“They were robbing resources from symptomatic patients in order to do the screening.”
Could this problem get worse because of the promises by Chrises Luxon and Hipkins?
Otago Daily Times columnist Elspeth McLean wrote last week: “It would be unethical to expand the programme to 50-year-olds if the system could not cope in a timely manner with the extra lab testing, colonoscopies, surgery and other treatments which might be needed.”
Labour where are you? this is positive messaging–grab the narrative–week in light of Baldrick’s “second Election” scaremongering.
As Mike the Lefty said here yesterday…
“Labour needs to seize on this to show that there will be no such problems if you vote centre-left, WE get along well enough to lead the country, the rabble on the right don't so why would you vote for them?”
Chris Hipkins, Carmel Sepuloni, James Shaw, Marama Davidson, Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa Packer one way or another need to present and project–We can work together! on various media channels, and quickly.
Labour is on to it; shame that supposed left-wing commentators aren’t. I’ve just listened to a bit of Politics with Kathryn Ryan on RNZ, only to hear Neil Jones talking in an incredibly defeatist way about Labour.
What’s with self-described left wing commentators like Jones and Pagani slagging off and/or die playing the Left? I know the Pagani backstory as it was explained to me recently.
Also, as a further comment on Kathryn Ryan’s show- Rachel Morton is an irredeemable airtime hog who made the outlandish claim that outside of the Press Gallery, no one cares about National’s proven to be scam tax plan.
Ryan as per usual allows Morton to rave on (like Luxon, Nicola Willis, Erica Stanford, etc.) while Jones passively waits his turn, and when he’s finally allowed to speak, he downplays Labour.
Chris Bishflap Bishop sounds the Nat alarm : aooooer…aooooer !
National's campaign chairperson Chris Bishop spoke over the weekend of a "very real and growing possibility" of a hung Parliament either as a result of National, ACT and New Zealand First being unable to agree on a deal for a coalition government, or an even a split of seats between the left and right.
Winston Peters has hit back at National’s latest advertising campaign aimed at scaring people off voting for his New Zealand First party.
At a campaign meeting in Masterton today, he said suggestions in a story – quoting National’s campaign manager Chris Bishop – that there could be a second election were "a lie".
Winston….Its also the Media ! Gonna have another Inquiry (along with the Covid one )
He railed against the news media, with specific references made to Herald on Sunday columnist Liam Dann, his brother and RNZ Morning Report host Corin Dann, RNZ political editor Jane Patterson, Q&A host Jack Tame, Newshub Nation host Rebecca Wright, Stuff journalist Andrea Vance and Post editor Tracy Watkins.
That Winston meeting sounds a good one to have missed going by the ODT report.
Do the Nats have figures the rest of us don’t–Grant Robertson was quite good on RNZ saying Mr Luxon’s political inexperience is showing and the Natzos are panicking.
Cap’n Chippy needs to get on board with a unity message pronto–Labour/Green/TPM can work together. Though he probably won’t.
It really isn't whether Labour, the Greens and TPM can work together. To get a majority it would have to be those 3 plus Winston's lot. Just imagine what they would have to offer Winnie. Deputy PM, plus Finance and Foreign Affairs?
I would assume he meant seats. If they are percentages I would have to say that I think he is over-egging things by about 4 for Labour, 3 for the Green party and 2 for TPM.
Luxon hasn't ruled out offering Winston any of those jobs. He's far closer to handing out the bribes and baubles than Hipkins.
Of course Luxon could make it clear at any time that won't happen, that a "deal" could mean confidence and supply, but not Cabinet. He could rule that out, today. He could show leadership, a spine. If only he had one.
Winston has got the message. He can name his price, because Luxon's prepared to pay it.
Policy Alwyn, policy – in case you haven''t noticed while NZF is very socially conservative their economic policy has always been much further left than National let alone ACT.
Yes, it's true that Luxon's unprecendented lack of parliamentary experience as Nat leader would be even more cruelly exposed if he became PM. In 3 years time he will have doubled his stint in the house and so could be ready to take Winston on board.
It's not that there won't be points of disagreement between Labour, TPM and the Greens – rather that these would pale into insignificance compared to a NAct-NZF "lots of moving parts" "limbo land" "hung parliament" "second election" fiasco.
If Matt Gaetz and Jordan are quite prepared to take out the Speaker, and remain in lock step with Trump right throughout his trials and convictions, we have the start of a new party that breaks away from the Republicans whether it's official or not.
I can't think of a splitter outcome that isn't good for the Democratic Party.
Jordan as Speaker means that they have taken control of the GOP, the question then is, will a Democratic Republican Party be formed or not?
The Desi watching Fox News Expose
The GOP adopted a southern strategy (Nixon-Hoover line) and it worked, now the GOP is the walking dead version of its former self, court of Saint James Crow has manifestly risen (build a wall and they shall not come).
This article about Shane Reti making unauthorised emergency department visits sounds interesting, but I can't open it as it's paywalled. Might be of interest to some:
Yeah – paywalled. Hope another media outlet follows up. Although Reti occasionally talks sense, I have always found something uncomfortable in his manner – a sort of condescending paternalism perhaps. He has always stuck the "Dr" on his billboards – prompting much hilarity and derision in our car when we drive past.
A classic Māori raised in Mormonism, who seems only dimly aware of his heritage as it might relate to 2023 society.
In Whangārei when the 37 dwelling Puriri Park state house development (since completed) was proposed he instinctively sided with the nearby predominantly middle class pākehā Maunu property owners actively opposing it, rather than the people needing housing.
Hmm. But a good bit more relevant to his professed area of expertise (Health) than 'Dr' David Clark, previous Labour Health Minister (whose doctorate is in theology)
Clearly you find it cringy. But you are not the target market.
No doubt we'll see whether he's re-elected in Whangarei or not.
I find it more cringy to have MPs who are not medical doctors referred to as ‘Dr’ in Parliament and in official press statements. It always seems disingenuous to me.
I find it more cringy to have MPs who are not medical doctors referred to as ‘Dr’ in Parliament and in official press statements. It always seems disingenuous to me.
Cringy maybe, but also a matter of fact, so not disingenuous, imho, unless the title is used to falsely assert some clinical expertise.
Women, Own Your ‘Dr.’ Titles [28 June 2018]
For many years, I was not sure whether it was worth it. But nonetheless, I remain proud of my Ph.D. because I persisted and completed it.
So I was fascinated to discover that some viewed the degree not as a sign of expertise but as a provocation, a pretension.
…
It’s not just about women: The disturbing tendency to dismiss academic and especially scientific expertise as bias, or elitism, is at high tide, and climbing.
…
For centuries, the voices of women have been muted, discounted and minimized. Our right to speak has been questioned, our power undermined, our authority mocked. The cultural underpinnings of this run deep in church and state and still erupt grotesquely online. We are regularly told to apologize, to shrink, to shut up.
So don’t. You don’t need a title to speak. But if you do have one, use it. Find your voice, and raise it. Stake your authority, and state it. Don’t recoil. Don’t back down.
Sometimes authority should be worn lightly. But sometimes it should be brandished like a torch.
“My title is Dr. Fern Riddell, not Ms. or Miss Riddell. I have it because I am an expert, and my life and career consist of being that expert in as many different ways as possible. I worked hard to earn my authority, and I will not give it up to anyone.”
Given that both MPs being referred to are male – I find your diatribe on titles for women rather pointless.
As Minister of Health, Parker was frequently referred to, by the PM as 'Dr' Parker – implying (to those who didn't go and find out) that he had a medical degree. The association between his Ministerial portfolio, and his title of (non medical) doctor – implied something which was not true. Thus disingenuous.
I have absolutely no issue with Verrall (who is both a woman and a medical doctor) using her title (should she wish to do so)
Given that both MPs being referred to are male – I find your diatribe on titles for women rather pointless.
"Rather pointless" "diatribe" seems a bit waspish, but hey-ho
It should absolutely be up to each of the nine current MPs with a doctoral degree to choose whether and when to use 'Dr', but they must beware of choosing 'poorly' lest they be tarred "cringy" and feathered "disingenuous".
With the retirement of Drs Clark, Henderson, Kerekere and McDowall, the only Drs with a chance to rollover and welcome any new PhDs and/or medical doctors to the 54th Parliament are Craig, Leavasa, McLellan, Reti (National), Russell, Verrall, Webb and Woods.
I have absolutely no issue with Verrall (who is both a woman and a medical doctor) using her title (should she wish to do so)
This will come as a huge relief to the Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall "who is both a woman and a medical doctor" (thanks for that), and holds a PhD.
TBH, I don't really have an issue with this kind of 'unauthorized' visit.
If you want to know what's actually going on, you don't announce your visit in advance, and allow all problems to be artificially smoothed away – just for that event. And Reiti is a practicing GP – who thoroughly understands patient confidentiality; as well as being able to assess what is 'normal' business, and what is crisis.
The objections from Health NZ seem to be bureaucratic (they feel they are going to look bad, because there are obvious problems), with a fig-leaf thrown to patient confidentiality (I can flat-out guarantee there is no patient confidentiality in an open ED area – and Reti has never released any information which would identify any specific patient). Their almost blatant threats to the ambulance service "As a funder, we must have confidence you have robust processes in place to ensure integrity and political neutrality in your operations." – are even worse.
The question should be.
What harm arose from Reti's visits? None.
Did he as an MP (and possible future Health Minister) gain valuable information on the real operational crunch that hospital EDs are facing? Yes.
Was there any breach of patient confidentiality? None.
Given the very poor reporting of health statistical measures since Health NZ has been formed – a much greater issue that the Health NZ bosses should spend their time on resolving – it may be that this is the only effective way he had of determining how bad the problems are (albeit in a snapshot format)
The good news is – that since Reti has done it – the way is open for Labour/Green MPs (with appropriate qualifications) to do the same thing, the next time they are in opposition.
He is an awkward individual in the environment but his skin colour and medical background give him essential collateral in the environment.
Of course part of that, like National’s transport history in Northland, is allowing them to be as hypocritical as they like and blithely ignore their appalling record in the North.
Get Our CountryUnearned Income Back on Track – Party Vote National
Potential Opportunities for Property Investors [6 October 2023]
A change in government could see more opportunities open up for property investors in New Zealand, with adjustments to the Brightline Test, removal of the foreign buyer ban, and a reinstatement of interest deductibility just some of the policies being considered. Find out how these possible changes could reshape the property market landscape and what the overall impact would be for property investors.
Isn't it hilarious how the "sensible" people in Labour always think the best mmp strategy is to abandon and attack its left flank in order to fight national for the center and shrug it's shoulders
BUT everytime Labour has tried this strategy, the left go to the greens and Labour drops below 30% and the centerist voters write it off and vote for National.
Labour is a coalition that needs to excite the left base as well as go after the center, without the left base onside you don't have the polling support to win over the center and you don't have the volunteers to get the message out.
Ardern got this, after 96 Clark also got this, Goff, Shearer, Little and Hipkins tried the center only strategy and all got Labour in the 20s.
The amount of times "sensible" Labour politicians have torpedoed popular social democratic policies for unpopular nothings is insane, who did hipkins and Co think they were gonna win brownie points with by torpedoing the budget reforms? Certainly wasn't anyone Labour could have won over.
I'm not expecting or wanting corbynism just basic soc dem reforms, Labour should be throwing everything and the kitchen sink instead its offering pathetic nothings that voters would have to wait 2-3 years to actually see.
People vote for the left when the left is energetic and hopeful and makes them think things will get better, this entire campaign has been Labour saying change is impossible and things are only going to get worse. Not a vote winner.
Without both the left and center flank working together Labour always finds it self in the 20's.
Labour can blame National and it's donors all it wants, the fact is kiwis gave the left 60% three years ago and Labour 50.3% and is polling at 26% today, a party that loses that much support has to do some soul searching because it's not just the right, a lot of it is labour's failure to read the mood of the country three years ago and deliver on what the country wanted.
Id like to be hopeful that Labour would be able to do some serious soul searching about where Labour went wrong following Saturday, but it's impossible because you cannot speak freely or even constructively criticize Labour because from the grassroots up half the party fancies themselves a future pm.
When everyone thinks they are a poli in waiting it's impossible to have a serious critical conversation about the party's failure when every second member is sucking up and kissing arse and towing the party line in hopes of being on a community board or getting a low list ranking, anyone critical of policies, candidates or stances is to be shunned.
Unless the party changes. Labour will learn nothing.
If you look at the 65 people on the 2020s list next to none are regular people, they are all academics, lawyers, technocrats, civil servents and party hacks who climbed the ladder.
Only a few of these people are from a working class background and even fewer are able to communicate with the working class, middle class or just regular people.
Labour needs less lawyers, academics and technocrats and more builders, tech professionals, bogans and factory workers as candidates and less robots.
If Labour wants to be the party of regular people it needs to have regular people as candidates, not robots or professional politicians.
Again it tells you all you need to know about who the caucus of a party is when given unprecedented nation building support during a health crisis, a housing crisis and an inequality and poverty crisis, the party spent it's entire political capital on internal bureaucratic restructures of govt agencies.
If that's the priority then who do this lot think they were governing for?
Very well written and analysed Corey. I like your point about where the political capital went particularly, and it really illustrates the grip of neo liberal administrative culture.
The first few months of COVID when public health was gloriously put before private profit showed what can be achieved when the political will is there.
Re this election, essentially if the PM had not made his Cap’n’s calls, imo NZ Labour would have stayed well into the 30s with good will from many working class people for a wealth and capital gains tax, incremental free dental, Basic Income, and the rest of the list many of us support. Robbo and David Parker are hardly radicals and for them to not be happy shows the fractures in Caucus/NZ Labour HQ. Mr Hipkins was anointed not elected by members and affiliates. The rules allowed similar with the Jacinda Ardern and Andrew Little switch due to the time period involved prior to the 2017 General Election.
Some points, having been around the Labour Party for years via unions and various left parties.
–Caucus, or the “Parliamentary Wing” in reality has precedence over ordinary members
–A number of left leaning members were purged in the 1980s leaving the party short on ideologues of a social democratic world view
–Neo Blairism rules because of the main Parliamentary party monetarist/neo lib consensus, whom ever wins, the Reserve Bank Act, State Sector Act and so on survive. We need a circuit breaker, and grass roots organisation for 2026.
And, I acknowledge the literally hundreds of incremental and other useful reforms made by this Labour Govt.–but what they missed was the key strategic point–what is the strategic goal?–alright, I will tell you–preventing a NActFirst Govt.
The Greens have become a social democratic party because their environment policy required such a party to exist to enact it and Labour stopped being a social democratic party in 1984.
Anderton realised it, all Clark and Ardern did was inherit power after 9 years of National government – by which time Labour centrism appeared to be social democratic light.
Even Hipkins mark 2 would appear a social democrat after 9 years of NACT.
For decades the only country in the OECD without a CGT and or estate tax, and the middle class are considering voting in a government that wants to give the fingers to the rest of the world on UNDRIP and the Paris Accord – new white broderbond gated community of the South Pacific sans and plans for a Treaty referendum …fixing in a class system for their children to inherit along with the consequences of inaction (21st C infrastructure and GW action)
Totally agree. I can't remember the last Labour worker. Mike Moore? Chippy, Grant, Jacinda, student union to PM's staffer. BTW has Nanaia given up? Is it true she's in Spain. Cunliffe pretended to be a worker with his Brotown accent, but he was more Goldman Sachs, or Harvard or something.
From her FB posts, Mahuta seems to be campaigning hard in the Waikato – several 'on the road' shots between gigs. If she doesn't win the seat, she's out of Parliament – and I believe that the TPM candidate is pushing her hard.
Honestly, where do they dig these idiots up from? (It’s another ACT candidate.)
ACT leader David Seymour says a social media post from one of his candidates was a "very stupid thing to do."
Tim Newman, the party's Dunedin candidate, liked a comment on LinkedIn which said "extremist Maori might be getting expelled to the Moa Strip if they keep targeting New Zealand citizens", adding a comment himself that it was "hilarious."
At this stage in the campaign, the wheels are coming off for many candidates – and their judgement may not be that great. When it's a minor candidate, with little chance of occupying a front bench seat – it's probably not that significant. But it's great fodder for the 'gotcha' journalists and commentators.
When it's a senior minister or a leader – you have to look a lot harder.
For those who use social media- I recommend changing your profile picture to reflect your voting choice (if you are comfortable doing so). I did this a few hours ago and have already had two private messages from people I know only peripherally, telling me that seeing the Labour logo has made them decide to vote Labour. It sounds silly but something tiny can sway people and at this point, every single vote matters. My two cents, for what it’s worth.
Any idea on how this works? I just can't imagine voting because of a logo. I wonder if it's something to do with being enabled or emboldened once you see other people you respect doing it? The same with hoardings I guess, if it works, it works.
Imagine Green/TPM/NZ1 as a minority govt with 35 seats and Labour impliedly offering C&S on budget, but not part of any formal coalition or agreement. On current numbers, total is about 67 seats… none of the aforementioned 3 parties have ruled out working with each other
Under MMP there’s no reason why Lab/Nat have to be at the head of the table… 🤨
So no result will be registered for the electorate of Port Waikato and a by-election will be held at a later time.
That means that the MMP proportionality will not include that electorate, and the party that wins it (presumably National) will get an extra seat.
So the new MMP election strategy is to register terminally ill people as independent candidates for all your safe seats, in the hope that some of them die between the start of advance voting and election day?
Surely voting can continue and if a dead candidate wins then a by-election is triggered (after MMP proportionality is allocated?
You've taken the comment the wrong way.
It was purely a hypothetical to make a strong point and no-one imagines for a moment that any political party would entertain such a scenario.
Surely voting can continue and if a dead candidate wins then a by-election is triggered (after MMP proportionality is allocated?
Clearly, it legally can not. If you wish to propose a law change to make this the case – I suggest you contact your local MP.
In the meantime – Good Lord! Some level of sensitivity to the friends, family and colleagues of the dead man would seem to be called for. Making up a conspiracy theory out of thin air, over someone's death, is deeply distasteful.
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Oliver Hartwich writes – Cast your mind back to mid-December. A new Prime Minister had just been sworn in, the new Government started its 100-day programme, and Christmas was only days away.Amid all the haste, a report landed that would have deserved our attention.I am talking about the ...
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Hi,Before we crack into today’s Webworm, I wanted to acknowledge the fact that Israel is pushing into Rafah. Over 100,000 Palestinians are now attempting to flee the one place that was deemed “safe”.Trouble is, the place they’re fleeing to is already destroyed. Total annihilation is the end goal here.“Israel is ...
‘It has been said that figures rule the world. Maybe. I am quite sure that it is figures which show us whether it is being ruled well or badly.’ GoetheI was struck at a recent conference on equity for the elderly, how many presenters implicitly relied upon Statistics New Zealand. ...
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Brrr, the first cold snap of the year. Hope you’re rugged up nice and warm. Here are some stories that caught our eye this week… This Week on Greater Auckland On Monday, we had a post from a new contributor, Connor Sharp, who dug into the public feedback ...
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Who likes being sneered at? Nobody. Worse yet, when the sneerer has their facts all wrong, and might well be an idiot.The sneer in question is The adults are in charge now, and it is a sneer offered in retort to criticism of this new Government, no matter how well ...
When in government, Labour pushed to extend the Parliamentary term to four years, to reduce accountability and our ability to vote out a bad government. And now, they're trying to do it through the member's ballot, with a Four-Year Parliamentary Term Legislation Bill. The bill at least requires a referendum ...
A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill (Hūhana Lyndon) The bill would prevent the government from stealing Māori land in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It ...
Simeon Brown, alongside Wayne Brown, is favouring a political figleaf now in exchange for loading up tens of millions in extra interest costs on Auckland ratepayers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is pushing back hard at suggestions from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown ...
Buzz from the Beehive One headline-grabber from the Beehive yesterday was the OECD’s advice that the government must bring the Budget deficit under control or face higher interest rates. Another was the announcement of a $1.9 billion “investment” in Corrections over the next four years. In the best interests of ...
Chris Trotter writes – Had Zheng He’s fleet sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks of the Ming Dynasty, among the largest and most sophisticated sailing vessels ever constructed, would have failed ...
David Farrar writes – Two articles give a useful contrast in balance. Both seek to be neutral explainer articles. This one in the Herald on Social Investment covers the pros and cons nicely. It links to critical pieces and talks about aspects that failed and aspects that are more ...
The tikanga regulations will compel law students to be taught that a system which does not conform with the rule of law is nevertheless law which should be observed and applied…Gary Judd KC writes – I have made a complaint to Parliament’s Regulation ...
The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...
The Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
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. ...
New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says. “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me. I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
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 ...
“The Bill does not provide environmental protection, good quality decision making, certainty, public participation or speed. It should be withdrawn.” ...
RNZ News Television New Zealand has breached its collective agreement with the E tū union when deciding on discontinuing programmes, the Employment Relations Authority has ruled. It was announced in March that 68 staff members who work for news programmes Midday and Tonight, consumer justice programme Fair Go, current affairs ...
Asia Pacific Report Barangay New Zealand’s Rene Molina has interviewed the country’s first Filipino Green MP Francisco Hernandez who was sworn into Parliament yesterday as the party’s latest member. This is the first interview with Hernandez who replaces former Green Party co-leader James Shaw after his retirement from politics to ...
An Australian Strategic Policy Institute report says Pillar Two could raise the industry to state of the art capability - or "crush" it "under the weight of the globe's biggest player". ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marlene Longbottom, Associate Professor, Indigenous Education & Research Centre, James Cook University ShutterstockThis article contains information on deaths in custody and the violence experienced by First Nations people in encounters with the Australian carceral system. It also contains references to ...
“Instead of following along countries that are investing in death and better ways of killing people faster, we need to invest in life and in making Aotearoa a fair, just and equitable place where everyone has what they need for a dignified life.” ...
The body positivity movement started with women confronting the unrealistic expectations and unrepresentative portrayals of them in media and advertising. Men weren’t part of it … their bodies hadn’t been sexualised to the same extremes and they didn’t really need it. But now that’s changed. And in a warped sort ...
MARIAMENO KAPA-KINGI, TPM MP FOR TAI TOKERAU This Government will not waver in its mission to exterminate Māori. CHRISTOPHER LUXON Oh well look you know I don’t think that hard-working Kiwis want to hear language like that. It’s just really unhelpful rhetoric. My Government is genuinely committed to advancing outcomes ...
The New Zealand comedy legend takes us through her life in television, including the time she hugged Elton John and the unshakeable legacy of a girl named Lyn. In 1981, Ginette McDonald stood on the stage of Auckland’s St James Theatre and directly addressed Queen Elizabeth II. It was a ...
An essay by Lily Duval from the just-released anthology Otherhood: Essays on being childless, childfree and child adjacent.I was 22 when my friend Alice gave birth in the living room of our pokey Addington flat. She laboured in the blow-up pool for hours. Garish fish swam along the inflated ...
Ella Borrie on the best books about motherhood she’s come across so far. Over the past few years I’ve been drawn to books about motherhood. I’m fascinated by the joys and horrors of becoming a parent. The question of children also feels more pressing than it used to. It’s like ...
Out of gift ideas for mum? You can’t go wrong with a bottle of toilet cleaner and a new squeegee. Emily Writes is the writer and editor of Emily Writes Weekly. This week marks five years since I published a post on The Spinoff about Mother’s Day marketing titled ‘A ...
My husband is posted overseas for 12 months and I’m armed with an expensive, newfangled vibrator. Will I miss him? The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.A few days after my husband leaves, a new sex toy arrives at the front door. Nestled ...
Jaimie Baird’s new book Here Today Gone Tomorrow is a record of four decades of graffiti and street art in Wellington, told through more than 1,200 photographs. He spoke with Joel MacManus about what inspired the book. How did you first get interested in photographing street art? I remember ...
Editor Madeleine Chapman looks back at a busy week where food of all political leanings dominated. Sometimes you’re just going about your week thinking you’ve got a good handle on what might be coming as far as news topics and then someone (usually a politician) says something so ridiculous that ...
In a week of cold rain and frost, the climate in courtroom four upstairs at the Invercargill courthouse was simmering with restrained indignation. At times it felt like the famous Mexican standoff scene from Reservoir Dogs, or, as someone watching the proceedings described it, there was so much throwing of ...
A banner notification alerts me to the fact that I’ve received an Instagram message from @felicity.loves. She always comments on my posts. I shouldn’t have opened the message, but clicked on the notification before rationalising this. OMG! Are you in Wellys? X I debate not replying, but Instagram will inform ...
In Melbourne’s hardscrabble western suburbs where AFL – Aussie rules football – is a state religion, Callum Donaldson has been quietly grafting away, four months into an odyssey that he hopes will take him to another promised land: the NRL. It was a solid 2023 for the softly spoken 20-year-old ...
Pacific Media Watch Television New Zealand Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to investigative journalism and Pacific communities in a ceremony at Government House, reports 1News. She has been the Pacific correspondent for 1News since 2002, breaking many ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Tuesday’s budget will respond to the deepening public agitation over Australia’s housing shortages by pouring new money into crisis accommodation for women and children, social housing and infrastructure. A specially-convened national cabinet late Friday ticked ...
By Kaneta Naimatu in Suva Journalists in the Pacific region play an important role as the “eyes and ears on the ground” when it comes to reporting the climate crisis, says the European Union’s Pacific Ambassador Barbara Plinkert. Speaking at The University of the South Pacific (USP) on World Press ...
Aldora Itunu is back in the Black Ferns squad after a three-year absence. The last of her 24 internationals was an underwhelming loss to France (7-29) in Castres to conclude the disastrous 2021 Northern Tour. The powerhouse prop won a Rugby World Cup in 2017 and thought she was done. ...
The fight to control major transport policy and projects in Auckland has burst into the open again, with councillors rejecting Mayor Wayne Brown’s latest attempt to steer things more under his influence. Councillors from the left and right broke ranks on the mayor’s bid to control Auckland Transport more directly ...
Exhausted by the general election campaign, horrified by the twilight zone of coalition negotiations, distracted by the silly season and waiting for the honeymoon to begin, Raw Politics has been in hibernation since October. From today, we’re back. Our weekly political video show and podcast returns for ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Authorities in the small town of Boulouparis have commemorated Armistice Day on May 8 with a new memorial honouring New Zealand soldiers who were stationed in New Caledonia during World War II. The ceremony took place in the township on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sara Dehm, Senior lecturer, international migration and refugee law, University of Technology Sydney The High Court unanimously ruled today that the Australian government can keep asylum seekers in immigration detention indefinitely in cases where they do not “voluntarily” cooperate with their own ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Munro, Lecturer, Creative Industries and Digital Media, University of South Australia Twenty-four hours after the release of Macklemore’s pro-Palestine protest song Hind’s Hall on social media on May 7, the video had already notched up over 24 million views. In ...
Failing to anticipate the complexity of the consenting system is being cited as the the current builder's shortcomings, an Infrastructure Commission review says. ...
Failing to anticipate the complexity of the consenting system is being cited as the the current builder's shortcomings, an Infrastructure Commission review says. ...
350 Aotearoa is calling the Environment Select Committee’s decision to allow oral submissions from just 40% of individual, unique submitters who asked to speak to the committee ‘a disgraceful blight to democracy’. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Helal, Assistant Dean (Sustainability), The University of Melbourne Dubai skylineAleksandarPasaric/Pexels Since ancient times, people have built structures that reach for the skies – from the steep spires of medieval towers to the grand domes of ancient cathedrals and mosques. Today ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edward Musole, PhD Law Student, University of New England Girts Ragelis/ShutterstockRecent trends show Australians are increasingly buying wearables such as smartwatches and fitness trackers. These electronics track our body movements or vital signs to provide data throughout the day, with ...
Papua New Guinea experienced a significant earthquake on 24 March in East Sepik and there has also been recent flooding there and in surrounding provinces. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yousuf Mohammed, Dermatology researcher, The University of Queensland Maridav/Shutterstock You wake up, stagger to the bathroom and gaze into the mirror. No, you’re not imagining it. You’ve developed face wrinkles overnight. They’re sleep wrinkles. Sleep wrinkles are temporary. But as your ...
The Environment Select Committee has just announced that 60 percent of individuals who asked to speak at the hearings will not be heard. This equates to almost 700 people who made individual submissions and more than 1000 more who made a form submission. ...
The Royal New Zealand Ballet is performing Swan Lake around the country. What kind of dream does the ballet sell?Before going to see the Royal New Zealand Ballet perform Swan Lake, I had about as much familiarity with the plot of this ballet as could be expected from having ...
A new poem by Auckland poet Eamonn Tee. High Tide at Local Maxima It is only going to get worse. The streams will be narrow and fickle. The week will bend and buckle like a pot-bellied waist. You will make it to the weekend with one ...
The New Zealand entrepreneur behind beauty business Ethique is gearing up to launch a new eco-venture. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Our thirst for a tasty bevvy is insatiable, but it comes with a hefty plastic price for the planet: 580 billion ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 James by Percival Everett (Mantle, $38) A retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from ...
By Kamna Kumar in Suva Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Henry Puna stressed the importance of media freedom and its link to the climate and environmental crisis at the 2024 World Press Freedom Day event organised by the University of the South Pacific’s journalism programme. Under the theme “A Planet for ...
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Politicians being politicians….
“They were robbing resources from symptomatic patients in order to do the screening.”
Could this problem get worse because of the promises by Chrises Luxon and Hipkins?
Otago Daily Times columnist Elspeth McLean wrote last week: “It would be unethical to expand the programme to 50-year-olds if the system could not cope in a timely manner with the extra lab testing, colonoscopies, surgery and other treatments which might be needed.”
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/why-cancer-pledge-will-be-hard-to-keep
Labour where are you? this is positive messaging–grab the narrative–week in light of Baldrick’s “second Election” scaremongering.
As Mike the Lefty said here yesterday…
“Labour needs to seize on this to show that there will be no such problems if you vote centre-left, WE get along well enough to lead the country, the rabble on the right don't so why would you vote for them?”
Chris Hipkins, Carmel Sepuloni, James Shaw, Marama Davidson, Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa Packer one way or another need to present and project–We can work together! on various media channels, and quickly.
Labour where are you?
They're on to it:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018910259/mmp-elections-generally-are-very-close-says-grant-robertson
Labour is on to it; shame that supposed left-wing commentators aren’t. I’ve just listened to a bit of Politics with Kathryn Ryan on RNZ, only to hear Neil Jones talking in an incredibly defeatist way about Labour.
What’s with self-described left wing commentators like Jones and Pagani slagging off and/or die playing the Left? I know the Pagani backstory as it was explained to me recently.
Also, as a further comment on Kathryn Ryan’s show- Rachel Morton is an irredeemable airtime hog who made the outlandish claim that outside of the Press Gallery, no one cares about National’s proven to be scam tax plan.
Ryan as per usual allows Morton to rave on (like Luxon, Nicola Willis, Erica Stanford, etc.) while Jones passively waits his turn, and when he’s finally allowed to speak, he downplays Labour.
WTF?
I've heard Jones rip into National on other stuff, so he doesn't always just sit there and take it.
Fair point Craig. I was just disappointed that on this occasion, at such a critical time, he did.
Rachel Morton was David Seymours girlfriend,destined to be the…'one'.
Lol. I just realised that the person on the RNZ panel was in fact Brigette Morten who worked as a Senior Ministerial Advisor for Hekia Parata and Nikki Kaye. https://www.franksogilvie.co.nz/our-people/brigitte-morten
Rachel Morton was David Seymour's paramour and has a charming background of working for National (including as a senior advisor to Paula Bennett) Act, and the TAB, amongst other roles. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/act-leader-david-seymour-hoping-rachel-morton-the-one/JJPKMUWNSRSTTV2G5DXLUCO2DU/
Not sure who has the more dubious background.
Chris Bishflap Bishop sounds the Nat alarm : aooooer…aooooer !
The Man himself..responds
Winston….Its also the Media ! Gonna have another Inquiry (along with the Covid one )
Anyone think this coalition of chaos…can run NZ ? (apart from to destruction..)
We must Vote Left !
That Winston meeting sounds a good one to have missed going by the ODT report.
Do the Nats have figures the rest of us don’t–Grant Robertson was quite good on RNZ saying Mr Luxon’s political inexperience is showing and the Natzos are panicking.
Cap’n Chippy needs to get on board with a unity message pronto–Labour/Green/TPM can work together. Though he probably won’t.
It really isn't whether Labour, the Greens and TPM can work together. To get a majority it would have to be those 3 plus Winston's lot. Just imagine what they would have to offer Winnie. Deputy PM, plus Finance and Foreign Affairs?
Lab 29 Gr 15 TPM 4 would avoid that Alwyn.
We would get a stable and compassionate government.
On those figures (presumed to be percentages) it would be a hung parliament.
I would assume he meant seats. If they are percentages I would have to say that I think he is over-egging things by about 4 for Labour, 3 for the Green party and 2 for TPM.
Still, dreams are free.
Luxon hasn't ruled out offering Winston any of those jobs. He's far closer to handing out the bribes and baubles than Hipkins.
Of course Luxon could make it clear at any time that won't happen, that a "deal" could mean confidence and supply, but not Cabinet. He could rule that out, today. He could show leadership, a spine. If only he had one.
Winston has got the message. He can name his price, because Luxon's prepared to pay it.
Winston for Speaker!
Well now, that would make life interesting.
The Speaker has to be someone that (most) members at least respect, if not like.
Apart from his own party, how many MPs could HONESTLY say they respect him?
Policy Alwyn, policy – in case you haven''t noticed while NZF is very socially conservative their economic policy has always been much further left than National let alone ACT.
Yes, it's true that Luxon's unprecendented lack of parliamentary experience as Nat leader would be even more cruelly exposed if he became PM. In 3 years time he will have doubled his stint in the house and so could be ready to take Winston on board.
It's not that there won't be points of disagreement between Labour, TPM and the Greens – rather that these would pale into insignificance compared to a NAct-NZF "lots of moving parts" "limbo land" "hung parliament" "second election" fiasco.
If Matt Gaetz and Jordan are quite prepared to take out the Speaker, and remain in lock step with Trump right throughout his trials and convictions, we have the start of a new party that breaks away from the Republicans whether it's official or not.
I can't think of a splitter outcome that isn't good for the Democratic Party.
Jordan as Speaker means that they have taken control of the GOP, the question then is, will a Democratic Republican Party be formed or not?
The Desi watching Fox News Expose
The GOP adopted a southern strategy (Nixon-Hoover line) and it worked, now the GOP is the walking dead version of its former self, court of Saint James Crow has manifestly risen (build a wall and they shall not come).
This article about Shane Reti making unauthorised emergency department visits sounds interesting, but I can't open it as it's paywalled. Might be of interest to some:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/how-health-nz-responded-to-dr-shane-retis-19-unauthorised-ed-visits/DZJLGETFWNF3TCWKO6LQMEJ6EU/
Yeah – paywalled. Hope another media outlet follows up. Although Reti occasionally talks sense, I have always found something uncomfortable in his manner – a sort of condescending paternalism perhaps. He has always stuck the "Dr" on his billboards – prompting much hilarity and derision in our car when we drive past.
A classic Māori raised in Mormonism, who seems only dimly aware of his heritage as it might relate to 2023 society.
In Whangārei when the 37 dwelling Puriri Park state house development (since completed) was proposed he instinctively sided with the nearby predominantly middle class pākehā Maunu property owners actively opposing it, rather than the people needing housing.
Hmm. But a good bit more relevant to his professed area of expertise (Health) than 'Dr' David Clark, previous Labour Health Minister (whose doctorate is in theology)
It's not the relevance or irrelevance that matters – it's the self-importance of sticking it on the billboard.
Clearly you find it cringy. But you are not the target market.
No doubt we'll see whether he's re-elected in Whangarei or not.
I find it more cringy to have MPs who are not medical doctors referred to as ‘Dr’ in Parliament and in official press statements. It always seems disingenuous to me.
Cringy maybe, but also a matter of fact, so not disingenuous, imho, unless the title is used to falsely assert some clinical expertise.
Given that both MPs being referred to are male – I find your diatribe on titles for women rather pointless.
As Minister of Health, Parker was frequently referred to, by the PM as 'Dr' Parker – implying (to those who didn't go and find out) that he had a medical degree. The association between his Ministerial portfolio, and his title of (non medical) doctor – implied something which was not true. Thus disingenuous.
I have absolutely no issue with Verrall (who is both a woman and a medical doctor) using her title (should she wish to do so)
"Rather pointless" "diatribe" seems a bit waspish, but hey-ho
It should absolutely be up to each of the nine current MPs with a doctoral degree to choose whether and when to use 'Dr', but they must beware of choosing 'poorly' lest they be tarred "cringy" and feathered "disingenuous".
With the retirement of Drs Clark, Henderson, Kerekere and McDowall, the only Drs with a chance to rollover and welcome any new PhDs and/or medical doctors to the 54th Parliament are Craig, Leavasa, McLellan, Reti (National), Russell, Verrall, Webb and Woods.
This will come as a huge relief to the Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall "who is both a woman and a medical doctor" (thanks for that), and holds a PhD.
Excellent job, as usual, in avoiding the substance of the discussion –and wandering off down your own wormhole.
Here it is archived
https://archive.ph/qpAQB
Easy enough to go to https://archive.ph/ and paste in the URL of the initial article.
Thanks very much Belladona for sharing this – didn't realise I could get it through this pathway. It's good to know this.
TBH, I don't really have an issue with this kind of 'unauthorized' visit.
If you want to know what's actually going on, you don't announce your visit in advance, and allow all problems to be artificially smoothed away – just for that event. And Reiti is a practicing GP – who thoroughly understands patient confidentiality; as well as being able to assess what is 'normal' business, and what is crisis.
The objections from Health NZ seem to be bureaucratic (they feel they are going to look bad, because there are obvious problems), with a fig-leaf thrown to patient confidentiality (I can flat-out guarantee there is no patient confidentiality in an open ED area – and Reti has never released any information which would identify any specific patient). Their almost blatant threats to the ambulance service "As a funder, we must have confidence you have robust processes in place to ensure integrity and political neutrality in your operations." – are even worse.
The question should be.
Given the very poor reporting of health statistical measures since Health NZ has been formed – a much greater issue that the Health NZ bosses should spend their time on resolving – it may be that this is the only effective way he had of determining how bad the problems are (albeit in a snapshot format)
The good news is – that since Reti has done it – the way is open for Labour/Green MPs (with appropriate qualifications) to do the same thing, the next time they are in opposition.
He is an awkward individual in the environment but his skin colour and medical background give him essential collateral in the environment.
Of course part of that, like National’s transport history in Northland, is allowing them to be as hypocritical as they like and blithely ignore their appalling record in the North.
Ending Poverty Together – Party Vote Green
https://www.greens.org.nz/ending_poverty_together
Get Our
CountryUnearned Income Back on Track – Party Vote NationalIsn't it hilarious how the "sensible" people in Labour always think the best mmp strategy is to abandon and attack its left flank in order to fight national for the center and shrug it's shoulders
BUT everytime Labour has tried this strategy, the left go to the greens and Labour drops below 30% and the centerist voters write it off and vote for National.
Labour is a coalition that needs to excite the left base as well as go after the center, without the left base onside you don't have the polling support to win over the center and you don't have the volunteers to get the message out.
Ardern got this, after 96 Clark also got this, Goff, Shearer, Little and Hipkins tried the center only strategy and all got Labour in the 20s.
The amount of times "sensible" Labour politicians have torpedoed popular social democratic policies for unpopular nothings is insane, who did hipkins and Co think they were gonna win brownie points with by torpedoing the budget reforms? Certainly wasn't anyone Labour could have won over.
I'm not expecting or wanting corbynism just basic soc dem reforms, Labour should be throwing everything and the kitchen sink instead its offering pathetic nothings that voters would have to wait 2-3 years to actually see.
People vote for the left when the left is energetic and hopeful and makes them think things will get better, this entire campaign has been Labour saying change is impossible and things are only going to get worse. Not a vote winner.
Without both the left and center flank working together Labour always finds it self in the 20's.
Labour can blame National and it's donors all it wants, the fact is kiwis gave the left 60% three years ago and Labour 50.3% and is polling at 26% today, a party that loses that much support has to do some soul searching because it's not just the right, a lot of it is labour's failure to read the mood of the country three years ago and deliver on what the country wanted.
Id like to be hopeful that Labour would be able to do some serious soul searching about where Labour went wrong following Saturday, but it's impossible because you cannot speak freely or even constructively criticize Labour because from the grassroots up half the party fancies themselves a future pm.
When everyone thinks they are a poli in waiting it's impossible to have a serious critical conversation about the party's failure when every second member is sucking up and kissing arse and towing the party line in hopes of being on a community board or getting a low list ranking, anyone critical of policies, candidates or stances is to be shunned.
Unless the party changes. Labour will learn nothing.
If you look at the 65 people on the 2020s list next to none are regular people, they are all academics, lawyers, technocrats, civil servents and party hacks who climbed the ladder.
Only a few of these people are from a working class background and even fewer are able to communicate with the working class, middle class or just regular people.
Labour needs less lawyers, academics and technocrats and more builders, tech professionals, bogans and factory workers as candidates and less robots.
If Labour wants to be the party of regular people it needs to have regular people as candidates, not robots or professional politicians.
Again it tells you all you need to know about who the caucus of a party is when given unprecedented nation building support during a health crisis, a housing crisis and an inequality and poverty crisis, the party spent it's entire political capital on internal bureaucratic restructures of govt agencies.
If that's the priority then who do this lot think they were governing for?
Thanks for reading
No more long rants from me.
Very good points.
Very well written and analysed Corey. I like your point about where the political capital went particularly, and it really illustrates the grip of neo liberal administrative culture.
The first few months of COVID when public health was gloriously put before private profit showed what can be achieved when the political will is there.
Re this election, essentially if the PM had not made his Cap’n’s calls, imo NZ Labour would have stayed well into the 30s with good will from many working class people for a wealth and capital gains tax, incremental free dental, Basic Income, and the rest of the list many of us support. Robbo and David Parker are hardly radicals and for them to not be happy shows the fractures in Caucus/NZ Labour HQ. Mr Hipkins was anointed not elected by members and affiliates. The rules allowed similar with the Jacinda Ardern and Andrew Little switch due to the time period involved prior to the 2017 General Election.
Various polls and surveys showed the support for wealth tax.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300979367/new-survey-shows-widespread-support-for-taxes-on-capital-gains-and-windfall-profits
Some points, having been around the Labour Party for years via unions and various left parties.
–Caucus, or the “Parliamentary Wing” in reality has precedence over ordinary members
–A number of left leaning members were purged in the 1980s leaving the party short on ideologues of a social democratic world view
–Neo Blairism rules because of the main Parliamentary party monetarist/neo lib consensus, whom ever wins, the Reserve Bank Act, State Sector Act and so on survive. We need a circuit breaker, and grass roots organisation for 2026.
And, I acknowledge the literally hundreds of incremental and other useful reforms made by this Labour Govt.–but what they missed was the key strategic point–what is the strategic goal?–alright, I will tell you–preventing a NActFirst Govt.
How about we save the leg chewing till after eh?
Will it help to put our finger in our ear and go ting-a-ling-a-loo?
Cookers will be happy when Winston First is in. And holds his Covid inquiry.
The Greens have become a social democratic party because their environment policy required such a party to exist to enact it and Labour stopped being a social democratic party in 1984.
Anderton realised it, all Clark and Ardern did was inherit power after 9 years of National government – by which time Labour centrism appeared to be social democratic light.
Even Hipkins mark 2 would appear a social democrat after 9 years of NACT.
For decades the only country in the OECD without a CGT and or estate tax, and the middle class are considering voting in a government that wants to give the fingers to the rest of the world on UNDRIP and the Paris Accord – new white broderbond gated community of the South Pacific sans and plans for a Treaty referendum …fixing in a class system for their children to inherit along with the consequences of inaction (21st C infrastructure and GW action)
new white broderbond gated community of the South Pacific sans Maori as a people and thus plans for a Treaty referendum
Totally agree. I can't remember the last Labour worker. Mike Moore? Chippy, Grant, Jacinda, student union to PM's staffer. BTW has Nanaia given up? Is it true she's in Spain. Cunliffe pretended to be a worker with his Brotown accent, but he was more Goldman Sachs, or Harvard or something.
From her FB posts, Mahuta seems to be campaigning hard in the Waikato – several 'on the road' shots between gigs. If she doesn't win the seat, she's out of Parliament – and I believe that the TPM candidate is pushing her hard.
Honestly, where do they dig these idiots up from? (It’s another ACT candidate.)
Live Election 2023 updates: All the latest developments on 9 October https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/499718/live-election-2023-updates-all-the-latest-developments-on-9-october
Probably the same place that the Greens (and Labour and National and TPM) are getting theirs.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300983505/tova-podcast-white-people-are-stupid-labour-minister-ing-useless–the-latest-candidate-in-twitterx-trouble
At this stage in the campaign, the wheels are coming off for many candidates – and their judgement may not be that great. When it's a minor candidate, with little chance of occupying a front bench seat – it's probably not that significant. But it's great fodder for the 'gotcha' journalists and commentators.
When it's a senior minister or a leader – you have to look a lot harder.
For those who use social media- I recommend changing your profile picture to reflect your voting choice (if you are comfortable doing so). I did this a few hours ago and have already had two private messages from people I know only peripherally, telling me that seeing the Labour logo has made them decide to vote Labour. It sounds silly but something tiny can sway people and at this point, every single vote matters. My two cents, for what it’s worth.
Any idea on how this works? I just can't imagine voting because of a logo. I wonder if it's something to do with being enabled or emboldened once you see other people you respect doing it? The same with hoardings I guess, if it works, it works.
No idea how or why it prompted these points of contact and decisions. As you say – if it works, it works.
Good thing to do but remember to change it back before midnight Friday.
Thanks for the reminder RBO
If you don't feel comfortable announcing your party support to all and sundry – you could also change it to an "I have voted" icon.
Imagine Green/TPM/NZ1 as a minority govt with 35 seats and Labour impliedly offering C&S on budget, but not part of any formal coalition or agreement. On current numbers, total is about 67 seats… none of the aforementioned 3 parties have ruled out working with each other
Under MMP there’s no reason why Lab/Nat have to be at the head of the table… 🤨
Actually, I'd like to see that, just for the seething outrage from NACT! And Labour, presumably.
Are you and "others" wanting seething outrage from Labour?
Fucks sake all through this Ive tried to keep with Left Solidarity. Some make me wonder…
No. I meant I'd like to see the outrage from NACT, but occurred to me Labour would be miffed as well.
Miffed…Yeah..right. Bit like your "perception" of Chris Hipkins voice.
"And I took that personally"
So no result will be registered for the electorate of Port Waikato and a by-election will be held at a later time.
That means that the MMP proportionality will not include that electorate, and the party that wins it (presumably National) will get an extra seat.
So the new MMP election strategy is to register terminally ill people as independent candidates for all your safe seats, in the hope that some of them die between the start of advance voting and election day?
Surely voting can continue and if a dead candidate wins then a by-election is triggered (after MMP proportionality is allocated?
Yeah, basically its going to result in an extra mp for the Nats. Makes a big difference to the permatations and it makes it harder for the left to win
What an insensitive fuck you are. Have some fucken dignity.
You've taken the comment the wrong way.
It was purely a hypothetical to make a strong point and no-one imagines for a moment that any political party would entertain such a scenario.
Clearly, it legally can not. If you wish to propose a law change to make this the case – I suggest you contact your local MP.
In the meantime – Good Lord! Some level of sensitivity to the friends, family and colleagues of the dead man would seem to be called for. Making up a conspiracy theory out of thin air, over someone's death, is deeply distasteful.