James’ I know what it is like to be in receipt of a smile and wave of an august personage. When I was young I got a wave from the Queen all to myself as I trudged alone up the road on my paper run and she and the Duke motored past to their next engagement.
Tell us your story of when John Key (Sir KCMGABCDand BAR) similarly looked at you and conveyed his magic influence that has inspired you ever since to be a great and better person eager to make NZ and yourself great again?
I had completely forgotten him until this morning. Such was the scale of his achievements. The temporary unpleasantness of being reminded he existed will rapidly fade
We’re bitter about the reality of the damage that John Key and National have done to NZ to make a few pathetic and psychopathic people richer.
The fact that you think he was a ‘fantastic PM’ just makes you one of the gullible authoritarian followers that is the hallmark of National Party voters.
Or is being responsible for overseeing increasing poverty, increasing environmental destruction and an increasing inequality gap now considered a service?
Most frustrating. Up at 4:30. Make a nice flat white on the coffee machine. Turn on the fire and the lights – then the blinking americas cup racing get delayed due to lack of wind. Grrrrr.
Nah – cave-men light a fire. (with twigs then increasingly bigger bits) People who “turn on a fire” are soft ACT voters who like to boast of their imagined self-reliance.
James, enjoy the day off work, weather is not too bad to watch sport all day.
But if you are interested, there are many various art exhibitions on. Look up the site http://www.eventfinda.co.nz/exhibitions/events
I am sure you will be enthralled 😉
I wonder if it is possible to sponsor a private bill through parliament undoing the return of knighthoods and backdating it to 2008 – so we don’t reward plonkers for fucking the country?
Yep, I was expecting Key but discovering Julie Christie had been made a Dame made me want to throw up. She is a greedy, vindictive, nasty person through and through.
Francis McRae @FrankMcRae 2h2 hours ago
“Julie Christie trash tv peddler is a notorious work place bully who delights in destroying people’s careers. Today she received an honour”
It is a insult to all of New Zealand, imagine a country where someone with the depth of humanity like Helen Kelly is not honored in any way..yet a vacuous reality star is…is that the level we are at…really?
Very good. I like the bit about Labour understands that Britain only works if working people are ok. I don’t get the reaction I do with NZ Labour when they focus on work, because I know that Corbyn’s Labour really do mean to work for the wellbeing of everyone, whereas NZ Labour are still prevaricating about the beneficiaries and others seen as lesser than hard working Kiwis (as if beneficiaries don’t work hard). I think Little wants to run the country for everyone, but I don’t think NZ Labour are there yet. Those videos show the difference.
Maybe you should do a bit more research on the UK Labour Party and the criticisms of their policies for those on low incomes before you make use them to attack the NZ Labour Party.
btw, I’m not attack NZ Labour, I’m critiquing one aspect of what they are doing. I like what Labour are doing here generally, although I’d prefer to see them going further left at some point. I just think that the ‘don’t talk about the benes’ thing is still a huge problem (one they share with the Greens).
It seemed to me that instead of just saying what great ads (as they are) you were using to opportunity to slag off NZ Labour without doing any research to back your claims up. Corbyn is great but his voice is still a minority one in the British Labour caucus. Hopefully, if they do manage to pull off a win, his hand will be strengthened.
I’m not sure what you see as my beliefs about Labour, but I spent a lot of time last year pushing back against Labour bashing on TS. I already think that Labour is moving left, and my comments of late haven’t been suggesting otherwise.
In this instance, I think it’s still a valid view that UK Labour are going to be better for beneficiaries than NZ Labour. I’m also open to Little proving me wrong. The problem is that I’ve seen things improve for beneficiaries under Clark’s Labour but they also did some really shitty stuff to beneficiaries. I don’t expect Little’s Labour to do the shitty stuff (I believe him when he hints at doing well by everyone), but until they are in a position to speak up for beneficiaries, I don’t expect there to be much improvement for the non-working poor. Not no improvement, but probably not enough to redress the shit that’s gone down both structurally and within the culture. So I notice how NZ Labour won’t talk about beneficiaries, but UK Labour will and for me that makes a huge difference.
I appreciate your comments on commenting on Labour, and I am thinking through how I am commenting myself, more so about how to critique constructively rather than stopping critiquing at all.
I don’t think you should stop critiquing at all, but IMO your comment came across as both ill-informed about the British Labour Party and an unnecessary attack on the NZ Labour Party that was based on a general impression that was not not backed up by any examples from current direction and policies.
For me, Clark government’s two major failings were the S & F legislation and not reversing the benefit cuts. There were some improvements made for beneficiaries but they were not adequate.
Unfortunately beneficiaries have been demonised in the media for so long now that it would take a very brave party to say, in an election year, that they will increase increase benefits substantially. Do I wish they were braver? Absolutely. If they were in a stronger position then they may take more risks, but they are not in a strong position currently.
I believe that the majority of probable Labour MPs do want to increase benefits and change the WINZ culture, and if they don’t then I will be campaigning to change their minds.
The other major things Clark’s govt did re beneficiaries was to scrap Special Benefit and to exclude non-working beneficiaries from WFF. So it wasn’t just a failure to reverse something National did, it was actual benefit cuts of their own and building financial and cultural prejudice into the structure of welfare.
I feel better informed from your links, but I still feel there are important differences between the two parties that is worth commenting on. I’m not sure about most NZ Labour MPs wanting to do right by beneficiaries, but hope you are right and certainly with people like Shearer no longer there it seems more possible. I agree about the difficult position Labour is in (and have mostly been arguing this for a long time).
Shearer had the awful Paganis as his advisors. They are well gone.
There are only also 4 from the Clark government era standing this year: Ruth Dyson, Nanaia Mahuta, David Parker and Trevor Mallard. If Mallard does scrape in (he is well down on the list) then he will be speaker so have no influence on policy.
Unfortunately, although she suggests: “Just some brilliant stuff coming out of Team Corbyn this week” ……. dare I say it ……. two of the vids are from the 2015 General Election Campaign, when Corby was still in short trousers, politically-speaking ……. (specifically the Steve Coogan and Martin Freeman ads)
As a mild political junkie I am thoroughly enjoying all the machinations between the Trump White House and the Russian government. And the results of all the investigations will be thrilling politics.
But.
Those Labour 2017 adverts Boots Theory has collected is a good reminder that maybe the Democrats are focusing too much on historical issues and not on the actual stuff that will give people something positive to think about the Democratic Party.
I have to respect Corbyn for putting on a terrific campaign that’s really rallying hearts and minds.
Maybe Corbyn should just take a breath while the investigations roll on, and leave Trump to his own sky-falling flame-ball of orange shit. Maybe I’ve enjoyed Trump too much, for the same reasons I like James Bond movies: action, hot girls, cold-war rhetorical worlds, and perpetual intrigue. But together with the super-cycled media, the media and the investigations can be comfortably left to get on with joining Trump in that great sky-falling flame-ball of orange shit.
The adverts UK Labour have done show me it’s not that hard to see fresh political reality. To get to the why of politics. What is Labour’s why?
…the Democrats are focusing too much on historical issues…
???
The Democratic National Committee has been pushing its hypocritical “Russian meddling” line, which nobody outside of the Clintons and their small clique of diehard admirers cares about.
Such calls look at politics as a game in which one less valued policy can be traded away for a ministerial role, where politics can be modelled, sculpted, and scenarios of the perfect parliament simulated as if it were a computer game. Intricate coalition negotiations! Data driven policy formulation! Political junkies love it, and many love the idea of a smart, new, technocratic centrist party of government. Could the Greens not occupy that space?
The reason why they couldn’t is about the people that actually elect governments.
Like it or not, they are about purism over politics.
That purism over politics would suggest they couldn’t negotiate with Labour or NZ First either. You can’t get away from politics – negotiationism and pragmatism – in politics.
To borrow one of their favourite words, the only sustainable option for the Greens is to simply continue doing what they’re doing. Keep growing slowly, keep the base happy, keep winning the odd skirmish from opposition.
Green MPs may not get a chance to ride in ministerial limos this time around, or even the next. But if they are careful, by the time they do get there, they’ll be big enough to actually wield power. Only then will the party be able to survive government.
That sounds like they are virtually conceding this election, and any election until they get into power without having to negotiate their policies politically.
It’s almost as if they fear what will happen to the party if they get into government.
With this approach it’s unlikely the Greens will ever be big enough to actually wield power.
Perhaps if Labour+Greens get enough votes to put together a viable coalition the attraction of power will override Green purism, but they won’t help their chances if they appear to fear what will happen if they get there.
The Greens are never going to achieve anything until they work out how MMP operates,
MMP is all about negotiation, bartering, trading etc, does this deluded little minor party think Labour and NZ First are just going to be there to rubber stamp all their policies? that the next government is going to be a green government only?
BM
This 3 day break from norm has given you time to recharge your batteries.
Now you can batter the Greens severely with your virtual brain from the game where you build communities and political parties and direct them at your will.
Luckily the real ones will survive and find ways to connect to those people who still have a thinking brain and don’t operate out of an amygdala that flashes on and off like a traffic light, changing standards, methods and values in the direction of the perceived flow of major traffic.
If the right track is achieving nothing but providing Turei and the rest of the Green MPs a salary miles above their true paygrade, then yes they’re on the right track.
We never get this ‘purity critique’ about the Maori Party, Act, or United Future, because they are happy to go into coalition with National.
But the right-hand side of New Zealand politics has zero fresh ideas.
It’s not up to me to determine whether it’s time for fresh ideas – the electorate will.
But the real surprise when they do get into government is that their ideas will appear fresh and clear and real.
Don’t you worry Pete – they’ll be worth waiting for.
Labour doesn’t get associated with purism either, in fact I see a lot of complaints here about their lack of it.
Greens can’t maintain purism in a coalition with Labour. They will be lucky to be given a significant role by Labour, who seem to view the Greens like they view their Moari support, a one way street.
I am sure you are aware Pete, the Greens are not required to go into power with anyone.
I have never got a sense from the Greens that they aspire to power.
If they come to acceptable coalition terms with Labour, great.
If they don’t, Labour is more the loser.
The Greens just need to keep on doing precisely what they are doing.
They are solid for 10%, not much more.
They are designed to be pure.
There is no need for them to change that brand at all.
The reaction to their vote with National will have told them that, loud and clear.
This is a telling argument for making the change and voting to get Labour on the road again. The old vehicle needs a push, it may have to be cranked but by God we can do it if we have half the passion and persistence and ideals of old Harry!
Labour’s message in 1945 was a bold declaration that society must be about fair play, decency, merit and compassion to those who are less fortunate than ourselves.
It is why on June 8th, you have to rise up and be counted because you are worth more than flat wages. You are worth more than eternal austerity. You are worth more than hard Brexit. You are worth more than student debt and zero hour contracts. You are worth more than the greed of the 1% and the incompetence of the Tories.
Within you is the blood of your grandparents and great grandparents that sacrificed their lives on the battle fields of Europe and Asia. Within you is the DNA of all your ancestors who fought for the rights of women to vote. Within you is the echo of all those who battled for their right to an NHS that provided health care to all not just the well to do.
Within you is the spark to become the greatest generation of the 21st century. So, I ask you as a very old man who has seen Britain at its worst and greatest to stand strong and send the Tories Packing because you deserve a future that has hope, prosperity and purpose.
Christ, I had visions of my late grandmother saying almost the same thing to me just before 91 elections while I job hunting in Nelson and now wished I had taped it among other things like singing the old workers songs etc. My grandmother was hard core labour to the day she died and she was never scared to say anything about any tropic incl LGBT issues. As one person from the LGBT branch found out to their discomfort after a lecture from her on LGBT rights and had the nerve to ask who was Noel Pearson then she went off belt feed mortar again.
BTW for those don’t know who Noel Pearson was? He was primary school treacher in Blackball during the 30- 40’s who was a gay, because of his sexuality he given refuge by my great grandparents and like him were follow socialists. Noel Pearson wrote a book called ” Coal Flat” which is based around grandmothers family in Blackball. Because of Noel’s sexuality and the way he was treated by members of the Blackball community and also no doubtly being associated with my great grandparents he got transferred out of Blackball through my great grandparents contacts within Labour Party at the time.
Hi I found copies of Coal Flat on Trademe. I’ll see if I can get an affordable one, let you know when I do if you would like to read it again. Might have it in stack at library too.
Dear ma’am or sir, thank you for kind offer on a copy of Coal Flat. I believe my parents got a copy while they were waiting for the ferry in Picton as my father had renew his Australian passport last month. I’m hoping to re read it again when I get back to warm sunny Darwin in a couple of weeks.
This Government bill that steals a valued public reserve for non-affordable housing speaks volumes as to how this government thinks and acts. Surely all the other parties will vote it down in parliament? Or will the useless Maori Party screw this up too?
The Auckland Plan now permits massively denser housing development in many zones-that should be the priority.
Meanwhile the Special Housing Area along Ladies Mile at the entrance to Queenstown rammed through by Nick Smith and the QLDC to satisfy developer mates (when in fact there is plenty of other land zoned for residential use) is now causing ructions. Read it in the ODT here:
Nature issues statement saying climate change cannot be negotiated with
Your header is precisely accurate!
CC is now beyond human amelioration. In other words it’s doing its own thing and is accelerating. We are not invited to a negotiating table to protest this fact.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
[for future reference, I consider lines of “it’s too late” to be a form of climate change denial. I don’t allow denialist lines to be run under my posts. If this bothers you, I suggest you read the Policy – weka]
I worked in Russia for a short period some years back. Absolutely fascinating experience and I’ve very loosely followed Putin with some interest ever since. When you live and work with people for even a short while it becomes very hard to see them as enemies.
And it also gives a glimpse into their different history and how their viewpoints are shaped. From that perspective Putin is by far the very best leader the Russians have had since probably Catherine the Great.
Absolutely he’s no great left wing socialist reformer, he doesn’t lead a government of angels. Judged by our western ideals he’s no hero; but then again how well do we measure up either?
Yet he’s unquestionably a very intelligent and connected leader very much in touch with the huge nation he leads. He remains very popular with ordinary Russians, and over the past almost 20 years he has transformed an economy that was utterly crippled at the turn of the century into a reasonably modern and thriving place.
For instance the city I was working in which looked like the administration wing of a monstrous gulag at the time, when I look at on google maps now , I barely recognise the street views. Huge reconstruction and modernisation everywhere. Rows of the old soviet apartment blocks I stayed in are gone, replaced by modern attractive buildings and parks.
We like to demonise Putin as some kind of Uncle Joe-lite; remote and imperious, issuing death orders from behind some impenetrable Kremlin desk. Yet the truth is he’s a remarkably accessible and transparent leader; long in the habit of giving long form interviews and remarkably forthright statements that address issues thoughtfully and in depth.
Just a little item from Brit as I looked up latest news.
A wildflower centre with building and cafe, promoting flower growing, seeds, interest in gardening had found costs too high and had to close. Another centre had taken an interest but hadn’t been able to pick up the task, and six months later it is unused and being vandalised.
“The Court Hey Park attraction closed in January despite two petitions to save it attracting thousands of signatures between them.”
The Cornwall based famous Eden Project had made a bid to keep it open but it wasn’t successful. It had been open since 2001, and possibly needed some new ideas. There was a comment made that the local bus wouldn’t provide a bus service so presumably that limited the number of visitors.
My comment is that it takes a lot of effort and thought starting up what are useful community facilities and that investment in time and charitable or government funds is just thrown away as being without value if the support is not continued, and not aided with some business mentor advice. Some things are worth having as beneficial in themselves, in this case for encouraging gardening and biodiversity and probably flowers which are used by bees and are untainted by insecticides.)
Sport can be funded, and gardening is important too. Perhaps it needed excitement, interest, competition – growing the biggest, flower fights, a day to create flower pictures with judging in the afternoon and prizes?
A few commenters, sounding young asked where the lottery money had gone, and that it should be pulled down.
(I have noticed lately that many young adults seem quite separated from community, and working for something beyond immediate gratification and instead for services or attractions beyond their interests.) http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/vandalised-neglected-shocking-state-huytons-13136843
“Can bullying behaviour be eliminated from our schools? Probably not, people being what they are. But, with the right culture, schools can make it very hard for bullying to flourish.”
The extent of the problem is measured by how bullying in schools is seen to be a dilemma yet bullying ON schools is accepted. Whether the levels of that will lessen with Hekia Parata gone remains to be seen but Nikki Kaye has been inculcated into a system in which bullying is de rigueur. Angela Fitchett, the author of the piece, refers to the lip-service paid to safe environments in Ministry of Education policies.
While the focus of her article is on different aspects of bullying, Ministry and Ministerial bullying has to be acknowledged and the irony of them expecting schools to deal with bullying in their realm.
I have a relation who tries to bring out the best in the kids she has at primary fairly low decile, but she doesn’t stand for much rubbish. And she reports as they are, not as it is convenient for the school and parents. She has a couple of children who know their parents can be relied on to come down and chew her ear off if the kids complain about her. She heard them one day planning to make up a story about her to get her sacked. She cares about the children, they do a wide range of things, and she has mostly successes.
She has to put up with bullying from some of the children, and manage that. Also
bullying from some of the parents and stand firm against that. And bullying from the sometimes management oriented principal and deputy principal who are trying to get all their boxes ticked off, and wonder why she gives low marks for reading compared to those carried forward from last year, given in desperation.
A teacher’s life is not a happy one when ruled by industrial-plan government, with their targets. So many fish fingers pass along within a set time, and get packed into the same-sized boxes no matter what their shape, readiness or attributes. Not time to bring out the inner genius or lurking enthusiasm under the neolibs.
Closing of borders
Saudi Arabia has closed air, land and sea borders with Qatar. The UAE, Bahrain and Egypt have closed both air and sea borders with Qatar. Also, the Arab coalition has said it has suspended Qatar’s participation in all efforts to restore legitimacy in Yemen.
The coalition said it severed all ties with Qatar given the latter’s dealings with militias and its support of al-Qaeda and ISIS as reasons behind the decision, a statement read.
Doha has long faced accusations that it is a state sponsor of terror. Qatari individuals have been sanctioned by the US Treasury for terror-financing activities.
It was also criticized for providing a sanctuary to former Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal, who earlier this month used his Doha base — where he has lived in exile for several years — to launch a new policy document.
The Afghan Taliban opened an office in Doha in 2013.
I know little of macro finance, I’m flat out keeping fuel up to my outboard and the lights glowing.
As I understand it governments with a rating like ours can access money at a pretty handy rate.
Currently our home buyers are depositing billions with companies that have their primary ownership in Australia.
This might be a really dumb question but wouldn’t our country be a whole lot better off if we said “Sure you can have a mortgage, the great news is that you get an ace rate through Kiwibank and that’s the only option. Mortgage profit steered back into NZ.
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My sister Belinda asked Dad yesterday what one word would describe Mum best. He said: vivacious.If you only knew her from the photos on the slideshow we've made for today,you might wonder about that, because the camera tended to lie with Mum.If ever she saw a camera pointed at her, she ...
There are two major public consultations closing in the next week, Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP), and the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). Closing dates and times: LTP closes Thursday 28 February, at 11.59pm – a minute to midnight! GPS closes Tuesday 2 April, at 12pm noon – note that’s ...
From Kiwiblog’s David Farrar – Bryce Wilkinson writes: Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson’s analysis reveals that since March 2009, New Zealand has spent $158 billion more overseas than it has earned, but its NIIP has only fallen by $32 billion.Statistics New Zealand shows that receipts from overseas reinsurers have ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition? Brian Easton writes – The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could ...
Dear Nicola Willis,Right now you’ve probably got lots of competing demands coming at you. Ministers who’ve inherited quite a mess, or so you’ve told us, looking for money in the budget to improve things. I imagine that’s why they came to parliament - to make things better.You’ll have to make ...
The Local Government, Transport and Auckland Minister hasthreatened councils with intervention if they don’t merge water assets to take them off balance sheet, just as the now-repealed Three Waters plan directed. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things of note this morning for Monday, March 25 include:Simeon ...
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 17, 2024 thru Sat, March 23, 2024. Story of the week Thanks to John Mason having the stamina to sit down to watch "Climate - the Movie" ...
This morning the Q&A programme had Simeon Brown on to talk about National’s replacement for Three Waters. In case anyone’s forgotten the three are - drinking water, waste water, and sewerage. It’s quite important not to get them mixed up. In much the same way that you wouldn’t want to ...
Today’s newsletter comes with a mini-podcast conversation between me and my buddy Liv Tennet, talking about her time as a child actor in Lord of the Rings. It’s a conversation with a lot of giggles as she talks about falling off a horse, and becoming a meme. Read ...
The Desmog Climate Disinformation Database documents, "individuals and organisations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming." It's a who's who of the organised climate change denial movement, in other words. In ...
Bob Edlin writes – A High Court judge has decided miscreants who have mana – or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none. It’s a ruling that suggests indigenous law-breakers have a better chance of securing a discharge without conviction ...
Welcome to the first, and possibly last, edition of Brickbats, Bouquets and Bull’s Wool. In which I’ll take a look at the events of the last week or so, and rate them.In such ratings the numbers usually have more to do with the opinions of the reviewer, than the actual ...
Roger Partridge writes – My earlier column this month, New Zealand’s highest court could be facing a turning point, prompted a flood of feedback from business readers and lawyers alike. A common query was what Parliament can do to restrain an overreaching judiciary. This week I discuss two steps Parliament ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.16pm on Friday, March 22: writes about New Zealand's Building Boom—And What the World Must Learn From It over at his substack. challenges the Auckland Council’s use of a 3.8 degrees of warming forecast to oppose a wave-park and data centre project ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition?The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could deliver her promised income tax cuts. Appointed minister, she ...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers of the Crown have drawn attention to one sector of the science sector which is unlikely to be subjected to heavy spending cuts, a state-funded broadcaster which is doing nicely, thank you, and a sporting event that had $5.4 million from the public purse puffed ...
Abbott’s Freestyle Libre sensors allow continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The sensor is applied to the back of the patient’s arm, with a thin filament under the skin measuring glucose levels constantly. But it costs around $100 per sensor and must be replaced once every 14 days. Photo by BSIP/Universal Images ...
The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) recently released a report in which he exposes the existence of a foreign intelligence partner-controlled technological “capability” inside the headquarters of the GCSB, NZ’s 5 Eyes-affiliated signals intelligence collection and analysis agency. … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – Nearly three decades after the introduction of MMP and multiparty governments there should be a greater level of understanding about their finer points than often appears to be the case. The reaction to the despicable outburst from the Deputy Prime Minister at the weekend highlights ...
The sweet kisses from fruit of summerHave slowly been turning dullerYou say, "those times"And "remember the daysWhen we went outside and there still was the shade?"Taking no reason into play…Autumn. Clear, blue days shortening to longer nights, growing colder. Aotearoa.That’s us. The temperature dropping, the looming car crash - so ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April ...
David Farrar writes – The Electoral Commission has published the expense returns for political parties for the 2023 election. I’ve put them in a table with how many votes a party got so we can see the spend per vote. National only spent $3.34 for every vote they got, almost ...
Winston Peters’ headline-making actions over the past week may have been a show of political power intended to strengthen his hand in Budget negotiations. It was no accident that his State of the Nation speech was as it was. He made it as New Zealand First Leader, not as Deputy ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson bowed out of politics this week, giving a series of exit ...
Graham Adams writes — If you love the law or sausages, as the saying goes, best not to look too closely at how they are made. And after watching the orgy of self-pity when Newshub’s closure was announced on February 28, television journalism should definitely be added to the list of those ...
Venerable New Zealand political commentator, Chris Trotter (https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/), is a sad creature these days. Once one of the most reliable Leftist writers out there – Economic Left at that – Trotter seems to have absorbed the worldview of Auckland culture-war obsessives. It is not for me to categorise what he ...
The cruelty of short-term memory loss is that each time you ask where she is, you get the fresh shock and grief of the news. That was Dad's day yesterday.Comfortingly, it seems to be less so today. Last night he looked crumpled, today he seems more settled. There's a card ...
Photo by Alvan Nee on UnsplashIt’s that new day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news ...
Buzz from the Beehive One minister is talking tough while a colleague – whose ministry had acted tough and drawn a barrage of flak – has shown an official softening. Some ministers are doing what Labour was good at, which is distributing public funds to causes regarded as worthy or ...
A ballot for 4 Member's Bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Insurance Contracts Bill (Duncan Webb) Income Tax (Clean Transport FBT Exclusion) Amendment Bill (Julie Anne Genter) Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill (Greg Fleming) Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) ...
The Coalition Government’s plan to ‘get Auckland moving’ is a cuts cover-up that will ultimately cost Aucklanders more to move around the city, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Slashing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples by 40% will have a devastating impact on pacific communities and further highlights how little this government cares about anything other than cutting taxes for the wealthiest few. ...
Labour has proposed an urgent inquiry to investigate the ever-increasing profits of supermarkets, aiming to lower costs for shoppers and food producers alike, says Labour Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Arena Williams and Primary Production Spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. ...
With 14% of jobs on the line at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the responsible Minister Melissa Lee is failing to stand up for the very communities she’s meant to be representing. ...
COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Government’s archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
Jesus had dinner with his 12 disciples right before he died. Noted historian Madeleine Chapman finds out who really deserved to be there.First published in 2018 but let’s be honest, the subject is timeless. As you sit on your couch this Easter Sunday, eating a chocolate egg you know ...
The newly-promoted Northern League club is on a mission to return to the National League for the first time in two decades. Plenty about domestic football in New Zealand has changed in that time – but the sense that this amateur competition is not an entirely level playing field remains. ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
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Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University It’s Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether you’re a boomer, or an ‘80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arosha Weerakoon, Senior Lecturer and General Dentist, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland Casezy idea/Shutterstock How does toothpaste work? What did people use before toothpaste was invented? – Amelia, age 7, Meanjin (Brisbane) Thanks for your ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Hallam, Associate professor, UNSW Sydney IM Imagery/Shutterstock Solar SunShot is well named. The Australian government announced today it would plough A$1 billion into bringing back solar manufacturing to Australia, boosting energy security, swapping coal and gas jobs for those ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Dix, Research Fellow in Nutrition & Dietetics, The University of Queensland Easter is the time for chocolate. The shops are full of fantastically packaged and shiny chocolates in all shapes and sizes, making trips to the supermarket with children more challenging ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Felton, Adjunct Senior Researcher, University of South Australia Even in a stubborn cost-of-living crisis, it seems there’s one luxury most Australians won’t sacrifice – their daily cup of coffee. Coffee sales have largely remained stable, even as financial pressures have ...
Mining company Trans-Tasman Resources has unexpectedly withdrawn its application for a consent to suck the valuable metals vanadium and titanium from the Taranaki seafloor, as it apparently wagers on the Government’s new fast-track process. It had spent two-and-a-half days putting its case to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making committee, at ...
Contrary to the Associate Minister of Education’s claims, analysis of Healthy School Lunches Programme - Ka Ora, Ka Ako assessments has revealed it provides excellent value for the taxpayer dollar, as a groundswell of public opposition to Government ...
Greenpeace says wannabe Taranaki seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources is likely banking on Christopher Luxon’s fast-track process to side-step proper scrutiny of its Taranaki seabed mining proposal by bailing out of the Environmental Protection Agency hearing ...
Kiwis Against Seabed mining today slammed Australian owned would-be seabed miner Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) for abandoning its application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine the seabed of the South Taranaki Bight. The company ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Attwell, Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Months after COVID vaccines were introduced in 2021, governments and private organisations mandated them for various groups. Health and aged care workers were among the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dzurak, Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, CEO and Founder of Diraq, UNSW Sydney Diraq For decades, the pursuit of quantum computing has struggled with the need for extremely low temperatures, mere fractions of a degree above absolute zero (0 Kelvin or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national Essential poll, conducted March 20–24 from a sample of 1,150, gave the Coalition a 50–44 lead including undecided, a reversal ...
The Taxpayers’ Union has today made a formal request under the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Open Government Information () for information held about how New Zealand Members of Parliament are spending taxpayer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Nelson, Honorary Principal Fellow, The University of Melbourne A Byzantine depiction of the Eucharist in Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv.Jacek555/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA A nasty quarrel arose in the 11th century over what kind of bread should be used in holy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Hesp, Professor, Flinders University Patrick Hesp In some parts of Australia, coastal dunes are retreating from the ocean at an alarming rate, as waves carve up the beach and wind blows the sand inland. But coastal communities are largely ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Heemsbergen, Senior Lecturer, Digital, Political, Media, Deakin University With an impressive 60% of the US smartphone market, Apple is undeniably big, but not a clear monopoly. Yet, years of innovation by Apple have effectively given the company its own exclusive ...
Whether you’re facing layoffs or are just an emotional junior staffer, it’s always a good idea to scout out a good crying place before you need it. It’s an incredibly hard time for Wellington. Across the city, thousands of public servants are hearing tough news about redundancies and layoffs. Government ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Miller-Jones, Professor, Curtin University Nuclear explosions on a neutron star feed its jets. Danielle Futselaar and Nathalie Degenaar, Anton Pannekoek Institute, University of Amsterdam, CC BY-SA How fast can a neutron star drive powerful jets into space? The answer, it ...
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Well done Sir John.
While some on here are all bitter and cannot say anything but negative and pathetic insults – there are a lot is us who think you were a fantastic PM.
He did nothing for Auckland – infrastructure still not good enough, housing bubble went on for years, only now taking a breather. All under his watch.
Those knighthoods are a joke.
OK
Counter the list with Keys achievements James.
(On mickys Post).
James’ I know what it is like to be in receipt of a smile and wave of an august personage. When I was young I got a wave from the Queen all to myself as I trudged alone up the road on my paper run and she and the Duke motored past to their next engagement.
Tell us your story of when John Key (Sir KCMGABCDand BAR) similarly looked at you and conveyed his magic influence that has inspired you ever since to be a great and better person eager to make NZ and yourself great again?
I had completely forgotten him until this morning. Such was the scale of his achievements. The temporary unpleasantness of being reminded he existed will rapidly fade
+ 1 yep whatsisname is forgettable, a nobody, no substance, a grey blend of wanker banker.
Who is John Keys?
We’re bitter about the reality of the damage that John Key and National have done to NZ to make a few pathetic and psychopathic people richer.
The fact that you think he was a ‘fantastic PM’ just makes you one of the gullible authoritarian followers that is the hallmark of National Party voters.
He did wonder when he gets the pony.
Can you name these “services to the state” James?
Or is being responsible for overseeing increasing poverty, increasing environmental destruction and an increasing inequality gap now considered a service?
Most frustrating. Up at 4:30. Make a nice flat white on the coffee machine. Turn on the fire and the lights – then the blinking americas cup racing get delayed due to lack of wind. Grrrrr.
1st world problems James
Turn on the fire sounds almost cavemanish lol
Nah – cave-men light a fire. (with twigs then increasingly bigger bits) People who “turn on a fire” are soft ACT voters who like to boast of their imagined self-reliance.
Sounds like you’re all set up to do a early morning coffee run downtown for the homeless.
James shares one thing with his idol Key.
He also only cares about himself.
James, enjoy the day off work, weather is not too bad to watch sport all day.
But if you are interested, there are many various art exhibitions on. Look up the site http://www.eventfinda.co.nz/exhibitions/events
I am sure you will be enthralled 😉
What the Crapping Christ !!!
____________________________________________________________
James
___________________________________________________________
It’s not often I see “blinking” employed as a euphemism these days, James – wonderfully polite and old-fashioned of you.
Instantly reminded me of Rick to Neil in The Young Ones
“Oh, stop being so blinking Bore-joy-zee* !!!”
* as in the bourgeoisie
I wonder if it is possible to sponsor a private bill through parliament undoing the return of knighthoods and backdating it to 2008 – so we don’t reward plonkers for fucking the country?
Yep.
But also because we could do without endorsing the association with the imperialistic values of autocracy and inequality.
End imperialistic gongs in NZ!
Julie Christie a frigging Dame! The people making these awards are taking the piss! Surely that’s a joke?
Services to Empire.
Distracting and dumbing down NZ’s citizens.
Appears to have worked a treat in your case and in that of the beloved troll Paul.
Yep, I was expecting Key but discovering Julie Christie had been made a Dame made me want to throw up. She is a greedy, vindictive, nasty person through and through.
It serves only to highlight that the world constructed for the masses is built on a foundation of lies and deceit
The more Keys and Christies are held up as becons of the establishment, the greater numbers of those who will turn their backs
Leave them to it, and take it as a positive…
This tweet sums up Christie perfectly:
Francis McRae @FrankMcRae 2h2 hours ago
“Julie Christie trash tv peddler is a notorious work place bully who delights in destroying people’s careers. Today she received an honour”
That’s Dame Julie to you, Karen, you oik.
Sounds like a perfect National Party person – no wonder she got rewarded.
It is a insult to all of New Zealand, imagine a country where someone with the depth of humanity like Helen Kelly is not honored in any way..yet a vacuous reality star is…is that the level we are at…really?
The answer to your question Adrian is “yes”.
That does appear to be how far we’ve sunk.
We need more classy people to be knighted. People like this…
https://static2.stuff.co.nz/1273832779/125/3701125.jpg
Some vulgar oick (and extremely poor writer compared to his very talented younger brother) has replaced your photo with his own.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blpe_sGnnP4
Some recipients are responsible for their own undoing…..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_revocations_of_appointments_to_orders_and_awarded_decorations_and_medals_of_the_United_Kingdom
All of you pop over to Boots Theory and check out the UK Labour adverts:
https://bootstheory.wordpress.com/2017/06/05/amazing-labour-ads-coming-out-of-the-uk/
The Foreign Affairs guy is excellent.
The Foreign Affairs guy is excellent.
I even thought he was for real at the start. 🙂
That’s a brilliant video.
Very good. I like the bit about Labour understands that Britain only works if working people are ok. I don’t get the reaction I do with NZ Labour when they focus on work, because I know that Corbyn’s Labour really do mean to work for the wellbeing of everyone, whereas NZ Labour are still prevaricating about the beneficiaries and others seen as lesser than hard working Kiwis (as if beneficiaries don’t work hard). I think Little wants to run the country for everyone, but I don’t think NZ Labour are there yet. Those videos show the difference.
Maybe you should do a bit more research on the UK Labour Party and the criticisms of their policies for those on low incomes before you make use them to attack the NZ Labour Party.
Can you give a couple of examples?
btw, I’m not attack NZ Labour, I’m critiquing one aspect of what they are doing. I like what Labour are doing here generally, although I’d prefer to see them going further left at some point. I just think that the ‘don’t talk about the benes’ thing is still a huge problem (one they share with the Greens).
It seemed to me that instead of just saying what great ads (as they are) you were using to opportunity to slag off NZ Labour without doing any research to back your claims up. Corbyn is great but his voice is still a minority one in the British Labour caucus. Hopefully, if they do manage to pull off a win, his hand will be strengthened.
In spite of what many here seem to think the NZ Labour Party has moved leftwards – not nearly as much as I would like but there has definitely been a shift, and there will be even more of a shift after the election because of some of the new candidates.
A couple of links for you:
NZ Labour
Look at page 14
https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/nzlabour/pages/2371/attachments/original/1478147235/43230_LoO_Future_of_Work_Front_End_Summary_20pp_2_LR.pdf?1478147235
UK British Labour Party
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/may/20/labour-manifesto-keep-planned-tory-benefit-cuts-resolution-foundation
Thanks, those are both interesting links.
I’m not sure what you see as my beliefs about Labour, but I spent a lot of time last year pushing back against Labour bashing on TS. I already think that Labour is moving left, and my comments of late haven’t been suggesting otherwise.
In this instance, I think it’s still a valid view that UK Labour are going to be better for beneficiaries than NZ Labour. I’m also open to Little proving me wrong. The problem is that I’ve seen things improve for beneficiaries under Clark’s Labour but they also did some really shitty stuff to beneficiaries. I don’t expect Little’s Labour to do the shitty stuff (I believe him when he hints at doing well by everyone), but until they are in a position to speak up for beneficiaries, I don’t expect there to be much improvement for the non-working poor. Not no improvement, but probably not enough to redress the shit that’s gone down both structurally and within the culture. So I notice how NZ Labour won’t talk about beneficiaries, but UK Labour will and for me that makes a huge difference.
I appreciate your comments on commenting on Labour, and I am thinking through how I am commenting myself, more so about how to critique constructively rather than stopping critiquing at all.
I don’t think you should stop critiquing at all, but IMO your comment came across as both ill-informed about the British Labour Party and an unnecessary attack on the NZ Labour Party that was based on a general impression that was not not backed up by any examples from current direction and policies.
For me, Clark government’s two major failings were the S & F legislation and not reversing the benefit cuts. There were some improvements made for beneficiaries but they were not adequate.
Unfortunately beneficiaries have been demonised in the media for so long now that it would take a very brave party to say, in an election year, that they will increase increase benefits substantially. Do I wish they were braver? Absolutely. If they were in a stronger position then they may take more risks, but they are not in a strong position currently.
I believe that the majority of probable Labour MPs do want to increase benefits and change the WINZ culture, and if they don’t then I will be campaigning to change their minds.
The other major things Clark’s govt did re beneficiaries was to scrap Special Benefit and to exclude non-working beneficiaries from WFF. So it wasn’t just a failure to reverse something National did, it was actual benefit cuts of their own and building financial and cultural prejudice into the structure of welfare.
I feel better informed from your links, but I still feel there are important differences between the two parties that is worth commenting on. I’m not sure about most NZ Labour MPs wanting to do right by beneficiaries, but hope you are right and certainly with people like Shearer no longer there it seems more possible. I agree about the difficult position Labour is in (and have mostly been arguing this for a long time).
Shearer had the awful Paganis as his advisors. They are well gone.
There are only also 4 from the Clark government era standing this year: Ruth Dyson, Nanaia Mahuta, David Parker and Trevor Mallard. If Mallard does scrape in (he is well down on the list) then he will be speaker so have no influence on policy.
thanks, that’s good to know.
Unfortunately, although she suggests: “Just some brilliant stuff coming out of Team Corbyn this week” ……. dare I say it ……. two of the vids are from the 2015 General Election Campaign, when Corby was still in short trousers, politically-speaking ……. (specifically the Steve Coogan and Martin Freeman ads)
(Getting around to answering your question here, Ad https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-04062017/#comment-1336484 … probably tomorrow – like to do these things properly, so need a bit of spare time)
As a mild political junkie I am thoroughly enjoying all the machinations between the Trump White House and the Russian government. And the results of all the investigations will be thrilling politics.
But.
Those Labour 2017 adverts Boots Theory has collected is a good reminder that maybe the Democrats are focusing too much on historical issues and not on the actual stuff that will give people something positive to think about the Democratic Party.
I have to respect Corbyn for putting on a terrific campaign that’s really rallying hearts and minds.
Maybe Corbyn should just take a breath while the investigations roll on, and leave Trump to his own sky-falling flame-ball of orange shit. Maybe I’ve enjoyed Trump too much, for the same reasons I like James Bond movies: action, hot girls, cold-war rhetorical worlds, and perpetual intrigue. But together with the super-cycled media, the media and the investigations can be comfortably left to get on with joining Trump in that great sky-falling flame-ball of orange shit.
The adverts UK Labour have done show me it’s not that hard to see fresh political reality. To get to the why of politics. What is Labour’s why?
Corbyn’s team are answering.
…the Democrats are focusing too much on historical issues…
???
The Democratic National Committee has been pushing its hypocritical “Russian meddling” line, which nobody outside of the Clintons and their small clique of diehard admirers cares about.
Most of the US-based MSM seems to care about it quite a bit.
And the results of the investigations will be perfectly newsworthy.
Correct, Ad. The MSM, as usual, are faithful conduits of DNC propaganda.
The MSM do what the Democratic Party want?
That’s amazing!
James Shaw calls this “one of the most on-the-money insights into the @NZGreens political positioning in relation to other parties I’ve yet read”.
From Alex Braae: Greens would be fools to court National
That purism over politics would suggest they couldn’t negotiate with Labour or NZ First either. You can’t get away from politics – negotiationism and pragmatism – in politics.
That sounds like they are virtually conceding this election, and any election until they get into power without having to negotiate their policies politically.
It’s almost as if they fear what will happen to the party if they get into government.
With this approach it’s unlikely the Greens will ever be big enough to actually wield power.
Perhaps if Labour+Greens get enough votes to put together a viable coalition the attraction of power will override Green purism, but they won’t help their chances if they appear to fear what will happen if they get there.
🙄
“Getting elected: a candidates guide”, a self-published novella by Peter George.
Your stalking is getting more lame, lamer.
Stop talking shit and I’ll have less material.
How come you know everything Pete? Are you a know-all?
The greens have less political nous than Donald Trump.
They’re just idealogical morons with no idea how to achieve anything, what a waste of time they are no wonder Gareth Morgan set up TOP.
*ideological
The Greens fail to pick up the raving bigot vote yet again!
The Greens are never going to achieve anything until they work out how MMP operates,
MMP is all about negotiation, bartering, trading etc, does this deluded little minor party think Labour and NZ First are just going to be there to rubber stamp all their policies? that the next government is going to be a green government only?
Raving bigots are telepathic? Wow.
BM
This 3 day break from norm has given you time to recharge your batteries.
Now you can batter the Greens severely with your virtual brain from the game where you build communities and political parties and direct them at your will.
Luckily the real ones will survive and find ways to connect to those people who still have a thinking brain and don’t operate out of an amygdala that flashes on and off like a traffic light, changing standards, methods and values in the direction of the perceived flow of major traffic.
BM craps his pants = the Greens are on the right track.
Another Green policy win, harnessing the methane from Jamie Whyte and the ACT voters.
If the right track is achieving nothing but providing Turei and the rest of the Green MPs a salary miles above their true paygrade, then yes they’re on the right track.
We never get this ‘purity critique’ about the Maori Party, Act, or United Future, because they are happy to go into coalition with National.
But the right-hand side of New Zealand politics has zero fresh ideas.
It’s not up to me to determine whether it’s time for fresh ideas – the electorate will.
But the real surprise when they do get into government is that their ideas will appear fresh and clear and real.
Don’t you worry Pete – they’ll be worth waiting for.
Labour doesn’t get associated with purism either, in fact I see a lot of complaints here about their lack of it.
Greens can’t maintain purism in a coalition with Labour. They will be lucky to be given a significant role by Labour, who seem to view the Greens like they view their Moari support, a one way street.
I am sure you are aware Pete, the Greens are not required to go into power with anyone.
I have never got a sense from the Greens that they aspire to power.
If they come to acceptable coalition terms with Labour, great.
If they don’t, Labour is more the loser.
The Greens just need to keep on doing precisely what they are doing.
They are solid for 10%, not much more.
They are designed to be pure.
There is no need for them to change that brand at all.
The reaction to their vote with National will have told them that, loud and clear.
Bernie Sanders Endorses Jeremy Corbyn…..
Has Andrew Little given his thoughts about Corbyn yet?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_v0S0QSdqw
Official NZ Labour line has always been “he’s unelectable”.
Very moving article from the wonderful Harry Leslie Smith, aged 94, on the importance of young people voting in the UK election.
https://politicsmeanspolitics.com/election-diary-june-4th-todays-young-must-be-the-tide-to-raise-all-boats-f63ef8f1298a
This is a telling argument for making the change and voting to get Labour on the road again. The old vehicle needs a push, it may have to be cranked but by God we can do it if we have half the passion and persistence and ideals of old Harry!
Labour’s message in 1945 was a bold declaration that society must be about fair play, decency, merit and compassion to those who are less fortunate than ourselves.
It is why on June 8th, you have to rise up and be counted because you are worth more than flat wages. You are worth more than eternal austerity. You are worth more than hard Brexit. You are worth more than student debt and zero hour contracts. You are worth more than the greed of the 1% and the incompetence of the Tories.
Within you is the blood of your grandparents and great grandparents that sacrificed their lives on the battle fields of Europe and Asia. Within you is the DNA of all your ancestors who fought for the rights of women to vote. Within you is the echo of all those who battled for their right to an NHS that provided health care to all not just the well to do.
Within you is the spark to become the greatest generation of the 21st century. So, I ask you as a very old man who has seen Britain at its worst and greatest to stand strong and send the Tories Packing because you deserve a future that has hope, prosperity and purpose.
Christ, I had visions of my late grandmother saying almost the same thing to me just before 91 elections while I job hunting in Nelson and now wished I had taped it among other things like singing the old workers songs etc. My grandmother was hard core labour to the day she died and she was never scared to say anything about any tropic incl LGBT issues. As one person from the LGBT branch found out to their discomfort after a lecture from her on LGBT rights and had the nerve to ask who was Noel Pearson then she went off belt feed mortar again.
BTW for those don’t know who Noel Pearson was? He was primary school treacher in Blackball during the 30- 40’s who was a gay, because of his sexuality he given refuge by my great grandparents and like him were follow socialists. Noel Pearson wrote a book called ” Coal Flat” which is based around grandmothers family in Blackball. Because of Noel’s sexuality and the way he was treated by members of the Blackball community and also no doubtly being associated with my great grandparents he got transferred out of Blackball through my great grandparents contacts within Labour Party at the time.
Hi I found copies of Coal Flat on Trademe. I’ll see if I can get an affordable one, let you know when I do if you would like to read it again. Might have it in stack at library too.
Dear ma’am or sir, thank you for kind offer on a copy of Coal Flat. I believe my parents got a copy while they were waiting for the ferry in Picton as my father had renew his Australian passport last month. I’m hoping to re read it again when I get back to warm sunny Darwin in a couple of weeks.
Kind regards Ex.
Excellent article on the Pt. England Development Enabling Bill in the Herald today here.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11869590
This Government bill that steals a valued public reserve for non-affordable housing speaks volumes as to how this government thinks and acts. Surely all the other parties will vote it down in parliament? Or will the useless Maori Party screw this up too?
The Auckland Plan now permits massively denser housing development in many zones-that should be the priority.
Meanwhile the Special Housing Area along Ladies Mile at the entrance to Queenstown rammed through by Nick Smith and the QLDC to satisfy developer mates (when in fact there is plenty of other land zoned for residential use) is now causing ructions. Read it in the ODT here:
https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown/fears-spurred-ladies-mile-development
She’s doomed….
http://normanfinkelstein.com/2017/06/03/liar-liar-may-on-fire/
Being a lackey has its compensations
http://normanfinkelstein.com/2017/06/03/a-community-organizers-life-is-not-an-easy-one/
Nature issues statement saying climate change cannot be negotiated with
Your header is precisely accurate!
CC is now beyond human amelioration. In other words it’s doing its own thing and is accelerating. We are not invited to a negotiating table to protest this fact.
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
[for future reference, I consider lines of “it’s too late” to be a form of climate change denial. I don’t allow denialist lines to be run under my posts. If this bothers you, I suggest you read the Policy – weka]
We wanted endless growth. CC is mirroring our desire, just not we expected! 🙁 🙁
This look interesting.
Heading – Let’s build our own internet.
We don’t need 5G. We need a resilient, community-owned internet that uses less energy.
http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2015/10/how-to-build-a-low-tech-internet.html
Jonathon Pie…Hate and Anger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIvZ2EBqdEQ
OMG this looks so good….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrBoj760aD8
I worked in Russia for a short period some years back. Absolutely fascinating experience and I’ve very loosely followed Putin with some interest ever since. When you live and work with people for even a short while it becomes very hard to see them as enemies.
And it also gives a glimpse into their different history and how their viewpoints are shaped. From that perspective Putin is by far the very best leader the Russians have had since probably Catherine the Great.
Absolutely he’s no great left wing socialist reformer, he doesn’t lead a government of angels. Judged by our western ideals he’s no hero; but then again how well do we measure up either?
Yet he’s unquestionably a very intelligent and connected leader very much in touch with the huge nation he leads. He remains very popular with ordinary Russians, and over the past almost 20 years he has transformed an economy that was utterly crippled at the turn of the century into a reasonably modern and thriving place.
For instance the city I was working in which looked like the administration wing of a monstrous gulag at the time, when I look at on google maps now , I barely recognise the street views. Huge reconstruction and modernisation everywhere. Rows of the old soviet apartment blocks I stayed in are gone, replaced by modern attractive buildings and parks.
We like to demonise Putin as some kind of Uncle Joe-lite; remote and imperious, issuing death orders from behind some impenetrable Kremlin desk. Yet the truth is he’s a remarkably accessible and transparent leader; long in the habit of giving long form interviews and remarkably forthright statements that address issues thoughtfully and in depth.
Just a little item from Brit as I looked up latest news.
A wildflower centre with building and cafe, promoting flower growing, seeds, interest in gardening had found costs too high and had to close. Another centre had taken an interest but hadn’t been able to pick up the task, and six months later it is unused and being vandalised.
“The Court Hey Park attraction closed in January despite two petitions to save it attracting thousands of signatures between them.”
The Cornwall based famous Eden Project had made a bid to keep it open but it wasn’t successful. It had been open since 2001, and possibly needed some new ideas. There was a comment made that the local bus wouldn’t provide a bus service so presumably that limited the number of visitors.
My comment is that it takes a lot of effort and thought starting up what are useful community facilities and that investment in time and charitable or government funds is just thrown away as being without value if the support is not continued, and not aided with some business mentor advice. Some things are worth having as beneficial in themselves, in this case for encouraging gardening and biodiversity and probably flowers which are used by bees and are untainted by insecticides.)
Sport can be funded, and gardening is important too. Perhaps it needed excitement, interest, competition – growing the biggest, flower fights, a day to create flower pictures with judging in the afternoon and prizes?
A few commenters, sounding young asked where the lottery money had gone, and that it should be pulled down.
(I have noticed lately that many young adults seem quite separated from community, and working for something beyond immediate gratification and instead for services or attractions beyond their interests.)
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/vandalised-neglected-shocking-state-huytons-13136843
“Can bullying behaviour be eliminated from our schools? Probably not, people being what they are. But, with the right culture, schools can make it very hard for bullying to flourish.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz
The extent of the problem is measured by how bullying in schools is seen to be a dilemma yet bullying ON schools is accepted. Whether the levels of that will lessen with Hekia Parata gone remains to be seen but Nikki Kaye has been inculcated into a system in which bullying is de rigueur. Angela Fitchett, the author of the piece, refers to the lip-service paid to safe environments in Ministry of Education policies.
While the focus of her article is on different aspects of bullying, Ministry and Ministerial bullying has to be acknowledged and the irony of them expecting schools to deal with bullying in their realm.
Full link to story: http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/opinion/93349722/bullying-an-unsolvable-problem
I have a relation who tries to bring out the best in the kids she has at primary fairly low decile, but she doesn’t stand for much rubbish. And she reports as they are, not as it is convenient for the school and parents. She has a couple of children who know their parents can be relied on to come down and chew her ear off if the kids complain about her. She heard them one day planning to make up a story about her to get her sacked. She cares about the children, they do a wide range of things, and she has mostly successes.
She has to put up with bullying from some of the children, and manage that. Also
bullying from some of the parents and stand firm against that. And bullying from the sometimes management oriented principal and deputy principal who are trying to get all their boxes ticked off, and wonder why she gives low marks for reading compared to those carried forward from last year, given in desperation.
A teacher’s life is not a happy one when ruled by industrial-plan government, with their targets. So many fish fingers pass along within a set time, and get packed into the same-sized boxes no matter what their shape, readiness or attributes. Not time to bring out the inner genius or lurking enthusiasm under the neolibs.
A great day because a very positive step reached to ensure the protecton of te waikoropupu – yay!!!
http://i.stuff.co.nz/environment/93311347/environment-minister-accepts-water-conservation-order-to-protect-te-waikoropupu-springs
Great news marty mars
And this – being dealt with urgently?
High levels of E coli found in creek near treasured springs’ reserve
Well it is Nick Smith but hopefully the wheels are in motion.
Middle east- UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt sever ties with Qatar.
https://twitter.com/AlArabiya_Eng
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2017/06/05/Main-reasons-why-Saudi-UAE-Bahrain-and-Egypt-severed-ties-with-Qatar.html
Early shots in President Bannon’s war with Iran?.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/otaiba-ambassador-uae-leaked-emails_us_5932bf04e4b02478cb9bec1c
On the other hand at least they know where al Queda people are?
I know little of macro finance, I’m flat out keeping fuel up to my outboard and the lights glowing.
As I understand it governments with a rating like ours can access money at a pretty handy rate.
Currently our home buyers are depositing billions with companies that have their primary ownership in Australia.
This might be a really dumb question but wouldn’t our country be a whole lot better off if we said “Sure you can have a mortgage, the great news is that you get an ace rate through Kiwibank and that’s the only option. Mortgage profit steered back into NZ.