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.
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
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The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
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. ...
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 ...
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. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
"The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
Pacific Media Watch Earthwise hosts Lois and Martin Griffiths. Earthwise presenters Lois and Martin Griffiths on Plains FM 96.9 community radio talk to Dr David Robie, a New Zealand author, independent journalist and media educator with a passion for the Asia-Pacific region. David talks about the struggle to raise awareness ...
Pacific Media Watch Ismail al-Ghoul, an Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent who was held for 12 hours at Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital, says Israeli forces rounded up Palestinian journalists at the facility and made them kneel on the ground for hours, while naked and blindfolded. “The occupation forces handcuffed and blindfolded us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute chinasong, Shutterstock Electricity customers in four Australian states can breathe a sigh of relief. After two years in a row of 20% price increases, power prices have finally stabilised. In many places they’re ...
Chumbawamba have reportedly issued the deputy PM a cease-and-desist notice after he used their song 'Tubthumping' before his state of the nation speech. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Lupton, SHARP Professor, Vitalities Lab, Centre for Social Research in Health and Social Policy Centre, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, UNSW Sydney kitzcorner/Shutterstock The assertion from Queensland’s chief health officer John Gerrard that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Shutterstock Why are musicians so keen to get played on the radio? It can’t be because of the money. In Australia they are paid at rates so low they ...
"Farmers make a point not to tell our urban cousins how to live, yet Chlöe from central Auckland is hell-bent on having her say about farmers," says ACT Rural Communities spokesman Mark Cameron. “On her first day in the House as Green ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Curran, Associate Professor of Ecology, Lincoln University, New Zealand Getty Images/Gerald Corsi In the latest move to reform environmental laws in New Zealand, the coalition government has introduced a bill to fast-track consenting processes for projects deemed to ...
Uber has argued it does not have as much control over drivers as the unions suggest, and wants a judgment ruling that drivers are employees and not contractors set aside and sent back to the Employment Court. The 2022 ruling followed a three-week hearing in which four drivers sought to ...
What can and can’t be purchased by disabled people or their carers has been slashed in an effort by the Ministry of Disabled People Whaikaha to save money. The purchasing guidelines, a set of rules that sets out what can be purchased using the various streams of Government disability funding, ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Tod Wright and Hien Nguyen, Fiscal incidence in New Zealand: The effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in tax year 2018/19 . Analyses of the distributional impact of taxation and government ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Cory Davis, Boston Hart and Benjamin Stubbing, Household cost-of-living impacts from the Emissions Trading Scheme and using transfers to mitigate regressive outcomes . This Analytical Note ...
A coalition of public transport and climate organisations, united as ‘Transport for All’, is actively opposing the government’s transport proposals. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) includes plans for higher fares for public transport, ...
Greater Wellington is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing Policy covers the Council’s various sources of funding, and how the cost of services is shared across the region. This includes ...
Labour has conceded it could have done more to deal with disruptive state housing tenants while in government but says the current coalition is going too far. ...
The band has asked their record label to issue a cease and desist to stop the NZ First leader using their 1997 hit to support his ‘misguided political views’. “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” blared through the speakers on Sunday as Winston Peters took the stage ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
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 Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
SailGP’s races feature in-your-face action, with agile, hydro-foiling catamarans tacking and jibing for the title over several days. However, public comments ahead of the global series’ return to New Zealand have left this past year’s controversy in the shadows, as a key appointment attracts criticism from dolphin advocates. A year ...
Opinion: We are fast approaching a fundamental change in prisons. As the number of people on custodial remand looks set to overtake the number of sentenced prisoners, the main function of prisons in New Zealand may become incarcerating un-sentenced people who may not be guilty of offending. We have already ...
A huge seven months lies in store for the White Ferns, beginning this week with the visit of England and culminating with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October. Starting on Tuesday in Dunedin, the world ranked No. 2 visitors will play five T20s and three ODIs, ...
Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
Auckland Council is opposing a fast-track development backed by Sir John Kirwan and Spark NZ, because it doesn’t meet stringent new climate adaptation requirements The post Surf-data centre faces new 3.8C climate warming rules appeared first on Newsroom. ...
When the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was introduced in 2009 it was firmly targeted at gangs and drugs. The legislation means police no longer need a conviction to seize assets that criminals can’t prove were paid for legitimately, as long as their alleged offences are punishable by more than a ...
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Bob’s relationship with certain members of Lincoln’s academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clark’s 1993 piece in Growing Today cannot have pleased the university management. Clark wrote that Bob was selling onions from the Biological Husbandry Unit to a ...
The letters, which were published last week, were addressed to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri, National Democrat Party (NasDem) Chairperson Surya Paloh, National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar, Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) President Ahmad Syaikhu and United Development Party (PPP) Chairperson Muhammad Mardiono. In ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
The government says it still intends to deliver tax cuts by July, but will not lock them in until they have got them past their coalition partners. ...
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 !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK7yz-_0_pU
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.
🙂