One of the reasons why I started this site was to try, in even the smallest way, to move the political debate away from the right hate poor, left are communists diatribe that is too common in New Zealand politics. Fundamentally, I believe that everyone in politics, be they on the left or right, are sincere in seeking to improve the lot of everyone in society. Where they differ is the best approach to take.
Too many people and parties get bogged down with petty point scoring and bitching and moaning. We should find a way of talking together and working together to find “the best approach to take”.
I think that is a bit of naive wishful thinking, but most people probably are sincere in trying to improve things for everyone, even if they may err a bit in practice.
See, that’s just the sort of place that sort of muddle headed thinking gets you to.
ACT is extreme not because “many on the left” like to say they are. It’s because the overwhelming majority of the population don’t agree with their ideas. Their ideas are on the fringe of what the population thinks, ergo, extreme.
When people start masturbating about ‘left’ and ‘right’ are meaningless, or how we all need to set aside our pointless bickering and accept the sensible truth, what they are doing is saying, put aside your disagreements!
In a representative system, certain people will seek to represent. And enjoy and protect the privileges that come with it. So they cleave to a political position or vehicle that might deliver them the ‘right’ to hold that they are the thoughts and words of those who vote for them and to instigate (with caveats) policies accordingly.
Some may well have a more genuine motivation than others, but the result is the same; privilege and position. And over time, any successful platform will become controlled by less genuine or ‘pragmatic’ personages and any ‘uncomfortable’ aspects of the original political platform jettisoned.
Uncomfortable aspects of a political platform might be broadly characterised as those that would dilute or challenge the efficacy of the platform to ‘perform’ in the context ( in our case) of an over arching market system.
So, Labour Parties became steadily less aspirational and challenging until they dumped their socialist pretensions altogether in the name of pragmatism and sought to merely blunt the edges of neo liberalism.
Green Parties throughout the world have also became became more ‘pragmatic’ in their desire to assume positions around the table of governance.
The problem for them is that as they seem to develop more successful strategies for securing political power, they become increasingly distant from their support base. There then (inevitably) comes a time when the previously ‘taken for granted’ and frustrated support base puts their weight behind a nascent ‘more representative’ platform and they fade. And the dynamic of compromise and churn goes on.
The crux of matter is that our representative system is subject to the market system rather than society; meaning that ‘legitimate’ solutions or programmes can only be those that adhere to market principles. (The source of the caveats mentioned above)
If we are going to move beyond ‘left’ and ‘right’, then we have to move beyond the economics that births ‘left’ and ‘right’. And crucially, we need to develop democratic systems of governance in the stead of representative systems of governance.
That might work if you had politicians who were willing to discuss the best way forward. Do you think Mr I’m-rich-you’re-not-you-are-just-envious-eat-that-Key is in the least interested in finding a way to equity?
One of the most common criticisms of him is he is too middle of the road and won’t initiate much change. He’s a pragmatic compromiser, so I think your assessment is wrong.
Key could have taken National and Act alone in coalition, but he chose to include the Maori Party. That has allowed him to find the best moderate way forward.
Trying to paint Key as an extreme rich prick keeps backfiring because he comes across naturally as an ordinary sort of easy going bloke to most New Zealanders. There’s only a few that hate that.
He has himself used the “envy of the rich” line and he has said the poor lining up at food halls “made bad life-style choices” and he has refused to meet with examples of the struggling poor. I cannot believe that the people will continue to see him as “naturally as an ordinary sort of easy going bloke.” Sooner or later he will have to answer searching questions as PM.
The issue that Carol has pointed to should throw daylight onto his Credibility V good bloke.
PeteG. Do think that there is an issue over Jon Stephenson?
Do think that there is an issue over Jon Stephenson?
Possibly but I don’t know anywhere near enough to make a judgement. There is weird stuff on both sides of the argument.
Many people have and do “made bad life-style choices”, and it consigns some to being perpetually poor. It’s a sad fact of life. You can’t force people to budget well and eat well.
I have made temporary bad lifestyle choices in the past but have learned from then and don’t need to line up at the food bank.
Without the Maori Party, Key couldn’t have followed his ‘slowly, slowly catchy monkey’ strategy. ACT wouldn’t have countenanced it and the Nats would have been electoral toast by now as ACT would have compelled them to put the ‘peddle to the metal’.
“Key could have taken National and Act alone in coalition, but he chose to include the Maori Party. That has allowed him to find the best moderate way forward.”
More like, Key brought the Maori party for a few glass beads to make himself look Moderate.
Key is not a pragmatic compromiser, he’s just biding his time. If you want an example of compromising your principles for ??? have a look at what happened to the Lib Dems in UK yesterday. People generally want a party to represent themselves, and themselves all have different priorities.
I don’t hate Key or envy his wealth because just by viewing him on the TV I think he’d be a crashing bore, too boring to hate.
He has had the sort of life where all the necessary things required have been there when he’s needed them: support from the state when his mother was left a widow, free education, a wife who did not mind looking the other way while he made money gambling in the big boys’ casino no doubt aware for there to be big winners there must also be big winners and IMHO a lack of conscience. Because of all fortunate happenings this has allowed him to assume wrongly that life must be like this for everyone and if he can do it why not them conveniently forgetting it’s a numbers game and that not everyone can be a CEO with the big earnings and therefore few worries.
Key’s affected blokiness is about as genuine as Jamie Oliver’s cockney accent.
Fundamentally, I believe that everyone in politics, be they on the left or right, are sincere in seeking to improve the lot of everyone in society.
Unfortunately, that’s not true. There’s this group called psychopaths that really are in it only to transfer wealth from the many to themselves. They almost always (greater than 90%) vote to the right of the political spectrum and can often be found in the upper echelons of business and right leaning political parties.
Yep those are the psychopaths. The *sociopaths* are the ones who can poison your cup of tea while maintaining an amiable smile and wave while you chat with them.
So did our PM lie about what happened when journalist Jon Stephenson rang him? And was this “lie” an attempt to divert from the SAS in Afghanistan issue?
Scoop can confirm that the attack by the Prime Minister – along with statements made by Rhys Jones, the chief of defence force – will possibly be the subject of legal action. Stephenson today confirmed he is seeking legal advice in that regard.
For the record: Jon Stephenson categorically rejects any suggestion that he impersonated 3News political editor Duncan Garner when Prime Minister Key returned his phone call. Stephenson says on answering, he identified himself immediately, and it seems he has a witness to that – notable political commentator Chris Trotter.
Jon Stephenson also categorically rejects the Prime Minister’s claim that Stephenson contacted Key at 11pm. Stephenson says that statement is incorrect, and states his phone records can confirm this, as can Chris Trotter.
Finally, Stephenson categorically rejects Prime Minister John Key’s claim that he hung up on Stephenson. Stephenson says they both had an amicable discussion that lasted for at least one minute – possibly two. He says there was no unpleasantry on either side. In fact, Stephenson says Key was “surprisingly friendly”.
Scoop understands that some time later the Prime Minister’s press secretary Kevin Taylor filed a formal complaint with the Sunday Star-Times about the call where various allegations were made. The complaint – which Stephenson says was the first he had had as a journalist in more than a decade – was dismissed.
Wow. Does this mean that Mr Key our Prime Minister lied? Surely not. And fancy Stuff printing that. Do you think that MSM will go with that? Surely not. (Irony.) This is a very important story Carol.
Extremely interesting that Captain Panic Pants on Fire seems to be making a hash of things. Where is the pressure coming from? These can’t just be unforced errors, the PM’s office is worried about something serious – but what? And is it something specific, or is it just anxiety about a whole lot of things lumped together (the reappearance of Brash being one).
Interesting that Key is using the late night call story again, just as he did with Mayor Williams in the Auckland Council Mayoralty. The lie worked for Key back then in sullying Williams in the press. Now the media are trying to show they are slightly objective by reporting Stephenson’s proof of Key’s lie. They had to; there was a witness.
Maybe people genuinely disagree about what the best balance is, and their desire to to the best for the country means that they will fight to do what they think is best. Crazy I know.
The best balance is that the majority of people with less money, less assets, less influence, and less likelihood of voting, should be increasingly disadvantaged (since they generally don’t matter in the long run anyways) to give me and my mates extra income and investment capital, and also more of my taxes back.
Also please zone housing such that none of them can afford to live in the areas near where I am.
That is clearly the best balance, without a doubt.
Mr Key said that “the world will be a better place without bin Laden.”
The question for our PM should be,
“Do you approve of the action taken by the USA in entering another country without approval, and carrying out an extra-judicial killing of a foreign national?”
The point of the question would be to better understand his philosophy and where NZ stands, and connects with Carol’s post.
I hate to upset your innocent thinking here but in America the porn market is as big as the church market so no doubt both markets are ‘coming together’ to save on advertising…
(I have posted essentially the same post on Kiwiblog – FYI )
I agree with the Supreme Court decision regarding the Valerie Morse ‘flag-burning’ on ANZAC Day.
Where are all the ACT Party members and Libertarians coming out in support of the Supreme Court decision?
If not – why not?
Those who disagree with this Supreme Court decision might like to consider how deep is their commitment to ‘freedom of expression’ and ‘peaceful protest’?
Those who disagree might like to consider how genuine is their commitment to the ‘democracy’ that those who died in these wars commemorated on ANZAC Day were supposedly defending?
Those who disagree might also care to remember what crimes against humanity have been committed under the guise of ‘flag-waving nationalism’?
That some people are totally opposed to war – which is the underpinning cause of why the soldiers whose sacrifices are being remembered – died in the first place?
That if those soldiers died for ‘democracy’ – which includes the right to ‘freedom of expression’ and ‘peaceful protest’ – then what greater respect can be shown for those rights, than respect for others who are exercising those rights, and expressing a view, including burning a flag, that some might consider ‘offensive’?
_________________________________
If you don’t know your rights – you don’t have any.
If you don’t defend the rights you are supposed to have – you lose them.
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,
Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,
…………………………….
Article 19. (Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 14. Freedom of expression
—Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek,receive, and impart information and opinions of any kind in any form.
Article 20 (Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
2. No one may be compelled to belong to an association.
________________________________________________________________________________
New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 16. Freedom of peaceful assembly
—Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly.
In Minnesota conservatives are trying to amend the constitution to ban gay marriage. Go watch how democratic Party Representative Steve Simon speaks to it.
Took me a moment to figure that he was speaking agin the motion. If <40% of Americans believe in the Evolutionary process does it surprise that maybe those same people would pass an Act banning homosexuality?
Its important to remember that we need nuclear weapons to defend ourselves against the hated human race who at any time may declare war, and so we must keep a gun to its head least it get any ideas. Thus we have been told that nuclear is the future of power and so subsidies were necessary both for military applications and for the future. Yes, you are doing you bit for future wars that will annihilate us all. The big industrialists also like the central planned and privately controlled power networks with guaranteed demand for their electricity product. All they had to do was take money from the government, and they’d be made for life.
But of course it hasn’t turned out like that. Little real science has been done into non-big nuclear energy, and reducing energy use has never been that profitable while an Arab elite sell the stuff to cheap for too long, so what’s a Human race to do? Well its like the chemical revolution that leads to worldwide drop in sperm count, live with it, accept it, create a narrative that squares it away.
“Using atmospheric nuclear testing done in the 1950s and 1960s that created widespread fallout and radiation-related diseases as comparison, CTBTO reports that
the levels detected at stations outside Japan up until April 7 have been far below levels that could cause harm to humans and the environment. ”
Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/305490#ixzz1LdKlIiPV
So detected but not yet nearly as damaging as those atmospheric tests.
“Where is the body?” Jones asked in another show. “My White House sources nine years ago, on record, confirmed that he had been killed and was frozen on ice.”
and apparently thawed out now for publicity purposes.
Last week’s Sunday Star Times had a chilling quote –
” Rotorua resident RangiMarie Bosma said she registered because Harawira was willing to challenge the government for change.
“We just want to be housed, clothed, fed, basically looked after. That’s what we’re fighting for.”
Fighting” for someone else to fight the government to give them a cruisy standard of living on a plate. Sad. “
Fighting” for someone else to fight the government to give them a cruisy standard of living on a plate. Sad. “
You’re clearly an asshole of the variety which thinks “Food banks are a lifestyle choice”
Notice when Bosma said she thought it was a right for NZ’ers to be housed, clothed, etc. you can guess that she probably didn’t mean DKNY, Country Road or any other “cruisy standard” lifestyle options – those are reserved for the wealthy, right?
“It actually involves the government keeping us safe from the thugs and the bullies, and I don’t resile from any of that.”
Hide is that bully; Hide is that thug. The Auckland takeover and the privatisation legislation that threw out the 75% required for Aucklanders to agree to sell the Ports of Auckland estate (huge amounts of land and buildings and future business income), that Hide the thug and bully wants to give to his and Key’s mates, is a perfect example.
I’m surprised that Hide doesn’t want 4 bovver boys too, to save him from the wrath of the people (who don’t actually know they are wrathful; Basher/Crusher Collins forgot to instruct them) that Key is being a jelly over.
It does make me laugh that all the misogynists and those who just wanted a change voted in a he-man but ended up with a hee-haw. It’s giving me an insight into a short man who wants to control and thinks he can with money and pm power but just comes off looking sad and needing v. to prop up his sadly declining mana. ( I knew he never had any but sooner or later everyone else will. I just hope we’re not too late. This year is crucial; remember Matthew Hooten’s spine chilling voice from the dustbin of ethics; just get back in again Key and then you can do what you really wanted to.)
The Nation on TV3 today had Switzerland born and Africa raised reporter Narelle Suisted repeatedly saying that the unemployed choose not to work because of a lifestyle choice. What a load of rubbish! Show me one beneficiary that has turned down a good job that pays more than the dole Narelle? This echos the Prime Minister’s contentious statement that beneficiaries go to food banks because of their own poor choices;
…the unemployed choose not to work because of a lifestyle choice.
Show me one beneficiary that has turned down a good job that pays more than the dole Narelle?
Choosing the dole over a paid job is, well, it’s a choice isn’t it? The dole isn’t supposed to be a choice, it’s supposed to help get by on until you can find a job.
And any job can be a help – it’s easier to get better paying jobs, work up the ladder a bit, if you have a work record. That’s a simple fact of employment.
I have chosen to work for less than the dole at times.
You’re fucking dreaming. Better to go to Australia and seek one of the 500,000 new jobs they are producing over there than work grovelling in a society which truly believes that low wages are an advantage.
(Advantage for whom? Oh yeah, advantage for the owners of capital).
Hey good on you for choosing to work for less than the dole, what did you feed your children or pay your mortgage with? **guffaw**
Couldn’t agree more Colonial Viper and Jum. It is abhorrent that beneficiaries are being blamed for not working when there are not enough jobs for them to be employed in. National has created more unemployment, while trying to blame the victims. It seems rather conceited when a millionaire tells a poor person it’s their own fault they have to beg. Next they’ll be saying that the poor shouldn’t have children… Oops! Too late.
Yes, Todd, I thought exactly the same as you when I heard this plonker.
Switzerland – hid money from NAZIs
Africa – people stolen for slave trade; country ravaged by aids and transnational destructive economic habits.
Interesting combination in a person now in NZ and speaking for the right. I am always interested to hear why people choose to come to New Zealand. Was it a choice or was he a refugee? How long has he been here? What does he want from New Zealanders? Does he want to change something about New Zealand or New Zealanders that we don’t want to change? If he does want change yet chose to come here because he liked New Zealand as it was, then why is he trying to change it? This is New Zealand not Switzfrica.
It will change by itself, hopefully not through the destructive machinations of Key and the NZ Business Rotundtable, Joyce and Brash, the hollow men circa 2002-11. Of course the Rotunds have been working their neo-nastiness many decades before this. Key is an acolyte, conceived in NZ, and micromeshed in the caves of Mordor – I think that’s somewhere near Washington USA.
I hope this man is not like an individual who came to live in my district and after a year wanted the power trustees to sell off the shares from which we received a lovely Christmas bonus of zero power bills. Wow! It could have been the same guy. Who knows.
Narelle Suisted is female, although the National driven “fuck the poor” attitude is confusing. The right-wing being dominated by old white men and all. It might be that the Natz are headhunting people like her as the public tend to believe a pretty face, even if it is spouting bullshit! It’s a shame that the hollow men’s sickness is catching. Let’s hope that the likes of the Greens and Labour offer a panacea before we have an epidemic.
Shoddy and dishonest alright, unsubstantiated bullshit by the taxpayer funded TV3. She apparently did not interview even one of these alleged ‘lifestylers’, not even engaging heresay, only ‘my say’ and found time to have on camera well known tory FNDC Mayor Wayne Brown. Even Phil O’Reily sounded moderate after this bilious fact lite smear on the North.
Narelle Suisted = one of the privileged class b*yarches who has no idea of the miserable poverty entrenched lives that hundreds of thousands of NZ’ers live as part of their “lifestyle choices”.
Interestingly, I bet she knows lots of classmates who are struggling to get decent work in NZ – but she has already abandoned them.
Now Phil Goff and Key are speaking at the Grey Power conference today in Hamilton. I just wonder who will get all the TV and media time.
I have no doubt who , so where is the equalty ?
It shows that the myths that the right wing (and PeteG) perpetrates about welfare and welfare recipients needs to be broken once and for all so that real help can be given to the people who need it.
And of course, the best way for getting people off the benefit? Good jobs earning good pay. At least $16/hr IMO.
I think most of that Australian report can give insights into the New Zealand dynamic. However one of the major contrasting factors is:
As unemployment has fallen, the profile of income support recipients has changed. Most people who are ready for employment and have the skills required by employers can now get a job quickly.
The New Zealand equivalent would be something like:
After incurring a large student loan and being ready to work, the unemployed person cannot find a job in New Zealand and moves to Australia.
or
After undertaking rehabilitation and being ready to work again, the sickness beneficiary was no longer eligible for a benefit because they did not consent to sterility treatment and joined the Mongrel Mob to undertake a life of crime.
or
After searching for a job for two years, the unemployed person got fed up with being demoralised by WINZ and started manufacturing P so they could afford a deposit on a house.
It is so tempting to get involved in arguments about personalities and styles of pollies. What about policies? When do these get the same passion and interest from those on this blog. Not often, and not many.
I was listening tonight to a repeat of the interview on Radio NZ with USA retired Judge He made the comment that many of the USA sentences are not serving the interests of justice. I take that to mean that retributive and punitive people have taken control of the justice system and want to impose the most ‘heinous’ punishment available to them. We are following in their footsteps because we are a bunch of simple followers of the Big Important English-speaking Countries at the executive level anyway..
In NZ we should be calling for lesser prison sentences but instead our system is separate from all the scrutiny and overview of government dealings to try and achieve savings and more efficiency. Why can’t we turn around the punitive thing for prisoners who aren’t psychopaths? Provide them with immediate help and training and thinking sessions in philosphy etc. New ideas, wow! Many of them haven’t thought outside of the square they were born and raised in and the weight of the negative attitudes and the defeating peer control has left them without any idea of an alternative way. Let them out after training on a prove yourself or you are in again policy. Try something new. Make the word innovative not punitive and not make people’s badness, foolishness and misery a profit centre for private enterprise.
That’s incorrect. The government does have a long term plan for the economy – hand it all to themselves and their rich mates. It’s the same as their short term plan.
Goff, and Labour, do seem to have been working on something but are keeping it quiet.
I wonder where Graeme Hart and his ilk get the finances to buy these leveraged buy-outs as I presume this was? Local banks or tax havens from the Bahamas, Cayman Islands etc. These speculators have been able to buy corporations in the same feckless way that private individuals have been able to use leverage to buy housing they otherwise wouldn’t have been advanced credit for.
Kenyan security officials have deployed armed security offices in the home of Mama Sarah Obama, the paternal grandmother of US president Barak Obama, in Kogelo, western Kenya.
According to the Kenyan security authorities, the heightened security is in response to threats made earlier this week by al-Shabaab, an al Qaida-linked insurgent group that is fighting to overthrow Somalia’s UN-backed government in Mogadishu, over the killing of Osama bin Laden.
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Seymour smirked at his reflection.Hi he said.Hi Hi Hi Hi the different reflections from the mirrored surfaces around the bathroom responded. Those days are over he thought, no more having to knock on every bloody door in Epsom - everybody knows my name now.The theme tune to Cheers ran through ...
Last Sunday, we looked out across the seas to, of all places, the USA for inspiration and hope. We're going back again today to visit Joe Biden.But first, an octopus. Arguably this creature with more neurons in its arms than head qualifies as this planet’s first intelligent being.Arguably it also qualifies ...
When I left academia in 2011 I was forced to stop two book projects that were in the works. Without institutional support and resourcing it is impossible to conduct in-depth academic research that requires field research in foreign countries and … Continue reading → ...
Buzz from the Beehive Defence Minister Andrew Little, addressing big-wigs from around the world in Singapore, was oh-so-diplomatically disinclined to identify some countries as goodies or baddies in his government’s defence thinking. In his Speech To The IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2023, he did say New Zealand’s most recent defence assessment ...
This week’s hoon included Wellington City Councillor Tamatha Paulon the politics ofLets Get Wellington Movingand the great battle for the Thorndon Quay cycle way. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTLDR: The week’s news in Aotearoa’s political economy I covered via The Kākā for subscribers included:The Labour Government’s ...
Morning all,I’ve been taking a look at some of the new features Substack have released and I’m keen to find out how you access newsletters. Some of the features are only available on certain platforms.Whether you use a mobile device like a phone or tablet, or a PC or laptop. ...
Hello! This is the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the week.Here’s what you may have missed.Last Sunday’s column had a genuinely inspiring story about political leaders getting huge things done in the face of culture wars and conservative resistance. Readers told me this should ...
Steven Levitt, famous for his Freakanomics, shows that being an economist is not just mouthing supply and demand.Anyone can call themselves an ‘economist’. Many do, despite having no qualifications in economics and hardly any formal training; they often make elementary errors. That is the result of a conscious decision of ...
Over the years, we've published several calls for help with translations but most of them were rather generalized in nature like last year's blog post published in February 2022. This time around, we are asking for help with a quite specific task, namely to update existing translations for the rebuttals included ...
1. By what name is this work of art known?a. The Drowning Dog, Francisco Goyab.The Temptation of St Anthony, Hieronymus Boschc.Saturn Devouring His Son Peter, Paul Rubensd.Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown Waves To A Stuff Journalist Through A Window, Stuff Photographer Ricky Wilson2. Who was in the news ...
An effective campaign against the RMA reforms will be a nightmare for Hipkins.Graham Adams writes – After a Budget that failed to excite voters and a lacklustre party conference where his senior colleagues faintly praised him for his proletarian taste in food, the very last thing Chris Hipkins ...
Buzz from the BeehiveEducation Minister Jan Tinetti brings news of a book of rules for school board members at the same time as her own grasp of Parliament’s rule book has been brought into question. Tinetti has announced a compulsory code of conduct to “ensure school board members are ...
Photo by Branden Tate on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour from midday (my apologies for the late start today), including:the Government’s vague promise of sharing the costs of cyclone rebuilding and buy-backs ...
Last night was a big night for our most celebrated radio presenter.Mike Hosking was named the Sir Paul Holmes Broadcaster of the Year - for the third straight year - as well as Best Talk Presenter (breakfast/drive) at the New Zealand Radio awards. Do you feel proud Aotearoa?In the presenter category ...
Speak of the devil. The Australian website Crikey has just launched an investigative series about the notorious lobbying firm Crosby Textor, or C/T as it now prefers to be called. It transpires that two clients of C/T’s American subsidiary will benefit greatly from the AUKUS defence pact between the US, ...
Aotearoa’s failure to deal with the escalating pace of human-induced climate change was starkly on display yesterday. Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: Our planet is now warming and generating extreme climate events faster than our politicians, voters and institutions can agree to reduce the costs and share the burden of those events ...
It’s Friday and we’ve got a long weekend ahead of us. Here’s our latest roundup of stories that caught our eye this week. The Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt reviewed National’s new housing policy. On Tuesday Matt looked at some of the highlights from Auckland Transport’s ...
The facts are bald and simple; India is now the most populous country in the world and the fifth largest economy and is on track to becoming the fourth. Despite that, New Zealand’s relationship with India could best be described as in its infancy, even though New Zealand has ...
Open access notables Multiple studies indicate changes in the properties of Antarctic bottom water (AABW) over the past half century. These changes involve density and hence will affect both local and distant circulation of the oceans, not least overturning effects that are vital for marine biology but also climate and ...
Completed reads for May: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, by Jules Verne Gulliver’s Travels, by Jonathan Swift Journey to the Centre of the Earth, by Jules Verne Round the World in Eighty Days, by Jules Verne The Secret of the Island, by Jules Verne From the Earth ...
Ben Roberts-Smith is apparently "Australia’s most decorated living soldier", having won a Victoria Cross for killing people in Afghanistan. But today, after a stupendous self-own defamation case, he's also been proven to be a war criminal who committed multiple murders: Ben Roberts-Smith VC, Australia’s most decorated living soldier, has ...
Hey Uncle Dave, My house got wrecked in the summer floods. Do you know if the government’s got any plans to help me, or are they too busy making bilingual road signs?Noah InsuranceYou picked a good day to ask, Noah, the Govt has just announced there’ll be an offer of ...
The government has looked at imposing a tax on nitrogen fertiliser, used heavily in NZ agriculture, but yesterday Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor conceded he had not convinced farming leaders to go ahead with it. ACT”s Mark Cameron claimed credit in Parliament for “killing” the plan. Both Federated ...
Are women the new Māori?Since Christopher Luxon has been leader National have shown they’re prepared to throw Māori under a bus. Be it not wanting them to have a seat at the table on water management, referring to the Treaty as a “little experiment”, or the monocultural candidate selection polices ...
Are women the new Māori?Since Christopher Luxon has been leader National have shown they’re prepared to throw Māori under a bus. Be it not wanting them to have a seat at the table on water management, referring to the Treaty as a “little experiment”, or the monocultural candidate selection polices ...
Buzz from the Beehive An email from Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta had yet to be posted on the government’s official website, when Point of Order made its morning check on our ministers and what they are (officially) up to. She was providing us with an account – a ...
Multiple reviews are examining options to address a $25M to $40M funding hole in its operating budget and a reported $300M, 70,000 hour maintenance backlog for huts, tracks and visitor assets.Thomas Cranmer writes – Following Friday’s revelation that Budget 2023has left the Department of Conservation ...
Property values fell a further 0.7% in May from April across Aotearoa, but Core Logic sees evidence in the data “the current downturn is winding up.” Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: There are fresh signs this morning the housing market-with-bits-tacked-on economy is brightening up going into winter, and just ...
This is a cross post by Malcom McCracken at Better things are possible. It was from between when National signalled their change in housing policy but before they announced it but highlights why the Medium Density Residential Standards are important. Yesterday, the leader of the National Party, Christopher Luxon, ...
Do the global climate models (GCMs) we use for describing future climate change really capture the change and variations in the region that we want to study? There are widely used tools for evaluating global climate models, such as the ESMValTool, but they don’t provide the answers that I ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). The world is getting hotter and the headlines are scary. So does climate change mean the world is about to pass ...
Politik (paywalled) reports that He waka eke noa, the farmers' scam to have the rest of us subsidise their emissions forever, so they can keep on destroying the planet, is dead: Reality appears to be about to shatter Jacinda Ardern's dream that New Zealand could lead the world in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two ministerial press statements today draw attention to the Government’s incorporation of mātauranga Māori in its science policies and programmes. One of these announced the launch of the national space policy, which will oblige our space boffins to bring indigenous knowledge into their considerations. The ...
The Stations of the Cross, as all of us know from our devout and Godly ways, is a series of fourteen stations that depict the final hours in the story of Christ our Lord - appearing before Pilate, shouldering the wooden cross, whistling the Monty Python tune, so on and ...
The Stations of the Cross, as all of us know from our devout and Godly ways, is a series of fourteen stations that depict the final hours in the story of Christ our Lord - appearing before Pilate, shouldering the wooden cross, whistling the Monty Python tune, so on and ...
The Green Party are today launching a campaign asking for people to submit their stories of subpar, substandard and downright awful experiences of renting in Aotearoa. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the draft report of the Independent Electoral Review and challenging all political parties to commit to implementing its final recommendations after the 2023 general election. ...
Today, Te Pāti Māori announce Takuta Ferris will contest the Te Tai Tonga seat at this year’s General Election. “Takura ran for the Te Tai Tonga seat for Te Pāti Māori in 2020. It takes tremendous courage and commitment to put your hand up for another round in the ring ...
Focussed immigration has always been essential to our future, but New Zealanders need to be aware of the immediate dire situation our government is putting us in with a predicted record of one hundred thousand new immigrants moving to New Zealand in this year alone. That means we will have ...
Today, President of Te Pāti Māori, John Tamihere has confirmed that Heather Te-Au Skipworth will stand for Te Pāti Māori in the Tukituki electorate this election. ...
During New Zealand First coalition negotiations our policy was to train and resource 1800 new frontline police. We secured this coalition policy win to ensure our streets had a police force that could tackle crime - after years of neglect. Remember those previous nine years of neglect saw a ‘tag ...
Katie Kenny from Stuff published an article today with a lazy attempt at so-called ‘fact checking’ my recent comments on the World Health Organisation’s concerning new regulations being developed. What is most surprising is that throughout this entire ‘fact checking’ process, Kenny never once rang me asking for my side ...
The National Party has released another confused and rushed policy that will only further worsen the inequality that is driven by unaffordable housing. ...
Welcome to sunny and calm Wellington, which I know those of you who are visiting would of course expect to be the case. It’s been a busy week since we put forward the 2023 Budget. Labour MPs have been out across the motu giving the good oil on the Budget. ...
Kia orana, Talofa lava, Mālo e lelei, Taloha ni, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Noa’ia e mauri, Ni sa bula vinaka, Kia ora, Tena Koutou Katoa. Labour Party President Jill Day, Prime Minister Hipkins, Party faithful, delegates and comrades, whānau and friends, it’s a privilege to be here today. I begin my ...
One of my kaumātua up North stood before the Waitangi Tribunal and said: ‘He aha kē ahau, te tangata kore hara i mua i te Atua, e tu nei kia whakawaatia e koe, te tangata tāhae, te tangata hara, te tangata kore tikanga?Ko koe kē te tika, kia tū ...
New Zealanders will be highly concerned that the World Health Organisation proposes to effectively take control of independent decision making away from sovereign countries and place control with the Director General. W.H.O International Health Regulations on future outbreaks of disease aim to give the Director General extraordinary and wide-sweeping powers. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to take responsibility for reducing inflation by taxing wealth instead of leaving RBNZ to continue hiking the Official Cash Rate. ...
The Green Party has released its list of candidates for the 2023 election. With a mix of familiar faces, fresh new talent, and strong tangata whenua voices, this exceptional group of candidates are ready to set the direction of the next Government. ...
Thank you for your invitation to be here, after yesterday's budget, and for the opportunity to talk with you. In the economic and social turmoil following the arrival of COVID 19 in New Zealand many concerns emerged. How would we keep our economy going and maintain our exports which are ...
The Māori Budget this year continues our proud track record of investing in whānau wellbeing, access to whare, and whakapapa, all of which support our Government’s plan to address the cost of living. ...
At the heart of Budget 2023 is a cost of living package, designed to ease the pressure on New Zealanders in the face of global inflation and the challenges of rebuilding from extreme weather events. It provides practical cost of living relief across some of the core expenses facing Kiwis ...
A proposed temporary law change would enable rural Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti landowners dealing with masses of cyclone and flood debris to burn mixed waste so they can replant and return their land to productivity, Environment Minister David Parker said today. The proposed short-term law change would ensure that any ...
Legislation introduced in Parliament today will ensure New Zealand’s emergency management system learns the lessons of recent and previous responses to natural disasters, including severe weather events and other emergencies. The Emergency Management Bill replaces the two decades old Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002. “The strength of our emergency ...
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka met in Wellington this morning, reaffirming the strength and spirit of New Zealand and Fiji’s relationship, as outlined in the Duavata Relationship Statement of Partnership. “New Zealand and Fiji are connected by a kinship forged in Pacific culture, identity and interests, ...
Primary teachers have agreed to the Government’s pay offer which will see the top base salary step rise to $100,000 by December next year. The settlement will also see a number of improvements to primary teachers’ conditions, including more than double the classroom release time they currently have to ...
Associate Transport Minister Kiri Allan has announced the construction plan for the bridge on State Highway 25A that will reconnect the Coromandel peninsula, bringing more certainty to the region’s recovery efforts. “The Government is committed to reconnecting Coromandel communities quickly, and this plan to repair the damage along the highway ...
Tena koutou katoa and welcome to Parliament. It is a great pleasure for me to host you here today, for the second New Zealand Seafood Sustainability Awards. The awards started in 2020 and officially, are to be held every two years. But as with so many things, COVID got in the ...
Representation for women on public sector boards and committees is the highest it’s ever been with wāhine now making up 53.1 percent of public board and committee members,” Minister for Women Jan Tinetti said. Manatū Wāhine Ministry for Women’s 2022 stocktake of public sector boards and committees shows for the ...
A new law enabling sole parents on a benefit to receive child support payments for their tamariki was passed in Parliament today. “This change is estimated to lift as many as 14,000 children out of poverty and give families a median of $20 extra a week,” said Social Development and ...
Crack down on disposable vapes No new vape shops near schools or marae Restricted descriptions for product flavours The Government is taking action to reduce the number of young people taking up vaping, Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall has announced. “Too many young people are vaping, which is why we’re ...
Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will visit New Zealand this week, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. “Prime Minister Rabuka officially visited New Zealand in 1998, over 25 years ago, and we look forward to welcoming him here once again,” Chris Hipkins said. “New Zealand and Fiji have a long ...
The King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours List 2023 includes sporting stars and administrators who reflect the best of New Zealand’s sporting community. Sir Wayne Smith has been knighted for services to rugby. Sir Wayne was Assistant Coach of the All Blacks at the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups and ...
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa taki tini ‘My success is not mine alone, but that of the people” The King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours list 2023 celebrates Māori from all walks of life, reflecting the achievements of those who have made a significant contribution to ...
The strength and diversity of service in New Zealand is a standout feature of today’s King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours list, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said. “Each of today’s 182 recipients has contributed individually to our country. Viewed collectively, their efforts reflect an overwhelming commitment to service.” Chris Hipkins said. ...
The Defence Ministers of New Zealand and Japan have signed a statement of intent for closer defence cooperation between the two Pacific regional partners. Andrew Little and H. E. Yasukazu Hamada met to sign the ‘Statement of Intent on Defence Cooperation in Maritime Security, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and ...
New Zealand’s most recent defence assessment identified climate change and geostrategic competition as the two greatest security challenges to our place in the South Pacific. To the first issue, partners engaging and re-engaging with Pacific Island Countries are finding that climate change is a security and existential threat in our ...
The government is continuing to support rangatahi in providing more funding into Maori Trades training and new He Poutama Rangatahi programmes across Aotearoa. “We’re backing 30 new by Māori for Māori Kaupapa employment and training programmes, which will help iwi into sustainable employment or progress within their chosen careers” says ...
Murihiku Marae was officially reopened today, setting a gold standard in sustainable building practices as well as social outcomes for the people of Waihōpai Invercargill, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan says. “The marae has been a central hub for this community since the 1980’s. With the support of $9.65 million ...
The first major public housing development in Whangārei for decades has reached completion, with 37 new homes opened in the suburb of Maunu today. The project on Tapatahi Crescent and Puriri Park Road, consists of 15 one-bedroom, 4 two-bedroom, 7 three-bedroom, 8 four-bedroom and 3 five-bedroom homes, as well as ...
Trade and Export Growth Minister Damen O’Connor will depart tomorrow for London to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Trade Ministers’ Meeting and then to Paris to vice-chair the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting. “My travel to the United Kingdom is well-timed, with the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (UK FTA) ...
The Fuel Industry (Improving Fuel Resilience) Amendment Bill would: boost New Zealand’s fuel supply resilience and economic security enable the minimum stockholding obligation regulations to be adapted as the energy and transport environment evolves. “Last November, I announced a six-point plan to improve the resiliency of our fuel supply from ...
The Government is making sure those on low incomes will no longer have to wait five weeks to get the minimum weekly rate of ACC, and improving the data collected to make the system fairer, Minister for ACC Peeni Henare said today. The Accident Compensation (Access Reporting and Other Matters) ...
A compulsory code of conduct will ensure school board members are crystal clear on their responsibilities and expected standard of behaviour, Minister of Education Jan Tinetti said. It’s the first time a compulsory code of conduct has been published for state and state-integrated school boards and comes into effect on ...
Tena koutou katoa and thank you, Mayor Nadine Taylor, for your welcome to Marlborough. Thanks also Doug Saunders-Loder and all of you for inviting me to your annual conference. As you might know, I’m quite new to this job – and I’m particularly pleased that the first organisation I’m giving a ...
The Government will enter into a funding arrangement with councils in cyclone and flood affected regions to support them to offer a voluntary buyout for owners of Category 3 designated residential properties. It will also co-fund work needed to protect Category 2 designated properties. “From the beginning of this process ...
The Government has announced changes to strengthen requirements in venues with pokie (gambling) machines will come into effect from 15 June. “Pokies are one of the most harmful forms of gambling. They can have a detrimental impact on individuals, their friends, whānau and communities,” Internal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds said. ...
The total Police workforce is now the largest it has ever been. Police constabulary stands at 10,700 officers – an increase of 21% since 2017 Māori officers have increased 40%, Pasifika 83%, Asian 157%, Women 61% Every district has got more Police under this Government The Government has delivered on ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Nanaia Mahuta met with Korea President Yoon, as well as Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna, during her recent visit to Korea. “It was an honour to represent Aotearoa New Zealand at the first Korea – Pacific Leaders’ Summit. We discussed Pacific ambitions under the ...
The Government’s Research and Development Tax Incentive has supported more than $2 billion of New Zealand business innovation – an increase of around $1 billion in less than nine months. "Research and innovation are essential in helping us meet the biggest challenges and seize opportunities facing New Zealand. It’s fantastic ...
The next ‘giant leap’ in New Zealand’s space journey has been taken today with the launch of the National Space Policy, Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds announced. “Our space sector is growing rapidly. Each year New Zealand is becoming a more and more attractive place for launches, manufacturing space-related technology ...
A new Year 7-13 designated character wharekura will be built in Pāpāmoa, Associate Minister of Education Kelvin Davis has announced. The wharekura will focus on science, mathematics and creative technologies while connecting ākonga to the whakapapa of the area. The decision follows an application by the Ngā Pōtiki ā Tamapahore ...
Protecting the environment by establishing a stronger, more consistent system for freedom camping Supporting councils to better manage freedom camping in their region and reduce the financial and social impacts on communities Ensuring that self-contained vehicle owners have time to prepare for the new system The Self-Contained Motor Vehicle ...
A new law passed last night could see up to 25 percent of Family Court judges’ workload freed up in order to reduce delays, Minister of Justice Kiri Allan said. The Family Court (Family Court Associates) Legislation Bill will establish a new role known as the Family Court Associate. The ...
New Zealand businesses will begin reaping the rewards of our gold-standard free trade agreement with the United Kingdom (UK FTA) from today. “The New Zealand UK FTA enters into force from today, and is one of the seven new or upgraded Free Trade Agreements negotiated by Labour to date,” Prime ...
The Government will reform outdated surrogacy laws to improve the experiences of children, surrogates, and the growing number of families formed through surrogacy, by adopting Labour MP Tāmati Coffey’s Member’s Bill as a Government Bill, Minister Kiri Allan has announced. “Surrogacy has become an established method of forming a family ...
Defence Minister Andrew Little departs for Singapore tomorrow to attend the 20th annual Shangri-La Dialogue for Defence Ministers from the Indo-Pacific region. “Shangri-La brings together many countries to speak frankly and express views about defence issues that could affect us all,” Andrew Little said. “New Zealand is a long-standing participant ...
Research, Science and Innovation Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall and the Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang met in Wellington today and affirmed the two countries’ long-standing science relationship. Minister Wang was in New Zealand for the 6th New Zealand-China Joint Commission Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation. Following ...
5 percent uplift clearer and simpler to navigate Domestic productions can access more funding sources 20 percent rebate confirmed for post-production, digital and visual effects Qualifying expenditure for post-production, digital and visual effects rebate dropped to $250,000 to encourage more smaller productions The Government is making it easier for the ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs (Pacific Region) Carmel Sepuloni will represent New Zealand at Samoa’s 61st Anniversary of Independence commemorations in Apia. “Aotearoa New Zealand is pleased to share in this significant occasion, alongside other invited Pacific leaders, and congratulates Samoa on the milestone of 61 ...
The Government is continuing to support retailers with additional funding for the highly popular Fog Cannon Subsidy Scheme, Police and Small Business Minister Ginny Andersen announced today. “The Government is committed to improving retailers’ safety,” Ginny Andersen said. “I’ve seen first-hand the difference fog cannons are making. Not only do ...
The Government has received the first independent review of the Intelligence and Security Act 2017, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says. The review, considered by the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee, was presented to the House of Representatives today. “Ensuring the safety and security of New Zealanders is of the utmost ...
EU members at Massey University are bitterly disappointed that the Vice-Chancellor has continued to push ahead with disruptive and unnecessary plans to disestablish 178 administration and finance jobs only to establish 141 new roles. A preliminary ...
A group of concerned communities and businesses are today appealing to the Government to make a change that will stop the sudden and significant postal price increase that threatens to cut them off. From July 1, New Zealand Post is hiking its postage ...
The Asthma and Respiratory Foundation is disappointed by the new vaping regulations announced by the Government yesterday, saying they are inadequate to address the scale and seriousness of youth vaping in Aotearoa. "While we are pleased that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gavin Prideaux, Professor, Flinders University Dendrolagus ursinus, or Goodfellow’s tree-kangaroo.Shutterstock Kangaroos are an enduring symbol of Australia’s uniqueness. To move, they do what no other large mammals do: they hop along on oversized hind legs. So you may be surprised to ...
Xiaole Zhan’s vivid, award-winning essay about how music can shape the perception of one’s own body was originally published in Landfall 245. I am seventeen with naked knees hacking into the trachea of a dead sheep. The smell will stain me, like bloodshot snow, or the taste of cigarettes and ...
Chris Hipkins has met with his Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka in Wellington, offering financial support to the Pacific nation as it addresses the impacts of climate change. In a statement, Hipkins said he had an “inspired discussion” with Rabuka on how our two countries can further cooperate to combat climate ...
The Chairperson of the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee is calling for public submissions on the Fuel Industry (Improving Fuel Resilience) Amendment Bill. The bill aims to ensure that New Zealand has adequate fuel stocks to mitigate ...
This week on our pop culture podcast we talk Tina from Turners, Pete Evans’ new ‘do and the secrets of the Love Island villa from Iain Stirling himself. Eat, sleep, crack on, repeat – It’s Love Island week and we could not be more excited to return to ...
“Common sense, driven by Groundswell NZ, seems to be finally permeating the He Waka Eke Noa space. A tax on the world’s most efficient farmers is counterproductive to food security, pricing, and would drive emissions offshore and in greater volume ...
A Malaysian lawyer who petitioned for New Zealand to stop sending plastic recycling to developing countries will be facing off against industry groups in Parliament tomorrow. This Thursday morning, petition leader Lydia Chai will argue for a ban ...
Homelessness is traumatic for young people, with potentially lifelong impacts on their mental, physical, and emotional well-being. According to data by STATS NZ, almost 50% of all those experiencing homelessness in Aotearoa are tamariki and rangatahi. ...
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has released its most recent report on the use of animals in science , stating that 308,872 animals were used for research, testing and teaching in NZ that year, and nearly half (47%) of these animals were ...
Alex Casey chats to Love Island UK narrator Iain Stirling about creating voiceover magic, smoking around the firepit and the fatal flaw in Love Island NZ.Iain Stirling is holding up a small black case like a Deal or No Deal lady. He’s in his spare room in North London, ...
Leading road transport body Transporting New Zealand is calling on all political parties to make transport a top priority in this year’s election. The organisation has released the Road Transport Industry Platform for the 2023 General Election. ...
The Chairperson of the Justice Committee is calling for submissions on the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Rugby World Cup 2023 Extended Trading Hours) Amendment Bill. The 2023 men’s Rugby World Cup will take place from 9 September 2023 to 29 October ...
National’s unveiled a new election year policy dubbed “infrastructure for the future”, which the party said will address the country’s “yawning” infrastructure deficit. It includes a new National Infrastructure Agency that would help coordinate government funding and improve delivery, new partnership deals between the government and local councils to create ...
New Zealand Politics Daily is a collation of the most prominent issues being discussed in New Zealand. It is edited by Dr Bryce Edwards of The Democracy Project. Today’s contentMICHAEL WOOD AUCKLAND AIRPORT SHARES CONFLICT OF INTEREST Luke Malpass (Stuff): Michael Wood, the shares, and the taint of incompetence Thomas Coughlan ...
Duncan Greive has a story on The Spinoff this morning on the awards designed to recognise the service of frontline workers during the pandemic. A year on from the announcement of the awards, hundreds of seemingly eligible people and organisations have been turned down, while around 50,000 awards remain unclaimed. Greive spoke ...
In 2003, a crew member on a New Zealand research vessel snapped a photo of a funny-looking fish. This is the story of how ‘Mr Blobby’ became a deep-sea icon.With its slimy pink skin, bulbous nose and downturned mouth, Mr Blobby is one of the world’s most famous fish. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David King, Senior Lecturer in General Practice, The University of Queensland Pexels/Cottonbro Studio, CC BY Our noses perform important functions every day of our lives, but we often only notice when disease changes how they work. Our sense of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Cardilini, Lecturer, Environmental Science, School of Life and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University Gajus, Shutterstock Use of sodium fluoroacetate poison baits – commonly known as 1080 – to kill unwanted animals is widespread ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lucinda McKnight, Senior Lecturer in Pedagogy and Curriculum, Deakin University Shutterstock The world of writing is changing. Things have moved very quickly from keyboards and predictive text. The rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) means bots can now write ...
Primary teachers have accepted the latest collective agreement put forward by the education ministry – the fourth offer proposed following lengthy negotiations and strike action. In a statement, the head of the education union NZEI, Mark Potter, said the new agreement included significant wins for teachers. “The biggest win was ...
Fuel companies are preparing marketing campaigns to sheet home the blame for next month's rise in fuel prices – and controversially, to show motorists how to avoid paying ...
The National Party is standing by its call for Michael Wood to be sacked from all his ministerial posts. Wood, who retains his roles in the immigration and Auckland portfolio, was stood down as transport minister yesterday after it emerged he had continued to hold undeclared shares in Auckland Airport. ...
Michael Wood got parked as transport minister yesterday, his explanation about not selling airport shares found wanting. He’s the fifth minister to cause the prime minister problems since January, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grant Duncan, Associate Professor, School of People, Environment and Planning, Massey University Getty Images Among a host of other recommendations, the Independent Electoral Review has proposed a referendum on extending the term of parliament to four years (from the current ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grant Duncan, Associate Professor, School of People, Environment and Planning, Massey University Getty Images Among a host of other recommendations, the Independent Electoral Review has proposed a referendum on extending the term of parliament to four years (from the current ...
Jacinda Ardern announced military-style awards to formally acknowledge the pandemic’s frontline workers. But a year on, hundreds of seemingly eligible people and organisations have been turned down, while around 50,000 awards remain unclaimed.The early days of the pandemic were a blur for Terry Taylor. The president of the New ...
A small Canterbury community claims victory after a David and Goliath battle. David Williams reports. Plans to build a cattle feedlot in a tiny Canterbury valley, near one of the country’s most polluted lakes, have been pulled. Farm company Wongan Hills had been granted city council consent to build massive ...
They’re fielding candidates in the Māori seats for the first time in more than 20 years, but the question has to be asked – why? The National Party made headlines when it was announced they would field Māori electorate candidates in the upcoming election for the first time since 2002. ...
From riding in her Dad's rally car aged 12, school girl Bella Haggarty is now co-driving in some of the country's biggest events. Bella Haggarty is on a fast track to success. The 15-year-old from Rangiora is a Year 11 student at St Margaret’s College in Christchurch, but away from that, ...
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This comment by Joshua Hitchcock at Maori Law and Politics deserves more attention.
Too many people and parties get bogged down with petty point scoring and bitching and moaning. We should find a way of talking together and working together to find “the best approach to take”.
So we should all just be quiet and behave ourselves, because our betters, the Nact’s know what’s right for us, Yeah Right!
You don’t understand what Joshua is getting at? Or you don’t want to know about it.
“I believe that everyone in politics, be they on the left or right, are sincere in seeking to improve the lot of everyone in society.”
peteG, if this Quote taken from you comment is what Joshua believes, then he is either lying or is a deluded fool.
I think that is a bit of naive wishful thinking, but most people probably are sincere in trying to improve things for everyone, even if they may err a bit in practice.
So you don’t believe what you posted and you are telling us that you don’t mind lying to us when is suits you ends?
Own goal there peteG.
Gotta run .
NO ASSET SALES
Considering this quote from the main article I’d tend to agree with you.
See, that’s just the sort of place that sort of muddle headed thinking gets you to.
ACT is extreme not because “many on the left” like to say they are. It’s because the overwhelming majority of the population don’t agree with their ideas. Their ideas are on the fringe of what the population thinks, ergo, extreme.
When people start masturbating about ‘left’ and ‘right’ are meaningless, or how we all need to set aside our pointless bickering and accept the sensible truth, what they are doing is saying, put aside your disagreements!
That’s not democratic; it’s bullshit.
Yeah, if we’re good doggies we might just get thrown a bone.
Pete G.
In a representative system, certain people will seek to represent. And enjoy and protect the privileges that come with it. So they cleave to a political position or vehicle that might deliver them the ‘right’ to hold that they are the thoughts and words of those who vote for them and to instigate (with caveats) policies accordingly.
Some may well have a more genuine motivation than others, but the result is the same; privilege and position. And over time, any successful platform will become controlled by less genuine or ‘pragmatic’ personages and any ‘uncomfortable’ aspects of the original political platform jettisoned.
Uncomfortable aspects of a political platform might be broadly characterised as those that would dilute or challenge the efficacy of the platform to ‘perform’ in the context ( in our case) of an over arching market system.
So, Labour Parties became steadily less aspirational and challenging until they dumped their socialist pretensions altogether in the name of pragmatism and sought to merely blunt the edges of neo liberalism.
Green Parties throughout the world have also became became more ‘pragmatic’ in their desire to assume positions around the table of governance.
The problem for them is that as they seem to develop more successful strategies for securing political power, they become increasingly distant from their support base. There then (inevitably) comes a time when the previously ‘taken for granted’ and frustrated support base puts their weight behind a nascent ‘more representative’ platform and they fade. And the dynamic of compromise and churn goes on.
The crux of matter is that our representative system is subject to the market system rather than society; meaning that ‘legitimate’ solutions or programmes can only be those that adhere to market principles. (The source of the caveats mentioned above)
If we are going to move beyond ‘left’ and ‘right’, then we have to move beyond the economics that births ‘left’ and ‘right’. And crucially, we need to develop democratic systems of governance in the stead of representative systems of governance.
That might work if you had politicians who were willing to discuss the best way forward. Do you think Mr I’m-rich-you’re-not-you-are-just-envious-eat-that-Key is in the least interested in finding a way to equity?
One of the most common criticisms of him is he is too middle of the road and won’t initiate much change. He’s a pragmatic compromiser, so I think your assessment is wrong.
Key could have taken National and Act alone in coalition, but he chose to include the Maori Party. That has allowed him to find the best moderate way forward.
Trying to paint Key as an extreme rich prick keeps backfiring because he comes across naturally as an ordinary sort of easy going bloke to most New Zealanders. There’s only a few that hate that.
He has himself used the “envy of the rich” line and he has said the poor lining up at food halls “made bad life-style choices” and he has refused to meet with examples of the struggling poor. I cannot believe that the people will continue to see him as “naturally as an ordinary sort of easy going bloke.” Sooner or later he will have to answer searching questions as PM.
The issue that Carol has pointed to should throw daylight onto his Credibility V good bloke.
PeteG. Do think that there is an issue over Jon Stephenson?
Do think that there is an issue over Jon Stephenson?
Possibly but I don’t know anywhere near enough to make a judgement. There is weird stuff on both sides of the argument.
Many people have and do “made bad life-style choices”, and it consigns some to being perpetually poor. It’s a sad fact of life. You can’t force people to budget well and eat well.
I have made temporary bad lifestyle choices in the past but have learned from then and don’t need to line up at the food bank.
Without the Maori Party, Key couldn’t have followed his ‘slowly, slowly catchy monkey’ strategy. ACT wouldn’t have countenanced it and the Nats would have been electoral toast by now as ACT would have compelled them to put the ‘peddle to the metal’.
“Key could have taken National and Act alone in coalition, but he chose to include the Maori Party. That has allowed him to find the best moderate way forward.”
More like, Key brought the Maori party for a few glass beads to make himself look Moderate.
Gotta Run.
NO ASSET SALES
Key is not a pragmatic compromiser, he’s just biding his time. If you want an example of compromising your principles for ??? have a look at what happened to the Lib Dems in UK yesterday. People generally want a party to represent themselves, and themselves all have different priorities.
I don’t hate Key or envy his wealth because just by viewing him on the TV I think he’d be a crashing bore, too boring to hate.
He has had the sort of life where all the necessary things required have been there when he’s needed them: support from the state when his mother was left a widow, free education, a wife who did not mind looking the other way while he made money gambling in the big boys’ casino no doubt aware for there to be big winners there must also be big winners and IMHO a lack of conscience. Because of all fortunate happenings this has allowed him to assume wrongly that life must be like this for everyone and if he can do it why not them conveniently forgetting it’s a numbers game and that not everyone can be a CEO with the big earnings and therefore few worries.
Key’s affected blokiness is about as genuine as Jamie Oliver’s cockney accent.
Unfortunately, that’s not true. There’s this group called psychopaths that really are in it only to transfer wealth from the many to themselves. They almost always (greater than 90%) vote to the right of the political spectrum and can often be found in the upper echelons of business and right leaning political parties.
Yep those are the psychopaths. The *sociopaths* are the ones who can poison your cup of tea while maintaining an amiable smile and wave while you chat with them.
So did our PM lie about what happened when journalist Jon Stephenson rang him? And was this “lie” an attempt to divert from the SAS in Afghanistan issue?
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1105/S00056/state-of-it-pms-shoot-the-messenger-attack-a-smokescreen.htm
Wow. Does this mean that Mr Key our Prime Minister lied? Surely not. And fancy Stuff printing that. Do you think that MSM will go with that? Surely not. (Irony.) This is a very important story Carol.
Extremely interesting that Captain Panic Pants on Fire seems to be making a hash of things. Where is the pressure coming from? These can’t just be unforced errors, the PM’s office is worried about something serious – but what? And is it something specific, or is it just anxiety about a whole lot of things lumped together (the reappearance of Brash being one).
Carol,
Interesting that Key is using the late night call story again, just as he did with Mayor Williams in the Auckland Council Mayoralty. The lie worked for Key back then in sullying Williams in the press. Now the media are trying to show they are slightly objective by reporting Stephenson’s proof of Key’s lie. They had to; there was a witness.
What a 100% corrupt creep and liar JKeyll is.
“Fundamentally, I believe that everyone in politics, be they on the left or right, are sincere in seeking to improve the lot of everyone in society.”
Usually, improving the lot of one group disadvantages another group, and vice versa. Which of course is why we have politics in the first place
But it needn’t be a battle of opposites, it could be debate on the best balance.
Who says that’s what it isn’t?
Maybe people genuinely disagree about what the best balance is, and their desire to to the best for the country means that they will fight to do what they think is best. Crazy I know.
The best balance is that the majority of people with less money, less assets, less influence, and less likelihood of voting, should be increasingly disadvantaged (since they generally don’t matter in the long run anyways) to give me and my mates extra income and investment capital, and also more of my taxes back.
Also please zone housing such that none of them can afford to live in the areas near where I am.
That is clearly the best balance, without a doubt.
Mr Key said that “the world will be a better place without bin Laden.”
The question for our PM should be,
“Do you approve of the action taken by the USA in entering another country without approval, and carrying out an extra-judicial killing of a foreign national?”
The point of the question would be to better understand his philosophy and where NZ stands, and connects with Carol’s post.
http://www.politicalcompass.org/
Your political compass
Economic Left/Right: -5.12
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: 0.26
Um this test is flawed
Alternatively, your self image does not align with reality.
Well to be fair thats probably true of most people
Tried that: L/R 7.38
Soc.Lib/Authoritarian 5.44
Goodness I’m nearly holding hands with Ghandi. “How’s it going mate?”
It’s not the most accurate (it’s too simple) of tests but I don’t think it’s flawed as such.
Here’s mine
Economic Left/Right: -10.00
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -6.77
Mine
Economic -2.88
Social -4.00
Slightly south and left of a US centre. In NZ terms a dry centrist.
No real surprises there.
http://www.politicalcompass.org/printablegraph?ec=-7.75&soc=-3.90
Economics = -7.75 Left
Societal = -3.90 Libertarian
Yep that’s mine.
Not too surprising DTB, I’m not quite as left nor as socially libertarian as you.
US base. A average member of labour here would be regarded as a national threat there. Ask most Canadians..
Oh dear..
For God’s sake! Surely not. Hoots!
This is my favourite:
here
[lprent: that was a really messy link]
Joe90,
I hate to upset your innocent thinking here but in America the porn market is as big as the church market so no doubt both markets are ‘coming together’ to save on advertising…
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10723958
(I have posted essentially the same post on Kiwiblog – FYI )
I agree with the Supreme Court decision regarding the Valerie Morse ‘flag-burning’ on ANZAC Day.
Where are all the ACT Party members and Libertarians coming out in support of the Supreme Court decision?
If not – why not?
Those who disagree with this Supreme Court decision might like to consider how deep is their commitment to ‘freedom of expression’ and ‘peaceful protest’?
Those who disagree might like to consider how genuine is their commitment to the ‘democracy’ that those who died in these wars commemorated on ANZAC Day were supposedly defending?
Those who disagree might also care to remember what crimes against humanity have been committed under the guise of ‘flag-waving nationalism’?
That some people are totally opposed to war – which is the underpinning cause of why the soldiers whose sacrifices are being remembered – died in the first place?
That if those soldiers died for ‘democracy’ – which includes the right to ‘freedom of expression’ and ‘peaceful protest’ – then what greater respect can be shown for those rights, than respect for others who are exercising those rights, and expressing a view, including burning a flag, that some might consider ‘offensive’?
_________________________________
If you don’t know your rights – you don’t have any.
If you don’t defend the rights you are supposed to have – you lose them.
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS 1948:
PREAMBLE
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,
Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,
Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,
…………………………….
Article 19. (Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 14. Freedom of expression
—Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek,receive, and impart information and opinions of any kind in any form.
Article 20 (Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
2. No one may be compelled to belong to an association.
________________________________________________________________________________
New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 16. Freedom of peaceful assembly
—Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Penny Bright
http://waterpressure.wordpress.com
Wow.
Reframing for experts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXpOA3jPC04
This guy.
In Minnesota conservatives are trying to amend the constitution to ban gay marriage. Go watch how democratic Party Representative Steve Simon speaks to it.
Brilliant.
It sure was. Excellent point as well.
Awesome.
There are very smart, very good people in the US still.
Took me a moment to figure that he was speaking agin the motion. If <40% of Americans believe in the Evolutionary process does it surprise that maybe those same people would pass an Act banning homosexuality?
Update on nuke fallout:
http://www.vesica.org/main/holistic-health/articles/1162-radiation-update-april-2011
Its important to remember that we need nuclear weapons to defend ourselves against the hated human race who at any time may declare war, and so we must keep a gun to its head least it get any ideas. Thus we have been told that nuclear is the future of power and so subsidies were necessary both for military applications and for the future. Yes, you are doing you bit for future wars that will annihilate us all. The big industrialists also like the central planned and privately controlled power networks with guaranteed demand for their electricity product. All they had to do was take money from the government, and they’d be made for life.
But of course it hasn’t turned out like that. Little real science has been done into non-big nuclear energy, and reducing energy use has never been that profitable while an Arab elite sell the stuff to cheap for too long, so what’s a Human race to do? Well its like the chemical revolution that leads to worldwide drop in sperm count, live with it, accept it, create a narrative that squares it away.
Welcome to plutonium in your burger.
“Using atmospheric nuclear testing done in the 1950s and 1960s that created widespread fallout and radiation-related diseases as comparison, CTBTO reports that
the levels detected at stations outside Japan up until April 7 have been far below levels that could cause harm to humans and the environment. ”
Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/305490#ixzz1LdKlIiPV
So detected but not yet nearly as damaging as those atmospheric tests.
Birthers have made way for the deathers.
“Where is the body?” Jones asked in another show. “My White House sources nine years ago, on record, confirmed that he had been killed and was frozen on ice.”
and apparently thawed out now for publicity purposes.
Missed this one…
Fighting” for someone else to fight the government to give them a cruisy standard of living on a plate. Sad. “
You’re clearly an asshole of the variety which thinks “Food banks are a lifestyle choice”
Notice when Bosma said she thought it was a right for NZ’ers to be housed, clothed, etc. you can guess that she probably didn’t mean DKNY, Country Road or any other “cruisy standard” lifestyle options – those are reserved for the wealthy, right?
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1105/S00094/hide-blames-media.htm
“It actually involves the government keeping us safe from the thugs and the bullies, and I don’t resile from any of that.”
Hide is that bully; Hide is that thug. The Auckland takeover and the privatisation legislation that threw out the 75% required for Aucklanders to agree to sell the Ports of Auckland estate (huge amounts of land and buildings and future business income), that Hide the thug and bully wants to give to his and Key’s mates, is a perfect example.
I’m surprised that Hide doesn’t want 4 bovver boys too, to save him from the wrath of the people (who don’t actually know they are wrathful; Basher/Crusher Collins forgot to instruct them) that Key is being a jelly over.
It does make me laugh that all the misogynists and those who just wanted a change voted in a he-man but ended up with a hee-haw. It’s giving me an insight into a short man who wants to control and thinks he can with money and pm power but just comes off looking sad and needing v. to prop up his sadly declining mana. ( I knew he never had any but sooner or later everyone else will. I just hope we’re not too late. This year is crucial; remember Matthew Hooten’s spine chilling voice from the dustbin of ethics; just get back in again Key and then you can do what you really wanted to.)
Time to Cut Private Sector Benefits
http://thejackalman.blogspot.com/2011/05/time-to-cut-private-sector-benefits.html
The Nation on TV3 today had Switzerland born and Africa raised reporter Narelle Suisted repeatedly saying that the unemployed choose not to work because of a lifestyle choice. What a load of rubbish! Show me one beneficiary that has turned down a good job that pays more than the dole Narelle? This echos the Prime Minister’s contentious statement that beneficiaries go to food banks because of their own poor choices;
…the unemployed choose not to work because of a lifestyle choice.
Show me one beneficiary that has turned down a good job that pays more than the dole Narelle?
Choosing the dole over a paid job is, well, it’s a choice isn’t it? The dole isn’t supposed to be a choice, it’s supposed to help get by on until you can find a job.
And any job can be a help – it’s easier to get better paying jobs, work up the ladder a bit, if you have a work record. That’s a simple fact of employment.
I have chosen to work for less than the dole at times.
PeteG
I’ve chosen to work for nothing; what’s your point? I chose to work/volunteer for nothing because I had other means. These other people don’t.
Work up the ladder a bit?
You’re fucking dreaming. Better to go to Australia and seek one of the 500,000 new jobs they are producing over there than work grovelling in a society which truly believes that low wages are an advantage.
(Advantage for whom? Oh yeah, advantage for the owners of capital).
Hey good on you for choosing to work for less than the dole, what did you feed your children or pay your mortgage with? **guffaw**
Couldn’t agree more Colonial Viper and Jum. It is abhorrent that beneficiaries are being blamed for not working when there are not enough jobs for them to be employed in. National has created more unemployment, while trying to blame the victims. It seems rather conceited when a millionaire tells a poor person it’s their own fault they have to beg. Next they’ll be saying that the poor shouldn’t have children… Oops! Too late.
This is your lunch time fill in peteG? I think they are english not sure about the sex.
Yes, Todd, I thought exactly the same as you when I heard this plonker.
Switzerland – hid money from NAZIs
Africa – people stolen for slave trade; country ravaged by aids and transnational destructive economic habits.
Interesting combination in a person now in NZ and speaking for the right. I am always interested to hear why people choose to come to New Zealand. Was it a choice or was he a refugee? How long has he been here? What does he want from New Zealanders? Does he want to change something about New Zealand or New Zealanders that we don’t want to change? If he does want change yet chose to come here because he liked New Zealand as it was, then why is he trying to change it? This is New Zealand not Switzfrica.
It will change by itself, hopefully not through the destructive machinations of Key and the NZ Business Rotundtable, Joyce and Brash, the hollow men circa 2002-11. Of course the Rotunds have been working their neo-nastiness many decades before this. Key is an acolyte, conceived in NZ, and micromeshed in the caves of Mordor – I think that’s somewhere near Washington USA.
I hope this man is not like an individual who came to live in my district and after a year wanted the power trustees to sell off the shares from which we received a lovely Christmas bonus of zero power bills. Wow! It could have been the same guy. Who knows.
Narelle Suisted is female, although the National driven “fuck the poor” attitude is confusing. The right-wing being dominated by old white men and all. It might be that the Natz are headhunting people like her as the public tend to believe a pretty face, even if it is spouting bullshit! It’s a shame that the hollow men’s sickness is catching. Let’s hope that the likes of the Greens and Labour offer a panacea before we have an epidemic.
Shoddy and dishonest alright, unsubstantiated bullshit by the taxpayer funded TV3. She apparently did not interview even one of these alleged ‘lifestylers’, not even engaging heresay, only ‘my say’ and found time to have on camera well known tory FNDC Mayor Wayne Brown. Even Phil O’Reily sounded moderate after this bilious fact lite smear on the North.
Narelle Suisted = one of the privileged class b*yarches who has no idea of the miserable poverty entrenched lives that hundreds of thousands of NZ’ers live as part of their “lifestyle choices”.
Interestingly, I bet she knows lots of classmates who are struggling to get decent work in NZ – but she has already abandoned them.
Now Phil Goff and Key are speaking at the Grey Power conference today in Hamilton. I just wonder who will get all the TV and media time.
I have no doubt who , so where is the equalty ?
Excellent “Beyond Stereotypes” Australian Welfare report”
http://acoss.org.au/images/uploads/beyond_stereotypes.pdf
It shows that the myths that the right wing (and PeteG) perpetrates about welfare and welfare recipients needs to be broken once and for all so that real help can be given to the people who need it.
And of course, the best way for getting people off the benefit? Good jobs earning good pay. At least $16/hr IMO.
Graph p6 – Of the OECD countries NZ had the third lowest percentage of population reliant on income support (2004).
I think most of that Australian report can give insights into the New Zealand dynamic. However one of the major contrasting factors is:
The New Zealand equivalent would be something like:
Is the search function working yet? If no, let it be soon, please.
Fixed. Goes across to the US server so the indexing only runs on a single system.
It is so tempting to get involved in arguments about personalities and styles of pollies. What about policies? When do these get the same passion and interest from those on this blog. Not often, and not many.
I was listening tonight to a repeat of the interview on Radio NZ with USA retired Judge He made the comment that many of the USA sentences are not serving the interests of justice. I take that to mean that retributive and punitive people have taken control of the justice system and want to impose the most ‘heinous’ punishment available to them. We are following in their footsteps because we are a bunch of simple followers of the Big Important English-speaking Countries at the executive level anyway..
In NZ we should be calling for lesser prison sentences but instead our system is separate from all the scrutiny and overview of government dealings to try and achieve savings and more efficiency. Why can’t we turn around the punitive thing for prisoners who aren’t psychopaths? Provide them with immediate help and training and thinking sessions in philosphy etc. New ideas, wow! Many of them haven’t thought outside of the square they were born and raised in and the weight of the negative attitudes and the defeating peer control has left them without any idea of an alternative way. Let them out after training on a prove yourself or you are in again policy. Try something new. Make the word innovative not punitive and not make people’s badness, foolishness and misery a profit centre for private enterprise.
Prism
Good post.
Thanks Jum it’s good to know that someone reads mine sometimes.
Aww shucks, Prism…..
Anyway, back to the struggle.
Does anyone know where Graeme Hart keeps his money?
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1105/S00254/carter-holt-paper-assets-up-for-sale-reuters-reports.htm
Goff says Govt has no long-term plan to sort out the economy
But Goff doesn’t even have a short term plan – ah, maybe there’s a simple explanation for that.
Simple explanations seem to be your specialty peteG, so maybe you can enlighten us oh great one.
That’s incorrect. The government does have a long term plan for the economy – hand it all to themselves and their rich mates. It’s the same as their short term plan.
Goff, and Labour, do seem to have been working on something but are keeping it quiet.
with another donkey administration, they will continue their unfinished business of selling the country
give them another term and we’re finished
I wonder where Graeme Hart and his ilk get the finances to buy these leveraged buy-outs as I presume this was? Local banks or tax havens from the Bahamas, Cayman Islands etc. These speculators have been able to buy corporations in the same feckless way that private individuals have been able to use leverage to buy housing they otherwise wouldn’t have been advanced credit for.
Or borrowing against future earnings? If the profits slip then they can’t meet the payment so have to sell… I wonder if that’s what happened here?
For anyone who is interested in peak oil etc. there has been some very interesting discussion on this post over at Auckland Transport Blog.
another innocent to pay the price?
Another National Party “let’s frighten the public” to cut costs lie: Stephen Joyce announces that there has been fraudulent use of the Gold Card.
TVNZ assists with a hidden camera but makes no estimate of how frequent it might be. Doesn’t even ask Joyce about that.
Next thing Gold Card will be canned ? Because of unspecified level of fraud ? God, NZ media is piss limp in the main !
Despicable in fact.