don't see how they can get past the fact it is 2 yrs into this gummint..
and this is where we are…
f.f.s..!
blaming the tories still – just has people rolling their eyes/turning away..
a new tagline for kiwibuild:..?
'kiwibuild – not waving – drowning'…
Kiwi's drowning in debt, paying for high priced rubbish houses driven by Asian House Price Speculators, John Key's Housing Ponzi Scheme funded by the Ozzie Banks ?
The Tories often leave a mess for the left wing to tidy up. History always appears to repeat itself IMHO ?
tories make a mess..
labour don't fix it up..
tories make even more mess…
labour (again) fail to fix it up..
(repeat…)
which brings us to now…
100% Correct I Agree
Voters when asked disagree….meanwhile in various bubbles they continue in their not knowing what they dont know
are you talking about yr nz first bubble there..?…d of f..?
you are right – they really 'don't know what they don't know'…
Kirk's Labour would have addressed it. Something wrong constitutionally with the wiring since ACT founder Roge.
for the first time – i am thinking this gummint may not be re-elected..
(this degree of incompetence is fucken mind-blowing..)
and if that happens – it will be all their own doing…
Cleangreen thinks it’s all national 5th columnists in the public sector though? Surely they can take some blame
for the first time – i am thinking this gummint may not be re-elected.
You're thinking people will return National to power due to its proven competence in dealing with the housing crisis, maybe?
I'm not sure what "competence" people want to see here. So many voters have a vested interest in high property prices that most of the serious moves the government could make would see them thrown out of office. Understandably, the governing parties don't see being chucked out after one term as a demonstration of "competence," so they're not doing those things.
That leaves building more state houses, which they are doing. But even there, National's boxed them in with a shortage of tradespeople and the inability to borrow large sums of money. Being the government isn't a doddle.
borrow to build HNZ stock = nil net debt and as it is balance sheet has no effect on surplus.
anyway we don’t have targets anymore 😉, so there is no issue
National did not cock up kiwiwbuild, not did they make labour increase their target from an unobtainable 50,000 to 100,000. Labour’s arrogance and a poor selection of minister are the reason for this failure 🤬
Poor selection of Minister nails it. That arrogant vacuous Twyford may well be an appropriate choice for looking after the Parlimentary broom cupboard, but not as Minister for what is one of the most important portfolios of the government.
Twitford didn't have a clue and still doesn't.
Labours blind faith in it's liberal free market ideology is in fact the reason why this Labour party can't and never could fix NZ's housing disaster, they will never be the fearless transformative progressive political party that is needed to overcome the many mountains we need to climb as a country..that is unfortunately just a fact.
And I would say that yes Labour could easily lose the next election…hard to imagine a more perverse loss…or for that matter even just scraping back into office in a run against the most unliked National leader in probably their entire history would be a humiliation…although not according to many third way Labour supporters on this forum, who seem to think that getting into power is all politics is about, at any cost, including losing the very essence of what a Labour Party should actually stand for, which bothers them not one iota.
Turn Labour Left!
Hate to think of a loss, as Nats offer little. BUT now we are seeing that we cannot believe what Labour promises to be delivered. Megan Woods "we are not reneging on any election promises" . I would suggest minister to read what you went to the election on and listen to the 2nd link.
9 MONTHS (wasted) in the making and there are hardly any answers or detail " as many as we can as quick as we can" – How does that install confidence for those wanting to enter the housing market ??
Megan Woods hasn't even done any modelling what income levels will apply, rent to buy scheme what equity will build up.
The ability of those that we are given to vote on, it appears to me that we vote on the lesser or 2 evils option.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xs755ZUCA0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWPsJnRNGvQ
@ a. thornton..
agreed..!
"Turn Labour Left"
Join the party and help them.
Turn Labour Left!
We've had lots of lefter than Labour parties here. Including some that have been in Parliament, even government. Which one would you like Labour to be more like? Socialist Aotearoa? Mana? IMP? Progressive? Alliance? Communist League?
Do you notice anything those parties all have in common?
"as it is balance sheet has no effect on surplus."
Thats correct as 'surplus' is operating expenditure not capital – such as houses.
Don't worry, Jude has offered to work with Labour to sort out this absolute cluster-f**k-of-mega-proportions (she really is a selfless, giving person) so if Labour do want to fix this mess-of-thier-own-making all they have to do is accept the olive branch and let Jude take over 🙂
Remember when Jude was writing to Twyford to get builders in her electorate lined up for Kiwibuild projects…… she seems to have forgotten 'then Jude' to 'now Jude'
I remember that Dukefurl.
Nope don't recall anything like that, sounds like fake news to me
"Housing Minister Phil Twyford has accused his Opposition counterpart of bagging KiwiBuild in one breath, then asking for it to fund developments in her electorate the next.
Judith Collins has admitted writing a letter to Mr Twyford asking about a new Papakura apartment block's eligibility for KiwiBuild, but denies that constitutes an endorsement of the Labour-led programme."
Naturally when Jude is accusing someone of lying – shes standing in front of the mirror.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/06/judith-collins-accused-phil-twyford-of-lying-about-her-kiwibuild-letter.html
She once sued Little and Mallard and yet it was resolved by her written admission they were correct.
Labour need Judith Collins skills to get Kiwi Build back on track IMHO.
um..!..no…
Has it ever occured to you that a political party could run on a manifesto that they actually believe in and will stand for no matter what the fallout might be?
Has it ever occurred to you that a political party can achieve more by remaining in power through several elections in order to make gains in more areas and consolidate gains made in previous terms?
It's a shitload easier for a new government to reverse something introduced a year or two ago that half the population is firmly against and a fair chunk of the rest think may be a step too far, compared to trying to reverse something introduced four or five years ago that's bedded in and didn't arouse quite such strong opposition to begin with.
oh..!..the incrementalist-argument..!..
what a refreshing change..!
Don't hear it much among the people you hang out with?
post-douglas neoliberal-incrementalism from clark through 'till now…
is what has got us into this unholy mess..
you seriously defend it..?
Yep. It's how you get lasting change. The other lot used it to get us here, we need to use it to go back in a better direction. Going for the glorious revolution will last exactly until the next election.
i for one am not expecting 'glorious revolution'…
i am just expecting that 'transformational'-stuff we were promised pre-election..
all in their own words….
is that too much to ask..?
If you're looking for your idea of "transformational", you're being unrealistic expecting Labour to push anywhere near as much as you would like. They are fighting for the centre voters, after all. And what looks transformational to those centre voters will look like insipid incremental centrism to you.
You'd be much better off putting your hopes and efforts into a party like the Greens – that are consciously targeted at a small part of the electorate, and try to lift them to where Greens plus Labour don't need anyone else.
+1 Andre
Even if the manifesto, when put into practise, turns out to be unrealistically optomistic?
Besides some management issues, the kiwibuild output was managable but the model of implementation turned out to be unworkable – mostly due to the partnership with developers.
I think they should have figured out a timeline for the 100k homes (split into different types – developer partnerships, new state homes, and government developments), rather than nuking the target completely. I.e. kept the plan for the number of homes but adjusted the timeline. But sticking to the timeline and the number was unworkable.
The manifesto did offer alternatives ie reduce the demand side by flattening the curve.Far more cost effective and sustainable.
In total, these changes are estimated to reduce net migration by 20,000-30,000. Without these changes there would be up to 10,000 more houses needed and up to 20,000 more vehicles on our roads annually. Our immigration system will be regularly reviewed to ensure it is functioning well.
https://www.labour.org.nz/immigration
how's that going?
@ pm..
'You're thinking people will return National to power due to its proven competence in dealing with the housing crisis, maybe?'
no…
'I'm not sure what "competence" people want to see here.'
oh..i dunno..maybe a bit more than has been displayed to date..?
and – it's all nationals' fault – and being in gummint is hard..
well that's all ok then..nothing to see here..eh..?
Well, nothing except the failure of a flagship policy, which is a pretty substantial blow to any government.
When your work involves massive high-stakes projects, your failures are very public and humiliating. But if my work experience has taught me anything, it's taught me that when people have done their best and failed you might feel like berating them for incompetence, but actually doing it isn't going to improve their productivity and it saps morale in a much wider group than the one you're addressing.
just don't feel like holding their hands – and going: 'there there – everything'll be ok – just try a bit harder next time'..
i'll leave that task to/for you – you seem to be up for it..
I hope no-one ever gives you a job in management
heh..!..that's quite clever/funny…
(and it seems so heartfelt – to boot..)
Agree, PM.. Negative feedback can make people dislike something, but it very rarely helps them to like something and feel motivated.
Labour primarily is Ideologically Driven, they have very few MP's with real life experiences IMHO ?
Really ?
And national has . Bridges was a prosecutor – a glorified public servant.
English was a treasury analyst- for a few years- before 30 years in Parliament but they worked the 'farming adjacent' thing to cover that up.
Nick Smith didnt work in his family bridge building company after graduate school , 30 years in Parliament.
Paula's background started with the Napier Tattoo Club and the Stag Truck stop but found it too hard and stayed on the DPB. Newspapers have lawyers letters from PB telling them not to get the time lines for above 3 mixed up.
McClay worked as chief of staff for some UK EU poobah.
Goldsmith has been in beehive or MPs/Ministers offices much like Bishop , Kaye and Willis
"real life experiences"
So, their MPs have fake life experiences? What would that consist of?
IMHO? I would emphasise the H for that one.
The government doesn't have to borrow large sums of money for KiwiBuild, or what ever the fuck they call it now.
The government can create whatever capital it needs. I believe they call it Quantitative Easing these days.
I dont think there is a single person reading that who thinks you know better in any shape or form
"listening to housing minister megan wood on rnz."
trying to think of ways out of this mess:
i think that kiwibuild needs to be identified for what it is:
middle-class welfare..
in no way is it designed to help those who need it the most..
and so as a concept should be canned..
and as corin dann asked megan wood this morning:(i paraphrase..)
'why doesn't labour return to its' knitting – and forget about being in the market – and focus on building state houses..?'
to which i can only say 'hear..!..hear..!'..
and would also mention again how post ww2 10,000 houses a year were built..(surely there must be historians/theses knowing the mechanics of how that was done – surely it would e of value to at least look there..?..)
my understanding is that some 1,500 state houses have been built – and that is good..but it almost seems like it is something labour is ashamed of – they have sold that fact/success so poorly – it must be deliberate – and i see it as part of labour pandering to that tory swing-voter and trying not to offend..
so like corin dann sez – labour should proudly commit to house the homeless/poor – and to go full tilt into state house building..(and not gimcrack-hovels..!)
the rent-to-buy/shared-equity ideas look good – on the surface – the devil will be in the detail/criterea..(fingers still crossed there..)
i also feel the obvious moves are into pre-built etc..
and why not a mortgage-fund where those who want to – can present concepts of alternative/much-cheaper buildings – and get funding for them..?
(and of course councils need to be made to toe that line – their arbitrary/subjective bullshit has to be swept away…)
oh dear..!..megan woods just confirming that shared-equity will be for people earning over $87,000…
they have learnt sweet fuck all from their epic failure…
and once again – those who need it the most – can just go rot…
hang yr fucken heads..!..labour supporters..
how the fuck can you defend that..?
Duke will be along any minute now to do just that
is that 87K household or individual income?
household…
the point being that is still 'a joke' – as far as those who need such a scheme are concerned..
i.e. the poor can just continue to rot..under this labour government..
2 x minimum wage (40 hours pw) is 73k…87k aint far off
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/98194980/small-businesses-may-struggle-to-pay-higher-minimum-wage-businessnz
Are you rotting under this labour government?
I wonder … actually 2 things. One, why Chris Trotter argued against a Left coalition this time? That is a story I haven't been able to understand.
Two, why is most commenting on Open Mike done before the evening? Seems as unnatural as vampires in sunlight to me. Hoary with the glory of dawn's bracing air? Relaxing contemplative does best after the day's activity, he proposes.
Kiwibuild houses in Wanaka too… ffs what were they thinking… apart from dishing out lollies to the elite.
Shame no one told them it wasn't going to work…🤣
I don't think there has ever been a more predictable failure of any government policy.
Everyone other than Labour, and some of the media who failed to critically review the policy, knew it would never fly.
National can rightly say, "told you so" now
Which of Nationals 'increase the supply' policies do you want to citique
Remember when Nick Smith went around various ' sites' in Auckland saying they are public owned and houses can go there. How many houses did go there.
Remember the Special Housing Areas, how many extra low cost houses did that build.
Guess who at the last election promised 'more more more' houses.
+1 Dukeofurl. The Ihumātao dispute is a result of the National government's SHA's.
There are more more more houses. We are in the middle of a construction boom.
The point is Kiwibuild was doomed for failure as predicted by everyone other than Labour.
Three little letters
S H A
How did that go……not
I think you are arguing with yourself.
Not sure why you are rabbtting on about the previous government. They failed and we kicked them out of office.
Because too many still believe and parrot their talking points
No-one here is and certainly not me.
You can support the left and still be critical of this government. I am not all of a sudden going to break the habit of a lifetime and begin voting for National.
At the same time, I am not going to pretend that noting is wrong with this government. They made bold statements and promises in 2017 and should be held to account against what they were voted in on.
Simply saying 'but at least we tried' isn't good enough. That just encourages future politicians to make grand unrealistic promises without ever having to deliver on them
it could quite possibly have 'flown' if done correctly –
remembering that post ww2 10,000 houses a yr were built..
(and that was before nail-guns were invented – every nail hammered in using a hammer..)
whereas this clown-clusterfuck can't come within a bulls' roar of that number – (nail-guns notwithstanding)..
Is that your extent of your knowledge, a hammer hand from 1960
build time for the average 3 bedroom house up until the 90s was 12 weeks…care to compare that with today?
you just like flinging insults..eh..?
that's all ya got…?
carry on..!
and with that in mind – i’ll treat your drivel with the contempt it deserves..eh..?
Every community has a range of people living there in terms of wealth. The elite of Wanaka still need workers, teachers, clerical staff etc etc.
I'd venture to say that affordable housing is more difficult to find in wealthy communities than in poorer communities.
+1 mac1
The elite will happily make do with third world workers who can sleep under bridges for all they care.
When what suits is presented to you at waist level it's hard to refuse.
Everyone needs a ski chalet
the poor ski..?…don't they..?
they really just want some servants quarters' – in wanaka..
and the middle-class find it very difficult to get good help while on their ski-hols..
how about showing them a bit of sympathy..?
I was mocking kiwi build for building the wrong type of houses in the wrong area. They may well end up as holiday homes for the wealthy.
yes i know you were..
as was i…
Does anyone have the expertise to comment on whether it is proper that the prosecutor of a case which has been "resolved" then contacts media themselves and more or less tries to publicly "relitigate" an outcome he had agreed to.
I am aware that not all is always as it seems, but now that more details of whatever occurred have been published it appears that normally such a case would not have made news or headlines without the "political" interest, that interest in fact should have no bearing on the case or its outcome.
What would be the motivation for the prosecutor himself in contacting the media and does anyone know if this is "proper"?
"But, despite the plea deal, prosecutor David Johnstone wished to outline the Crown's position in an email to the Herald and other journalists who covered the trial.
It was in response to an earlier media statement by the accused's lawyer Emma Priest."
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12264837
Reading the article, I guess the prosecutor was left little alternative, after the defence lawyer had already approached the media with inflammatory and incorrect claims.
Of more interest, why does the guilty party still have name suppression? Very unusual, something usually reserved for All Blacks and other Neanderthals. Must be some politicians son eh.
I nearly mentioned the defendant's solicitor speaking to media but it looked clear that media asked for comment and got it, I'm not sure why they didn't ask for comment from the prosecutor's office he could have made a comment that was relevant to the case and the outcome in an immediate manner not in hindsight.
½ of NZ could tell you which politicians son, there have been "interesting" cases that are not specific to "All Blacks and other Neanderthals", the case may well be that they are all Neanderthals.
Anyway do you think this case would be in the media if it hadn't been a "politician's" son?
"approached the media with inflammatory and incorrect claims."
The accused was offered and pleaded to 2 x assault charges. ( the crimes have same
The sexual assault charges where all withdrawn, so that is saying there was no sexual assault as alleged by the Crown. Exactly as the lawyer claimed during ( and before ?) the trial.
I am female and over 60, not that has any bearing other than I have children and grandchildren because I am, and now they are, aware of what happens in certain settings it is my certain view that had it not been able to be made political no one would have been even aware of what happened.
How many times in people's lives has this sort of thing happened it is not excusable but it is the reality of out of control drunken behaviour, whoever his parents are they are probably really glad he was not in charge of a vehicle.
That aside is this the same sort of "fair" trial that one of his peers would have had and is the prosecutor allowed to contact media the way he did?
Yes and no.
Plea deals are a sad but important part of the process. The greatly lower the workload of the justice system. And yes, one is legally "innocent until proven guilty". But that doesn't mean there was no sexual assault (legally the complaint still was made), nor does it mean the guy is the victim his lawyer is making him out to be.
Lower the workload ?
This was in the middle of a jury trial. thats a fanciful claim about lowering workload. It happens the other way too…multiple charges are 'pre-loaded' to makes the crime stats look good when a single charge will do.
Lawyer I was talking to a few years back reckoned something like 80% of cases were plea agreements.
Sure, they left it late in this case, but it probably saved a few days off the schedule.
Weak case , to throw in the towel by the Crown in middle of trial, after most of the witnesses called. Were the crown afraid the judge might dismiss the case , after application by the defence , before the jury retired ?
I wouldnt say I was a habitue of the courts, but isnt it the defendants who are finally convinced by their lawyers to plead guilty to trial charges
No case is 100%. Jury trials can be unpredictable. Sexual assault trials are also notoriously difficult to prosecute.
So the prosecution risk the guy walking away. The guy risks getting a sexual assault conviction. So prosecution and defence find a happy medium of the charges that are mild enough for him to wear but are at least some measure of punishment for the prosecution.
It's not ideal, but then ideally people wouldn't assault other people, sexually or otherwise.
You must live in a cave Duke, McFlock is 100% correct.
You only have to be on jury service at a busy court to see all the "horse trading"
So when was the last time the Crown took the defendants offer to settle in the middle of a jury trial. There is no saving of lawyers time and court time at that stage.
The defence opening statement was 'this isnt a sexual assault' case.
Yes I have been called for jury duty , and yes they have a second case line up if the first case settles on the 'step of the court'.
This is practically a settlement just before the judge instructs the jury .
The only possible later time is before the jury returns
Except the jury is immediately dismissed and zero witnesses are called to argue the case cbecause the charges either have guilty pleas or withdrawals.
Middle of the road enough probably to think "there but for the grace of . . ." on both sides of the offending behaviour and/or you let them out of you sight for five mins. There few things more reckless and sad than a young male trying to make an impression or fit in especially when drunk, something that probably needed to be in court, especially one of public opinion, is how they got access to alcohol – or was the person of age – without supervision around the younger ones.
The accused was a guest at the camp.So what makes you think he's a politician's son?
Because he has pleaded guilty and still has name suppression. The establishment, whether National, Labour or other, ALWAYS protects ts it's own. Besides, I think by now most know the identity.
True, five minutes on google will tell you who his mother is.
Wasnt a member of Young labour at all….and friend of a friend it seems.
Not even close, Try son of an MP
That could be anyone.
Well I don't Peter. Can you give me a clue?
I dont know, can you be more specific?
Here are a couple of good pieces on Sanders (or maybe we should just say The Progressive Left) vs corporate media…
Bernie Sanders Is Coming to American Journalism's Rescue
https://www.truthdig.com/articles/bernie-sanders-is-coming-to-american-journalisms-rescue/
Corporate Media Bias Against Sanders Is Structural, Not a Conspiracy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ss7tjLZKdMQ&t=736s
Ms Southern is/was a significant contributor to Levant's hate rag, too.
A formal criminal complaint for hate propaganda has been filed with the Ottawa Police Service against the Canadian Islamophobic news outlet Rebel News Network Ltd., and its directors Ezra Levant, Hamish Marshall and Hannah Vanderkooy, as well as former Rebel News presenter Faith Bazos (aka Faith Goldy).
[…]
The complaint alleges Rebel News Network have breached s. 319(2) of the Canadian Criminal Code by wilfully promoting hatred of the Muslim community through hate propaganda published through the Rebel News Network website and Youtube channel.
While not formally named as there is no evidence any of his activities took place in Canada, the complaint relies heavily on content created by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (aka Tommy Robinson) as evidence of them disseminating xenophobic anti-Muslim content. Videos produced by Faith Goldy are also highlighted in the complaint.
https://www.hopenothate.org.uk/2019/09/03/formal-criminal-complaint-made-against-rebel-media-for-hate-propaganda/
Barking.
Well she claims she's not crazy so I guess she isn't.
She'd fit right in here in Titirangi.
You have quantum physicists in Titirangi ?
I'm confident we've got plenty that think they fully understand quantum physics. And string theory. And how those explain the interconnectedness of cosmic consciousnesses.
She cant lose . If it turns away she was right if it doesn't its because not enough believers tried.
Riligon is good that way.
The liar extraordinaire falsifies and over simplifies an outdated weather map for Hurricane Dorian. Can't even tell the truth about a weather event:
https://www.newsandguts.com/video/hurricane-map-displayed-in-oval-office-was-altered-to-include-alabama/
What's the problem? That wobbly lump drawn with a black marker pen is totes believable.
Tough when you have to use last week's forecasted track to make it work.
But how many MAGAmorons would know that?
TBF, it takes a MAGAmoron to break the law with a weather forecast.
Amazing how the computer generated forecast from Thu – as shown above- essentially was as wrong as Trump as they had the centre 5 days later in middle of Florida.
and his answers are exactly like how his brain works – all over the place, repetitive, vainglorious – he's like a mirror to the monster in us all.
https://play.stuff.co.nz/details/_6083525676001
Maybe it's not so obvious to everyone what he has drawn there, squint your eyes a little and it all becomes clear… (or maybe just a load of bollocks, if you know what I mean).
Another day. Another weather map. Another box of coloured marker pens.
https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2019/09/donald-trump-goes-full-queeg-over-alabama/
Unbelievable!
You can see what the world's No 1 Ignoramus originally did. He placed a ruler on the last two tracking points of the original map (not coloured in white to denote a possible track only) and figured the "hurricane" was going to end up in Alabama.
Note: hurricane in inverted commas because by then it would have been no more than a depression which still might have brought rain to the south east of Alabama but no hurricane.
Every now and then, shit like this must make some of the less-dim MAGAmorons clue in to the fact Donnie Dimbulb thinks they're all idiots. I really wonder what goes through their heads at that moment of realisation.
It's still going …
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-ninth-alabama-tweet-error-twitter_n_5d7190dde4b0fd4168e7da5f
As someone who years ago manually drew weather maps (automated now), that second map looks like something from another planet in another dimension. Very funny though.
Who in their right mind would spend an hour scribbling in lots n' lots of squiggly lines that represent nothing but… lots n' lots of squiggly lines? POTUS. America is toast.
The Combover Con will stiff you every time. Even when you're a loyal but vulnerable Repug Senator from a swing state who's up for re-election next year.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-border-wall-military-funds-senators_n_5d6fff9ce4b0cdfe0579f881
Old mobster habits never die.
I thought Megan Woods came across pretty well in the interview with Mike Hosking regarding the kiwi build reset. In fact, she interviews a hell of a lot better than Jacinda does on Tuesday mornings.
Lord Kerslake at 1:45 on today's goings on.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_five_live
The canaries are trying to tell us something.
VANCOUVER—Fisheries Minister Jonathan Wilkinson announced a further $2.7 million investment in salmon conservation projects, after government officials confirmed Thursday morning that salmon stocks across British Columbia are returning in concerningly low numbers.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, also known as DFO, had previously forecast that 4,795,000 sockeye salmon would return to the Fraser River this year.
As the run starts, that number has been adjusted to 628,000 — just 13 per cent of that original forecast. The state of sockeye salmon is now so dire that some populations “face an imminent threat of extinction,” according to DFO.
https://www.thestar.com/vancouver/2019/08/22/48-million-sockeye-salmon-were-expected-at-bcs-fraser-river-but-just-628000-showed-up.html
Police Destroy Evidence From Pike River Mine ?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/115559773/police-say-pike-river-evidence-destroyed-in-2015-held-no-value-but-families-want-answers
This brings back memories of Robert Muldoon and the police activities destroying evidence from The Erebus Crash ?
Hopefully the wet behind the ears Andrew Little from the Labour Party will address this situation in a Royal Commission of Enquiry as Pike River is a Homicide Crime Scene ?
If it is a homicide crime scene, it became so under a National Government whose PM made a solemn promise to get the bodies out, then changed his mind…
The art of the possible aside, reality says we need a commanding demo-cratist government in control. The whole bloody lesson of the rich's takeover of government in the early 80s from Keynesian social-democracy. Yet reality also says that 's not possible — division of needed ends and impossible(?) means.