Open mike 06/10/2023
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6:00 am, October 6th, 2023 - 38 comments
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Well, I've been there, sitting in that same chairWhispering that same prayer half a million timesIt's a lie, though buried in disciplesOne page of the Bible isn't worth a lifeThere's nothing wrong with youIt's true, it's trueThere's something wrong with the villageWith the villageSomething wrong with the villageSongwriters: Andrew Jackson ...15 hours ago - Government Forces Universities to Enforce “Free Speech” While Limiting Universities̵...
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AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...5 days ago - Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut
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- Thank You
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...1 week ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #50
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Hi,“What I love about New Zealanders is that sometimes you use these expressions that as Americans we have no idea what those things mean!"I am watching a 30-something year old American ramble on about how different New Zealanders are to Americans. It’s his podcast, and this man is doing a ...1 week ago - Chris Penk’s Hate Parade
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All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...1 week ago
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National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...2 days ago - Release: Minister’s plan for tertiary sector a backwards step
Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...2 days ago
- Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
- Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...3 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...3 days ago
- Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...3 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...4 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...4 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...5 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...5 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...5 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...5 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...5 days ago
- Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...5 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
- Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
- Luxon’s ‘localism’ strikes again
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...6 days ago
- Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...7 days ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
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The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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The panel after the minor party leaders debate was interesting in their analysis, but this reviewer felt the debate itself was unsatisfactory. Unfair, I reckon – nothing obviously wrong with the format. https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/10/06/felix-desmarais-whos-the-loser-in-minor-parties-debate/
The panel agreed Winston was the loser. Seymour seemed a prat misbehaving, when he wasn't pretending to be a robot. James showed some spine in his style of interaction with the dork. Rawiri came across well.
Significantly, apart from one mention at the beginning, the panel didn't discuss Seymour at all.
Act have peaked at 9% IMO, and with the Natz in steady decline, and Winnie showing he's past his use-by date, there's everything to play for.
As Bomber says, it's not over until the fat blogger sings.
Also significantly, early voting totals are well below 2020. Which might suggest that people have not yet decided how to vote, whereas in 2020 they'd made up their minds early on.
Take heart, lefties, it ain't over until it's over!
Yeah, can't disagree Tony. On the face of it Labour being 10% behind National makes it seem a foregone conclusion but I think you're right to be optimistic.
This electorate is disenchanted with both, so floaters are likely to wash up anywhere and if they watched the minor leaders debate I doubt any undecided would go for the two rightists. That 10% will decide the outcome, I reckon.
Tony so correct
. Apparently Chris Hipkins left isolation to some possible good poll news. I would not be surprised after Lux's mean comment the tax debacle plus Winston threatening Jack Tame, and icing on the cake of Act going down …. All good for the Left. Meantime we are working in step, looking like a Government in waiting.
The 'expert' panel afterwards were pathetic – not once did they discuss the actual content of what any of the leaders said. It was all ridiculous speculation about the impressions the leaders might have made and the motivations they might have had. They are courtiers, gossiping in the side halls of the palace about the powerful, who's in and who's out, calculating how to keep their careers alive. I had a sudden recall of what Walter Ralegh said about the Elizabethan courtiers: “Say to the court, it glows / and shines like rotten wood”.
In any case, Shaw was the only one with consistently sane responses across every topic that was discussed, though his reasonableness might seem dull to some. Waititi was pretty good on most topics, but I thought some of the things he said vaguely implied that he wanted parallel Maori political systems which would be hugely problematic constitutionally and in terms of getting public support. Seymour – a deluded, small state, leave it to the market libertarian straight out of the 1980's and personally just a bit weird. Peters is incoherent and irascible – very little of it makes any sense.
I get your angle on the thing. It was indeed displaying an aversion to substance & focus on style. Check out what these two younger gen folk thought: https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/06-10-2023/last-nights-multi-party-debate-was-all-chaos-no-conviction
Re separatism, I've always seen that as feasible in principle. I recall standing up after Mat Rata did his thing at the Trades hall, telling the crowd about MM's justice policy stand in favour of a separate Maori justice system. I'd been running justice policy for the Greens a couple of years by then (early '93). Didn't tell him that, just told everyone I agreed with him. Was the only person to actually do that in the meeting. Wanted him to know at least one pakeha male was willing to go public in support!
Re constitutional status, I'm open-minded. I contributed to Sir Geoffrey's revision right from the start when he appealed for help. Was extremely critical: sent in around 50/60 delineations of exactly what he got wrong. Consequently never got included in his list of helpers – despite giving equal reporting to all his points of merit! But typical Labour turkey, always fos…
I thought three waters would be a topic for discussion. Only mentioned once in passing by Seymour. Not quite the terrible socialist trick it was formerly made out to be so it seems.
Good point! A primary issue of contention mentioned only indirectly. Seems like a lapse in programme design by the producers – shoulda showed up on Tame's list of questions.
I hope that viewers noted that Seymour's first speech was to say that he didn't trust his probable coalition partner.
Luxon must have had his head in his hands most of the debate.
Well, I never saw that coming. Absolutely hammering England last night with a bits and pieces team due to injury. We were missing Williamson, Southee, and Ferguson.
We bowled well to restrict them for 282. Then chased that down in 36 overs for the loss of only one wicket. Conway made 152 no and Ravindra 123 no. If anything qualifies as a complete spanking it has to be this result
Yes, a comprehensive victory. Now – keep it up for the rest of the tournament!
Some recompense for the final that we drew but was stolen from us 4 years ago.
I still haven't got over it.
Henry bowled well.
We Cricket Tragics enjoyed that.
Has helped us through a bad coughing bug.
Looks like Ravindra can bat – at least in the subcontinent. Not sure whether he can bowl yet. Conway is class – a gift from the South African diaspora
Covid-19. Some (conspiracists, political candidates, et al) might like to forget this…
Covid -19 vaccination saved lives
Winston First and his Covid-19
trialsInquiry….would be an insult and a travesty. But we have already seen his response to Science/Facts.Vote Left !
And…Measles again.
Vaccine hesitant? Anti vaxx? Maybe they should think..
On the topic of Covid-19, Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman have been awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2023/press-release/
Truly..Life saving. Thanks for that link.
Don't forget the terrific reception we get with the 5g implants!!!
It would be nice to go to your grave as a Nobel prize winner knowing millions of people who may have never heard of you are alive and going about their business because of your discoveries.
Katalin Karikos story is exceptional, born very poor she was a brilliant student and has apparently been working since university at 18 on mRNA technology, almost 50 years of dedication. A huge personal thank you to her for my friends and family who are alive today .
We all try to do our little bit, whatever it is, to make a difference for others, don’t we?
If anyone missed last night's debate there's a useful summary here: https://www.newsroom.co.nz/minor-parties-face-off-for-tvnz-debate
Good to see James declared the winner by a bunch of non-Greens on that panel!
Luxon's performance review now online: https://www.newsroom.co.nz/performance-review-for-cm-luxon
Tim Murphy is co-editor of Newsroom. I liked his comprehensive description of the diverse role-plays Lux exhibited while out campaigning.
Read that and as expected Tim Murphy's National bias showed through. I knew before I read it given Murphy's Newsroom record. Such a review should have looked at the credibility issue which Luxon is so weak on.
I get the sense that Murphy's enchantment with neoliberal politics has suffered a Damascus moment in recent times.
Damascene?
If you listened to the the political commentators on RNZ's Morning Report just now you would have thought the election had already taken place and National had won.
No mention of National telling lies about its tax policy (its central policy) and getting badly caught out this week. Hardly a mention of the Greens fine polling or of TPM.
I would love the result to turn out Lab 29 Gr 15 TPM 4 just to see their smug faces drop. This is entirely possible.
Hi BG..I link this one? There was some comment about "coalition of chaos" sir Key's (imo plaintive…) call for true blue nat voting…Seymour/Peters belligerence/grudge fest and… other.
sir Key…
lol..so what the fuck does he know ?! Just a creep.
Anyway BG..I too look for the Left win.
Edit….ACT…oh yea, there fall has has been very satisfying. Not anywhere near where they were a month ago…Good : )
Oh and Chris Hipkins..out of Covid isolation. Cmon Chris !
Thanks for putting the link up psyc. I thought when they mentioned "Coalition of Chaos" it was in refence to Lab/Gr/TPM, but whatever. The irony is the real chaos has turned out to be on the Right.
On another issue, I'm not sure that Chris Bishop going on about "you will get a Wealth Tax if Labour gets in" earlier this week is a good tactic given that a study reported last week (I think) said that many people supported this and/or a CGT.
Yes some real chicken coming to roost, there for sure !
And James Shaw…showing what we ..always knew.
Cmon the Left !
RNZ national is the voice of the National Party .
1News is the voice of the National Party
1ZB is the voice of the National Party
That's how it folks, and there are plenty more like it in the media
Earlier this week a sign on my fence was defaced – it now reads “In it for
youme”.Every lie told incurs a debt to the truth, and sooner or later that debt is paid. But National's big donors won’t be paying, and you can take that to the (ANZ) bank.
So, some variations on a theme from the little blue book of National party ‘values’.
Get
New ZealandUnearned Income Back on TrackGet
New ZealandMega Landlords Back on TrackGet
New ZealandForeign Buyers Back on TrackSir seems to be salivating a little more than usual this morning…
And – it's gone.
Great post Drowsy.
Labour losing the campaign because of National tax policy has got to go down as one of the most predictable tragedies of our entire political economy.
Tax cuts of some kind by the NACTs were as predictable as night follows day. Never mind the seeds of discontent that started to sprout and firmly take root in 2020 leading to a more than usual widespread feeling for change. Certainly, Winston Peters tapped that vein well.
How low can Luxo limboooo…..Im sure the Limbo in the link is slightly different but IMO Christopher Luxon is getting limbo-lower: )
Pablo interesting as ever on the nasty in politics
https://www.kiwipolitico.com/2023/10/bully-pulpits-and-the-politics-of-nastiness/
“It is well known that National has been for some time looking to US rightwing spin doctors for campaign guidance and narratives (crime! waste! taxes!), but now Winston First and ACT’s David Seymour have decided to go full US conspiracy theory (Winston: globalists! mandates!) and pseudo-libertarian racist (David: free speech! bureaucrats! Treaty separatists!). The tone of politics in NZ has gotten cruder (see: Chris Bishop, Judith Collins) and more personal (e.g. treatment of Kiri Allen). The corporate media has clearly decided to go full Murdoch in approach (with a few exceptions duly noted) by stirring partisan and racial division and polemics, focusing on personal foibles and conflicts rather than platforms/proposals and going for “gotcha” moments rather than offering dispassion analyses of the policy platforms of the respective parties.”