From debate last night, Bill (discussing pensions with younger generations paying for older etc) “I raised this generation”. Yes…let’s keep in mind who is to blame.
He applauded recent strategies such as Housing First, but he said not enough was being done to address the issues that led to people being in such vulnerable situations.
“They aren’t going to stop people before they become homeless. It’s ameliorative and helps those already homeless.”
He said the current “renter economy” meant wealth amassed with those who already had it, while those at the other end struggled to make ends meet or were reliant on benefits.
“This wealth concentration drives homelessness. We can’t just understand the actions of homeless people, but we also have to study people who are more affluent.
“I think we’ve got to say, who does the economy work for?
Bill Rosenberg: A brief history of labour’s share of income in New Zealand 1939-2016
Iain Middleton:: Basic Income Calculator
Lowell Manning and Michael Kane: Assessing the impact of basic income on society
Annie Newman and Catriona MacLennan: Living Wage Movement
(MacClennan was not there, though some of her ideas were presented).
There were different views on whether a UBI was the solution. Most seemed for it. But there were some concerns that it would be an individualistic solution, would not be a workable solution within a capitalist economy, and/or would not be Nat-proof (ie the Nats would undermine it when in government.
I think it was Ian Middleton who was pretty scathing about Gareth Morgan’s version of the UBI, which isn’t really one – set too low; takes from superannuitants to give to younger people, etc.
The UBI speakers said that special needs benefits would not be touched by UBI eg disability and sickness benefits would still exist as well as the UBI.
That was a stand out performance from Jacinda last night, looking forward to tonights debate, James has been fantastic so far, he’s going to be epic tonight.
On Radio just now the commentator said, “Winston sees his party as part of the 3 big parties, rather than part of the 4 small parties.” Might have a point there.
Arguably, neoliberalism has been causing loads of (mainly mental, in the first instance) health issues and thus all neoliberals should be forced to into rehab. For the many, not just the few!
Would be helpful for many to have properly funded rehab available out there, especially for the P addicts and alcoholics
Pretty sure cannabis addiction is a small problem compared to the above, we all know of people who enjoy a joint just like some enjoy a drink, doesn’t make them an addict, but in the eyes of national the joint makes them a criminal. Maybe because they don’t collect a tax revenue off the growers/sellers, i’d say that’s the bigger issue.
“Pretty sure cannabis addiction is a small problem compared to the above, we all know of people who enjoy a joint just like some enjoy a drink, doesn’t make them an addict”
Right. But will it result in them being forced into rehab if caught?
Under a Labour Government it would still be a criminal offence.
rubbish – it is all nonsense because the situation now that will propagate the future options is constantly changing and therefore constantly needing to be refreshed to stay relevant.
the right to know line is ONLY used for some things and as an attack line against others and generally a right wing meme – you aren’t lowering the bar chair – you are the bar.
While changes can eventuate, thus new responses may be required, it’s no excuse for not informing voters of their current plans.
Therefore, this rubbish you’re spouting is you simply making excuses for your lowering of the bar.
The right to know applies to all parties, hence it’s not an attack line used solely from the right. It’s an attack line (with good merit) used against those that fail to front up with the details, thus are rightly in the firing line.
Nobody can say for sure, Marty. But that doesn’t stop us from making plans. Nor is it an excuse for preventing us from knowing what our political leaders plan to do.
the answer is no…so heres one for you….has Labour at any point said there will be enforced rehab for everyone caught with cannabis?….and when you answer that one heres the follow up….why then do you feel compelled to ask such a ridiculous question?
I am also concerned because I haven’t heard Jacinda say they won’t deport people to the FEMA camps hidden in the US – why hasn’t she said this won’t happen? Un-nice forces are at work here methinks. Who is hiding what from whom – that is the question!!!
I showed you the courtesy of answering your questions, yet you failed to answer mine. Why is that, Pat?
As for your last question. National have touted a form of forced rehab for beneficiaries, but I doubt they will go as far as you asked. Are you thinking of voting for them, Pat?
as there has been no suggestion of a blanket rehab (except your own) under a health focused (as opposed to a criminal justice) cannabis policy i would safely state that Labours policy would not go so far as you suggest.
Am i thinking of voting for National?…”….i don’t want to go among mad people”
if you are genuinely concerned that the next government will operate in a less open and ethical way than the previous I suggest you then address your questions to your local Labour Party representative.
It would be wonderful if when people sought helped that it was there for them, doesn’t seem to be the case at present. Where does an addict go when they need help at the moment? Services are now stretched to breaking point, tragically suicide seems to be a preferred choice to deal with it.
Currently, it appears to be easier to lock people up in jail, lawyers are making $$$$ from that, but the courts and prisons are bursting at the seams.
Police now say they deal with minor cannabis matters at their descretion, maybe it’s because this year they couldn’t even afford to fly the choppers around our region, beautiful climate here js.
Cannabis is costing us tax payers huge ammounts of $$$, decriminalising it and offering people help if they are addicted would cost so much less but leaving the cost out of it, decriminalisation makes so much more sense.
Here’s an idea, binding citizens referendum.
Labour are well aware of the cannabis debate and recognise something needs to change, so do the Greens. That’s another reason I’m voting for change, so the oldies next door don’t have to go to the tinny house and risk being arrested to self medicate for cancer and pain because they want an alternative to highly addictive opiates.
Interesting how quick your position changed. From belonging in Joyce’s hole, to being ridiculous and now you’re suggesting I direct it to my local Labour Party representative.
Wonder if my local will have your initial response?
Nevertheless, with voting beginning in three days, don’t you think the onus should be on the party to put the relevant info out and into the public domain. For example, on their website?
All Jacinda has said is that it should be in Health.
At some time later when the issue rises, there will be a Bill to rationalise the problems you raise. Maybe there will be a move to decriminalise because there is a mood for change but as you know National has avoided creating change but consolidated innovations produced by Labour over many decades.
“All Jacinda has said is that it should be in Health.”
No, she has gone further than that. The use of rehab has been mentioned.
The public mood for change is already there, it’s Labour that oppose decriminalisation, although they’re apparently open to making it a conscience vote. But voting on it is not a priority.
Therefore, despite the stardust generating from Jacinda, voters are still in the dark when it comes to knowing how rehab will work and who will be impacted.
I find it annoying when parties say that Cannabis reform is not a priority. They minimise it like it is only a niche thing for a couple of pot heads who want to smoke.
In reality it is a massive deal for our prisons, poor, sick, and economy.
We can reduce our prison populations by reducing those who are sent to jail not just for use but for criminal activity that surrounds the black market. Those in lower socio economic area’s no longer become the victims and perpetrators of said crimes.
As others have said those who wish to use Cannabis to self medicate will have access without becoming criminals.
Finally a legal industry not only allows for taxation but allows for actual controls to be set up. Just like alcohol or smokes you can set age limits and licensing limits on how it is sold and grown. Quality standards can be set to ensure there is no contamination or spiking.
Cannabis is not a small little niche topic that can be discussed at a later date when it becomes important. It is important now. Whilst I think the argument of forced rehab is facile I would like to see some more fleshed out think from Labour in this. Why the hell are they so scared the numbers are in favour of reform.
WOW you are quoting direct insult lines from bill english chair as in ‘stardust’
I’m sick of gnat spin merchants pretending to be left – that is the d of dirty politics imo I wish we could just stick to the issues and not have the dirty spin and attempts at creating murk.
My past history has no relevance what so ever on the position Labour has decided to take in this matter. Nor does it have any relevance on why Labour are holding back on the details.
notice “i never said I did” is not the same as “I never did” but this appears to be a major for you chair – as a lifelong left voter are you now thinking seriously of changing your vote to the gnats because of their honesty compared to Labour on this essential issue?
My concern is for the casual user, and how will this impact them? The potential for offshore and local investors profiteering and the overall effectiveness of forced rehab.
And what of those using it for health reasons? Is raw cannabis going to be legalised for medical use or is Labour only talking about cannabis based products?
I’m sure everyone is greatful for your concern of the day.
I, personally, am eagerly anticipating whatever will be your concern about Lab/Grn this evening, and will barely be able to sleep for contemplation of what might be your sudden concern of tomorrow morning.
Concern, for you, seems to be an infinitely renewable resource. We are all blessed that you shower it upon us in such copious volumes (and about such a wide variety of topics), warm and with that unmistakable “fresh from the bladder” odour.
lol sure we believe you chair – FORCED REHAB – figment of your own mind. the rest of your gnat concern tr0ll lines are equally invalid – good for a laugh though ta chair LOL
How will they know the casual user to force them to rehab? Now real fear would be workplace testing for E and coke abd the like. Watch the white monied classes squeal about civil rights then
See McFlock 4.6 below. The fact that you haven’t been given every little detail about a “policy” that was basically an answer to a question doesn’t entitle you to start fantasising evil intent on the part of the person who answered the question.
Rubbish. I asked you a couple of questions. And I see you didn’t answer them.
But you answering a question (in fact, it was more of a correction on your part) gives you the right to imply (with evil intent) that I’m paranoid? Piss off.
More punctilious idiocy from a concern troll who has just wasted a huge amount of screen-space. Please go conservationist about screen-space, Mr so-called Chairman.
Jacinda wants to make it a health issue and brought up the use of rehab instead of people going to jail.
Therefore, I was questioning if it was going to be forced rehab. As in, will cannabis users going before the courts now face being sentenced to rehab?
It’s a logical assumption (not paranoia) going off the limited details given. And another example of why Labour need to provide more details. Without them (details) people tend to suspect the worse and it allows the opposition to reinforce that perception by filling in the blanks with their worse speculation.
The flaw in your correction is, I’m not the opposition. I’m from the left.
Moreover, I’m not filling in the blanks, I’m merely asking genuine questions, which makes your (and a few others on here) antics look even worse to outsiders reading this thread.
You’re not helping Labour, you (and a few others on here) just make them look more dodgy.
I announce I will buy a car.
A “logical assumption” would be that I could be considering vehicular murder.
And yet if that’s the main question you have about my purchasing decision you’d still be either paranoid or shitstirring.
Treating something as a health issue is as close to “forced rehab” as buying a car is to vehicular murder.
Your “concern” (lol) rests on the idea that coercion and detention needs to be replaced by more coercion and detention. This is the antithesis of successful addiction rehabilitation.
Decriminalisation means at worst a fine and confiscation for users (not dealers). So, you take the info from the ticket and offer them free addiction services if they think they’re doing too much. Hell, the cop can just give them a leaflet, and it would still be a more effective health intervention than your wet dream of “forced rehab”.
fuck, you can put that one by the “$11.7 Billion” hole Joyce dug himself.
Piss off. I’m merely asking questions. The use of rehab instead of people going to jail does imply it could be forced rehab. Hence, I’m asking, not stating it as fact.
Labour could easily put this concern to bed by posting some details on their website, yet they haven’t. Why is that? It makes it look as if they have something to hide.
And why would they want to give voters that perception if they were on the up and up?
It doesn’t add up. It suggests they are either incompetent or they are hiding something.
Pity the data doesn’t include just cannabis users. All illegal drug users lumped together.English reckoned there were just 7 in prison for cannabis use. Though an annual figure would help. Can English be fact checked?
Hosking says he never reads comment about him or his valuable work. When being confronted with a 60,000 poll to remove him from the debate, and TVNZ talk of modifying his place on Seven, it may have knocked him for a six. Ego crash?
And the First Leaders Debate was regarded as pretty dull, so ego again?
Whilst the election process is well underway.
I am concerned with all the “promises” to build houses: be they Kiwibuild 10k pa or Bill’s govt building 30k pa. I have made a few comments regarding the difficulty that the building industry is having, and that there is severe pressure currently on cash flows caused by our banks reducing credit facilities. Here is another example of this with Martin Dunn on ZB yesterday (to save time go to about the 12 minute mark), banks are repatriating money back to Melbourne.
The next 3 year term is IMO not going to be all clear sailing especially within the building industry. http://120.138.20.16/WeekOnDemand/ZB/auckland/2017.09.07-11.15.00-S.mp3 http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/property/91230001/warning-that-nz-is-heading-for-peak-construction-as-banks-tighten-purse-strings
So no matter who wins the power still resides with the banks. The same banks that caused the building slump in 07-08.
‘..the power still resides with the banks’
Only because the successive governments have handed the role of credit creation to the banks.
So actually the power resides with the government.
Number of Code of compliance certs issued should be IMO the number quoted, as that conveys what has been completed and is ready for occupation.
In 2016 it was estimated that
“This year was expected to top the 13,500 homes mark – the estimated level needed for the next three decades if the city is to address its shortage.
But the report suggests a little less than 12,000 will be built. http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/309675/fewer-houses-to-be-built-in-auckland-than-predicted
YET …
“The numbers being completed are far less than those consented. Statistics from Auckland Council show that last year 7200 houses were built and 6520 and 5550 were completed for year end 2015 and 2014 respectively,” she said.” http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11853702
So we estimated 13,500, but experts think 12,000 and Code of Compliances issued were …. 7,200. Just as well that there is NO housing crisis !! as we under built 6,300 homes in Auckland alone
The level of deception from this fishing club spokesman is something to behold. I certainly have seen dolphins south of Moeraki at places like porpoise bay (where the name is a bit of a hint):
the “fast vessel” would focus its patrol searching for nets set illegally by recreational fishers and commercial operations between Te Waewae Bay and Canterbury Bight… Setting a net within 7.4km of the coast was illegal, as was using trawl nets within 3.7km of the coast… At the launch yesterday, Mr Meikle said the “passionate” volunteer crew would remove the nets of recreational fishers from waters, if set illegally.
If a commercial operation was acting illegally, the volunteers would alert the Ministry of Primary Industries, he said.
Green Island Fishing Club secretary Steve Bennett, of Brighton, said… Recreational fishers set nets in harbours, estuaries and rivers and did not set nets in the sea because it was too dangerous to travel beyond 7.4km, he said… had never seen, or heard of a Hector’s dolphins ever being south of Moeraki.
Mr Meikle, of Dunedin, said Hector’s dolphins lived along the coastline, including a pod of 200 at Te Waewae Bay, 12 at Oreti Beach, about 50 in the Catlins and 42 between Dunedin and Oamaru, including a pod of 21 at Blueskin Bay.
Election billboards: why do so few of them give any reason to vote for the candidate being touted? My reaction to anything that just says “Vote for Bloggs” is “why the fuck should I when you can’t even be bothered to tell me why?”
Except for Winnie’s “Had enough?”. Now that you mention it Winnie, why yes, I have had enough of your smug smirk.
I have so wanted to adjust his billboard near our abode – maybe ‘bad enough’ some adjustment to the ‘had’ but sadly those days are over for me and the youf can’t be bothered or so it seems.
This will show my age, but Bill English’s reference to Jacinda Ardern as ‘stardust’ recalls Joni Mitchell and her version of “Woodstock”.
It was a song of aspiration, the need and desire for change. I would adopt it, changing the intended denigration from the Prime Minister into a positive.
“Got to get back to the land and set my soul free……..
“And I feel myself a cog in something turning………
“By the time we got to Woodstock
We were half a million strong
And everywhere was a song and a celebration
“We are stardust, we are golden
We are caught in the devils bargain
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden.”
Some real resonance here for this “child of God” as again the generations change.
The people in Epsom must be very confused right now as their main party tanks. Having had their hand held in the ballot box for the last several elections there doesn’t seem to be any orders coming from National Party HQ in the face of impending disaster for National.
Perhaps we’ll see the electorate vote there begin to resemble the real world where ACT has 0.1% support for their lunatic policies.
Yes, we’d get rid of the prick!
If only everyone in that electorate who doesn’t like Act would vote National for the electorate mp then it would happen. No more Rimmer. Yay.
It would mean the National Party would have to stop pretending extreme policies like charter schools and gutting the RMA were theirs, rather than using Seymour as their stalking horse.
Which would mean they’d lose a whole heap of ‘middle New Zealand ‘ voters.
maybe. currently he is not a overhang and sucks Nats party vote down having missed the chance to drag a further mp… …the bald one… up to parliament but also getting to many votes to get hangover. only the Maori party got hangover.
The left don’t, well Anderson maybe… …do hangovers. The Maori party cares about people’s second home not getting new taxes, hardly left wing reasoning.
If you want hangover, and end slipping back on the list, party vote Green the only pure MMP party party.
Yep. The problem is so do many living outside Epsom who make a over vote which harms National. National either want just Seymour voters in Epson or lots more ACT voters nationally.
– Mike Hosking on his knees in front of toilet bowl dry heaving uncontrollably in an unshakeable cold sweat as the reality of polling kicks in and he realises that Steven Joyce’s dirty tricks won’t save his National government
– Middle aged man discovers that trying to starve himself and subsist largely on mildly warm lemon water in order to maintain his figure is not a good idea
A dying man was discharged to a bus stop wearing pyjamas because Christchurch Hospital staff felt he was a “nuisance” and “faking” his illness.
Neil David Jones, 47, then lay on the footpath for six hours while members of the public tried to get doctors to help him. He was eventually trespassed from the hospital and taken to a shelter, where he vomited blood.
An ambulance took him back to hospital, where he died two days later.
A new book by George Monbiot looks to offers solutions and alternatives to neoliberalism.
‘What does the good life—and the good society—look like in the twenty-first century?
A toxic ideology rules the world – of extreme competition and individualism. It misrepresents human nature, destroying hope and common purpose. Only a positive vision can replace it, a new story that re-engages people in politics and lights a path to a better world.
George Monbiot shows how new findings in psychology, neuroscience and evolutionary biology cast human nature in a radically different light: as the supreme altruists and cooperators. He shows how we can build on these findings to create a new politics: a “politics of belonging.” Both democracy and economic life can be radically reorganized from the bottom up, enabling us to take back control and overthrow the forces that have thwarted our ambitions for a better society.
Urgent, and passionate, Out of the Wreckage provides the hope and clarity required to change the world.’
Hey there Ed, was unable to ring in… but it would have been…
Why was Barclay recording Glenis, and don’t say you don’t know Bill, because you do, and so do I, and English, who was female who was a senior level politician at the time involved, and don’t claim the confidentiality agreement, because you said you had not signed one.
Yeah that’s what I would have asked.
Actually there were two callers who phoned in with Barclay questions, and he LIED. Someone asked how much hush money was paid to Glenis, English claimed he did not know, Sanso even clarified with him that he didn’t know, and he said again he did not know the amount, that is an outright bold faced lie.
I agree, he permanently looks grumpy and non-positive. I don’t know if this is his usual demeanour but he needs to lighten up – he should be as the polls are looking pretty good for Labour. It doesn’t help that Paula Benefit carries on like a chipmunk on steroids and comes across like a smug know it all – she grates like hell so between the two of them – yes they need to be spoken to or removed from the AM Show.
Big upps for the Jacinda effect that is empowering women in NZ to fight for there equal rights
Now we need the most popular Lady in the World to help us fight for OUR WORLD.!!!!!!!!
Nice one Eco maori. Jacinda is empowering women everywhere – not just those in her own age group. She is also appealing to older women like myself who were victims of so much misogyny and abuse in our younger days. We don’t want to see the new generations of women put through the same hoops.
Small sample size with consequent MOE however that over 65 favourability rating is very surprising……though in total the thrust of the results are buoyant for Labour
yes, well even so….my direct experience is that over 65s haven’t been impressed with rising living costs, esp health., and concern for offspring(naturally)…and much of the antipathy to Labour was around presentation….is it perhaps JAs relative youth?
lol…that may be so of some (few) ….but it is well to remember that the super-annuitants of today are ourselves in 10,20 or whatever years time….will our voting predilections reduce to such a basic formula?
Hope fully for the better Scott for our cause. I’m old enough to no what life was like before national started there circus and life was much better for everyone.
And It’s awesome that we have social media to assists us in our fight to oust national and there spinning shit just like there manama nups whom insult me every day and think I can not see trough there dum ass tack ticks
He’s run out of roles to speak from: now he’s no longer Prime minister or National Party Leader, anything he says would be in his role as “John Key, human being”. And he’s spent so long telling people what they want to hear from those different roles, he’s terrified of trying to form an opinion of his own. Hasn’t had one since the ’81 tour.
McFlock just heard at 3.55pm those figure’s when thee panel was talking about combinations of coalitions.
Then Jim Mora had to correct them saying National had no options.
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Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8. The universe was ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
Peter Dunne writes – The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same?Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University Violence against women is not a women’s problem to solve, it is a whole of society problem to solve; and men in particular have to take responsibility. Those were the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Allen, Senior Lecturer in Chemical and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of Newcastle Snapshot freddy/ShutterstockPlans to revive an old coal-fired power station using bioenergy are being considered in the Hunter region of New South Wales. Similar plans for the station ...
Responding to the long-awaited release of judges’ special allowances, including free air travel and hotels for spouses, generous sabbaticals, and access to limousines, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Alex Murphy said: “In what world does your employer ...
Analysis - The United States has unveiled plans to boost the weapons trade with Australia and the UK, on the same day that Winston Peters is expected to sketch NZ's position on AUKUS. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrea Carson, Professor of Political Communication, Department of Politics, Media and Philosophy, La Trobe University Since Australia’s First Nations Voice to Parliament referendum in October 2023, diverse commentaries have sought to explain why it failed. But what does an analysis of media ...
Lawyers representing two iwi as well as the Māori Women’s Welfare League on Wednesday asked the Court of Appeal to overturn last week’s High Court decision on the Waitangi Tribunal’s decision to summons Children’s Minister Karen Chhour. The Tribunal is currently investigating the Government’s decision to repeal section 7AA of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Albanese government will introduce legislation to ban deepfake pornography and provide more funding for the eSafety Commission to pilot age-assurance technologies. The contribution of internet sites to gender-based violence was one major issue ...
Average ordinary time hourly earnings, as measured by the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES), increased 5.2 percent in the year to the March 2024 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. Annual wage cost inflation, as measured by the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dimitrios Salampasis, FinTech Capability Lead | Senior Lecturer, Emerging Technologies and FinTech, Swinburne University of Technology Clem Onojeghuo/Unsplash In the digital era, the job market is increasingly becoming a minefield – demanding and difficult to navigate. According to the Australian Bureau ...
As of the March 2024 quarter, we can now look back on 20 years of data related to youth not in employment, education, or training (NEET), as collected by the Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS), according to figures released by Stats NZ today. "The ...
Thousands of workers attended public events in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch today to celebrate International Workers’ Day (May Day), but union representatives are urging caution and vigilance over the Government’s blatantly "anti-worker" ...
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in the March 2024 quarter, compared with 4.0 percent in the previous quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. ...
The PSA is warning the Government that the sensitive information of New Zealanders held by various agencies will fall into the wrong hands if the latest round of proposed cuts goes ahead. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Talitha Best, Professor of Psychology, CQUniversity Australia Victoria Rodriguez/Unsplash How do sugar rushes work? – W.H, age nine, from Canberra What a terrific question W.H! Let’s explore this, starting with some of the basics. What is sugar? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karinna Saxby, Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne MART PRODUCTION/Pexels Increasing income support could help keep women and children safe according to new work demonstrating strong links between financial insecurity and domestic violence. ...
ANALYSIS:By Olli Hellmann, University of Waikato When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day today on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also to mark a defining event for national identity. The battle of Gallipoli against ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark A Gregory, Associate Professor, School of Engineering, RMIT University The telecommunications industry faces a major shakeup following the release of the post-incident report on last November’s 12-hour Optus outage. Telecommunications companies will have to share more information with customers during future ...
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Wards of the State work streets for money…no housing, not enough food
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11918794
From debate last night, Bill (discussing pensions with younger generations paying for older etc) “I raised this generation”. Yes…let’s keep in mind who is to blame.
From article above:
He applauded recent strategies such as Housing First, but he said not enough was being done to address the issues that led to people being in such vulnerable situations.
“They aren’t going to stop people before they become homeless. It’s ameliorative and helps those already homeless.”
He said the current “renter economy” meant wealth amassed with those who already had it, while those at the other end struggled to make ends meet or were reliant on benefits.
“This wealth concentration drives homelessness. We can’t just understand the actions of homeless people, but we also have to study people who are more affluent.
“I think we’ve got to say, who does the economy work for?
The solution mentioned in the article is UBI. I attended the session yesterday at the Social Movements and resistance Conference, which included a couple of presentations on UBI.
(MacClennan was not there, though some of her ideas were presented).
There were different views on whether a UBI was the solution. Most seemed for it. But there were some concerns that it would be an individualistic solution, would not be a workable solution within a capitalist economy, and/or would not be Nat-proof (ie the Nats would undermine it when in government.
I think it was Ian Middleton who was pretty scathing about Gareth Morgan’s version of the UBI, which isn’t really one – set too low; takes from superannuitants to give to younger people, etc.
The UBI speakers said that special needs benefits would not be touched by UBI eg disability and sickness benefits would still exist as well as the UBI.
14 days to go. Tipping point reached last week – remember, snafus like Joyce’s budget blow up take a few weeks to work through the polls.
I can sniff the sweet smell of napalm on the hopes and dreams of the Nats this morning.
That was a stand out performance from Jacinda last night, looking forward to tonights debate, James has been fantastic so far, he’s going to be epic tonight.
no winston no top no point
Winston isn’t participating? Why is that please?
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201857752/nz-first-s-fall-in-polls-junk-science-peters
ouch!
“Winston isn’t participating? Why is that please?”
I heard it was due to National and Labour not fronting. Which, in an MMP environment is unacceptable.
On Radio just now the commentator said, “Winston sees his party as part of the 3 big parties, rather than part of the 4 small parties.” Might have a point there.
Agreed Cinny-James Shaw has been a revelation to me in this campaign. He will make a tremendous minister in the Jacinda Junta.
This is worth a read.
One young (youth-adjacent) woman is pretty much singlehandedly dismantling the government and the National Party.
https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/07-09-2017/the-money-fight-ardern-lights-up-english-in-christchurch/
Cheers ScottGN for that; very nicely written. (Except for the end where it said there are 2 weeks to go-voting starts in 3 days)
Jacinda Ardern says no one should be jailed for smoking cannabis. Saying, cannabis use needs to be treated as a health issue.
Therefore, is Labour’s position forced rehab for all those caught using cannabis?
think that question belongs in Joyce’s hole
Do we force treatment for every other health issue?
Arguably, neoliberalism has been causing loads of (mainly mental, in the first instance) health issues and thus all neoliberals should be forced to into rehab. For the many, not just the few!
Oh stop talking shit Incognito. It’s just that you’re Incognisant.
Not every other health issue is illegal. And Labour aren’t offering to legalise it.
Would be helpful for many to have properly funded rehab available out there, especially for the P addicts and alcoholics
Pretty sure cannabis addiction is a small problem compared to the above, we all know of people who enjoy a joint just like some enjoy a drink, doesn’t make them an addict, but in the eyes of national the joint makes them a criminal. Maybe because they don’t collect a tax revenue off the growers/sellers, i’d say that’s the bigger issue.
“Pretty sure cannabis addiction is a small problem compared to the above, we all know of people who enjoy a joint just like some enjoy a drink, doesn’t make them an addict”
Right. But will it result in them being forced into rehab if caught?
Under a Labour Government it would still be a criminal offence.
“It would be wonderful if when people sought helped that it was there for them…”
Indeed.
The problem is more about those that you highlighted above (the casual user) being caught and being forced into rehab.
Moreover, will rehabs be privately run? Is this going to be a new growth industry funded by the taxpayer?
Lol the fear is radiating off you chair – don’t worry your stash is safe lol
+1 lol
Seeing as a straight answer hasn’t been forthcoming, it should be clear the fear you’re sensing isn’t radiating from me.
Spark up another, mate. You’re getting too straight.
You may opt to mock me, but it doesn’t answer the question.
What’s with all the mocking and avoidance? Why the struggle to answer a simple yes or no question?
have you ever smoked cannabis chair?
“This people have a right to know line is false…”
No. That’s you lowering the bar, Marty.
Of course voters have a right to know what they are voting for and how that policy will look once in place.
rubbish – it is all nonsense because the situation now that will propagate the future options is constantly changing and therefore constantly needing to be refreshed to stay relevant.
the right to know line is ONLY used for some things and as an attack line against others and generally a right wing meme – you aren’t lowering the bar chair – you are the bar.
While changes can eventuate, thus new responses may be required, it’s no excuse for not informing voters of their current plans.
Therefore, this rubbish you’re spouting is you simply making excuses for your lowering of the bar.
The right to know applies to all parties, hence it’s not an attack line used solely from the right. It’s an attack line (with good merit) used against those that fail to front up with the details, thus are rightly in the firing line.
what is going to happen tomorrow?
Nobody can say for sure, Marty. But that doesn’t stop us from making plans. Nor is it an excuse for preventing us from knowing what our political leaders plan to do.
the answer is no…so heres one for you….has Labour at any point said there will be enforced rehab for everyone caught with cannabis?….and when you answer that one heres the follow up….why then do you feel compelled to ask such a ridiculous question?
“The answer is no”
Well if that is correct, then how will it work? How will she ensure people get the help she deems they require?
As for your questions. Jacinda has touted using rehab, but, as usual, was vague on details on how that would work/look.
Therefore, while I haven’t heard her use the word forced, I haven’t heard her rule it out. Hence, the question.
And as you can see, it’s far from ridiculous considering what’s been touted coupled with the lack of details.
will National compel euthanasia upon drug dependent young beneficiaries who fail to attend job interviews?
I haven’t heard them say they won’t.
i thought The Chairman may want some company down Joyces rabbit hole
I am also concerned because I haven’t heard Jacinda say they won’t deport people to the FEMA camps hidden in the US – why hasn’t she said this won’t happen? Un-nice forces are at work here methinks. Who is hiding what from whom – that is the question!!!
I showed you the courtesy of answering your questions, yet you failed to answer mine. Why is that, Pat?
As for your last question. National have touted a form of forced rehab for beneficiaries, but I doubt they will go as far as you asked. Are you thinking of voting for them, Pat?
as there has been no suggestion of a blanket rehab (except your own) under a health focused (as opposed to a criminal justice) cannabis policy i would safely state that Labours policy would not go so far as you suggest.
Am i thinking of voting for National?…”….i don’t want to go among mad people”
While there has been no suggestion of blanketed rehab, rehab has been touted. Therefore, voters have a right to know what that is going to look like.
Why is Labour and its cheerleaders so afraid of fronting up on their own policy?’ It fails to reinforce voter confidence or trust.
Moreover, the suggestion of rehab (whether blanketed or not) never came from me. I’m merely the one asking genuine questions.
oh
billchair – this people have a right to know line is false and labour and other lefties get this – why don’t you I wonder?Is this the best you’ve got? seriously chair get a new hobby buddy.
if you are genuinely concerned that the next government will operate in a less open and ethical way than the previous I suggest you then address your questions to your local Labour Party representative.
It would be wonderful if when people sought helped that it was there for them, doesn’t seem to be the case at present. Where does an addict go when they need help at the moment? Services are now stretched to breaking point, tragically suicide seems to be a preferred choice to deal with it.
Currently, it appears to be easier to lock people up in jail, lawyers are making $$$$ from that, but the courts and prisons are bursting at the seams.
Police now say they deal with minor cannabis matters at their descretion, maybe it’s because this year they couldn’t even afford to fly the choppers around our region, beautiful climate here js.
Cannabis is costing us tax payers huge ammounts of $$$, decriminalising it and offering people help if they are addicted would cost so much less but leaving the cost out of it, decriminalisation makes so much more sense.
Here’s an idea, binding citizens referendum.
Labour are well aware of the cannabis debate and recognise something needs to change, so do the Greens. That’s another reason I’m voting for change, so the oldies next door don’t have to go to the tinny house and risk being arrested to self medicate for cancer and pain because they want an alternative to highly addictive opiates.
@ Pat
Interesting how quick your position changed. From belonging in Joyce’s hole, to being ridiculous and now you’re suggesting I direct it to my local Labour Party representative.
Wonder if my local will have your initial response?
Nevertheless, with voting beginning in three days, don’t you think the onus should be on the party to put the relevant info out and into the public domain. For example, on their website?
or maybe i got bored interacting with the deliberately obtuse
Pat, I’m more interested in what your local Labour rep did to you, that you’d inflict the chairman on them 🙂
I think Jacinda meant that treating cannabis as a Health issue would mean taking it out of the Crimes Act. Swap one for other in some form.
Seeing as Labour aren’t legalising it. Can it be taken out of the crimes act if it is still a crime?
And how would that work exactly? Would users who go before the courts then be sentence to rehab instead of jail, being fined, or home detention?
All Jacinda has said is that it should be in Health.
At some time later when the issue rises, there will be a Bill to rationalise the problems you raise. Maybe there will be a move to decriminalise because there is a mood for change but as you know National has avoided creating change but consolidated innovations produced by Labour over many decades.
“All Jacinda has said is that it should be in Health.”
No, she has gone further than that. The use of rehab has been mentioned.
The public mood for change is already there, it’s Labour that oppose decriminalisation, although they’re apparently open to making it a conscience vote. But voting on it is not a priority.
Therefore, despite the stardust generating from Jacinda, voters are still in the dark when it comes to knowing how rehab will work and who will be impacted.
I find it annoying when parties say that Cannabis reform is not a priority. They minimise it like it is only a niche thing for a couple of pot heads who want to smoke.
In reality it is a massive deal for our prisons, poor, sick, and economy.
We can reduce our prison populations by reducing those who are sent to jail not just for use but for criminal activity that surrounds the black market. Those in lower socio economic area’s no longer become the victims and perpetrators of said crimes.
As others have said those who wish to use Cannabis to self medicate will have access without becoming criminals.
Finally a legal industry not only allows for taxation but allows for actual controls to be set up. Just like alcohol or smokes you can set age limits and licensing limits on how it is sold and grown. Quality standards can be set to ensure there is no contamination or spiking.
Cannabis is not a small little niche topic that can be discussed at a later date when it becomes important. It is important now. Whilst I think the argument of forced rehab is facile I would like to see some more fleshed out think from Labour in this. Why the hell are they so scared the numbers are in favour of reform.
WOW you are quoting direct insult lines from bill english chair as in ‘stardust’
I’m sick of gnat spin merchants pretending to be left – that is the d of dirty politics imo I wish we could just stick to the issues and not have the dirty spin and attempts at creating murk.
Why the struggle to answer a simple yes or no question?
I’m not struggling, Marty. Your question was irrelevant to the discussion.
deleted
It seems relevant to me – why not just answer?
My past history has no relevance what so ever on the position Labour has decided to take in this matter. Nor does it have any relevance on why Labour are holding back on the details.
Therefore, why do you deem it is relevant?
past history – bit redundant there
when you took cannabis did you think you needed rehab?
why would you think anyone does now?
“When you took cannabis did you think you needed rehab?”
Correction, Marty. I never said I did.
“Why would you think anyone does now?”
To be clear, it’s Labour that are touting it.
Nevertheless, some people may have a problem with it, thus may need help getting off it.
Well, what’s giving you the “oh mah Gerd, forced rehab!!!” jitters? P? You’re a meth-head, aintcha. I’m peeking through your window right now!
notice “i never said I did” is not the same as “I never did” but this appears to be a major for you chair – as a lifelong left voter are you now thinking seriously of changing your vote to the gnats because of their honesty compared to Labour on this essential issue?
@ McFlock
My concern isn’t personal. I don’t require rehab.
My concern is for the casual user, and how will this impact them? The potential for offshore and local investors profiteering and the overall effectiveness of forced rehab.
And what of those using it for health reasons? Is raw cannabis going to be legalised for medical use or is Labour only talking about cannabis based products?
I’m sure everyone is greatful for your concern of the day.
I, personally, am eagerly anticipating whatever will be your concern about Lab/Grn this evening, and will barely be able to sleep for contemplation of what might be your sudden concern of tomorrow morning.
Concern, for you, seems to be an infinitely renewable resource. We are all blessed that you shower it upon us in such copious volumes (and about such a wide variety of topics), warm and with that unmistakable “fresh from the bladder” odour.
“My concern is for the casual user”
lol sure we believe you chair – FORCED REHAB – figment of your own mind. the rest of your gnat concern tr0ll lines are equally invalid – good for a laugh though ta chair LOL
How will they know the casual user to force them to rehab? Now real fear would be workplace testing for E and coke abd the like. Watch the white monied classes squeal about civil rights then
True – “fear” is the wrong word.
What do you think Labour are paranoid of? Turning voters off?
See McFlock 4.6 below. The fact that you haven’t been given every little detail about a “policy” that was basically an answer to a question doesn’t entitle you to start fantasising evil intent on the part of the person who answered the question.
“Fantasising evil intent”
Rubbish. I asked you a couple of questions. And I see you didn’t answer them.
But you answering a question (in fact, it was more of a correction on your part) gives you the right to imply (with evil intent) that I’m paranoid? Piss off.
More punctilious idiocy from a concern troll who has just wasted a huge amount of screen-space. Please go conservationist about screen-space, Mr so-called Chairman.
I think Jacinda meant that treating cannabis as a Health issue would mean taking it out of the Crimes Act. Swap one for other in some form.
you went from “health issue” to “forced rehab”.
Stop smoking so much. you’re getting paranoid.
No.
Jacinda wants to make it a health issue and brought up the use of rehab instead of people going to jail.
Therefore, I was questioning if it was going to be forced rehab. As in, will cannabis users going before the courts now face being sentenced to rehab?
It’s a logical assumption (not paranoia) going off the limited details given. And another example of why Labour need to provide more details. Without them (details) people tend to suspect the worse and it allows the opposition to reinforce that perception by filling in the blanks with their worse speculation.
… it allows
the oppositionThe Chairman to reinforce that perception by filling in the blanks with their worse speculation.FIFY
yep – the worst possible interpretation for Labour and there is the chair digging and sifting, digging and shuffling…
The flaw in your correction is, I’m not the opposition. I’m from the left.
Moreover, I’m not filling in the blanks, I’m merely asking genuine questions, which makes your (and a few others on here) antics look even worse to outsiders reading this thread.
You’re not helping Labour, you (and a few others on here) just make them look more dodgy.
left? lol that made me spurt my coffee – good humour chair, big LOLs to you.
I announce I will buy a car.
A “logical assumption” would be that I could be considering vehicular murder.
And yet if that’s the main question you have about my purchasing decision you’d still be either paranoid or shitstirring.
“I announce I will buy a car. A “logical assumption” would be that I could be considering vehicular murder.”
On that information alone, it’s far from the logical assumption. Unlike Labour’s example (the use of rehab instead of people going to jail).
You’re so full of shit.
Treating something as a health issue is as close to “forced rehab” as buying a car is to vehicular murder.
Your “concern” (lol) rests on the idea that coercion and detention needs to be replaced by more coercion and detention. This is the antithesis of successful addiction rehabilitation.
Decriminalisation means at worst a fine and confiscation for users (not dealers). So, you take the info from the ticket and offer them free addiction services if they think they’re doing too much. Hell, the cop can just give them a leaflet, and it would still be a more effective health intervention than your wet dream of “forced rehab”.
fuck, you can put that one by the “$11.7 Billion” hole Joyce dug himself.
“You’re so full of shit.”
Piss off. I’m merely asking questions. The use of rehab instead of people going to jail does imply it could be forced rehab. Hence, I’m asking, not stating it as fact.
Labour could easily put this concern to bed by posting some details on their website, yet they haven’t. Why is that? It makes it look as if they have something to hide.
And why would they want to give voters that perception if they were on the up and up?
It doesn’t add up. It suggests they are either incompetent or they are hiding something.
Yeah, you’re always “asking questions”, Cartman.
Oh mah gerd, Ardern isn’t powered by stardust: SHE TOOK THE SMURFBERRIES!
What are the number of users, as opposed to dealers, oh cannabis jailed in the last 12 mobths?
Not exactly what you asked for, but there are some figures to be found here:
https://www.drugfoundation.org.nz/matters-of-substance/february-2013/cost-of-our-convictions/
Pity the data doesn’t include just cannabis users. All illegal drug users lumped together.English reckoned there were just 7 in prison for cannabis use. Though an annual figure would help. Can English be fact checked?
This is an interesting twist… Hosking has been replaced for tonights debate.
” Mike Hosking will not moderate the TVNZ multi-party debate tomorrow night – due to sickness.
TVNZ announced tonight 1News political editor Corin Dann will step in at the last minute and replace Hosking as debate moderator.”
Is he still hung over?
He must have seen the Colmar Brunton before the rest of us hence the sudden breakdown.
Or could it be the effect of those quack health products he peddles on his infotainment radio show?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/96624856/mike-hosking-too-unwell-to-host-tvnzs-second-debate
Hosking says he never reads comment about him or his valuable work. When being confronted with a 60,000 poll to remove him from the debate, and TVNZ talk of modifying his place on Seven, it may have knocked him for a six. Ego crash?
And the First Leaders Debate was regarded as pretty dull, so ego again?
Or he might have got the flu.
I hope alcohol is not preventing him from working, that’s a sackable offense in most contracts
All the best Corin, after all you are the political editor of TVNZ
TVNZ is loosing big money a can’t afford a narcissist egomaniac like him.
He is sick of the polls showing Nationals support continuing a downward spiral.
I think Hosk may have Labour pains.
People will get to see what a partisan lickspittle he is by comparison.
Ot TVNZ wants a moderator who does not feel pressured to be impartial?
Be sad if dear old Mike has passed his Use-by date.
Whilst the election process is well underway.
I am concerned with all the “promises” to build houses: be they Kiwibuild 10k pa or Bill’s govt building 30k pa. I have made a few comments regarding the difficulty that the building industry is having, and that there is severe pressure currently on cash flows caused by our banks reducing credit facilities. Here is another example of this with Martin Dunn on ZB yesterday (to save time go to about the 12 minute mark), banks are repatriating money back to Melbourne.
The next 3 year term is IMO not going to be all clear sailing especially within the building industry.
http://120.138.20.16/WeekOnDemand/ZB/auckland/2017.09.07-11.15.00-S.mp3
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/property/91230001/warning-that-nz-is-heading-for-peak-construction-as-banks-tighten-purse-strings
So no matter who wins the power still resides with the banks. The same banks that caused the building slump in 07-08.
‘..the power still resides with the banks’
Only because the successive governments have handed the role of credit creation to the banks.
So actually the power resides with the government.
And if the measure of new houses is building consents that is another smokescreen
Number of Code of compliance certs issued should be IMO the number quoted, as that conveys what has been completed and is ready for occupation.
In 2016 it was estimated that
“This year was expected to top the 13,500 homes mark – the estimated level needed for the next three decades if the city is to address its shortage.
But the report suggests a little less than 12,000 will be built.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/309675/fewer-houses-to-be-built-in-auckland-than-predicted
YET …
“The numbers being completed are far less than those consented. Statistics from Auckland Council show that last year 7200 houses were built and 6520 and 5550 were completed for year end 2015 and 2014 respectively,” she said.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11853702
So we estimated 13,500, but experts think 12,000 and Code of Compliances issued were …. 7,200. Just as well that there is NO housing crisis !! as we under built 6,300 homes in Auckland alone
Also I hear being mentioned the number of new houses that will be built under national. Funny how “we” will have to demolished 8,300 to build 34,000. Doesn’t that mean that we have added 25,700 (once they are built !! 🙂 )
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/92623598/Government-to-build-34-000-new-Auckland-houses-classes-650-000-as-an-affordable-house
The level of deception from this fishing club spokesman is something to behold. I certainly have seen dolphins south of Moeraki at places like porpoise bay (where the name is a bit of a hint):
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/sea-shepherd-patrol-boat-launched
Election billboards: why do so few of them give any reason to vote for the candidate being touted? My reaction to anything that just says “Vote for Bloggs” is “why the fuck should I when you can’t even be bothered to tell me why?”
Except for Winnie’s “Had enough?”. Now that you mention it Winnie, why yes, I have had enough of your smug smirk.
I have so wanted to adjust his billboard near our abode – maybe ‘bad enough’ some adjustment to the ‘had’ but sadly those days are over for me and the youf can’t be bothered or so it seems.
This will show my age, but Bill English’s reference to Jacinda Ardern as ‘stardust’ recalls Joni Mitchell and her version of “Woodstock”.
It was a song of aspiration, the need and desire for change. I would adopt it, changing the intended denigration from the Prime Minister into a positive.
“Got to get back to the land and set my soul free……..
“And I feel myself a cog in something turning………
“By the time we got to Woodstock
We were half a million strong
And everywhere was a song and a celebration
“We are stardust, we are golden
We are caught in the devils bargain
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden.”
Some real resonance here for this “child of God” as again the generations change.
That is prolly what he called Key behind his back
The people in Epsom must be very confused right now as their main party tanks. Having had their hand held in the ballot box for the last several elections there doesn’t seem to be any orders coming from National Party HQ in the face of impending disaster for National.
Perhaps we’ll see the electorate vote there begin to resemble the real world where ACT has 0.1% support for their lunatic policies.
Suppose if Seymour was not elected would it make any difference?
Yes, we’d get rid of the prick!
If only everyone in that electorate who doesn’t like Act would vote National for the electorate mp then it would happen. No more Rimmer. Yay.
There is that Garibaldi. He is a nasty little chap and able to be pretty fluent and convincing to some. Spiteful too.
What’s in a comma? Poor Garibaldi……….
Oh. I see young mac1. That Garibaldi is a real “that” then.
Most did just that for the last few elections but that is a rich demographic. Most there are blue
It would mean the National Party would have to stop pretending extreme policies like charter schools and gutting the RMA were theirs, rather than using Seymour as their stalking horse.
Which would mean they’d lose a whole heap of ‘middle New Zealand ‘ voters.
+1, Ed
This ^^^^^^
maybe. currently he is not a overhang and sucks Nats party vote down having missed the chance to drag a further mp… …the bald one… up to parliament but also getting to many votes to get hangover. only the Maori party got hangover.
The left don’t, well Anderson maybe… …do hangovers. The Maori party cares about people’s second home not getting new taxes, hardly left wing reasoning.
If you want hangover, and end slipping back on the list, party vote Green the only pure MMP party party.
Epsom voters of the blue variety actually like Act too
Yep. The problem is so do many living outside Epsom who make a over vote which harms National. National either want just Seymour voters in Epson or lots more ACT voters nationally.
They have their self interested instructions. They will not waiver
Trying to decide what’s more likely here:
– Mike Hosking on his knees in front of toilet bowl dry heaving uncontrollably in an unshakeable cold sweat as the reality of polling kicks in and he realises that Steven Joyce’s dirty tricks won’t save his National government
– Middle aged man discovers that trying to starve himself and subsist largely on mildly warm lemon water in order to maintain his figure is not a good idea
https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/96624856/mike-hosking-too-unwell-to-host-tvnzs-second-debate
Cemetery see above at 5.2
Heh, +1
This is where we’re at, folks.
A dying man was discharged to a bus stop wearing pyjamas because Christchurch Hospital staff felt he was a “nuisance” and “faking” his illness.
Neil David Jones, 47, then lay on the footpath for six hours while members of the public tried to get doctors to help him. He was eventually trespassed from the hospital and taken to a shelter, where he vomited blood.
An ambulance took him back to hospital, where he died two days later.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/96602147
And Coleman and English say there’s no crisis in the health sector.
Still Joyce and English got their surplus……
+100 to joe90 an Ed
Baby cheeses!
A new book by George Monbiot looks to offers solutions and alternatives to neoliberalism.
‘What does the good life—and the good society—look like in the twenty-first century?
A toxic ideology rules the world – of extreme competition and individualism. It misrepresents human nature, destroying hope and common purpose. Only a positive vision can replace it, a new story that re-engages people in politics and lights a path to a better world.
George Monbiot shows how new findings in psychology, neuroscience and evolutionary biology cast human nature in a radically different light: as the supreme altruists and cooperators. He shows how we can build on these findings to create a new politics: a “politics of belonging.” Both democracy and economic life can be radically reorganized from the bottom up, enabling us to take back control and overthrow the forces that have thwarted our ambitions for a better society.
Urgent, and passionate, Out of the Wreckage provides the hope and clarity required to change the world.’
http://www.monbiot.com/2017/08/01/out-of-the-wreckage-2/
Thanks for the tip
Bill English is taking calls from the public this morning on Radio Live, it starts at 11am and finishes at noon.
Live stream here if you want to listen.
http://www.radiolive.co.nz/home.player.html
Phone number to ring in here if you have a question.
0800 844 747
What’s your question for English?
Will you go back to Treasury, the farm or being a house husband?
Hey there Ed, was unable to ring in… but it would have been…
Why was Barclay recording Glenis, and don’t say you don’t know Bill, because you do, and so do I, and English, who was female who was a senior level politician at the time involved, and don’t claim the confidentiality agreement, because you said you had not signed one.
Yeah that’s what I would have asked.
Actually there were two callers who phoned in with Barclay questions, and he LIED. Someone asked how much hush money was paid to Glenis, English claimed he did not know, Sanso even clarified with him that he didn’t know, and he said again he did not know the amount, that is an outright bold faced lie.
can someone tell deputy davis to stop being a macho twit , he was shit on news hub this morning
I think that his personality.
Vote Hone.
He is doing all he can to trip the campaign
I don’t like him but that seems too far – any evidence he is deliberately trying to trip the campaign as opposed to just being useless?
I agree, he permanently looks grumpy and non-positive. I don’t know if this is his usual demeanour but he needs to lighten up – he should be as the polls are looking pretty good for Labour. It doesn’t help that Paula Benefit carries on like a chipmunk on steroids and comes across like a smug know it all – she grates like hell so between the two of them – yes they need to be spoken to or removed from the AM Show.
Big upps for the Jacinda effect that is empowering women in NZ to fight for there equal rights
Now we need the most popular Lady in the World to help us fight for OUR WORLD.!!!!!!!!
Nice one Eco maori. Jacinda is empowering women everywhere – not just those in her own age group. She is also appealing to older women like myself who were victims of so much misogyny and abuse in our younger days. We don’t want to see the new generations of women put through the same hoops.
“Only from 55 to 64 does National pull ahead, by 39 to 34 over Labour, with a commanding lead of 53 to 27 for those aged 65 and above.”
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2017/09/08/46799/labour-gap-women
Small sample size with consequent MOE however that over 65 favourability rating is very surprising……though in total the thrust of the results are buoyant for Labour
Wonder what house ownership is amongst the +65 s?
Wonder how many of them got free tertiary education?
yes, well even so….my direct experience is that over 65s haven’t been impressed with rising living costs, esp health., and concern for offspring(naturally)…and much of the antipathy to Labour was around presentation….is it perhaps JAs relative youth?
I would imagine the numbers are connected more to conservatism and wealth.
Pale, male and stale, as they say.
Hanging on to the imaginary good old days where white men ruled. Everything
lol…that may be so of some (few) ….but it is well to remember that the super-annuitants of today are ourselves in 10,20 or whatever years time….will our voting predilections reduce to such a basic formula?
Well, i will be retired then. I am not male and I rule over nothing.
Could be rich people live longer than poor ones thus skewing opinion polls to the right in the older demographics.
I found a low Tec way to stop my smart phone from getting tracked cost me $1.50
It’s a lot less stress now
Eco maori you’ve livened things up in here no end…
Hope fully for the better Scott for our cause. I’m old enough to no what life was like before national started there circus and life was much better for everyone.
And It’s awesome that we have social media to assists us in our fight to oust national and there spinning shit just like there manama nups whom insult me every day and think I can not see trough there dum ass tack ticks
I notice Helen Clark has now spoken up at least twice durung this campaign? Is Key in Hawaii where he used to have cellphone troubles?
He’s run out of roles to speak from: now he’s no longer Prime minister or National Party Leader, anything he says would be in his role as “John Key, human being”. And he’s spent so long telling people what they want to hear from those different roles, he’s terrified of trying to form an opinion of his own. Hasn’t had one since the ’81 tour.
Hasn’t had one since the ’81 tour.
Didn’t have one then. Or so he says.
Isnt he golf ambassador from some meglomanical chinese businessman?
Japanese.
And on the board of AirNZ? Both of which roles would probably preclude him from wading into the fray
Except he talked about Ardern being the right pick for Labour. I think she had her hair in a ponytail that day
Key? Who he?
New poll out.
National 30%
Labour 45%
NZ first 11%
which poll and where are the Greens?
I’m hoping that Labour level off as some leftish labour try to prop up the Greens
It’s a newsroom online poll of 550 people (no phone interviews) margin of error 4.4%.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/@election-2017/2017/09/08/46848/election-15-days
ah.
probably a bit more off than that then.
McFlock just heard at 3.55pm those figure’s when thee panel was talking about combinations of coalitions.
Then Jim Mora had to correct them saying National had no options.