So Labour down in the poll of polls, sad but unsurprising.
Strange that Labour NZ can’t or won’t see that it’s centrist free market ideological position has left it, like so many western Left parties. politically redundant.
No it seems this Labour party is about act out that old saying in front of our eyes again,
‘The definition of insanity is to do the same thing and expect a different result’
It is about time Labour shed itself of that scourge of the modern Left, the free market, Neo-liberal ideology that has effectively destroyed Labour from within, and stop living in fear of the middle class vote.
It is time to stand on some real old schools socialist principles, at least then even if we do go down to National, we can do it with our heads held high, not cowering like beaten dogs to the media and some perceived voting block that may or may not even exist for Labour.
I think you are dead right Adrian, but it just ain’t going to happen with the caucus they’ve got. Unless they have a cunning plan to be centrist until in power and then creep to the left…. but no, not with that caucus.
So we really have no choice but to back the MOU and hope for a “kinder” government.
The Opportunity Party is starting policy release this week. Fingers crossed?
What I just can’t understand is why those centrist freemarket fuckers insist on staying and destroying Labour? the Labour brand has obviously has outlived it’s usefulness for them, and they are quite open about their lust for power, to quote Stuart Nash…
“Let’s be clear about one thing: politics is about winning. There is no such thing as a ‘glorious defeat’, leaders who lose are not, as some may believe, ‘martyrs to the cause’, and ‘coming second but maintaining our principles’ is a ludicrous proposition”
Just listen to that centrist shill Mike Williams on National radio Mondays mornings, it is enough to make you lose your breakfast, eaten up and spat out by Hooton every week, because he has essentially nothing to say, why, because at heart he is on the the same playing field ideologically as Hooton.
So the Labour brand is bad for them and it is certainly the death nail for a progressive socialist left, so why can’t we all just agree this hasn’t worked out, and go our separate ways?
“What I just can’t understand is why those centrist freemarket fuckers insist on staying and destroying Labour?”
The most logical reason is it’s a strategical move to ensure Labour are either destroyed, or if they ever gain power, are no longer a political threat to the neo-liberal way.
Now you should see why the depressing negative rubbish being spouted by Little Andrew goes down like a lead balloon. The public can see that he is just talking total rubbish and that he, and his party and fellow travellers like the Greens, are so totally divorced from reality.
The economy and the country are doing very well. People can see this and want it to continue. That is why the current Government is popular. As Bill Clinton said
“It’s the economy, stupid”
Ha that is really funny, are you actually really being serious, or are you just taking the piss?
Those so called economist on National radio every morning are generally the banks own economists, so yes the economy is working extremely well for them, with NZ house hold debt at the highest it has ever been recorded, who do you think that debt is owed to? http://www.tradingeconomics.com/new-zealand/households-debt-to-income
And then the best part is to top it off you quote Bill Clinton, the guy who unhooked the US financial from regulatory oversight that lead directly to the 2008 crash,
“It’s the economy, stupid” yeh that is true, but not the debunked free market type, neo-liberial model which in case you haven’t noticed is imploding before our very eyes…maybe you need to take your hands off your ears and stop saying nah nah nah pal.
I didn’t actually say I agreed with the things Clinton did, or approved of him personally.
He did however win elections and he did it by concentrating on what actually mattered to people who vote. His own wife forgot it of course and basically Trump stole the idea and won.
However the general public in New Zealand are happy with what is happening, and rightly so. We have done much better than most of the countries in the OECD. If you can’t realise that you certainly can’t understand why the parties you support are sinking into their state of irrelevance.
I don’t actually have any problem with the last few years.
As a very simple summary.
I can quite happily accept Current Account Deficits, as a percentage of GDP, where the deficit is roughly equal to the growth in the GDP.
In that case the accumulated deficit remains at approximately the same percentage of our GDP from year to year and doesn’t keep on increasing.
This has been the case from 2013 to 2016.
2012 was a little bit excessive as we didn’t have a 4% growth in GDP that year.
The years from 2005 to 2008 were grossly excessive.
A single year doesn’t matter very much. In particular a short term period of high deficits caused by something like the Christchurch earthquake isn’t really a problem. There was nothing special about the 2005 – 2008 timespan however and the GDP was certainly not increasing by the 7%-8% figure that those deficits would require.
That is back to front.
When we have a current account deficit it means we get to import more than we export. We aren’t consuming less. We are able to consume more. Thus we are better off than we would be. It doesn’t mean that we are worse off.
If we are running a surplus on the current account it means we are consuming less than we produce. People could consume more, and have a higher standard of living if we were to reduce the surplus.
The problem with a deficit is that it relies on some kind foreigner financing it. If they decide not to do so and won’t loan us any more money or put money into financing our capital assets we may have to cut the deficit in a hurry. That hasn’t happened in New Zealand. We have been running a current account deficit, and thereby consuming more than we produce for more than 40 years.
If you are running a surplus it is up to you whether you start consuming more. Other countries opinions don’t count.
The current account balance is not only the sum of the balance of trade in goods and services, but also current transfers, and investment income.
It’s the big picture. But interestingly enough, it’s seldom discussed by the media.
The reason for the improvement in the current account deficit when Key became PM is largely down to higher commodity prices improving our balance of trade, hence little to do with the Government of the day.
A deficit means the country is spending more than it actually earns (locally and from offshore)
If we are running a surplus on the current account it means we are earning more than we spend, hence aren’t reliant on offshore debt and or investment. Nor are we so vulnerable to economic challenges. Which is where we really want to be.
A surplus also means we can afford to consume more.
A deficit puts the country in a highly volatile position. Putting us at higher risk, which can impact upon our credit rating, thus interest rates and ability to borrow.
And although we have been running a deficit for decades, it’s far from the ultimate economic position to be in.
Therefore, all this talk about NZ having good growth in comparison to other nations overlooks how we are achieving that growth (largely growing debt and offshore investment) while also overlooking who is largely benefiting from that growth – i.e. offshore investors.
Alwyn, diversify your outings when you are out and about, see what happens, listen, ask questions, go somewhere you would not usually visit, interact with people, because not everything is how you see it or even how I see it Alwyn.
It’s hard to hear in an echo chamber.
If any want to improve their lives and the lives of others, then we have to and we will change the government.
But Cinny I do listen to many views and I do meet a lot of people.
Do you? Or do you perhaps limit your interactions to the “right thinking” people who agree with you?
Do you read blogs, or papers, that disagree with you own ideas? Have you ever read Kiwiblog or, horror of horrors, something by Cameron Slater?
I am in favour of the idea that I should “improve my live and the lives of others”. However with the people in the Labour and Green parties in New Zealand that will certainly not happen if they came to power and implemented the ideas they propose.
Well thats a no brainer…Because Mana Party has some very strong ‘characters’ that would make them very marginal in the eyes of the majority of Left voters.
I suspect that if Mana changed colours and came forward with the exact same policies as Centrist Labour (or National!) they still wouldn’t get enough thumbs up in a poll to break the margin of error.
For those who don’t have online businesses that sell to US consumers, the regulations are extensive and failing to have something as basic as a privacy policy can net you a $25K USD fine.
Worse still if someone associated with the product you are marketing is found to have mislead consumers you are fined DUE TO ASSOCIATION alone (ie you are marketing the same product), even if you didn’t know the person/company involved. If you don’t pay you end up in a kanagroo court with an even worse penalty on it’s way. Because this is considered fraud you cannot discharge the fine in bankruptcy, nor can you hide behind a corporate veil. This happened a few years ago to well known marketer Frank Kern through what appears to be no fault of his own.
Now with the vote it looks like more of this type of action will extend to other areas of the Internet.
Don’t usually agree with Deborah Hill-Cone but this time she has nailed it. (Something good in the Herald for once?)
“Note to Minister of Social Development Anne Tolley: Try stopping being a politician for a minute, and just listen.”….
“…reasons why Ms Tolley needs to rethink her arrogant attitude to victims who have been abused in state care, and immediately order an independent inquiry into the extent of the abuse.” http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11760183
In my experience, Cabinet Papers, for all they sound rilly rilly official and based on evidence and all that, can be complete and utter bullshit…depending on the information, data and advice Cabinet receive from the Ministry or Department concerned.
(The Cabinet Papers for leading up to the PHDAct(2) were a prime example of this…official sounding fairytales…much of which can now be seriously questioned.)
When she mentioned the Cabinet Papers, I think she was reading between the lines and she will be right. Of course it is all about the money.
I agree with you. Cabinet Papers are often nothing but a load of tosh. They represent what the authors know the government wants to hear which may bear no resemblance to reality. It is especially the case with this incompetent and deceitful government.
Can they be full and illuminating? Can they be enlightening? Can they be detailed? Can they be informative? Can they be instructive? Can they be useful?
“Can they be full and illuminating? Can they be enlightening? Can they be detailed? Can they be informative? Can they be instructive? Can they be useful?”
All of the above, repateet, all of the above.
Points to minds that work in twisty, devious and nasty ways….almost sociopathic…
The authors of these Cabinet Papers sincerely believe (I believe) that they can write this rubbish and we will all accept it as gospel. We won’t.
And the trouble is, that there is a growing number of us that KNOW that these Cabinet Papers, these ‘show your working’ documents, are flawed and misrepresentative and this completely undermines any faith we may have had in honest, transparent government.
I’m not sure about this – candidates who are picked for being famous on TV haven’t worked out great (Tamati Coffey, Maggie Barry…) – we need people with expertise in policy areas and/or their local communities so the government can actually function.
She hasn’t a show of beating John Key. My point is: she’s not a JK acolyte – one of the few media or ex-media personalities who seem capable of rising above him.
More about how the web is distorting information flow and helping fake news. With some emphasis on how Google’s autocomplete is helping spread some nasty stuff.
They can shiver my timbers any day of the week, if they’re ok with that sort of thing and in a completely respectful and consensual manner of course, taking into account everyones personal preferences.
Knows the housing market is going to crash under the weight of increasing interest rates and couldn’t bear the thought if getting beaten next year as a consequence.
So since Sir John Key is going and Winston doesn’t like Key does this mean now that the main stumbling block between National and NZFirst going into power together has now been removed?
NZFirst always did seem like a more natural fit than NZFirst and Lab/Green…
“So since Sir John Key is going and Winston doesn’t like Key does this mean now that the main stumbling block between National and NZFirst going into power together has now been removed?”
Shame that Stuart Nash just came out recently and said he would stick with Labour, it turns out a job that would suit him down to the ground just became available this afternoon…talk about about bad timing.
.
Why are the Trolls so pessimistic?
.
They are wealthy. They are married to the prettiest girls in the land who play Tennis to fill in the week days. They have brilliant children. They have fantastic amounts of retirement money. They believe in themselves. More importantly they own numbers of houses from which they are getting fabulous Rents. They love hundreds of thousands of immigrants.
So why are they to a man – all hang dog and abusive?
Do you think they should go to the doctor and get a tonic? They are so Angry. Always Angry.
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Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
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The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
This episode of A View From Afar was recorded LIVE on May 6, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, May 5, 2024 at 8:30pm (USEST). In an analytical essay titled ‘A moment of friction’ political scientist Dr Paul Buchanan wrote how we are living within a decisive moment ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Taylor, Assistant Professor, Bond University Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures At the crux of the critical response to Luca Guadagnino’s new movie Challengers is one word: “sexy”. The film charts a love triangle between three up-and-coming tennis players: Tashi (Zendaya), ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jenny Stewart, Professor of Public Policy, ADFA Canberra, UNSW Sydney For years, First Nations people have been telling governments they want to be listened to. In particular, they want more ownership of the programs and services that are supposed to help them. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Why do trees have bark? Julien, age 6, Melbourne. This is a great question, Julien. We are so familiar with bark on trees, that most of us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Nasser, Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, University of Technology Sydney PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is an important ligament in the knee. It runs from the thigh bone (femur) to the shin bone (tibia) and helps stabilise ...
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 I covered the May 2 United Kingdom local government elections for The Poll Bludger. The Blackpool South parliamentary byelection was also held, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deanna Grant-Smith, Professor of Management, University of the Sunshine Coast The federal government has announced a “Commonwealth Prac Payment” to support selected groups of students doing mandatory work placements. Those who are studying to be a teacher, nurse, midwife or social ...
We round up everything coming to streaming services this week, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Apple TV+, ThreeNow, Neon and TVNZ+. If you love a dark comedy: Bodkin (Netflix, May 9)An English podcaster, an Irish podcaster and American podcaster walk into a pub and…make a TV show? ...
By Eleisha Foon, RNZ Pacific senior journalist A Pacific regionalism academic has called out New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters for withholding information from the public on AUKUS and says the security deal “raises serious questions for the Pacific region”. Auckland University of Technology academic Dr Marco de Jong ...
How worried should we be about the cloud? This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. I currently have a few thousand unread emails languishing in my inbox, mostly old marketing newsletters and piles of unread science journal press releases. I have a similar number ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nuurrianti Jalli, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies College of Arts and Sciences Department of Languages, Literature, and Communication Studies, Northern State University Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Southeast Asian governments not only have to deal with the virus but also with the false ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Murakami Wood, Professor of Critical Surveillance and Securities Studies, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa The skyline of Riyadh, the capital and largest city of the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia.(Shutterstock) There is a long history of planned city building by both governments ...
The LIVE Recording of A View from Afar podcast will begin today at 12:45pm May 6, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, 8:30pm (USEST). In an analytical essay titled ‘A moment of friction’ political scientist Dr Paul Buchanan wrote how we are living within a decisive moment of ...
The Boil Up’s Lucinda Bennett considers the oyster – from freshness to pearls to the joy of shucking your own. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. In Carmen Maria Machado’s short story ‘Eight Bites’, a woman begins her last supper before bariatric surgery with “a cavalcade ...
Asia Pacific Report A group of 65 Auckland University academics have written an open letter to vice-chancellor Dawn Freshwater criticising the institution’s stance over students protesting in solidarity with Palestine. They have called on her administration to “support” the students who were denied permission to establish an “overnight encampment” by ...
The Student Volunteer Army is on the march, generating approximately 1.6 million hours of volunteering from roughly 35,000 secondary school students in just five years. For Rebekah Brown, the pathway to volunteering started with her singing coach. With a passion for the arts, the suggestion to volunteer at Acting Antics, ...
Keeping up with online communication can be exhausting, so Fran Barclay enlisted the help of Meta’s new ‘intelligent assistant’ to respond to all her messages. Could her mates tell the difference? For centuries, technology has ruled the ways in which we communicate. From the dawn of written language, to the ...
Jamie Arbuckle, a councillor who has become an member of parliament, says he has settled into having two roles so comfortably he's going to keep both pay cheques. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luis Gómez Romero, Senior Lecturer in Human Rights, Constitutional Law and Legal Theory, University of Wollongong Fifty years ago, Australian feminist Anne Summers denounced “the ideology of sexism” governing over so many women’s lives. Unfortunately, sexism is as lethal today as it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jose Antonio Lara-Hernandez, Senior Researcher in Architecture, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images The COVID-19 pandemic and the hybrid work patterns it fostered have changed the way we think about office space, and central business districts in general. While fears ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dale Boccabella, Associate Professor of Taxation Law, UNSW Sydney There’s a good reason your local volunteer-run netball club doesn’t pay tax. In Australia, various nonprofit organisations are exempt from paying income tax, including those that do charitable work, such as churches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marina Deller, Casual Academic, Creative Writing and English Literature, Flinders University NetflixComedy is opening up spaces for silences to be broken and trauma stories to be told. In 2018, Hannah Gadsby started a revolution with Nanette, asking audiences to rethink ...
The workplace can be a minefield of bad comms and passive aggression. Kinksters can help you navigate it. A friend and colleague recently gave me a compliment I loved. They told me I’d always been good at emotional communication and making people feel comfortable. “But I feel like it’s really ...
Even if some students are now just texting on their laptops. Stewart Sowman-Lund writes in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
Councils from Horowhenua, Kāpiti, Wairarapa, the Hutt Valley, Porirua and Wellington City will meet this Friday to work together on a plan for a Greater Wellington region water deal. ...
Renowned musician, advocate, and proud born and raised daughter of Tauranga, Ria Hall, is announcing her candidacy for Mayor of Tauranga and Pāpāmoa Ward for the upcoming election on July 20th. ...
The new Aotearoa histories curriculum is rich with potential. There’s still work to be done, but the education minister’s criticisms about ‘balance’ miss the mark, argues primary school teacher Jessie Moss. In 2015, Ōtorohanga College students presented to parliament a petition signed by more than 10,000 people calling for a ...
For too long our so-called national bird has maintained its stranglehold on the economy of regional New Zealand. Thanks to the fast track legislation, we will have our revenge. Theories abound on what ails New Zealand’s economy. National leader Chris Luxon has posited that we’re negative, wet, whiny, and inward-looking; ...
If building one of Auckland’s possible waterfront stadiums was funded privately, it would need to hold a sold-out Ed Sherran concert every weekday for 25 years. That’s Rob Hamlin’s finding – he’s a senior marketing lecturer at the University of Otago. “It’s not going to happen; forget about it,” he ...
Comment: The debate over the future relationship between news and social media is bringing us closer to a long-overdue reckoning. Social media isn’t trying to kill journalism, because social media has never really cared about journalism. Social media is resolutely in the attention business. News propels some attention — perhaps ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A,DIV,A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 6 May appeared first on Newsroom. ...
For the past 12 years, Georgia-Rose Brown has balanced on the brink of making an Olympic Games – but always landed gracefully on the wrong side. Reaching the Olympics is a dream the gymnast has harboured since she was a six-year-old; a dream that would dwindle every four years, yet ...
Late one afternoon in March 1860 a man in a thin green velveteen jacket and a wide-awake hat arrived on foot at a sheep station named Glenmark, about 65 kilometres north of Christchurch. The man was in his mid-fifties but he looked older. Several people who met him that day ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra A new Commonwealth Prac Payment will provide students with $319.50 a week when they are on clinical and professional placements. The payment will be means tested and start from July 1 next year, which ...
Asia Pacific Report About 500 people honoured Palestinian journalists in the heart of the New Zealand city of Auckland today for their brave coverage of Israel’s War on Gaza, now in its seventh month with almost 35,000 people killed, mostly women and children. Marking the annual May 3 World Press ...
The Government Communications Security Bureau denies hosting a foreign spying capability flagged by the watchdog, differentiating it from the system recently criticised. ...
RNZ News A group of academic staff at New Zealand’s largest university have expressed concern at the administration’s move to block a protest encampment that was planned to take place on campus calling for support for the rights of Palestinians. This week, the University of Auckland warned that while it ...
Genterwocky After a hard days marching, Sir Doocey calls in at the Village Tavern For a pint of ale and a pork pie. The grim villagers stare at him. “Do not be travelling on the forest road,” warns a crusty old beak. “And why is that, antique peasant?” Grins Sir ...
Political conferences after a party returns to power are usually a chance for some healthy, even unhealthy backslapping. Yet National Party president Sylvia Wood’s address to its mainland representatives on Saturday hardly contained the unalloyed delight that one might have expected following National’s escape from the wilderness of opposition. Yes, ...
Comment: Almost half the world is voting in national elections this year and artificial intelligence is the elephant in the room. There are genuine fears AI-generated or AI-edited deepfakes will potentially manipulate election outcomes not just in the US and UK, but critically in countries such as India. For that ...
Ahead of the reality franchise’s return to New Zealand, allow us to introduce the eight brides and grooms. Chuck on a veil and tie back your man bun, because it’s time to say “I do” to a new season of Married at First Sight NZ. The reality TV “social experiment” ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Norton, Professor in the Practice of Higher Education Policy, Australian National University Every year on June 1, student debt in Australia is indexed to inflation. In 2023, high inflation pushed the indexation rate to 7.1%, the highest since 1990. This ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Changes in the May 14 budget will cut the student debt of more than three million people, wiping more than $3 billion from what people owe. The government will cap the HELP indexation rate ...
Asia Pacific Report The prosecutor’s office at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has appealed for an end to what it calls intimidation of its staff, saying such threats could constitute an offence against the “administration of justice” by the world’s permanent war crimes court. The Hague-based office of ICC Prosecutor ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A women’s union in New Caledonia has staged a sit-in protest this week to support senior Kanak indigenous journalist Thérèse Waia, who works for public broadcaster Nouvelle-Calédonie la Première, after a smear attack by critics. The peaceful demonstration was held on ...
New Zealand Food Safety is monitoring overseas recalls of Indian packaged spice products manufactured by MDH and Everest due to concerns over a cancer-causing pesticide. ...
By Stephen Wright and Stefan Armbruster of BenarNews Fiji’s ranking in a global press freedom index has jumped into the top tier of countries with free or mostly free media after its government last year repealed a draconian law that threatened journalists with prison for doing their jobs. Fiji’s improvement ...
We might be in Invercargill but all anyone can talk about is Gore. Specifically, Salford Street. That’s where three-year-old Lachlan Jones lived, south of the centre of town, between the A&P Showgrounds and the Mataura River. Roughly 1.2 km away from the single level home he lived in with his ...
MONDAY I lined up the latest round of civil servants from city hall against the wall, and signalled for the firing squad to drop their rifles. I stepped up onto a wooden crate to look at the office workers in the eye. But that didn’t feel right, so I found ...
Keen hiker and second-year MSc student Liam Hewson wears two hats when he’s in the great outdoors. “The scientist in me appreciates nature and goes, ‘Oh, there’s that thing and there’s another thing,’ but then the tramper and the outdoorsy person in me thinks, ‘Cool bush.’” Born and bred in ...
So Labour down in the poll of polls, sad but unsurprising.
Strange that Labour NZ can’t or won’t see that it’s centrist free market ideological position has left it, like so many western Left parties. politically redundant.
No it seems this Labour party is about act out that old saying in front of our eyes again,
‘The definition of insanity is to do the same thing and expect a different result’
It is about time Labour shed itself of that scourge of the modern Left, the free market, Neo-liberal ideology that has effectively destroyed Labour from within, and stop living in fear of the middle class vote.
It is time to stand on some real old schools socialist principles, at least then even if we do go down to National, we can do it with our heads held high, not cowering like beaten dogs to the media and some perceived voting block that may or may not even exist for Labour.
Turn labour left.
I think you are dead right Adrian, but it just ain’t going to happen with the caucus they’ve got. Unless they have a cunning plan to be centrist until in power and then creep to the left…. but no, not with that caucus.
So we really have no choice but to back the MOU and hope for a “kinder” government.
The Opportunity Party is starting policy release this week. Fingers crossed?
What I just can’t understand is why those centrist freemarket fuckers insist on staying and destroying Labour? the Labour brand has obviously has outlived it’s usefulness for them, and they are quite open about their lust for power, to quote Stuart Nash…
“Let’s be clear about one thing: politics is about winning. There is no such thing as a ‘glorious defeat’, leaders who lose are not, as some may believe, ‘martyrs to the cause’, and ‘coming second but maintaining our principles’ is a ludicrous proposition”
Just listen to that centrist shill Mike Williams on National radio Mondays mornings, it is enough to make you lose your breakfast, eaten up and spat out by Hooton every week, because he has essentially nothing to say, why, because at heart he is on the the same playing field ideologically as Hooton.
So the Labour brand is bad for them and it is certainly the death nail for a progressive socialist left, so why can’t we all just agree this hasn’t worked out, and go our separate ways?
Those shills are still in positions of power that they won’t be in after they transfer to National.
“What I just can’t understand is why those centrist freemarket fuckers insist on staying and destroying Labour?”
The most logical reason is it’s a strategical move to ensure Labour are either destroyed, or if they ever gain power, are no longer a political threat to the neo-liberal way.
Hi Adrian
What are the real old school socialist principles you’d like Labour to stand upon and aren’t many of them already part of Green Party policy ?
Why on earth are you surprised that National is getting ever further in front?
Why don’t you listen to this bit of Morning Report. The people who do the business news tend to look more realistically at the economy instead of the hard left political rubbish spouted by like Hill.
Just listen to this without putting your hands over your ears and going “Nah, nah, nah, nah …”. It only takes a couple of minutes.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/businessnews/audio/201826409/govt-books-and-forecasts-to-take-a-rosy-glow-in-mid-year-update
Now you should see why the depressing negative rubbish being spouted by Little Andrew goes down like a lead balloon. The public can see that he is just talking total rubbish and that he, and his party and fellow travellers like the Greens, are so totally divorced from reality.
The economy and the country are doing very well. People can see this and want it to continue. That is why the current Government is popular. As Bill Clinton said
“It’s the economy, stupid”
Business isn’t the be all, end all of society. In fact, it tends to be the end of society as it destroys social ties.
I smell BS.
http://www.noted.co.nz/currently/social-issues/a-year-of-living-shamefully-new-zealands-dirty-secrets/#
Ha that is really funny, are you actually really being serious, or are you just taking the piss?
Those so called economist on National radio every morning are generally the banks own economists, so yes the economy is working extremely well for them, with NZ house hold debt at the highest it has ever been recorded, who do you think that debt is owed to?
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/new-zealand/households-debt-to-income
And then the best part is to top it off you quote Bill Clinton, the guy who unhooked the US financial from regulatory oversight that lead directly to the 2008 crash,
“It’s the economy, stupid” yeh that is true, but not the debunked free market type, neo-liberial model which in case you haven’t noticed is imploding before our very eyes…maybe you need to take your hands off your ears and stop saying nah nah nah pal.
I didn’t actually say I agreed with the things Clinton did, or approved of him personally.
He did however win elections and he did it by concentrating on what actually mattered to people who vote. His own wife forgot it of course and basically Trump stole the idea and won.
However the general public in New Zealand are happy with what is happening, and rightly so. We have done much better than most of the countries in the OECD. If you can’t realise that you certainly can’t understand why the parties you support are sinking into their state of irrelevance.
Another Gnat fail
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/319591/auckland-housing-accord-set-to-miss-target
$4.28 billion international education industry rife with fraud…
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/education/news/article.cfm?c_id=35&objectid=11759352
Nice one FJK. I guess fraud is natural for an ex-Merrill Lynch money trader.
This has been common knowledge for at least 10 years. But when you’re talking about billions of dollars, morals take a back seat.
So if it was common knowledge when Labour were in power – would you consider it fraud for the leader of labour at the time?
Was Aunty Helen giving morals a back seat with this common knowledge?
@ alwyn
This (link below) is a good illustration of how our economy is genuinely performing.
http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/statistics/key-graphs/key-graph-current-account
I don’t actually have any problem with the last few years.
As a very simple summary.
I can quite happily accept Current Account Deficits, as a percentage of GDP, where the deficit is roughly equal to the growth in the GDP.
In that case the accumulated deficit remains at approximately the same percentage of our GDP from year to year and doesn’t keep on increasing.
This has been the case from 2013 to 2016.
2012 was a little bit excessive as we didn’t have a 4% growth in GDP that year.
The years from 2005 to 2008 were grossly excessive.
A single year doesn’t matter very much. In particular a short term period of high deficits caused by something like the Christchurch earthquake isn’t really a problem. There was nothing special about the 2005 – 2008 timespan however and the GDP was certainly not increasing by the 7%-8% figure that those deficits would require.
What do you think the current problem really is?
The problem is the country is doing all that hard for no net fiscal benefit.
The return from offshore investment is bleeding us dry.
“I can quite happily accept Current Account Deficits, as a percentage of GDP, where the deficit is roughly equal to the growth in the GDP. “
So you are happy with the country doing all this hard work for no net benefit?
“So you are happy with the country doing all this hard work for no net benefit?”.
That comment makes no sense at all.
No. It seems you merely failed to understand it.
If the deficit is equivalent to the growth in GDP it highlights that the fiscal benefit from the work done to produce that GDP is heading offshore.
And you’re happy with that?
That is back to front.
When we have a current account deficit it means we get to import more than we export. We aren’t consuming less. We are able to consume more. Thus we are better off than we would be. It doesn’t mean that we are worse off.
If we are running a surplus on the current account it means we are consuming less than we produce. People could consume more, and have a higher standard of living if we were to reduce the surplus.
The problem with a deficit is that it relies on some kind foreigner financing it. If they decide not to do so and won’t loan us any more money or put money into financing our capital assets we may have to cut the deficit in a hurry. That hasn’t happened in New Zealand. We have been running a current account deficit, and thereby consuming more than we produce for more than 40 years.
If you are running a surplus it is up to you whether you start consuming more. Other countries opinions don’t count.
The current account balance is not only the sum of the balance of trade in goods and services, but also current transfers, and investment income.
It’s the big picture. But interestingly enough, it’s seldom discussed by the media.
The reason for the improvement in the current account deficit when Key became PM is largely down to higher commodity prices improving our balance of trade, hence little to do with the Government of the day.
A deficit means the country is spending more than it actually earns (locally and from offshore)
If we are running a surplus on the current account it means we are earning more than we spend, hence aren’t reliant on offshore debt and or investment. Nor are we so vulnerable to economic challenges. Which is where we really want to be.
A surplus also means we can afford to consume more.
A deficit puts the country in a highly volatile position. Putting us at higher risk, which can impact upon our credit rating, thus interest rates and ability to borrow.
And although we have been running a deficit for decades, it’s far from the ultimate economic position to be in.
Therefore, all this talk about NZ having good growth in comparison to other nations overlooks how we are achieving that growth (largely growing debt and offshore investment) while also overlooking who is largely benefiting from that growth – i.e. offshore investors.
Alwyn, diversify your outings when you are out and about, see what happens, listen, ask questions, go somewhere you would not usually visit, interact with people, because not everything is how you see it or even how I see it Alwyn.
It’s hard to hear in an echo chamber.
If any want to improve their lives and the lives of others, then we have to and we will change the government.
But Cinny I do listen to many views and I do meet a lot of people.
Do you? Or do you perhaps limit your interactions to the “right thinking” people who agree with you?
Do you read blogs, or papers, that disagree with you own ideas? Have you ever read Kiwiblog or, horror of horrors, something by Cameron Slater?
I am in favour of the idea that I should “improve my live and the lives of others”. However with the people in the Labour and Green parties in New Zealand that will certainly not happen if they came to power and implemented the ideas they propose.
Why hasn’t that work for the Mana party and why would those reasons not apply equally to Labour if they attempted the same thing as Mana?
Well thats a no brainer…Because Mana Party has some very strong ‘characters’ that would make them very marginal in the eyes of the majority of Left voters.
I suspect that if Mana changed colours and came forward with the exact same policies as Centrist Labour (or National!) they still wouldn’t get enough thumbs up in a poll to break the margin of error.
So the issue is presentation not policy then?
I have to say I agree with what you say, NZ does not need two so called centrist parties.
On December 20th the FCC will vote on regulation of the Internet. I think it is certain to pass to the detriment of us all.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/12/20/fcc-vote-internet-regulation-plan-despite-economic-warnings.html
For those who don’t have online businesses that sell to US consumers, the regulations are extensive and failing to have something as basic as a privacy policy can net you a $25K USD fine.
Worse still if someone associated with the product you are marketing is found to have mislead consumers you are fined DUE TO ASSOCIATION alone (ie you are marketing the same product), even if you didn’t know the person/company involved. If you don’t pay you end up in a kanagroo court with an even worse penalty on it’s way. Because this is considered fraud you cannot discharge the fine in bankruptcy, nor can you hide behind a corporate veil. This happened a few years ago to well known marketer Frank Kern through what appears to be no fault of his own.
Now with the vote it looks like more of this type of action will extend to other areas of the Internet.
Don’t usually agree with Deborah Hill-Cone but this time she has nailed it. (Something good in the Herald for once?)
“Note to Minister of Social Development Anne Tolley: Try stopping being a politician for a minute, and just listen.”….
“…reasons why Ms Tolley needs to rethink her arrogant attitude to victims who have been abused in state care, and immediately order an independent inquiry into the extent of the abuse.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11760183
Here’s the reason why they won’t call an independent inquiry. MONEY. They don’t want to pay out the money.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201826425/john-key-responds-to-calls-for-inquiry-into-historical-abuse
Kim Hill has seen the cabinet papers. She is brilliant. Key is no match for her!
“Kim Hill has seen the cabinet papers.”
In my experience, Cabinet Papers, for all they sound rilly rilly official and based on evidence and all that, can be complete and utter bullshit…depending on the information, data and advice Cabinet receive from the Ministry or Department concerned.
(The Cabinet Papers for leading up to the PHDAct(2) were a prime example of this…official sounding fairytales…much of which can now be seriously questioned.)
When she mentioned the Cabinet Papers, I think she was reading between the lines and she will be right. Of course it is all about the money.
I agree with you. Cabinet Papers are often nothing but a load of tosh. They represent what the authors know the government wants to hear which may bear no resemblance to reality. It is especially the case with this incompetent and deceitful government.
“…can be complete and utter bullshit.”
Can be.
Can they be full and illuminating? Can they be enlightening? Can they be detailed? Can they be informative? Can they be instructive? Can they be useful?
“Can they be full and illuminating? Can they be enlightening? Can they be detailed? Can they be informative? Can they be instructive? Can they be useful?”
All of the above, repateet, all of the above.
Points to minds that work in twisty, devious and nasty ways….almost sociopathic…
The authors of these Cabinet Papers sincerely believe (I believe) that they can write this rubbish and we will all accept it as gospel. We won’t.
And the trouble is, that there is a growing number of us that KNOW that these Cabinet Papers, these ‘show your working’ documents, are flawed and misrepresentative and this completely undermines any faith we may have had in honest, transparent government.
Corrupt? Incompetent?
Or a bit of both.
Good on you Hayley Holt. It shows not all media presenters/reporters are gullible John Key acolytes. Although I fear most of them are…
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/hayley-holt-stand-green-party-could-run-against-john-key-in-helensville
🙂
I’m not sure about this – candidates who are picked for being famous on TV haven’t worked out great (Tamati Coffey, Maggie Barry…) – we need people with expertise in policy areas and/or their local communities so the government can actually function.
She hasn’t a show of beating John Key. My point is: she’s not a JK acolyte – one of the few media or ex-media personalities who seem capable of rising above him.
I’d love to see key pull her hair, she’d put the shit bag on the floor i reckon.
Looks like maybe she’s a bit more politically scary than you thought!
She already has, he couldn’t face losing votes to a girl. Apologies Hayley,though I bet that’s what’s she is secretly saying.
More about how the web is distorting information flow and helping fake news. With some emphasis on how Google’s autocomplete is helping spread some nasty stuff.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/dec/04/google-democracy-truth-internet-search-facebook
A new anthem and platitudes from AG Lynch.
https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/native-artists-have-united-to-make-a-song-for-standing-rock
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjVEMjKbCng&feature=youtu.be
https://www.facebook.com/DOJ/videos/10154703128089030/
I think this requires a Caption contest 🙂
They can shiver my timbers any day of the week, if they’re ok with that sort of thing and in a completely respectful and consensual manner of course, taking into account everyones personal preferences.
About the only time that pair of plundering cut throats have shown their true colours.
I find your tastes … odd, but who am I to judge 😛
Trotter has written a great piece that’s doing the rounds on Twitter
(also on TDB)
Yeah I know what you mean, a .50 cals a bit of over kill, I’d have used a 7.62 round instead 🙂
Media brings in its shock troops after heavy defeat and embarrassment.
http://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/87188948/what-a-byelection-win-really-means
Phil Quin.
“By election victories can be curses in disguise, causing party strategists to double-down on a failing strategy.”
After listening to Labour go on about their Mt Roskill win, this is a real concern.
I’m afraid I have to concur with Quin.
“These signs of complacency ought to worry anyone who wants to see the back of John Key next year.”
This should make some on here pretty happy:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11760632
protesters WIN their bid to stop pipeline being built through Standing Rock
I’m sure it will but why does it make you so unhappy?
Fantastic !
John Key to step down next Monday.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11760656
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/87202756/new-zealand-government-makes-major-announcement
can i suggest people don’t cheer to loudly just yet, incase there is a sad reason for it.
Holy moley!
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11760656
Fuck yes, Key is gone!!!
This is not good news for Labour -there are many suitable people within National to take over -keep dreaming lefties
Lol. That is some remarkable spin.
Key is stepping down.
Good grief. Hope it’s not a health reason.
Had a fourth term to play for, now it’s handbags at 5 paces for love and old.
Of all the vast stores of unused political capital that a good leader should use, he used none of it.
I’d put his political epitaph down as competent but unmemorable.
Outgoing PM…. FUCK YES
Words are like spells that’s why they call it spelling.
Now to concentrate on the outgoing national government
I’m spinning just wows, there will be parties in the streets all across the land.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/87202756/new-zealand-government-makes-major-announcement
🙂
Jeez youse guys are quick.
Key spouts more drivel…talks about ‘honesty’, nose grows….
Reason for quitting….we will never know the truth.
However, he was a devil we knew….
Knows the housing market is going to crash under the weight of increasing interest rates and couldn’t bear the thought if getting beaten next year as a consequence.
That is my guess.
It would seem that trump is doubling down on the far right hate message. He has appointed Steve Bannon as white house strategist. Fun times.
Anti establishment referendum rejects Renzi.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38204189
Breaking news key to resign
John Key resigns, what a great start to the week, I feel some how cleaner…
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/87202756/New-Zealand-Government-makes-major-announcement
I guess it will be left to English ( and he is a real believer) to carry on driving this neo-liberal train wreck toward the inevitable cliff, .
John bails before the looming economic disaster, so as always will come out of the shit smelling like roses.
Three election wins and remains not out, also the only way the left were ever going to beat John Key, sorry Sir John Key
Shame he didn’t want to win a fourth but he obviously puts his family before personal glory:
“This is the hardest decision I’ve ever made and I don’t know what I’ll do next.”
Key cited family reasons for leaving, saying the job had required great sacrifices “from those who are dearest to me”.
His wife Bronagh had endured “many lonely nights” and his children Stephie and Max had been put under “extraordinary levels of intrusion”.
He also said it was the right time to leave, as National were polling at nearly 50 per cent and the economy was growing.
Nothing like leaving the party in good strength 🙂
So his main reason is because of intrusion into his family’s life. Ironic since it was he who used his family as a major plank in his own marketing.
Its also quite good that a politician has left while on top rather then being voted out
Breaking news… People don’t read above before posting breaking news.
Oh and John Key’s resigned. lol
Breaking news… People don’t read above before posting breaking news.
Oh and John Key’s resigned. lol
ALERT ALERT! According to this JOHN KEY is Stepping down as PM! What? Is it a trick?!!!
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/87202756/new-zealand-government-makes-major-announcement
It is True!!!! Key Resigns!
\http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11760656
They will elect a new Leader next Monday. Who will it be?
Joyce?
Collins?
Bennett?
shouldn’t there be a snap election? public voted for Key to lead, not for someone else. Least that’s how I see it.
So since Sir John Key is going and Winston doesn’t like Key does this mean now that the main stumbling block between National and NZFirst going into power together has now been removed?
NZFirst always did seem like a more natural fit than NZFirst and Lab/Green…
Win the battle but lose the war springs to mind 🙂
It’s a very dark day for you, Pucky – I feel your pain and wish I’d taken you up on your bet 🙂
Ok so do you think this decision opens the door for National to welcome back the prodigal son?
The John Key-led Government will not win in 2017
(Something I’ve long believed)
🙂 🙂 🙂
I think this decision has strengthened the possibility of National being in charge after 2017 (just not with John Key)
Keen for a bet?
“So since Sir John Key is going and Winston doesn’t like Key does this mean now that the main stumbling block between National and NZFirst going into power together has now been removed?”
It potentially increases the possibility.
I think we can all agree that politics got just that little more interesting now
Indeed.
Ernie Merrick resigns!
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/87199504/reports-suggest-ernie-merrick-has-resigned-as-wellington-phoenix
Shame that Stuart Nash just came out recently and said he would stick with Labour, it turns out a job that would suit him down to the ground just became available this afternoon…talk about about bad timing.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has also announced his resignation
today
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/12/exit-polls-italians-reject-renzi-charter-reform-plan-161204221134449.html
.
Why are the Trolls so pessimistic?
.
They are wealthy. They are married to the prettiest girls in the land who play Tennis to fill in the week days. They have brilliant children. They have fantastic amounts of retirement money. They believe in themselves. More importantly they own numbers of houses from which they are getting fabulous Rents. They love hundreds of thousands of immigrants.
So why are they to a man – all hang dog and abusive?
Do you think they should go to the doctor and get a tonic? They are so Angry. Always Angry.
🙂