According to the newsroom. Republished in stuff. Pounced-upon by the Little-obsessed James and shoved into into the faces of Labour supporters for the sly pleasure of a confidence-troll who revels in creating discomfort and division. All on a Sunday morning, early, when thoughtful, kindly people least expect such miserly-of-spirit behaviour.
James, your nit-picky, boringly repetitiousness snipes at Andrew Little are dull enough on a week day, but please spare us those on beautiful Sundays like this one. Get outside, James, let the sun wash away your bitterness. Breath some fresh air and think of someone other than yourself and Andy.
They’ve always “loved” whoever the deputy is, because they want to make people worriedf about leadership instability. If Little were deputy they’d love him too. It’s a transparent tactic.
Loving your contribution to the discussion today, James. Having a snippy critic of Andrew Little expose your churlisness so early in the piece gave all of us a chance to show our support for the Labour leader; an opportunity we mightn’t have taken, but for the opportunity you so thoughtfully presented.
Keep up the sterling work. Never let your tightness of spirit ease, you’re one of our best assets here on TS.
Indeed. You think he’s great – media seem to think he’s the problem.
But at the end of the day news postings about how he is the problem will have more of an impact as opposed to a few people on a blog that are generally all voting left anyway.
In fairness his surname could be his biggest handicap…words being soooo important, as we were all educated about (ad bloody nauseum) here on TS yesterday….
not give (a) tuppence
To not care in the slightest (about something or someone). ” I know that James has a crush on me, but to be honest I couldn’t give tuppence for him.”
If you do a bit of a search I think you will find you go around replying (and generally trying to insult on a lot of post I make) – not the other way around- so I think that it’s you that has the crush on me.
I’m not that way inclined- but if I was I would like to think I could do better than you. 🙂
Hi Grey
All is well here, in fact, the day is gloriously fine and sunny (and warm!) All my whanau are here today; sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters, most helping with a shared project involving canvas and ropes, poles and pegs 🙂
Hearing that for a while now from MSM against Labour. Yep, problems with Cunliffe, problems with Shearer, problems with Goff. Helen Clark has to go.. Of course Little is terrible too, from the MSM and not so M, SM sites.
Granny’s sister sites might get more readership if they actually print real news and if they want to talk politics about the 9 year legacy of the Natz as well as the failed neoliberal ideology of English. Since they are just an echo chamber from the centre right discourses they have no credibility.
Try reading this instead – a more accurate view of Andrew Little and his leadership .
FRIDAY, 5 MAY 2017
Telling The Story Of Labour’s List Differently.
All Good: As a result of Little’s recruitment of Jackson, Labour’s ability to attract Maori support has been enhanced. And, thanks to Labour’s List Moderating Committee, New Zealand will soon be appreciating the contributions of Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Jan Tinetti, Willow-Jean Prime and Kiri Allan.
Chris is getting his lines from McCarten. Not exactly “accurate” from the perspecrtive of anyone who realy supports Labour values. Labour already got plenty of Maori support thanks to (demoted) MPs like Mahuta. People should stop crying triumph for Jackson until he proves himself.
Wainwright
You make assertions, and I don’t think this one is right. Of course Trotter should listen to McCarten as he listens across the spectrum.
Also he will sometimes do a scenario piece of what might happen which doesn’t follow from an embedded viewpoint. So he can surprise, seem certainly left, centre, or right in particular posts.
I hope your ideas are not too embedded to enable you to correctly judge and make your pronouncements. Anyone who is absolutely certain they are correct all the time is someone to be wary of. I hope you aren’t here just to affirm your preconceptions.
Tha’ts a very nice little lecture, grey. Doesn’t cahnge the fact Chris has been talking complete bollocks for years, changes his spots on a weekly basis to try to look relevant, and gets all his good gossip from the Galbraith’s happy hour crew. If you want to give anyone a growling for ’embedded ideas’ why not Jenny, whose idea of ‘accuracy’ is based on ‘things that Jenny agrees with because she thinks th eLabour Party never does any wrong’?
Thank goodness that chris Trotter does try on different coats, think around his subjects, or we would get the same old thinking and assertions all the time from people whose minds have rusted over.
Chris Trotter has regularly been critical of Labour in recent years, and he doesn’t get “fed” lines. He’s not a favourite commenter of mine, but in this case I think he’s got a point. Labour’s list is actually pretty damn impressive and Little has shown some canny judgement in terms of Jackson. I admit that I was somewhat taken aback when his candidacy was announced, but then I’m not one of the people who’s being targeted by this move and I do acknowledge that Jackson would have added considerably to the Māori Party’s fire-power.
Canny judgment? You mean pissing off a helluva lot of people when he announced Jackson would be at the top of the list, then pissing of Jackson by not putting him at the top of the list? Those headlines have been great for Labour. And once again the hard work and loyalty of actual Maori MPs gets shafted for one of McCarten’s old Alliance buddies. You guys aren’t selling this very well.
James doesn’t like the fact that Andrew Little speaks with integrity and honesty and it worries him that people might just start analysing WHAT is being said instead of THE WAY it is said. The performing snake oil salesman has vanished without trace and people are starting to wake up that he was simply an illusionist. People also see how Trump got voted in the US and that entertaining attention-seeking is not the defining quality for a good leader.
People also see how Trump got voted in the US and that entertaining attention-seeking is not the defining quality for a good leader.
Seems to work for the RWNJs who really don’t seem to read up on what policies will actually do and just go on the shallow, feel good sound bites of such leaders.
But I try the Prime Minister test:
Little will be a more just and inclusive Prime Minister than Bill English.
Little will also be braver, less technocratic Prime Minister, because the expectations and momentum are so high upon him.
Even after his first term, I’m also confident of this: Andrew Little will not lie.
Put “will not lie” in a sentence with Bill English and you will choke on your Weetbix.
And as Prime Minister, LIttle will have earned it not inherited it.
I could not say that of Bill English. Which is why I already respect Little more.
Andrew Little takes his role seriously, unlike John Key, who wanted to be a creepy clown half the time. So Andrew Little is not going to be all jokey about important issues facing the country. He is true to himself.
Bill English – not exactly oozing charm and personality, if that is what you are looking for James. Have you been taking notes on how the operatives from Dirty Politics went about their “work”? Horrible people – who would want them as a friend, neighbour, relative?
The problem I have with Little is that he seems to have poor judgement. From time to time he opens his mouth and weird stuff comes out, without apparently having passed through his brain en route. I regard this as a problematic quality in a PM.
I’m sure he’s a good dude and is sincere and hard working.
It appears to be good enough for POTUS and let’s not even go to the obfuscating language and semantic back flips by John Key, for example. But obviously it is o.k. to have double standards for some but not for others …
Sure, Andrew Little and the Labour Party good do better in the PR department, etc., but what really counts is the policies and what they actually achieve once in Government.
A while back there was a post about a woman who was being released from jail on compassionate grounds due to cancer.
If I think back – I may have been in the “do the crime – do the time” camp.
Well she’s in the press again with her final interview.
Its sobering reading – having read it – I have no doubt that my original view of the situation was wrong and that the right decision was made for this lady. You couldn’t wish this on anybody.
That’s the trouble with you righties. You can’t recognise a true story when you see it. Everything is coloured by your tunnel-visioned view of anyone who isn’t the same as yourselves, or who have made some mistakes in their past life. They are to be punished for the rest of their lives.
I will give you full credit though for having the nous to fess up you were wrong.
Sorry James. I worded that very badly. You are correct. There are things where people from both sides can be in full agreement. In fact you left a comment yesterday (or the day before) that I thought was reasonable and fair.
My response was more an observation of right- wingers in general which many commentators here have noted before. It’ll try to be less hasty and more careful in future.
Anne – I wouldn’t be too apologetic.
It is of course excellent that James has changed his mind in this case and he should be congratulated for it wholeheartedly.
However his propensity to make the mistake in the first place is still a valid and very interesting area of discussion.
Anne -And comments like these just brass me off, ungracious, spiteful and condescending. I am a green voter and leaning more to the left than the right but by god, if that is what the left represents, good ridden’s.
Identity politics vs we are simply all individuals, Condescending attitude and some sort of morale superiority is common amoung hard lefties and it is why they alienate the masses They absolutely loose it when such is highlighted or the artifice of their beliefs are challenged and contradictions are high lighted
I mostly see such vile behaviour from the RWNJs. They really, really don’t like it when their beliefs are not only challenged but proved wrong. Still, they won’t change their beliefs.
And this thread is mostly Anne being corrected by others on the left and Anne apologising for her initial comment.
On the other hand, over the last ten years on this board, I’ve seen the RWNJs get really brassed off and swing to ad hominem attacks when their beliefs are challenged but I’ve very rarely seen that from those on the Left.
One thing I’ve noticed is the truth of what (IIRC) George Hendry once pointed out: that you can always tell what right wingers intend, by listening to accusations they level at others.
Anyhow, you have some putting up or shutting up to do. When you fail to put up, your total lack of personal responsibility means you won’t even have the guts to admit it.
I don’t want to be pedantic but “Anne being corrected by others on the left” is very different from what actually happened, which is that Anne ‘corrected’ herself. The first is the moralistic and patronising arrogance that often rubs many people the wrong way. The second is a person realising the consequence of her actions not aligning well with who she is and taking responsibility for that – I applaud her.
Science yes accept but not when contrary to left ideology, ie degree of impact and response to climate change, abortion, LGBT debate, identity politics
economics, Venezuela, North Korea, history of Soviet Union, abject failure of closed economies and socialism in the 20th century doesn’t count as does not fit the left narrative, oh but it works in Scandinavia, under very unique circumstances however let’s ignore the balance of overwhelming evidence
selected morality, the left dancers on the graves of pike river for political expediency, Dirty politics is only dirty if the other guys do it
Sure I do: it’s a pack of lies. Unless of course you can find some examples of anyone defending Venezuelan economic policies, or North Korean anything, or rejoicing at Pike River deaths. Put up or shut up.
The fact is the NZ left has always run this economy better than the right. You can’t handle that fact so you drivel on about the USSR.
As for condescending attitudes and superiority, calling dead children “feral” is a pretty good example, and so is almost everything that oozes out of Gerry Brownlee.
Some things are simply self evident OAB, ie socialism has been adject failure from a logic, evidence and competing alternate system basis, You can choose to accept this or not, your a prisoner of your own anger so I don’t believe anything will change your mind, likewise not really wanting to get into a personal abuse session with you where such debates normally go Saying that i respect your right for you to give your views but not necessarily agree with or how you express them which I feel is counter to you and the left cause in winning hearts and minds
Some things are simply self evident OAB, ie socialism has been adject failure from a logic, evidence and competing alternate system basis,
And yet the scientific evidence shows the exact opposite. The most prosperous time the world has ever seen was between ~1945 and the ~1970s under huge socialism and building environmentalism.
On the other hand, under capitalism we’re seeing increasing poverty and environmental degradation. In fact, the last 5000 years shows that capitalism like societies always collapse due to the rich always demanding more and preventing the poor from having anything.
You can choose to accept this or not, your a prisoner of your own anger
And there’s more of that psychological projection that RWNJs compulsively engage in when their beliefs are proved wrong.
“The fact is the NZ left has always run this economy better than the right. You can’t handle that fact so you drivel on about the USSR.”
eeeeekkkk ! where did that come from,
Where were you during Rogernomics?
Where were you when this happened (wikipedia)
“On 12 March 2004, Minister of Conservation Chris Carter approved the access arrangement for Pike River Coal Ltd”
Science yes accept but not when contrary to left ideology, ie degree of impact and response to climate change
And yet it’s the RWNJs that are disagreeing with what the science says because they need to keep the Ponzi Scheme that is capitalism going.
economics, Venezuela, North Korea, history of Soviet Union, abject failure of closed economies and socialism in the 20th century doesn’t count as does not fit the left narrative
I haven’t seen anyone on the Left call for a closed economy. Even I haven’t done that but I have pointed out that free-market should result in limited trade because trade is more expensive, in real terms, than each country producing what it uses.
selected morality, the left dancers on the graves of pike river for political expediency
It wasn’t the Left that promised to go get them and then reneged on that promise and lied about the reasons. the RWNJs don’t have any morality or ethics.
And doesn’t Vicki herself display it well in the article: “…”But I think things need to be re-looked at when you’re given a time frame on your life … It’s not a life sentence.”
She was also concerned other inmates faced with life-threatening conditions might not get the chance she had to go home to their family, because they don’t have the same support she received from her well-known brother, professional boxer David “Brown Buttabean” Letele and the public he rallied….
Have to agree with Winston on this. Have a relative in hospitality for 8 years at the same job. The firm has changed ownership and he’s been told to sign a zero hour contract (which I thought was banned). So many of the hospitality jobs are not real or sustainable jobs. The power balance is wrong in this industry and the NZ taxpayer has to subsidise all these hospitality workers on minimum wages and zero hour contracts with WINZ, Health, social services. Meanwhile real hospitality businesses are going under because there are so many fake ones competing against each other on each corner and most of them half empty.
Like 3rd rate private education providers, hospitality has the side industry of supplying work and residency visas to people as the real goal.
“Winston Peters has rubbished claims New Zealand needs another 200,000 workers in the service industry as “alternative facts”.”
“If there is a shortage, Mr Peters says it can be filled by the 92,000 young people not in education, training or employment, and the 130,000 currently unemployed.”
saveNZ – I saw the other day a program about recruitment of mercenaries and the business model designed to squeeze the wages – race to the bottom policies.
This has created child soldiers.
Is the same “model” applied in our service industries, just replace child with immigrant.
“Winston Peters has rubbished claims New Zealand needs another 200,000 workers in the service industry as “alternative facts”.”
I’m skeptical about those claims myself. My daughter does ten hours a week at Dominos – she tells me they’re advertising for staff even though they just hired four people. It’s a mystery to her, but not to me, having done rostered part-time work before: rostering staff gets so much easier when you have a large pool of workers available, and it also means you can give them fewer hours than they’d like, which fosters a healthy (for the employer’s profits) sense of competition among the staff for increased hours. Why we as a society would want to encourage and facilitate that practice is beyond me (it’s clear enough why National and its donors would want us to, but what about the rest of us?).
> “Winston Peters has rubbished claims New Zealand needs another 200,000 workers in the service industry as “alternative facts”. If there is a shortage, Mr Peters says it can be filled by the 92,000 young people not in education, training or employment, and the 130,000 currently unemployed.”
That’s going to do wonders for the level of service
Re the French election which is about to take place. It looks similar to the American election….. neither candidate is suitable.
The best one-liner I have seen was from Le Pen who said France will get a woman leader, either herself or Angela Merkel. Good one!
On any objective measure he is a very impressive candidate. Sure he has not run for elective office before. But he has been a Minister in government. He also has one of the most impressive academic and intellectual records seen in recent years among presidential candidates.
Couple that withe amazing chutzpah to even stand in the circumstances, then he could be quite an extraordinary president. Or not.
It’s a good sign that Macron in France is considered as toxic by the hard left and much as the hard right. Both extremes in recent European and UK elections have been shown to be as divisive and unable to govern as each other.
I think the result won’t be as big a winning gap as one might hope – maybe 57% Macron to 43% Le Pen. So it’s another very clear warning to the Brussels bureaucrats to reform – hard and fast and big.
And with zero Parliamentary friends Macron has yet to build a machine and win. That means he is going to have to be an astonishingly good coalition-builder.
But he’s fresh, young, bright, and supports the broader collective called Europe.
It’s all to play for.
How about listing his actual policies instead. Here’s a few:
– The CICE tax credit system for firms would be converted into permanent payroll tax breaks for low-wage workers.
– Low-wage earners would be exempted from certain social welfare levies, a measure that would put an extra month’s wage per year in the employee’s pocket.
– 15 billion on energy/environment targets: exit within 5 years from coal-based energy production, shift towards alternative, renewable energy sources, rise in carbon tax.
– 5 billion euros on health sector, including better reimbursement of glasses, dentures and hearing aids, plus move away from wasteful medicine packages that contain more pills than a patient needs.
– State subsidy of 15,000 euros over 3 years for firms that hire people in 200 low-income neighborhoods.
– Halve number of early primary school pupils to 12 per class in 12,000 low-income zones, with teachers given a bonus of 3,000 euros a year to work in such areas.
All of which outflank on the left the UK, Australian or NZ Labour Parties.
You missed the one he introduced to parliament Ad.
The anti-strike law
And the his support of and possible drafting of the state of emergency act (against terrorists) which has curtailed rights in France for the last year.
But sure, keep going with he is a good guy. Don’t listen to the unions and social democrat’s within France. They all far left in your opinion now?
We’ve got a choice between two evils too – one greate rand one lesser. Labour stands for “budget responsibility” and slashing immigration and tinkering at the edges of the tax system. Same old neolib stuff. Liberals everywhere are demanding voters put two ticks next to Labour. But does it stack up? Is it the only game in town?
NO, friends. There’s a third way! The crucial bit people miss is the hyping of a fourth term National government. Same as how Trumnp was attacked as a scary rightwing nightmare in the US, and he’s only just eradicated healthcare for millions of people.
So maybe if you happen to be a true leftwing New Zealander, have a vote and want liberalism ended to create the space for the beginnings of a decent society, then cast some form of tactical vote for The Act Party.
They’ll only get two or three members from a total of 121 in Parliament and support National. It would look like a one-term, lame duck Government, as opposed to a powerful LIttle Prime Ministership enjoing support from across the political spectrum.
Under National/Act, media will (for some reason) not attack the left any more, so we’ll have space to breathe while neoliberalism (for some reason) fades away. And we can doo all that agitating and organising stuff too.
But like Bill said, it’s maybe for the best if you don’t bother yourself by thinking about it. It’s probably safer and easier to just keep following instructions, and inventing strategies for people on the other side of the world whose election results won’t actually effect you.
Ridding NZ of liberalism – even simply replacing it with social democratic governance -would be a good thing Wainwright, right?
In Scotland, there was an opening that was taken. In England and Wales there’s a possibility that is being diminished. In France there’s a small window of opportunity.
And satire, unlike what you’ve written, is intelligent and cutting.
Interesting you didn’t engage with the real point: if it’s so good for the left to vote in a hostile rightwing government in France, why not here? But in my experience your MO is always to assume anyone who doesn’t agree with you is stupid.
What strategy is there in NZ for ridding it of this political and economic cancer that you’d rather not see called liberalism? I don’t see any strategy – there is no opening or opportune set of circumstances in NZ at the moment that a strategy could be applied to.
I don’t think there is much in the way of useful strategy being discussed in NZ. As you know, my own position is that we hold as much of a left wing line as we can in the meantime. I’m open to radical change and would be interested in things that have some chance of working. But I also think that traditional ideas about that are problematic because we are running out of time re CC. I think CC will be the revolution of our lifetime and we’d best be ready for the tipping point.
I see Jane Kelsey is giving a lecture on Beyond Neoliberalism next week. I don’t know if it’s being recorded.
I do think the time is ripe for discussions about strategies, because there is enough in the mainstream now about how neoliberalism has failed that there is an opportunity to influence the debate about what we should do instead.
Bill’s post (and others advocating this approach) seemed to be largely predicated on a post-election activist movement accompanying the strategy of voting right, but I just don’t see that activist movement and consider the strategy reckless in its absence. If such an activist movement is possible at this time why isn’t it happening already?
I think if “the left” had the organisational capacity of ‘yesteryear’ to communicate across its various facets, it could have taken a reasonable punt on the Presidency front.
The piece was supposed to be descriptive rather than prescriptive – highlighting possible openings.
Perhaps La France insoumise (Mélenchon’s party) can make significant inroads in the up coming National Assembly elections.
Regardless, for reasons I stated in the post, I think opposing Macron’s upcoming austerity is going far more problematic than tackling a ‘lame duck’ Le Pen.
Incognito
Thanks for that delicious titbit. Dann’s definitely a bit of a twit! All this head thrashing, it’s bad, boring news. Probably the bored and the restless got tired of watching Vesuvius erupt after a while, if they felt they were safely distanced. Let’s look at kittens.
Watched Q+A this morning and was very impressed by brilliant young woman
standing for Labour, Kiri Allan, you are a star. Looking forward to seeing you in the house later this year.
James James James has plenty to say, that is important.
He makes me think of AAMilne’s James James Robinson Robinson Weatherby George Dupree.
Lots of repetition with James, and self-importance – though he was only three.
James James
Morrison Morrison
Weatherby George Dupree
Took great
Care of his Mother,
Though he was only three.
James James Said to his Mother,
“Mother,” he said, said he;
“You must never go down
to the end of the town,
if you don’t go down with me.” https://allpoetry.com/Disobedience
Unfortunately TS commenters are a wandering lot in their search for Truth, Fairness and Decent Housing etc. So James, you can’t be blamed if you go somewhere else to play.
President Donald Trump signaled Friday that he may not implement a 25-year-old federal program that helps historically black colleges finance construction projects on their campuses, suggesting that it may run afoul of the Constitution.
In a signing statement on the $1.1 trillion omnibus government spending bill, Trump singled out the Historically Black College and University Capital Financing Program as an example of provisions in the funding bill “that allocate benefits on the basis of race, ethnicity, and gender.”
It’s ok Joe, I hear Trump isn’t really going to be that bad it’s just a beat-up by the Hillary-loving media, just like Assad using sarin on kids. Wikileaks has the truth, just ignore the fact they haven’t leaked anything which didn’t serve Russian interests for years. Don’t buy into the liberal conspiracy!!! 🙄
Hopefully the disaster for Labour in the UK is not an pointer for their parliamentary elections.
If nothing else it should wake the Left to what could happen if they don’t get out and vote, hopefully this will be a real energiser for those who tend to not bother to vote.
Interesting times eh!
I think we have to acknowledge that it probably is an indicator of the likely result in the upcoming general election, Ray. Labour in the UK is tearing itself apart, and unlike many others on this thread, I don’t blame just the parliamentary caucus or the supposed neo-liberals amongst its ranks: everyone is part of the same party and all must share the blame if they’re not managing to discuss their differences and then agree to a common approach and set of policies. I include Corbyn and his fans: they have to take their share of the blame. This election is going to be a rout and I doubt Corbyn will survive as leader (although who would want to step up in this situation is a pretty big question).
everyone is part of the same party and all must share the blame if they’re not managing to discuss their differences and then agree to a common approach and set of policies.
True to some degree. If one side isn’t willing to talk and goes straight to the MSM with their BS then who’s fault is it?
Only ooption for Corbyn and his fans was to not elect Corbyn leader because the neolibs were always willing to sink the party rather than grow spines and demonstrate real principle. How do you compromise with terrorists?
Was a bit disquieting this morning to read that the Orange Order has won seats in Scotland by way of the Tory Party. Don’t think I can overstate the fuck-edness of that.
Run that alongside the UKIP vote folding into the Tory vote south of the border…
You’d think msm might pick up on that and scream blue murder, yes? Nah. Keep to the plan of dragging down Corbyn.
That is depressing news, Bill. Just when I thought the sectarianism in Scotland was starting to decline. (My partner is Scottish – grew up in a Catholic town in Ayrshire)
The NZ oligarchs of the 1980’s Gibbs, Fay Richwhite, Brierly and Fletchers did particularly well out of the sale of State Assets and the systemic asset stripping of
NZ Inc. In hindsight our politicans were incredibly naive and shortsighted and quickly squandered any cash generated by the sale of these State Assets, also we as a country lost the revenue producing capacity of these assets to fund social services ?
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Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Eric Crampton writes – The Reserve Bank of New Zealand desperately wants to find reasons to have workstreams in climate change. It makes little sense. They’ve run another stress test on the banks looking to see if they could find a prudential regulation case. They couldn’t. They ...
Rob MacCullough writes – Pundits from the left and the right are arguing that National’s Fast Track Bill that is designed to speed up infrastructure decisions could end up becoming mired in a cesspool of corruption. Political commentator ...
Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
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https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2017/05/01/23499/dont-mind-the-list-labour-has-bigger-issues-to-handle
Labours main problem is andrew little according to newsroom.
Republished in stuff
According to the newsroom. Republished in stuff. Pounced-upon by the Little-obsessed James and shoved into into the faces of Labour supporters for the sly pleasure of a confidence-troll who revels in creating discomfort and division. All on a Sunday morning, early, when thoughtful, kindly people least expect such miserly-of-spirit behaviour.
you have a go at the poster not the article- simply because you know it’s true.
And I would never describe you as thoughtful or kindly. Enjoy your Sunday.
James, your nit-picky, boringly repetitiousness snipes at Andrew Little are dull enough on a week day, but please spare us those on beautiful Sundays like this one. Get outside, James, let the sun wash away your bitterness. Breath some fresh air and think of someone other than yourself and Andy.
For a long, long time the current deputy has been the preferred Labour leader of those on the Right….why is this?
Just the other day Farrar’s Ferals were delighting in a Little hate session, magnifying his deficits and promoting his deputy as the de facto Boss.
There’s something about Little that the Right really, really dislikes.
Good thing, no?
Could it be that the right doesn’t like him because he was a Union leader?
They’ve always “loved” whoever the deputy is, because they want to make people worriedf about leadership instability. If Little were deputy they’d love him too. It’s a transparent tactic.
Wainwright
I hadn’t caught onto that tactic, but I feel sure you are right.
I don’t know about ‘always’, but yes, when the right supports Jacintda it’s all about undermining Little.
A.
According to polls – its more than the right that do not like him.
They can see he has substance and some spine and they don’t like it, basically nasty little trolls at work ?
“your nit-picky, boringly repetitiousness snipes at Andrew Little …”
In fairness he gives so much material.
Loving your contribution to the discussion today, James. Having a snippy critic of Andrew Little expose your churlisness so early in the piece gave all of us a chance to show our support for the Labour leader; an opportunity we mightn’t have taken, but for the opportunity you so thoughtfully presented.
Keep up the sterling work. Never let your tightness of spirit ease, you’re one of our best assets here on TS.
Indeed. You think he’s great – media seem to think he’s the problem.
But at the end of the day news postings about how he is the problem will have more of an impact as opposed to a few people on a blog that are generally all voting left anyway.
Media.
Lordy.
Good drying weather up here in the North.
In fairness his surname could be his biggest handicap…words being soooo important, as we were all educated about (ad bloody nauseum) here on TS yesterday….
Too late for Deed Poll…?
Playing the man not the ball. Straight out of the labour play book since before the end of the Clark government. Notice a trend guyton?
Most of Robert’s remarks are aimed at James’ behaviour, hence, not “playing the man”.
As for playbooks, you sound like a “screaming conspiracy theorist” to me.
not give (a) tuppence
To not care in the slightest (about something or someone). ” I know that James has a crush on me, but to be honest I couldn’t give tuppence for him.”
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/wouldn%27t+give+tuppence
If you do a bit of a search I think you will find you go around replying (and generally trying to insult on a lot of post I make) – not the other way around- so I think that it’s you that has the crush on me.
I’m not that way inclined- but if I was I would like to think I could do better than you. 🙂
Strange, I could have sworn that was James engaged in and that we see it from the RWNJs all the bloody time.
Hi Robert
You express the situation well. And I hope that you all are well down there. Getting colder eh.
Hi Grey
All is well here, in fact, the day is gloriously fine and sunny (and warm!) All my whanau are here today; sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters, most helping with a shared project involving canvas and ropes, poles and pegs 🙂
Robert
Is it a guessing contest? Is it a yurt?
Ger. You get the cigar.
You must following Nationals housing plan
Hearing that for a while now from MSM against Labour. Yep, problems with Cunliffe, problems with Shearer, problems with Goff. Helen Clark has to go.. Of course Little is terrible too, from the MSM and not so M, SM sites.
Granny’s sister sites might get more readership if they actually print real news and if they want to talk politics about the 9 year legacy of the Natz as well as the failed neoliberal ideology of English. Since they are just an echo chamber from the centre right discourses they have no credibility.
Try reading this instead – a more accurate view of Andrew Little and his leadership .
FRIDAY, 5 MAY 2017
Telling The Story Of Labour’s List Differently.
All Good: As a result of Little’s recruitment of Jackson, Labour’s ability to attract Maori support has been enhanced. And, thanks to Labour’s List Moderating Committee, New Zealand will soon be appreciating the contributions of Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Jan Tinetti, Willow-Jean Prime and Kiri Allan.
http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/
Chris is getting his lines from McCarten. Not exactly “accurate” from the perspecrtive of anyone who realy supports Labour values. Labour already got plenty of Maori support thanks to (demoted) MPs like Mahuta. People should stop crying triumph for Jackson until he proves himself.
Wainwright
You make assertions, and I don’t think this one is right. Of course Trotter should listen to McCarten as he listens across the spectrum.
Also he will sometimes do a scenario piece of what might happen which doesn’t follow from an embedded viewpoint. So he can surprise, seem certainly left, centre, or right in particular posts.
I hope your ideas are not too embedded to enable you to correctly judge and make your pronouncements. Anyone who is absolutely certain they are correct all the time is someone to be wary of. I hope you aren’t here just to affirm your preconceptions.
Tha’ts a very nice little lecture, grey. Doesn’t cahnge the fact Chris has been talking complete bollocks for years, changes his spots on a weekly basis to try to look relevant, and gets all his good gossip from the Galbraith’s happy hour crew. If you want to give anyone a growling for ’embedded ideas’ why not Jenny, whose idea of ‘accuracy’ is based on ‘things that Jenny agrees with because she thinks th eLabour Party never does any wrong’?
Thank goodness that chris Trotter does try on different coats, think around his subjects, or we would get the same old thinking and assertions all the time from people whose minds have rusted over.
Chris Trotter has regularly been critical of Labour in recent years, and he doesn’t get “fed” lines. He’s not a favourite commenter of mine, but in this case I think he’s got a point. Labour’s list is actually pretty damn impressive and Little has shown some canny judgement in terms of Jackson. I admit that I was somewhat taken aback when his candidacy was announced, but then I’m not one of the people who’s being targeted by this move and I do acknowledge that Jackson would have added considerably to the Māori Party’s fire-power.
Canny judgment? You mean pissing off a helluva lot of people when he announced Jackson would be at the top of the list, then pissing of Jackson by not putting him at the top of the list? Those headlines have been great for Labour. And once again the hard work and loyalty of actual Maori MPs gets shafted for one of McCarten’s old Alliance buddies. You guys aren’t selling this very well.
Actuall link
James doesn’t like the fact that Andrew Little speaks with integrity and honesty and it worries him that people might just start analysing WHAT is being said instead of THE WAY it is said. The performing snake oil salesman has vanished without trace and people are starting to wake up that he was simply an illusionist. People also see how Trump got voted in the US and that entertaining attention-seeking is not the defining quality for a good leader.
Seems to work for the RWNJs who really don’t seem to read up on what policies will actually do and just go on the shallow, feel good sound bites of such leaders.
LIttle is boring. Sure.
But I try the Prime Minister test:
Little will be a more just and inclusive Prime Minister than Bill English.
Little will also be braver, less technocratic Prime Minister, because the expectations and momentum are so high upon him.
Even after his first term, I’m also confident of this: Andrew Little will not lie.
Put “will not lie” in a sentence with Bill English and you will choke on your Weetbix.
And as Prime Minister, LIttle will have earned it not inherited it.
I could not say that of Bill English. Which is why I already respect Little more.
Andrew Little takes his role seriously, unlike John Key, who wanted to be a creepy clown half the time. So Andrew Little is not going to be all jokey about important issues facing the country. He is true to himself.
Bill English – not exactly oozing charm and personality, if that is what you are looking for James. Have you been taking notes on how the operatives from Dirty Politics went about their “work”? Horrible people – who would want them as a friend, neighbour, relative?
The problem I have with Little is that he seems to have poor judgement. From time to time he opens his mouth and weird stuff comes out, without apparently having passed through his brain en route. I regard this as a problematic quality in a PM.
I’m sure he’s a good dude and is sincere and hard working.
A.
It appears to be good enough for POTUS and let’s not even go to the obfuscating language and semantic back flips by John Key, for example. But obviously it is o.k. to have double standards for some but not for others …
Sure, Andrew Little and the Labour Party good do better in the PR department, etc., but what really counts is the policies and what they actually achieve once in Government.
I wasn’t defending Trump!!
A while back there was a post about a woman who was being released from jail on compassionate grounds due to cancer.
If I think back – I may have been in the “do the crime – do the time” camp.
Well she’s in the press again with her final interview.
Its sobering reading – having read it – I have no doubt that my original view of the situation was wrong and that the right decision was made for this lady. You couldn’t wish this on anybody.
http://i.stuff.co.nz/national/health/92290197/allowed-home-from-prison-to-spend-her-last-days-with-her-family-vicki-letele-gives-her-final-interview
That’s the trouble with you righties. You can’t recognise a true story when you see it. Everything is coloured by your tunnel-visioned view of anyone who isn’t the same as yourselves, or who have made some mistakes in their past life. They are to be punished for the rest of their lives.
I will give you full credit though for having the nous to fess up you were wrong.
If you think those views are exclusively for righties – you would be wrong. There are plenty of lefties that think that way as well.
But hey – everyone needs to step back and revisit their positions from time to time.
Sorry James. I worded that very badly. You are correct. There are things where people from both sides can be in full agreement. In fact you left a comment yesterday (or the day before) that I thought was reasonable and fair.
My response was more an observation of right- wingers in general which many commentators here have noted before. It’ll try to be less hasty and more careful in future.
Anne – I wouldn’t be too apologetic.
It is of course excellent that James has changed his mind in this case and he should be congratulated for it wholeheartedly.
However his propensity to make the mistake in the first place is still a valid and very interesting area of discussion.
Anne -And comments like these just brass me off, ungracious, spiteful and condescending. I am a green voter and leaning more to the left than the right but by god, if that is what the left represents, good ridden’s.
Identity politics vs we are simply all individuals, Condescending attitude and some sort of morale superiority is common amoung hard lefties and it is why they alienate the masses They absolutely loose it when such is highlighted or the artifice of their beliefs are challenged and contradictions are high lighted
I mostly see such vile behaviour from the RWNJs. They really, really don’t like it when their beliefs are not only challenged but proved wrong. Still, they won’t change their beliefs.
Really ? Because you are replying to a thread that is exactly the opposite to what you just said.
Yes, really.
And this thread is mostly Anne being corrected by others on the left and Anne apologising for her initial comment.
On the other hand, over the last ten years on this board, I’ve seen the RWNJs get really brassed off and swing to ad hominem attacks when their beliefs are challenged but I’ve very rarely seen that from those on the Left.
your Selective bias is very strong DB if you believe that
One thing I’ve noticed is the truth of what (IIRC) George Hendry once pointed out: that you can always tell what right wingers intend, by listening to accusations they level at others.
Anyhow, you have some putting up or shutting up to do. When you fail to put up, your total lack of personal responsibility means you won’t even have the guts to admit it.
I don’t have a selective bias but the RWNJs engage in projection quite liberally. As OAB points out RWNJs almost universally.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/4/16/1083830/-Republican-Politics-of-Projection
book page
http://prospect.org/article/projection-party
And the list goes on and on.
Me- “I have no doubt that my original view of the situation was wrong”
You. “They really, really don’t like it when their beliefs are not only challenged but proved wrong. Still, they won’t change their beliefs”
I think that perfectly sums you up – stating something as a fact- even in reply to a comment that proves you wrong.
I wasn’t responding to what you said but what Red said and a single point of data does not make a statistic.
@ Draco T Bastard 12:29 pm:
I don’t want to be pedantic but “Anne being corrected by others on the left” is very different from what actually happened, which is that Anne ‘corrected’ herself. The first is the moralistic and patronising arrogance that often rubs many people the wrong way. The second is a person realising the consequence of her actions not aligning well with who she is and taking responsibility for that – I applaud her.
sadly i agree with Red here. and don’t have a lot of hope that those responsible will own this.
Some examples
Science yes accept but not when contrary to left ideology, ie degree of impact and response to climate change, abortion, LGBT debate, identity politics
economics, Venezuela, North Korea, history of Soviet Union, abject failure of closed economies and socialism in the 20th century doesn’t count as does not fit the left narrative, oh but it works in Scandinavia, under very unique circumstances however let’s ignore the balance of overwhelming evidence
selected morality, the left dancers on the graves of pike river for political expediency, Dirty politics is only dirty if the other guys do it
Many more but you get my gist
Sure I do: it’s a pack of lies. Unless of course you can find some examples of anyone defending Venezuelan economic policies, or North Korean anything, or rejoicing at Pike River deaths. Put up or shut up.
The fact is the NZ left has always run this economy better than the right. You can’t handle that fact so you drivel on about the USSR.
As for condescending attitudes and superiority, calling dead children “feral” is a pretty good example, and so is almost everything that oozes out of Gerry Brownlee.
An emotiional response OAB, exactly my point when lefts contradictions are highlighted and beliefs are challenged
Can’t find any examples eh. You made assertions of fact that you cannot support, and when challenged to do so, you failed.
Do you disagree that calling people “feral” is an example of a condescending superior attitude? Can’t you defend your spiritual leader?
Some things are simply self evident OAB, ie socialism has been adject failure from a logic, evidence and competing alternate system basis, You can choose to accept this or not, your a prisoner of your own anger so I don’t believe anything will change your mind, likewise not really wanting to get into a personal abuse session with you where such debates normally go Saying that i respect your right for you to give your views but not necessarily agree with or how you express them which I feel is counter to you and the left cause in winning hearts and minds
So you think that NZ was an abject failure before 1984?
Yawn Red.
I’m a social democrat. As such, I have no need to defend myself against your mis-aimed shots: they are off target.
You can’t meet the challenge I gave you, and cannot admit that. Thanks for making my point.
And yet the scientific evidence shows the exact opposite. The most prosperous time the world has ever seen was between ~1945 and the ~1970s under huge socialism and building environmentalism.
On the other hand, under capitalism we’re seeing increasing poverty and environmental degradation. In fact, the last 5000 years shows that capitalism like societies always collapse due to the rich always demanding more and preventing the poor from having anything.
And there’s more of that psychological projection that RWNJs compulsively engage in when their beliefs are proved wrong.
Red’s argument is so poewrful he doesn’t have to justify it! Classic righties.
“The fact is the NZ left has always run this economy better than the right. You can’t handle that fact so you drivel on about the USSR.”
eeeeekkkk ! where did that come from,
Where were you during Rogernomics?
Where were you when this happened (wikipedia)
“On 12 March 2004, Minister of Conservation Chris Carter approved the access arrangement for Pike River Coal Ltd”
Arguably Rogernomics wasn’t left wing 😉
I said “better than the right”. Not “well”.
And yet it’s the RWNJs that are disagreeing with what the science says because they need to keep the Ponzi Scheme that is capitalism going.
I haven’t seen anyone on the Left call for a closed economy. Even I haven’t done that but I have pointed out that free-market should result in limited trade because trade is more expensive, in real terms, than each country producing what it uses.
It wasn’t the Left that promised to go get them and then reneged on that promise and lied about the reasons. the RWNJs don’t have any morality or ethics.
You find yourself feeling empathy.
And doesn’t Vicki herself display it well in the article:
“…”But I think things need to be re-looked at when you’re given a time frame on your life … It’s not a life sentence.”
She was also concerned other inmates faced with life-threatening conditions might not get the chance she had to go home to their family, because they don’t have the same support she received from her well-known brother, professional boxer David “Brown Buttabean” Letele and the public he rallied….
Compassion is impossible to measure but often easier to spot although sometimes it is seen as ‘being soft’ or a sign of ‘weakness’.
Many studies have shown that empathy and compassion can be learned.
NB this is a response to your comment, not to you personally.
Enjoy your Sunday.
Have to agree with Winston on this. Have a relative in hospitality for 8 years at the same job. The firm has changed ownership and he’s been told to sign a zero hour contract (which I thought was banned). So many of the hospitality jobs are not real or sustainable jobs. The power balance is wrong in this industry and the NZ taxpayer has to subsidise all these hospitality workers on minimum wages and zero hour contracts with WINZ, Health, social services. Meanwhile real hospitality businesses are going under because there are so many fake ones competing against each other on each corner and most of them half empty.
Like 3rd rate private education providers, hospitality has the side industry of supplying work and residency visas to people as the real goal.
“Winston Peters has rubbished claims New Zealand needs another 200,000 workers in the service industry as “alternative facts”.”
“If there is a shortage, Mr Peters says it can be filled by the 92,000 young people not in education, training or employment, and the 130,000 currently unemployed.”
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2017/05/worker-shortage-alternative-facts-winston-peters.html
God! I’m agreeing with Winston on this one.
saveNZ – I saw the other day a program about recruitment of mercenaries and the business model designed to squeeze the wages – race to the bottom policies.
This has created child soldiers.
Is the same “model” applied in our service industries, just replace child with immigrant.
“Winston Peters has rubbished claims New Zealand needs another 200,000 workers in the service industry as “alternative facts”.”
I’m skeptical about those claims myself. My daughter does ten hours a week at Dominos – she tells me they’re advertising for staff even though they just hired four people. It’s a mystery to her, but not to me, having done rostered part-time work before: rostering staff gets so much easier when you have a large pool of workers available, and it also means you can give them fewer hours than they’d like, which fosters a healthy (for the employer’s profits) sense of competition among the staff for increased hours. Why we as a society would want to encourage and facilitate that practice is beyond me (it’s clear enough why National and its donors would want us to, but what about the rest of us?).
> “Winston Peters has rubbished claims New Zealand needs another 200,000 workers in the service industry as “alternative facts”. If there is a shortage, Mr Peters says it can be filled by the 92,000 young people not in education, training or employment, and the 130,000 currently unemployed.”
That’s going to do wonders for the level of service
A.
If you have the time a awesome interview with film maker Alex Winter. A real nice deconstruction of the trial and punishment of Ross Ulbricht.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-DLiYoN1_4
Re the French election which is about to take place. It looks similar to the American election….. neither candidate is suitable.
The best one-liner I have seen was from Le Pen who said France will get a woman leader, either herself or Angela Merkel. Good one!
Whats wrong with Macron?
On any objective measure he is a very impressive candidate. Sure he has not run for elective office before. But he has been a Minister in government. He also has one of the most impressive academic and intellectual records seen in recent years among presidential candidates.
Couple that withe amazing chutzpah to even stand in the circumstances, then he could be quite an extraordinary president. Or not.
Not !
Corporate finance plant, IMHO
It’s a good sign that Macron in France is considered as toxic by the hard left and much as the hard right. Both extremes in recent European and UK elections have been shown to be as divisive and unable to govern as each other.
I think the result won’t be as big a winning gap as one might hope – maybe 57% Macron to 43% Le Pen. So it’s another very clear warning to the Brussels bureaucrats to reform – hard and fast and big.
And with zero Parliamentary friends Macron has yet to build a machine and win. That means he is going to have to be an astonishingly good coalition-builder.
But he’s fresh, young, bright, and supports the broader collective called Europe.
It’s all to play for.
Macron supports war, privatisation, deregulation and austerity. At best, the French will probably get a continuation of Hollandism.
How about listing his actual policies instead. Here’s a few:
– The CICE tax credit system for firms would be converted into permanent payroll tax breaks for low-wage workers.
– Low-wage earners would be exempted from certain social welfare levies, a measure that would put an extra month’s wage per year in the employee’s pocket.
– 15 billion on energy/environment targets: exit within 5 years from coal-based energy production, shift towards alternative, renewable energy sources, rise in carbon tax.
– 5 billion euros on health sector, including better reimbursement of glasses, dentures and hearing aids, plus move away from wasteful medicine packages that contain more pills than a patient needs.
– State subsidy of 15,000 euros over 3 years for firms that hire people in 200 low-income neighborhoods.
– Halve number of early primary school pupils to 12 per class in 12,000 low-income zones, with teachers given a bonus of 3,000 euros a year to work in such areas.
All of which outflank on the left the UK, Australian or NZ Labour Parties.
You missed the one he introduced to parliament Ad.
The anti-strike law
And the his support of and possible drafting of the state of emergency act (against terrorists) which has curtailed rights in France for the last year.
But sure, keep going with he is a good guy. Don’t listen to the unions and social democrat’s within France. They all far left in your opinion now?
I’ve been thinking about it, and i reckon Bill’s right. We need to bring liberalism down – in NZ!
https://thestandard.org.nz/liberalism-and-the-left/
We’ve got a choice between two evils too – one greate rand one lesser. Labour stands for “budget responsibility” and slashing immigration and tinkering at the edges of the tax system. Same old neolib stuff. Liberals everywhere are demanding voters put two ticks next to Labour. But does it stack up? Is it the only game in town?
NO, friends. There’s a third way! The crucial bit people miss is the hyping of a fourth term National government. Same as how Trumnp was attacked as a scary rightwing nightmare in the US, and he’s only just eradicated healthcare for millions of people.
So maybe if you happen to be a true leftwing New Zealander, have a vote and want liberalism ended to create the space for the beginnings of a decent society, then cast some form of tactical vote for The Act Party.
They’ll only get two or three members from a total of 121 in Parliament and support National. It would look like a one-term, lame duck Government, as opposed to a powerful LIttle Prime Ministership enjoing support from across the political spectrum.
Under National/Act, media will (for some reason) not attack the left any more, so we’ll have space to breathe while neoliberalism (for some reason) fades away. And we can doo all that agitating and organising stuff too.
But like Bill said, it’s maybe for the best if you don’t bother yourself by thinking about it. It’s probably safer and easier to just keep following instructions, and inventing strategies for people on the other side of the world whose election results won’t actually effect you.
(This comment is obviously satire)
Ridding NZ of liberalism – even simply replacing it with social democratic governance -would be a good thing Wainwright, right?
In Scotland, there was an opening that was taken. In England and Wales there’s a possibility that is being diminished. In France there’s a small window of opportunity.
And satire, unlike what you’ve written, is intelligent and cutting.
Interesting you didn’t engage with the real point: if it’s so good for the left to vote in a hostile rightwing government in France, why not here? But in my experience your MO is always to assume anyone who doesn’t agree with you is stupid.
Riding NZ of neoliberalism is probably supported by most people here. It’s the strategy that is in contention.
What strategy is there in NZ for ridding it of this political and economic cancer that you’d rather not see called liberalism? I don’t see any strategy – there is no opening or opportune set of circumstances in NZ at the moment that a strategy could be applied to.
I don’t think there is much in the way of useful strategy being discussed in NZ. As you know, my own position is that we hold as much of a left wing line as we can in the meantime. I’m open to radical change and would be interested in things that have some chance of working. But I also think that traditional ideas about that are problematic because we are running out of time re CC. I think CC will be the revolution of our lifetime and we’d best be ready for the tipping point.
I see Jane Kelsey is giving a lecture on Beyond Neoliberalism next week. I don’t know if it’s being recorded.
I do think the time is ripe for discussions about strategies, because there is enough in the mainstream now about how neoliberalism has failed that there is an opportunity to influence the debate about what we should do instead.
Bill’s post (and others advocating this approach) seemed to be largely predicated on a post-election activist movement accompanying the strategy of voting right, but I just don’t see that activist movement and consider the strategy reckless in its absence. If such an activist movement is possible at this time why isn’t it happening already?
I have tried to address this and twice submitted a Guest Post – most recent attempt yesterday afternoon – but the ‘lines are busy’ …
shall I email you and you can submit it via me?
Have just seen it and cut and pasted t the back end for someone to work on. I don’t have any time in coming days.
ok, I’ve picked it up. Incognito, it should go up in the morning, thanks!
I don’t have access to the original email, what is footnote 2?
Oops. Have dropped both footnotes on bottom.
still can’t see them.
@ weka,
If it is of any help I can e-mail it directly to you but then I’ll need your e-mail address 😉
Thanks in advance!
I’ve emailed you 🙂
Done and formatted.
Ta
Bill’s post was predicated on the existence of a very specific set of circumstances existing in a specific location – ie, France.
Fair enough. Do you think France has a chance at the right political movement to effect useful change then?
I think if “the left” had the organisational capacity of ‘yesteryear’ to communicate across its various facets, it could have taken a reasonable punt on the Presidency front.
The piece was supposed to be descriptive rather than prescriptive – highlighting possible openings.
Perhaps La France insoumise (Mélenchon’s party) can make significant inroads in the up coming National Assembly elections.
Regardless, for reasons I stated in the post, I think opposing Macron’s upcoming austerity is going far more problematic than tackling a ‘lame duck’ Le Pen.
“Liam Dann: Why I hate politics”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11849862
I cannot tell whether this is sarcasm or satire or both, with a light sprinkling of hypocrisy.
Mr Dann wants to have his (quiet) life back and do just (!) business without the distractions of politics and all its machinations.
Satire, surely …
Here’s my reply to Mr Dann’s commiserations:
Incognito
Thanks for that delicious titbit. Dann’s definitely a bit of a twit! All this head thrashing, it’s bad, boring news. Probably the bored and the restless got tired of watching Vesuvius erupt after a while, if they felt they were safely distanced. Let’s look at kittens.
And for anyone wanting a light cute animal experience that leaves you feeling warm and happy for a minute I give you prairie dogs.
(http://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/wild-kingdom/videos/prairie-dogs-sound-the-alarm/ – coyote
and
(http://dailymotion.nz/watch/p0ZG8YpQAUA/brave-prairie-dog-confronts-snake-north-america.html – snake
If we get a Labour-Green win I will happily jump up and down and fall over too.
Watched Q+A this morning and was very impressed by brilliant young woman
standing for Labour, Kiri Allan, you are a star. Looking forward to seeing you in the house later this year.
James James James has plenty to say, that is important.
He makes me think of AAMilne’s James James Robinson Robinson Weatherby George Dupree.
Lots of repetition with James, and self-importance – though he was only three.
James James
Morrison Morrison
Weatherby George Dupree
Took great
Care of his Mother,
Though he was only three.
James James Said to his Mother,
“Mother,” he said, said he;
“You must never go down
to the end of the town,
if you don’t go down with me.”
https://allpoetry.com/Disobedience
Unfortunately TS commenters are a wandering lot in their search for Truth, Fairness and Decent Housing etc. So James, you can’t be blamed if you go somewhere else to play.
It’s ok. I like it here.
Yes a secure place for a 3 year old going on 43. Wise decision until you get a better idea, or just an idea.
.
Lots, apparently.
President Donald Trump signaled Friday that he may not implement a 25-year-old federal program that helps historically black colleges finance construction projects on their campuses, suggesting that it may run afoul of the Constitution.
In a signing statement on the $1.1 trillion omnibus government spending bill, Trump singled out the Historically Black College and University Capital Financing Program as an example of provisions in the funding bill “that allocate benefits on the basis of race, ethnicity, and gender.”
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/05/trump-historically-black-colleges-financing-unconstitutional-238061
Not Black but White….. whatever that means… Trumped maybe…
http://gcaptain.com/trumps-arctic-drill-plan-challenged-environmental-groups/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gcaptain+%28gCaptain.com%29
It’s ok Joe, I hear Trump isn’t really going to be that bad it’s just a beat-up by the Hillary-loving media, just like Assad using sarin on kids. Wikileaks has the truth, just ignore the fact they haven’t leaked anything which didn’t serve Russian interests for years. Don’t buy into the liberal conspiracy!!! 🙄
Hopefully the disaster for Labour in the UK is not an pointer for their parliamentary elections.
If nothing else it should wake the Left to what could happen if they don’t get out and vote, hopefully this will be a real energiser for those who tend to not bother to vote.
Interesting times eh!
I think we have to acknowledge that it probably is an indicator of the likely result in the upcoming general election, Ray. Labour in the UK is tearing itself apart, and unlike many others on this thread, I don’t blame just the parliamentary caucus or the supposed neo-liberals amongst its ranks: everyone is part of the same party and all must share the blame if they’re not managing to discuss their differences and then agree to a common approach and set of policies. I include Corbyn and his fans: they have to take their share of the blame. This election is going to be a rout and I doubt Corbyn will survive as leader (although who would want to step up in this situation is a pretty big question).
True to some degree. If one side isn’t willing to talk and goes straight to the MSM with their BS then who’s fault is it?
The membership will determine that. (Corbyn’s continued leadership)
Only ooption for Corbyn and his fans was to not elect Corbyn leader because the neolibs were always willing to sink the party rather than grow spines and demonstrate real principle. How do you compromise with terrorists?
Was a bit disquieting this morning to read that the Orange Order has won seats in Scotland by way of the Tory Party. Don’t think I can overstate the fuck-edness of that.
Run that alongside the UKIP vote folding into the Tory vote south of the border…
You’d think msm might pick up on that and scream blue murder, yes? Nah. Keep to the plan of dragging down Corbyn.
Glad I don’t live there anymore.
That is depressing news, Bill. Just when I thought the sectarianism in Scotland was starting to decline. (My partner is Scottish – grew up in a Catholic town in Ayrshire)
When the public rebels against unfair taxation, governments can change.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/92207613/kiwisavers-harshly-taxed-compared-to-property-investors-book-claims
‘NZ’s wealthiest UK-based citizens add millions to their fortunes’
The events of the 1980s were most beneficial to these people.
Gibbs.
Myers
Richwhite
Watson
To call them Zealanders is a bit of a stretch. The 0.01% owe allegiance to no society but themselves.
Many would describe these vulture capitalists in ungenerous terms. Stuff does not because it is owned by another billionaire.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/92309942/never-mind-the-brexit-new-zealands-wealthiest-ukbased-citizens-add-hundreds-of-millions-to-their-fortunes
The NZ oligarchs of the 1980’s Gibbs, Fay Richwhite, Brierly and Fletchers did particularly well out of the sale of State Assets and the systemic asset stripping of
NZ Inc. In hindsight our politicans were incredibly naive and shortsighted and quickly squandered any cash generated by the sale of these State Assets, also we as a country lost the revenue producing capacity of these assets to fund social services ?
In other countries, these people would not be knighted.
They would be tried.
For treason.
Some of our politicians may have been shortsighted and naive; others will not get such a generous report in history.
Does anyone know why this link goes to iCloud?
http://web.me.com/jane_kelsey/Jane/Welcome.html