BNZ Bank economist Tony Alexander, shoring himself up with a bank-selected sample of 500 people, decides that most people really like the housing crisis because high prices make people rich. In case you forget about where he stands on the spectrum, here’s what he has to say about the current housing stories:
“No bemoaning the winners and losers. No whinging about how the world should be fairies and fluffy pink unicorns.”
I’ve always wondered why you found fairies coming out from under bridges and fluffy pink unicorns coming out of forests: it’s where they have to sleep.
Mr Alexander outlined 18 things that were happening in the country’s housing market including:
– Strong population growth was exceeding housing supply;
– interest rates were at a record low; people were living longer;
– older people were splitting up and needing two houses;
– the population was ageing, requiring more houses as bedrooms sat empty;
– council rules made building a new house expensive;
– Kiwis like expensive bespoke houses rather than little boxes on a hillsides;
– Kiwis seemed to suck at building houses which passed inspections and did not leak;
– there was a shortage of skilled trades people needed to build extra houses;
– few people seriously believed the Government and the Reserve Bank had the tools to flatten house prices, let alone cause them to correct to more “affordable” levels;
– and Auckland was changing from looking like many Invercargills in one place to being a globally connected world city.
And we wonder why four Australian banks are running New Zealand’s housing policy.
So he blames ‘kiwis’ for leaky homes rather than the national party and its headless deregulation.
I counted 4 blocks of apartments in 3 streets close to where I stayed in just one akl inner suburb a few months back. All being repaired, probably ineffectively, keeping tradies from new builds.
We dont have the tradies to build, the land, geez, Auckland is an isthmus its boaties and pier builders we need. Along with public transit from hunty to s.auckland, hill suburbs to feed employers workers. It aint about Auckland they’ve taken themselves off the table.
Was talking to a national voter recently and they were convinced that it was the green influence on the building trade that had I assume stopped the proper treatment of timber. There wasn’t much point arguing, but I was definitely thinking what the hell.
That’s what it’s all about for the leaders and elites. So the dickheads can strut around with their chests out being all urbane and soofisticated, showing off how modern and upmarket NZ is. Trying to have the lifestyle of an advanced developed society that joined the industrial age, and then moved into the electronic age, while we down here are moving back to the emerald jewel of grass and agriculture that my business tutor said has never in the world given a first world standard of living.
But flashy ostentatious expenditure is all the NZ nobs care about. They move towards an Irish solution where the greedy, callous English speaking overlords, denied the right of the native Irish citizens to own their land and to grow their own food. The British only thought hard when having to find a believable excuse for the country people starving, like paupers.
And we’ve got some NZs cut from the same cloth here. We are globally connected by electronics that serve some people well, but also that are used to degrade other people’s lives and humanity.
…“This ban does not apply to us and so we’ve been operating straight through it,” they told RT.
Sister Darcey and Sister Kate have been growing marijuana and creating cannabidiol (CBD)-infused products for three years…
They claim their marijuana has low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which gives the ‘high’ effect associated with marijuana.
“Our medicine is medicine, and it is non-psychoactive,” they explained. “We’re dealing with what is actually hemp but really we advocate for whole plant legalization.”
However, the ‘nuns’ are not the traditionally religious kind but rather ‘spiritual’.
They follow their own ‘holy trinity’ which includes honoring mother earth, honoring the people through making medicine and healing, and their progressive activism.
The nuns dedicate a portion of their week to “the good fight” for the poor people around them…
In states where medical marijuana is legal, there has been a 25 percent drop in painkiller related deaths, according to a 2015 study by University of Pennsylvania and John Hopkins researchers in JAMA Internal Medicine journal.”
Not sure they can be called part of the Catholic establishment, but this guy is and he wrote a very balanced letter in support of the law change in Iowa.
“Ministry of Justice refusing to release _any_ docs relating to long-delay, or lobbying over, anti money-laundering policy. To the Ombudsman!” – Matt Nippert via Twitter
“quick, Collins went to that anti-corruption conference, get her to pop down and explain why this is a bad look.” – Dovil ibid
Very good interview this a.m. on whistleblowers in USA referring to Snowden, but mainly all the others who have been damaged in trying to follow the principles of integrity to the law and fairness of the legal and constitutional system there. On Radionz with Kathryn Ryan.
Photo- The front cover of Mark Hertsgaard’s book Bravehearts: Whistle Blowing In The Age Of Snowden. It features a large photo of Edward Snowden
10:05 The NSA whistleblower protector who blew the whistle himself
John Crane was a senior Defence Department official responsible for protecting whistleblowers at the NSA but he ended up blowing the whistle himself after seeing his colleagues betray the whistleblowers they were supposed to protect. His claims are outlined in a new book – Bravehearts: Whistle Blowing In The Age Of Snowden by Mark Hertsgaard. http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201803529
Also your privacy – http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201803526 13.15m. Radio NZ today, 7 June 9:25 Sorting your digital footprint before you die
One of the growing existential questions of our time is “what happens to my digital footprint when I die?” With many people doing their banking, insurance and other financial business online as well as engagement on social media platforms, what are the legal protocols for ensuring they are shut down or – if you want – accessible to your loved ones?
A forum set up by Internet New Zealand in Wellington this Thursday will feature experts to answer such questions. The event is being hosted by the Deputy CEO of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network, Narelle Clark.
Next week –
Listen out on 10:05 am Tuesday 14 June: Luke Williams interview.
Background on the meth drug habit, book Ice Age by Australian author. Luke Williams was a freelance journalist researching addiction to crystallised methamphetamine (commonly known as crystal meth or ice) when the worst possible thing happened – he became addicted himself. Over the next three months, he was seduced by the drug and descended into psychosis.
He talks to Kathryn Ryan about his recovery from the drug, and his investigation into its history, manufacture and his first hand experience of the effects on users, families and the healthcare system. He’s written a book called Ice Age. http://scribepublications.com.au/books-authors/books/the-ice-age/.
edited
With the sun streaming through the windows this morning, I’m making cider from the apple juice we pressed from our apples last weekend; Bramley’s Seedling, Kentish Fillbasket, Merton Russett and Belle de Boskoop. Having bottled the previous batch, including a fine perry, I’ve refilled those demijohns and set them a’bubbling on the kitchen table. Now, I’m off to collect fallen hazelnuts from which I’m planning to grow several hundred hazels for planting out in the commons around my village. Have a productive day, all!
“Little England” – cute.
My forest garden is a combination of indigenous and exotic trees, shrubs, vines, annuals, biennials and perennials, all growing as a constructed-but-naturalistic whole. I’ve kotukutuku, kowhai, tataramoa, kohuhu, tarata, hoheria, horoeka etc. etc. most of which feed the birds at various times of the year, as do the plum, apples, pear and apricot trees, invaders all. Around the town, I’ve guerilla-planted ti kouka, harakeke, toetoe, korokia etc. in significant numbers, especially on the wetland reserve, Te Wai Korari, that I negotiated the purchase of 15 years ago; the ‘flax wetland’ being the most significant on the estuary, with it’s waterways for galaxids, etc. Against the backdrop of all these natives, I’m planting trees that produce fruit and nuts for humans to eat, believing as I do, that it’s important to prepare communities for climate change and food shortages, even though they might not be aware of that probable eventuality. Hazelnuts are good food, the trees make great nesting sites for grey warbler, fantail, tui and bellbird alike. Their branches make good fences also, and are provided free to whomever might want to fashion them into something stock-proof. As is done in Little England.
That deals with Kevin. I feel that you can fend off all comers Robert G.. Arent they puerile.
It shows what an advantage full employment would be as everyone would be too busy doing something that somebody needed or wanted to buy.
And the oldies would be choosing some useful volunteer work from what the community thought needed doing and having less time to make trouble and acidic remarks as I am just doing! I have met some very patronising and acidic remarks from the retired over the years and feel it isn’t paying back or forward to society for the stable safety net we are provided still.
Thanks all. We operate a seed saving network, presently being refreshed but if you want to know more, try: office@sces.org.nz Now though, is cuttings time, as well as getting nuts into the soil (sorry, Kev).
A good performance from James Shaw this morning, talking about cleaning the rivers. Usually someone from the left will be all doom and gloom and worst case scenario in an attempt to “shock” the people into action
Instead Mr Shaw said that the rivers could be saved and then instead of umming and ahhing and trying to minimise the cost he instead agreed it would cost billions
NZers will appreciate that, a good interview for Mr Shaw
Wouldn’t have cost anything, if the NZers had listened to people like Mr Shaw long ago. Mike Joy, whose messages you might describe as “doom and gloom” has been telling the truth for many years now. Do you think NZers have appreciated his efforts?
I think PR is using his ‘positive’ comment to focus on the ‘billions needed’ aspect of the issue. I think he’s being duplicitous. I think PR is white anting.
🙂
The Greens and the left in general (mostly Labour to be fair) are all about how bad this country is in an attempt to change the government, you may well be right but its the first time hes said something, in a way I agree with
Mike Joy, Puckish – heard of him? What are your thoughts about his message and what do you think about the treatment he receives from the likes of Mr Key?
Funny in a sad way. PR hasn’t heard of Mike Joy. No joy there.
And Metiria Turei – he switches off when she’s talking.
And this man I feel sure, has the gall to come on here and offer us his views as if they have any relevance or value. Fatheads we have by the thousand in NZ. Or hundreds of thousands. It must have been all that milk and meat. It has built calcium, and…of course that’s the result, boneheads not fatheads. I was wrong before. But I think I’ve nailed it now.
You’ve not heard what she has to say then?
Not planning to comment on her views then, I hope.
So, you’ve not heard Mike Joy’s views, nor Metiria’s.. who do you get your information from? Have you a view on environmental issues? From whom did you gather that, I wonder? (Tempted to say, “Rodney Hide?” but that would be nothing more than provocation and you have become much more interesting to talk to these days).
“.. The Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan, currently going through the last stages of the Independent Hearing Panel process is a testament to this new approach.
However, as history shows the vocal minority NIMBYs who often employ a build absolutely nothing anywhere near anything approach to their land use planning thinking can compromise the planning process.
Auckland saw this as Auckland councillors in 2013 folded to pressure from these groups in relation to the Notified Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan.
The density targets of the Auckland Plan were compromised by watered down density zoning and a number of overlays in the Notified Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan ..”
What is ‘local’ about local government in this (forced( Auckland ‘Superciry’ – with it’s ‘democracy for developers’ and DICTATORSHIP for citizens?
Want to stand up and be counted and let PM John Key know that you will not be run by developers and corporates – from Wellington?
SAVE AUCKLAND – MARCH FOR DEMOCRACY !
WHEN: Saturday 11 June 2016.
WHERE: Britomart to the Auckland Town Hall.
TIME: Assemble 12 noon at Britomart.
March supported by It’s Our Future (Auckland), The Westmere Heritage Protection Association, The Housing Lobby.
Yes, PR, positiveness is attractive to voters. I like it when it’s genuine, rather than manipulative and relies on misleading, seen with such claims as, “We’re on the cusp of something special”, or “brighter future” – that sort of saccharine puff is unhealthy. We hear it a lot these days. Mr Shaw will balance his positive statements with as much truth as can be comfortably absorbed by his audiences, I hope, while at the same time retaining his integrity. Other leaders have failed spectacularly to do this.
It maybe the blueprint for the Greens they desperately need, pick a subject or two that resonate with the general public (dirty rivers), be positive (they can be saved), don’t shy away from the realities(it will cost plenty) and propose a solution
It might seem that way to you, PR, but you’ve not been paying attention. As just one example, the Greens have had their “Good Farm Stories” up and running for a long time now. In any case, if your epiphany is genuine, I congratulate you on it.
aaaaand the plot thickens: now, a simple interview about cleaning up our waterways, perfectly in accordance with Green policy, has become an offensive move in ructions within the green party as well as lab/grn conflict.
PR’s “positivity” is simply the crocodile’s smile, and his concern is a reptilian tear.
Has the Herald woken up (at last) to our precarious economy??
‘Nation of Debt: New Zealand sitting on half-trillion-dollar debt bomb
New Zealand is sitting on a half-a-trillion-dollar debt bomb and Kiwis are increasingly treating their houses like cash machines, piling on the debt as they watch the value of their properties soar.
Reserve Bank figures show household debt, excluding investment property, has risen 23 per cent in the past five years to $163.4 billion. Incomes have risen only 11.5 per cent.
Households are now carrying a debt level that is equivalent to 162 per cent of their annual disposable income – higher than the level reached before the global financial crisis.’
Yes, but I noticed Granny did not bother to mention the government racking up billions of Debt for tax cuts and infrastructure for their migration experiments.
The economists and MSM rant on about private debt but when the government does it – not a murmur. Some economists!!!
For my sins, I was watching some Fox News snippets on YouTube and heard a sort of throw away line that Bernie’s wife had hinted that the Democratic Convention would be contested because something would happen to upset the balance before then!
Anti TPPA meeting We need to stop the TPPA, but now there’s a new threat, and the negotiations are coming to Auckland next week!
While the TPPA is in deep trouble in the US, negotiations are continuing on its parallel agreement – the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), being pushed by China. Come to hear all about the RCEP, the latest on TPPA and how we can say no!
Friday, June 17 at 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
St Matthew-in-the-City (187 Federal St) (Corner of Wellesley and Hobson Sts)
What is baffling is that this could happen in a country which even goes to war (Iraq), in order to bring a sterling USA form democracy to ignorant people. How did Bush get a second term as President when the Election was rigged? Who has the power to correct the wrongs?
It should wake up New Zealanders to the preciousness of our honest credible voting system – before it gets stolen from us.
After the Bush re-election there was an enquiry of sorts and 100s of thousands of uncounted votes were discovered chucked in a store room.
There were hundreds of cases of votes cast by phantom voters, for Bush, and oddities where in a poling booth there were hundreds of votes all voting for Bush where usually there are a mixture of votes.
The enquiry was abandoned because by then Bush had been sworn in.
Democratic USA? Huh!
Lets hope Bernie still squeaks in…otherwise there is going to be blood on the mat between Clinton and Trump…and the winner will be scarey . Bernie could also save us from the TPP
“Tonight’s Progressive Roundtable discusses Bernie’s final push in California, whether Hillary would consider having Elizabeth Warren as her running mate, and how the media has prevented any real discussion on the TPP.
Thom talks Trump’s latest racist rant and Bernie’s next move with the Nation’s Katrina vanden Heuvel and in tonight’s Daily Take Thom discusses how Bernie Sanders’ role in writing the official party platform at this year’s Democratic Convention could save us from the TPP.”
Closing in on EU Financial Tax Victory
Posted on June 1, 2016 by David Hillman
The international campaign for taxes on financial speculation is on the brink of a major European milestone that could further boost momentum in the United States.
ON TV1 Lab +Greens = just 41% . To get to form a government they need 50%. Thus they need a ( 9/41 x 100) a whopping 21.95% vote rise on current polling. Formidable challenge when already they cannot agree on deep sea drilling and immigration.
Following the announcement of the Labour and Green Party Memorandum of Understanding, support for the Labour Party increased significantly, from 26% to 31%, and support for New Zealand First decreased, from 11% to 7%.
Kinda explains Winston’s instinctive realisation that he was in some kind of trouble.
Leaving aside the obvious possibility that your wife is cro-magnon right wing trash, just like you, stupidity afflicts the Swiss no more or less than anyone else.
[derailment and subsequent bickering moved to Open Mike] – weka
Sure. Not here to mess up your post, which is good work weka. But I wasn’t going to let OAB just throw out a random attack on a commentator’s wife let alone his lacing it with racist overtones.
In fact, sweet object of my derision and contempt, a wingnut used a “loved” one as political currency, so I entertained the possibility that she (like you) shares his afflictions.
Sorry about the reply button, when i watched the link i didnt notice that i lost the reply.
National and their support partners= 61 seats.
Labour/ Greens/ NZF= 61 seats
There is nothing wrong with my counting.
Fair enough, Naki Man, except you assume the support parties will be returned. ACT almost certainly will, but that doesn’t really assist National much. The Maori Party and Peter Dunne are not looking quite so rosy at the moment. If neither make it, it’s 61-59. I wouldn’t entirely rule out National simply not standing in Ohariu, but that would look a bit desperate and may cost them much needed party votes. The MP just look stuffed at the moment, completely subsumed into the National government, without a voice of their own.
There is no possibility of a Labour/Greens/NZF government. Winston will never play 3rd fiddle. A 22% rise in support for Greens/Labour is possible but unlikely, Far more likely is another slight rise in support for National. 49% is achievable. An MMP record score again but given the growing economy, wage, benefit and pension rises and the amazing Budget 2017 why would anyone take a risk on change. The growth in membership of National of people with Chinese sounding names is phenomenal.
This morning there was a comment posted which included a series of reasons for the housing crisis according to Tony Alexander including this pearl of wisdom (not)
“the population was ageing, requiring more houses as bedrooms sat empty” he said.
What planet is he on? older or aging people with any smarts are selling their houses and moving into retirement villages as my wife and I did nearly 3 years ago. Happy as “sand boys” no worries about rates, maintenance, lawns or when the bubble will burst and money in the bank even if the miserable bankers are paying peanut interest rates at present, plus the right to occupy for the rest of your life at a fixed rate per day.
Nobody comments on this industry yet there are thousands of single and double units across New Zealand and more being built and planned it is a growth industry.
We should be getting a bonus from Bill for helping him with the housing crisis by releasing houses without increasing the boundaries but his advisors are blind to the truth.
BTW there is a house next door to our village that has been empty for about 7 months, go figure.
ps Actually we are not sand boys ‘cos there are no cannons and no gunpowder here.
p.s.s. What a boorish twit Puckish Rogue is , please just ignore his comments, he is a complete waste of space. IMLTHO
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
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Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
TL;DR:Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it: We want our country to be a ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading → ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
What was that judge thinking?Peter Williams writes – That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop:Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
Buzz from the BeehiveThe text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary. It can be quickly analysed ...
For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
Questions need to be asked on both sides of the worldPeter Williams writes – The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop:The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
TL;DR:Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
"The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
Pacific Media Watch Earthwise hosts Lois and Martin Griffiths. Earthwise presenters Lois and Martin Griffiths on Plains FM 96.9 community radio talk to Dr David Robie, a New Zealand author, independent journalist and media educator with a passion for the Asia-Pacific region. David talks about the struggle to raise awareness ...
Pacific Media Watch Ismail al-Ghoul, an Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent who was held for 12 hours at Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital, says Israeli forces rounded up Palestinian journalists at the facility and made them kneel on the ground for hours, while naked and blindfolded. “The occupation forces handcuffed and blindfolded us ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tony Wood, Program Director, Energy, Grattan Institute chinasong, Shutterstock Electricity customers in four Australian states can breathe a sigh of relief. After two years in a row of 20% price increases, power prices have finally stabilised. In many places they’re ...
Chumbawamba have reportedly issued the deputy PM a cease-and-desist notice after he used their song 'Tubthumping' before his state of the nation speech. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Lupton, SHARP Professor, Vitalities Lab, Centre for Social Research in Health and Social Policy Centre, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, UNSW Sydney kitzcorner/Shutterstock The assertion from Queensland’s chief health officer John Gerrard that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Shutterstock Why are musicians so keen to get played on the radio? It can’t be because of the money. In Australia they are paid at rates so low they ...
"Farmers make a point not to tell our urban cousins how to live, yet Chlöe from central Auckland is hell-bent on having her say about farmers," says ACT Rural Communities spokesman Mark Cameron. “On her first day in the House as Green ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Curran, Associate Professor of Ecology, Lincoln University, New Zealand Getty Images/Gerald Corsi In the latest move to reform environmental laws in New Zealand, the coalition government has introduced a bill to fast-track consenting processes for projects deemed to ...
Uber has argued it does not have as much control over drivers as the unions suggest, and wants a judgment ruling that drivers are employees and not contractors set aside and sent back to the Employment Court. The 2022 ruling followed a three-week hearing in which four drivers sought to ...
What can and can’t be purchased by disabled people or their carers has been slashed in an effort by the Ministry of Disabled People Whaikaha to save money. The purchasing guidelines, a set of rules that sets out what can be purchased using the various streams of Government disability funding, ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Tod Wright and Hien Nguyen, Fiscal incidence in New Zealand: The effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in tax year 2018/19 . Analyses of the distributional impact of taxation and government ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Cory Davis, Boston Hart and Benjamin Stubbing, Household cost-of-living impacts from the Emissions Trading Scheme and using transfers to mitigate regressive outcomes . This Analytical Note ...
A coalition of public transport and climate organisations, united as ‘Transport for All’, is actively opposing the government’s transport proposals. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) includes plans for higher fares for public transport, ...
Greater Wellington is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing Policy covers the Council’s various sources of funding, and how the cost of services is shared across the region. This includes ...
Labour has conceded it could have done more to deal with disruptive state housing tenants while in government but says the current coalition is going too far. ...
The band has asked their record label to issue a cease and desist to stop the NZ First leader using their 1997 hit to support his ‘misguided political views’. “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” blared through the speakers on Sunday as Winston Peters took the stage ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
A huge seven months lies in store for the White Ferns, beginning this week with the visit of England and culminating with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October. Starting on Tuesday in Dunedin, the world ranked No. 2 visitors will play five T20s and three ODIs, ...
Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
Auckland Council is opposing a fast-track development backed by Sir John Kirwan and Spark NZ, because it doesn’t meet stringent new climate adaptation requirements The post Surf-data centre faces new 3.8C climate warming rules appeared first on Newsroom. ...
When the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was introduced in 2009 it was firmly targeted at gangs and drugs. The legislation means police no longer need a conviction to seize assets that criminals can’t prove were paid for legitimately, as long as their alleged offences are punishable by more than a ...
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Bob’s relationship with certain members of Lincoln’s academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clark’s 1993 piece in Growing Today cannot have pleased the university management. Clark wrote that Bob was selling onions from the Biological Husbandry Unit to a ...
SailGP’s races feature in-your-face action, with agile, hydro-foiling catamarans tacking and jibing for the title over several days. However, public comments ahead of the global series’ return to New Zealand have left this past year’s controversy in the shadows, as a key appointment attracts criticism from dolphin advocates. A year ...
Opinion: We are fast approaching a fundamental change in prisons. As the number of people on custodial remand looks set to overtake the number of sentenced prisoners, the main function of prisons in New Zealand may become incarcerating un-sentenced people who may not be guilty of offending. We have already ...
The letters, which were published last week, were addressed to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri, National Democrat Party (NasDem) Chairperson Surya Paloh, National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar, Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) President Ahmad Syaikhu and United Development Party (PPP) Chairperson Muhammad Mardiono. In ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
The government says it still intends to deliver tax cuts by July, but will not lock them in until they have got them past their coalition partners. ...
BNZ Bank economist Tony Alexander, shoring himself up with a bank-selected sample of 500 people, decides that most people really like the housing crisis because high prices make people rich. In case you forget about where he stands on the spectrum, here’s what he has to say about the current housing stories:
“No bemoaning the winners and losers. No whinging about how the world should be fairies and fluffy pink unicorns.”
I’ve always wondered why you found fairies coming out from under bridges and fluffy pink unicorns coming out of forests: it’s where they have to sleep.
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/business/385876/house-price-rise-pleases-many
Mr Alexander outlined 18 things that were happening in the country’s housing market including:
– Strong population growth was exceeding housing supply;
– interest rates were at a record low; people were living longer;
– older people were splitting up and needing two houses;
– the population was ageing, requiring more houses as bedrooms sat empty;
– council rules made building a new house expensive;
– Kiwis like expensive bespoke houses rather than little boxes on a hillsides;
– Kiwis seemed to suck at building houses which passed inspections and did not leak;
– there was a shortage of skilled trades people needed to build extra houses;
– few people seriously believed the Government and the Reserve Bank had the tools to flatten house prices, let alone cause them to correct to more “affordable” levels;
– and Auckland was changing from looking like many Invercargills in one place to being a globally connected world city.
And we wonder why four Australian banks are running New Zealand’s housing policy.
So he blames ‘kiwis’ for leaky homes rather than the national party and its headless deregulation.
I counted 4 blocks of apartments in 3 streets close to where I stayed in just one akl inner suburb a few months back. All being repaired, probably ineffectively, keeping tradies from new builds.
The blighted future.
We dont have the tradies to build, the land, geez, Auckland is an isthmus its boaties and pier builders we need. Along with public transit from hunty to s.auckland, hill suburbs to feed employers workers. It aint about Auckland they’ve taken themselves off the table.
Was talking to a national voter recently and they were convinced that it was the green influence on the building trade that had I assume stopped the proper treatment of timber. There wasn’t much point arguing, but I was definitely thinking what the hell.
ive seen the same comment online – the claim that leaky homes was due to the greens forcing builders to use untreated pine for framing
who knew what power the greens wielded, to force such compliance when not even in govt
no need to argue – just ask how that happened – get them to explain it
Not very sustainable, and not in keeping with what Green Party stands for, I would be surprised if this were true?
Alexander speaks for all the simple-minded or callous bastards out there.
+1 they can all go to hell
And from Alexander’s Flagtime Band above –
That’s what it’s all about for the leaders and elites. So the dickheads can strut around with their chests out being all urbane and soofisticated, showing off how modern and upmarket NZ is. Trying to have the lifestyle of an advanced developed society that joined the industrial age, and then moved into the electronic age, while we down here are moving back to the emerald jewel of grass and agriculture that my business tutor said has never in the world given a first world standard of living.
But flashy ostentatious expenditure is all the NZ nobs care about. They move towards an Irish solution where the greedy, callous English speaking overlords, denied the right of the native Irish citizens to own their land and to grow their own food. The British only thought hard when having to find a believable excuse for the country people starving, like paupers.
And we’ve got some NZs cut from the same cloth here. We are globally connected by electronics that serve some people well, but also that are used to degrade other people’s lives and humanity.
A report on the ongoing battle between progressive reform and theocratic reaction in the Kingdom of Tonga: http://eyecontactsite.com/2016/06/art-in-a-weimar-kingdom
Revolution in the Catholic Church?…Time for a Woman Pope!
‘Holy toke: Weed-growing ‘nuns’ defy California town’s cannabis cultivation ban’
https://www.rt.com/viral/345618-california-nuns-cannabis-cultivation/
…“This ban does not apply to us and so we’ve been operating straight through it,” they told RT.
Sister Darcey and Sister Kate have been growing marijuana and creating cannabidiol (CBD)-infused products for three years…
They claim their marijuana has low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which gives the ‘high’ effect associated with marijuana.
“Our medicine is medicine, and it is non-psychoactive,” they explained. “We’re dealing with what is actually hemp but really we advocate for whole plant legalization.”
However, the ‘nuns’ are not the traditionally religious kind but rather ‘spiritual’.
They follow their own ‘holy trinity’ which includes honoring mother earth, honoring the people through making medicine and healing, and their progressive activism.
The nuns dedicate a portion of their week to “the good fight” for the poor people around them…
In states where medical marijuana is legal, there has been a 25 percent drop in painkiller related deaths, according to a 2015 study by University of Pennsylvania and John Hopkins researchers in JAMA Internal Medicine journal.”
Not sure they can be called part of the Catholic establishment, but this guy is and he wrote a very balanced letter in support of the law change in Iowa.
http://www.catholicsun.org/2016/04/28/iowa-bishop-supports-medical-marijuana-bill-in-letter-to-lawmakers/
As for a women Pope the lst time we had one of those, it did not end well. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Joan
wow I didnt know about Pope Joan
“Ministry of Justice refusing to release _any_ docs relating to long-delay, or lobbying over, anti money-laundering policy. To the Ombudsman!” – Matt Nippert via Twitter
“quick, Collins went to that anti-corruption conference, get her to pop down and explain why this is a bad look.” – Dovil ibid
Shocking, but unsurprising. Collins would have been lobbying for increased money laundering and decreased anti corruption measures!
Very good interview this a.m. on whistleblowers in USA referring to Snowden, but mainly all the others who have been damaged in trying to follow the principles of integrity to the law and fairness of the legal and constitutional system there. On Radionz with Kathryn Ryan.
Photo- The front cover of Mark Hertsgaard’s book Bravehearts: Whistle Blowing In The Age Of Snowden. It features a large photo of Edward Snowden
10:05 The NSA whistleblower protector who blew the whistle himself
John Crane was a senior Defence Department official responsible for protecting whistleblowers at the NSA but he ended up blowing the whistle himself after seeing his colleagues betray the whistleblowers they were supposed to protect. His claims are outlined in a new book – Bravehearts: Whistle Blowing In The Age Of Snowden by Mark Hertsgaard.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201803529
Also your privacy – http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201803526 13.15m.
Radio NZ today, 7 June 9:25 Sorting your digital footprint before you die
One of the growing existential questions of our time is “what happens to my digital footprint when I die?” With many people doing their banking, insurance and other financial business online as well as engagement on social media platforms, what are the legal protocols for ensuring they are shut down or – if you want – accessible to your loved ones?
A forum set up by Internet New Zealand in Wellington this Thursday will feature experts to answer such questions. The event is being hosted by the Deputy CEO of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network, Narelle Clark.
Next week –
Listen out on 10:05 am Tuesday 14 June: Luke Williams interview.
Background on the meth drug habit, book Ice Age by Australian author.
Luke Williams was a freelance journalist researching addiction to crystallised methamphetamine (commonly known as crystal meth or ice) when the worst possible thing happened – he became addicted himself. Over the next three months, he was seduced by the drug and descended into psychosis.
He talks to Kathryn Ryan about his recovery from the drug, and his investigation into its history, manufacture and his first hand experience of the effects on users, families and the healthcare system. He’s written a book called Ice Age.
http://scribepublications.com.au/books-authors/books/the-ice-age/.
edited
With the sun streaming through the windows this morning, I’m making cider from the apple juice we pressed from our apples last weekend; Bramley’s Seedling, Kentish Fillbasket, Merton Russett and Belle de Boskoop. Having bottled the previous batch, including a fine perry, I’ve refilled those demijohns and set them a’bubbling on the kitchen table. Now, I’m off to collect fallen hazelnuts from which I’m planning to grow several hundred hazels for planting out in the commons around my village. Have a productive day, all!
Or instead of turning your area into little England, you could plant natives to attract more native birds.
“Little England” – cute.
My forest garden is a combination of indigenous and exotic trees, shrubs, vines, annuals, biennials and perennials, all growing as a constructed-but-naturalistic whole. I’ve kotukutuku, kowhai, tataramoa, kohuhu, tarata, hoheria, horoeka etc. etc. most of which feed the birds at various times of the year, as do the plum, apples, pear and apricot trees, invaders all. Around the town, I’ve guerilla-planted ti kouka, harakeke, toetoe, korokia etc. in significant numbers, especially on the wetland reserve, Te Wai Korari, that I negotiated the purchase of 15 years ago; the ‘flax wetland’ being the most significant on the estuary, with it’s waterways for galaxids, etc. Against the backdrop of all these natives, I’m planting trees that produce fruit and nuts for humans to eat, believing as I do, that it’s important to prepare communities for climate change and food shortages, even though they might not be aware of that probable eventuality. Hazelnuts are good food, the trees make great nesting sites for grey warbler, fantail, tui and bellbird alike. Their branches make good fences also, and are provided free to whomever might want to fashion them into something stock-proof. As is done in Little England.
That deals with Kevin. I feel that you can fend off all comers Robert G.. Arent they puerile.
It shows what an advantage full employment would be as everyone would be too busy doing something that somebody needed or wanted to buy.
And the oldies would be choosing some useful volunteer work from what the community thought needed doing and having less time to make trouble and acidic remarks as I am just doing! I have met some very patronising and acidic remarks from the retired over the years and feel it isn’t paying back or forward to society for the stable safety net we are provided still.
good on you RG .Well done sounds like you are a bonus to your community
you share seeds?
Thanks all. We operate a seed saving network, presently being refreshed but if you want to know more, try: office@sces.org.nz Now though, is cuttings time, as well as getting nuts into the soil (sorry, Kev).
A good performance from James Shaw this morning, talking about cleaning the rivers. Usually someone from the left will be all doom and gloom and worst case scenario in an attempt to “shock” the people into action
Instead Mr Shaw said that the rivers could be saved and then instead of umming and ahhing and trying to minimise the cost he instead agreed it would cost billions
NZers will appreciate that, a good interview for Mr Shaw
Wouldn’t have cost anything, if the NZers had listened to people like Mr Shaw long ago. Mike Joy, whose messages you might describe as “doom and gloom” has been telling the truth for many years now. Do you think NZers have appreciated his efforts?
Its more that Kiwis respond better to positivity then negativity, especially when whats being said doesn’t marry up with their own experiences
As I say I think Mr Shaw did well especially in not prevaricating when it came to the potential costs involved.
I think this type of performance (positive, matter of fact) will be a vote gainer for the Greens
The Greens have been doing positive messages for a long time. Perhaps it’s that Shaw looks like someone you trust that you listen to him differently.
I think PR is using his ‘positive’ comment to focus on the ‘billions needed’ aspect of the issue. I think he’s being duplicitous. I think PR is white anting.
🙂
Nope not at all. If he’d said something like it won’t cost much then whatever he’d said would be ignored because the people of NZ know it’d cost a lot
James Shaw is basically telling NZ what we already know and, if the Greens keep this type of communication up, they’ll be rewarded in the polls
Its good politics from the Greens
The Greens and the left in general (mostly Labour to be fair) are all about how bad this country is in an attempt to change the government, you may well be right but its the first time hes said something, in a way I agree with
Mike Joy, Puckish – heard of him? What are your thoughts about his message and what do you think about the treatment he receives from the likes of Mr Key?
No sorry, I had to google the guy to see who he is
Had to Google the guy, Puckish?
Does your rock have a mail-slot? I’d like to send you some material from the real world.
So how did it come across from Turei?
I switch off when shes talking
Funny in a sad way. PR hasn’t heard of Mike Joy. No joy there.
And Metiria Turei – he switches off when she’s talking.
And this man I feel sure, has the gall to come on here and offer us his views as if they have any relevance or value. Fatheads we have by the thousand in NZ. Or hundreds of thousands. It must have been all that milk and meat. It has built calcium, and…of course that’s the result, boneheads not fatheads. I was wrong before. But I think I’ve nailed it now.
“I switch off when shes talking”
You’ve not heard what she has to say then?
Not planning to comment on her views then, I hope.
So, you’ve not heard Mike Joy’s views, nor Metiria’s.. who do you get your information from? Have you a view on environmental issues? From whom did you gather that, I wonder? (Tempted to say, “Rodney Hide?” but that would be nothing more than provocation and you have become much more interesting to talk to these days).
Right. So it’s not about what is being said, it’s who’s saying it. Shaw looks like someone you would listen to.
More likely he’s taken his morning’s instructions from Paul Henry.
Probably even drinks from the mug
2 billion over 20 years is 100 million a year. Entirely affordable, especially if the top rate of tax goes to 39%.
The work cleaning up the capitalist’s mess will generate employment and income and probably scientific knowledge all of this retained within NZ.
lol
How did I know PR was staying vague for a reason… “cost billions”. 🙄
Who is pushing this National Policy Statement for Urban Development?
(Which will mean, according to PM John Key, that Aucklanders will not have the ‘last say regarding Auckland development?)
Surprise surprise!
The NZ Property Council …
http://www.propertynz.co.nz/media/wysiwyg/pdf/NPS_on_Urban_Development_Submission.pdf
(Pg 7)
“.. The Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan, currently going through the last stages of the Independent Hearing Panel process is a testament to this new approach.
However, as history shows the vocal minority NIMBYs who often employ a build absolutely nothing anywhere near anything approach to their land use planning thinking can compromise the planning process.
Auckland saw this as Auckland councillors in 2013 folded to pressure from these groups in relation to the Notified Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan.
The density targets of the Auckland Plan were compromised by watered down density zoning and a number of overlays in the Notified Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan ..”
What is ‘local’ about local government in this (forced( Auckland ‘Superciry’ – with it’s ‘democracy for developers’ and DICTATORSHIP for citizens?
Want to stand up and be counted and let PM John Key know that you will not be run by developers and corporates – from Wellington?
SAVE AUCKLAND – MARCH FOR DEMOCRACY !
WHEN: Saturday 11 June 2016.
WHERE: Britomart to the Auckland Town Hall.
TIME: Assemble 12 noon at Britomart.
March supported by It’s Our Future (Auckland), The Westmere Heritage Protection Association, The Housing Lobby.
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate Penny Bright.
Yes, PR, positiveness is attractive to voters. I like it when it’s genuine, rather than manipulative and relies on misleading, seen with such claims as, “We’re on the cusp of something special”, or “brighter future” – that sort of saccharine puff is unhealthy. We hear it a lot these days. Mr Shaw will balance his positive statements with as much truth as can be comfortably absorbed by his audiences, I hope, while at the same time retaining his integrity. Other leaders have failed spectacularly to do this.
It maybe the blueprint for the Greens they desperately need, pick a subject or two that resonate with the general public (dirty rivers), be positive (they can be saved), don’t shy away from the realities(it will cost plenty) and propose a solution
Be positive and tell the truth…its revolutionary!
lolz, that’s pretty much been GP strategy for ages. Glad you are getting on board PR, there is hope yet.
Yes maybe but what I’m saying is you have an issue most NZers can get behind and understand, spoken truthfully and positively about
That hasn’t always been the case
The Greens have been campaigning on clean water for ages. How did you miss that?
It might seem that way to you, PR, but you’ve not been paying attention. As just one example, the Greens have had their “Good Farm Stories” up and running for a long time now. In any case, if your epiphany is genuine, I congratulate you on it.
Yeah but to see it you have to go to their web site so I and most people won’t know its there
I don’t know if this is an attempt by James Shaw to:
Increase his spotlight since hes being shunted to the side by his co-leader
Shoring up his support post 2017 election
Trying to take votes off National
Trying to take votes off Labour
but I do believe that the message and the way hes saying it is a good way of putting it (good meaning getting votes of course)
aaaaand the plot thickens: now, a simple interview about cleaning up our waterways, perfectly in accordance with Green policy, has become an offensive move in ructions within the green party as well as lab/grn conflict.
PR’s “positivity” is simply the crocodile’s smile, and his concern is a reptilian tear.
lol, I saw that too. Poor PR, far too predictable, they can’t be paying him enough.
So, you don’t think James’ statement on rivers is his genuine view? It’s just some form of “attempt” to gain political ground?
Jaded, PR, you are.
It very probably is and I very probably am
Has the Herald woken up (at last) to our precarious economy??
‘Nation of Debt: New Zealand sitting on half-trillion-dollar debt bomb
New Zealand is sitting on a half-a-trillion-dollar debt bomb and Kiwis are increasingly treating their houses like cash machines, piling on the debt as they watch the value of their properties soar.
Reserve Bank figures show household debt, excluding investment property, has risen 23 per cent in the past five years to $163.4 billion. Incomes have risen only 11.5 per cent.
Households are now carrying a debt level that is equivalent to 162 per cent of their annual disposable income – higher than the level reached before the global financial crisis.’
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/personal-finance/news/article.cfm?c_id=12&objectid=11651648
Am I right that that is about $90,000 for each person in NZ?
Yes, but I noticed Granny did not bother to mention the government racking up billions of Debt for tax cuts and infrastructure for their migration experiments.
The economists and MSM rant on about private debt but when the government does it – not a murmur. Some economists!!!
How we treat vulnerable people in NZ.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11650165
And finally, Hillary Clinton gets the numbers to clinch the Democratic Presidential nomination, even before New Jersey and California primaries:
http://bigstory.ap.org/779b7012af24446289623a968926ec04
Whew!
Hopefully Sanders leaves Stage Right as gracefully as Cruz did on the other side.
Nope.
Lisa Lerer Verified account
@llerer
Sanders responds to @AP call: Clinton doesn’t have the pledged delegates. Supers don’t count until the convention so it’s still on.
https://twitter.com/llerer/status/739979345708634112
None of the delegates, super or less than super, count until the convention.
27th of July, me thinks is the date for super delegates
Weird and wonderful.
Parker Molloy Verified account
@ParkerMolloy
“But superdelegates don’t vote until July.”
Well, the electoral college won’t vote until December 19, but we call it in November.
https://twitter.com/ParkerMolloy/status/739979362166935556
Are you calling what looks like a major mess in Puerto Rico the victory Hillary Rodam Clinton needed to win? And are you including super delegates?
I’d also say your link is Bullshit. Insiders, and hearsay.
It ain’t over yet!
For my sins, I was watching some Fox News snippets on YouTube and heard a sort of throw away line that Bernie’s wife had hinted that the Democratic Convention would be contested because something would happen to upset the balance before then!
A reference to a possible indictment of HRC???
Worth watching.
http://www.newshub.co.nz/entertainment/john-oliver-buys-22-million-in-debt-forgives-it-all-2016060708?ref=newshubFB
Anti TPPA meeting We need to stop the TPPA, but now there’s a new threat, and the negotiations are coming to Auckland next week!
While the TPPA is in deep trouble in the US, negotiations are continuing on its parallel agreement – the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), being pushed by China. Come to hear all about the RCEP, the latest on TPPA and how we can say no!
Friday, June 17 at 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
St Matthew-in-the-City (187 Federal St) (Corner of Wellesley and Hobson Sts)
Think corruption, only 3.5% of voters voted in democratic primary in Puerto Rico. Down from 700,000. The DNC, has a fix in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eN8nE8mFnw
What is baffling is that this could happen in a country which even goes to war (Iraq), in order to bring a sterling USA form democracy to ignorant people. How did Bush get a second term as President when the Election was rigged? Who has the power to correct the wrongs?
It should wake up New Zealanders to the preciousness of our honest credible voting system – before it gets stolen from us.
Remember Gore? Hanging chads?
Hanging Chads ain’t nothing on how LBJ got to power.
Full spectacularly ugly story in Anthony Caro’s magisterial Means of Ascent.
This an’t tiddlywinks.
After the Bush re-election there was an enquiry of sorts and 100s of thousands of uncounted votes were discovered chucked in a store room.
There were hundreds of cases of votes cast by phantom voters, for Bush, and oddities where in a poling booth there were hundreds of votes all voting for Bush where usually there are a mixture of votes.
The enquiry was abandoned because by then Bush had been sworn in.
Democratic USA? Huh!
When the two candidates go head to head, then we will really see the full ugliness begin – as we haven’t seen for many decades.
Shades of O Brother Where Art Thou.
Lets hope Bernie still squeaks in…otherwise there is going to be blood on the mat between Clinton and Trump…and the winner will be scarey . Bernie could also save us from the TPP
‘Bernie: It will be a contested convention’
https://www.rt.com/shows/big-picture/345646-tpp-racist-rant-bernie/
“Tonight’s Progressive Roundtable discusses Bernie’s final push in California, whether Hillary would consider having Elizabeth Warren as her running mate, and how the media has prevented any real discussion on the TPP.
Thom talks Trump’s latest racist rant and Bernie’s next move with the Nation’s Katrina vanden Heuvel and in tonight’s Daily Take Thom discusses how Bernie Sanders’ role in writing the official party platform at this year’s Democratic Convention could save us from the TPP.”
Hate to link to Granny but this is sad.
Autistic man locked in isolation for five years: ‘He’s had everything stripped from him’
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11648771
Closing in on EU Financial Tax Victory
Posted on June 1, 2016 by David Hillman
The international campaign for taxes on financial speculation is on the brink of a major European milestone that could further boost momentum in the United States.
http://inequality.org/closing-eu-financial-tax-victory/
ON TV1 Lab +Greens = just 41% . To get to form a government they need 50%. Thus they need a ( 9/41 x 100) a whopping 21.95% vote rise on current polling. Formidable challenge when already they cannot agree on deep sea drilling and immigration.
They can agree on a lot more than National and NZF can.
48% is not 50% when you have no mates.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/poll-boost-labour-and-greens-pairing-but-andrew-little-shouldnt-celebrating?autoPlay=4929742655001
Key 39%-still below 40. He has lost that sheen, that teflon, and that was what was carrying the Nats.
29+12+9=goodbye John. And this poll was mostly after the earlier negative reporting of the Lab/Gr MOU. Later reporting has been much more positive.
An interesting analysis in the Colmar Brunton report on the poll between their pre- and post-MOU signing sampling.
See here: https://twitter.com/Puddleglum11/status/740101936939044868
That’s gold, Puddleglum!
From the commentary:
Following the announcement of the Labour and Green Party Memorandum of Understanding, support for the Labour Party increased significantly, from 26% to 31%, and support for New Zealand First decreased, from 11% to 7%.
Kinda explains Winston’s instinctive realisation that he was in some kind of trouble.
Yes, I thought it was interesting given the obituaries for Labour being written by some well-known commentators as a result of the MOU signing.
Still, early days.
Leaving aside the obvious possibility that your wife is cro-magnon right wing trash, just like you, stupidity afflicts the Swiss no more or less than anyone else.
[derailment and subsequent bickering moved to Open Mike] – weka
Dude, wtf.
Dude, are you still a member of the party you affect to despise?
Can you two please take the personal stuff somewhere else?
Sure. Not here to mess up your post, which is good work weka. But I wasn’t going to let OAB just throw out a random attack on a commentator’s wife let alone his lacing it with racist overtones.
“…racist overtones…”? No, there aren’t.
You accused the guys wife of being a primitive sub human kind of primate.
In fact, sweet object of my derision and contempt, a wingnut used a “loved” one as political currency, so I entertained the possibility that she (like you) shares his afflictions.
Do you really have nothing to add to the conversation apart from mindless abuse ?
No wonder there are few new people commenting on this blog and fewer new females.
Yet your never banned for this shit.
take it to open mike. Last warning folks.
You don’t understand why. That’s not a question.
So you didnt look at your link then Paul.
Pretty dismal for Labour/Greens when Winston cant drag them over the line.
[Learn to use the reply button, NM. And learn to count. 50 beats 48. TRP]
Sorry about the reply button, when i watched the link i didnt notice that i lost the reply.
National and their support partners= 61 seats.
Labour/ Greens/ NZF= 61 seats
There is nothing wrong with my counting.
Fair enough, Naki Man, except you assume the support parties will be returned. ACT almost certainly will, but that doesn’t really assist National much. The Maori Party and Peter Dunne are not looking quite so rosy at the moment. If neither make it, it’s 61-59. I wouldn’t entirely rule out National simply not standing in Ohariu, but that would look a bit desperate and may cost them much needed party votes. The MP just look stuffed at the moment, completely subsumed into the National government, without a voice of their own.
There is no possibility of a Labour/Greens/NZF government. Winston will never play 3rd fiddle. A 22% rise in support for Greens/Labour is possible but unlikely, Far more likely is another slight rise in support for National. 49% is achievable. An MMP record score again but given the growing economy, wage, benefit and pension rises and the amazing Budget 2017 why would anyone take a risk on change. The growth in membership of National of people with Chinese sounding names is phenomenal.
This morning there was a comment posted which included a series of reasons for the housing crisis according to Tony Alexander including this pearl of wisdom (not)
“the population was ageing, requiring more houses as bedrooms sat empty” he said.
What planet is he on? older or aging people with any smarts are selling their houses and moving into retirement villages as my wife and I did nearly 3 years ago. Happy as “sand boys” no worries about rates, maintenance, lawns or when the bubble will burst and money in the bank even if the miserable bankers are paying peanut interest rates at present, plus the right to occupy for the rest of your life at a fixed rate per day.
Nobody comments on this industry yet there are thousands of single and double units across New Zealand and more being built and planned it is a growth industry.
We should be getting a bonus from Bill for helping him with the housing crisis by releasing houses without increasing the boundaries but his advisors are blind to the truth.
BTW there is a house next door to our village that has been empty for about 7 months, go figure.
ps Actually we are not sand boys ‘cos there are no cannons and no gunpowder here.
p.s.s. What a boorish twit Puckish Rogue is , please just ignore his comments, he is a complete waste of space. IMLTHO