Grim but not unexpected, the latest Fairfax poll shows a Labour slide to 25.9%
Greens are the main beneficiary, up to 12.6%
National are steady on 52.5%
What I meant to say was oh well Petey at least there is a silver lining. It looks like United Follicles and ACT are terminal and will not be back. Good riddance.
Weird but I started to type it, the WYSWIG kicked in, I then had to click in the window to type the rest and then posted but only the bit that I initially typed showed up.
I suspect you are a lot more worried than me Micky.
I’ve already achieved some of my goals. And I’ve set in place something that could make quite a difference in Dunedin. Even Labour people are supporting it.
Every realised opportunity on top of that is a bonus.
And I’m having a lot of fun too. I sense you’re not smiling.
Hope you get the silver crown off Dunne when you take over leadership Pete…good luck and stay off the kronic when wandering the trails…you might get lost in the wilderness.
I’d be worried if I was the Nat’s, I wouldn’t want this next term, particularly as the biggest cheerleaders of neo-libealism.
Let’s say they win an outright majority, good luck to them explaining the implosions of their mantra as the depression really bites and anger really hits the streets.
Here is an Australian economist pointing out how Austerity is killing the Ozzie economy, which holds two warnings for us, the Ozzies upon who’s economy we rely is now on a serious slow down, secondly, responsible for this is a mantra of surplus, which is Nationals platform. Careful what you promise…
“Employment growth has been virtually zero for some months and other indicators of growth are faltering.
The ABS published the latest International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia for September 2011 today which showed the trade surplus (before invisibles) narrowing with exports falling on the back of declining terms of trade (so prices rather than volumes falling).”
The right may well relish the prospect of reigning during a global economic crisis. That allows severe measures to be put through under the justification that the foul-tasting medicine is our only chance at economic survival.
Pondering these issues, the question arises: Is it wise for the news media to devote so much effort to telling the voter who’s “ahead” and who’s “behind” – as if elections were indeed nothing more than horse-races? Surely, the most important democratic function of the media is to subject the various political contenders’ claims to the critical scrutiny of expert witnesses? Publishing dispassionate critiques of contending policy; broadcasting fair and balanced accounts of the candidates behaviour on the hustings; and then allowing the voters to make up their own minds. Isn’t this the media’s most important contribution to the electoral process?
I usually don’t comment on polls, however good or bad they look for the left. I just get fed up with the way the media focuses more on them than on a fair discussion of policies.
Jumping the shark is an idiom, first employed to describe a moment in the evolution of a television show when it begins a decline in quality that is beyond recovery.
[…]
The usage of “jump the shark” has subsequently broadened beyond television, indicating the moment in its evolution when a brand, design, or creative effort moves beyond the essential qualities that initially defined its success, beyond relevance or recovery.
I agree, but like it or not the media control most of the narrative and have a large influence on what gets attention and what gets ignored. And they know their influence.
But they don’t always get it right, they have been caught out before by being too caught up in their own game to see what’s happening beyond their sphere. Elections are one time the voters take control.
And if they include the 14.3% undecideds in their overall result, National was selected by 44.9% of those questioned, so in no way does that support the headline that National could govern alone.
Why do you think a low turnout would help National?
I would’ve thought that a lot of the people who wouldn’t turn out to vote are people who would vote Nation and think oh well National are going to win anyway no point me going down there.
Whereas people against National would have more incentive to go vote?
Actually I support the 15% GST. A tax on consumption is good (although regressive).
What I don’t support was the tax-switch that went to the top 10%.
If we’d had a tax package that put GST up to 15% and compensated those on the lowest incomes at 3x the rate that GST was supposed to rise on paper, we would be much better off.
I agree with more emphasis being placed on a consumption based tax rather than a personal income tax in principle, but realise it’s hard to implement GST as a significant proportion. Avoiding GST is the only national sport in this country to exceed rugby in popularity.
I don’t have a problem with a greater than 15% consumption tax in principle since it favors us being more resource efficient. And I appreciate the goals of lowering personal income tax, since it favors rewarding the efforts of the individual. And perhaps the only answer to fill the shortfall is a CGT tax, and more effort to stay on top of the freeloaders and loopholes.
I, for one, can’t wait to tick the box for Chauvel when I cast my vote in Ohariu. I’ve encouraged everyone I know to do the same.
The sooner we get rid of United Future and their “This garbage is not worth replying to” couldn’t-give-a-toss-about-anyone-who’s-not-like-me politics, the better.
I can’t believe you’d fall in line behind this guy, Petey. You might be doing some good, but the fact that you would consider a man so obviously missing any sort of empathy as a “leader” clearly signifies your inability to judge character.
At last….. Thank God. After more than a decade and despite a change in US administration, and people’s high hopes for Obama, the Bush Doctrine is finally being challenged on the world stage by a major statesman.
“There is no military solution to the Iranian nuclear problem as there is no military solution to any other problem in the modern world,” ……….
…….“This is confirmed to us every day when we see how the problems of the conflicts, around Iran are being resolved – whether Iraq or Afghanistan, or what is happening in other countries in the region. Military intervention only leads to many times more deaths and human suffering.”
Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov, has served as Russian foreign minister since 2004.
……talks between Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States, Germany and Iran should be resumed as soon as possible.
“Iran exports about 2.4 million barrels a day of petroleum, of which China imports a little over a fourth.
Moreover, it would not be a good thing for anyone to have a global boycott (essentially a blockade) of Iranian petroleum, since that move would take the 2.4 million barrels a day off the world market and drive prices up to several hundred dollars a barrel.
I noticed the latest Faifax poll totals out at 114.3%.
Its not clear,whether Nationals support is 52.5% or 52.5/114.3
If its the later ,this mornings headline that “More than half of people spoken to, prefer National” is not only misleading, its factually incorrect.
Why don’t these polling pricks just announce Labour has dropped to zero support and be done with it? The Shark has been jumped alright.
Warning; anecdote follows: I was excluded from a telephone poll the other night because my age group quota was covered already apparently. I asked what if I was under 40 or 30 would there be space for me, the person said she could not tell me that, but after some cajoling said “probably” before ending the call. It is not just that the polls are bent it is the behavioural effect they have on some people. I have heard two people say they are not going to bother voting because John Key has it stitched up. Brilliant.
It amazes me that so few Government Ministers front for interviews Felix. Especially the PM who only fronts to give statements but not interviews as he is “too busy.”
After all the fuss about the alleged affront to Democracy before the 2008 election there is silence about the affront to Democracy by the No-show Government MPs.
As a voter, I feel angry that I am being treated as a fool.
Word on the street re. health is that the plans for slashing are well under way
First Bill English’s little bro was brought in (on $400K p.a.) to scale down the MoH.
Second, the whole preventative sector will be deconstructed. They have already started the merging of ALAC and the Health Sponsorship Council.
Third, once upon a time we had 21 DHB’s, then we had 20 when Southland was swallowed up by Otago. There are strong signs that come June next year there will be a maximum of 14 DHB’s. It is interesting that one DHB has already announced the retirement of their CEO exactly at this time, and speculation has been rife regarding its merger with two adjacent DHB’s, so much so there is actually documentation with a logo kicking around.
Expect to see the private sector picking up more and more work, remember those ‘free visits to GP’s for under 6’s after hours’ are subject to cuts elsewhere.
‘I have heard two people say they are not going to bother voting because John Key has it stitched up. Brilliant.’
Just what they want TM – have they no go in them?
The left may not be victorious – heaven help us all but at least those out there doing practical stuff are helping the cause. Where would Labour have been in ’35 if they were not dogged in their pursuit?
Had cause for optimism for our Labour candidate as the National candidate was mercilessly heckled and booed at a meeting last week – maybe those on the sharp edge of things are starting to get a clue.
It’s not “if” but “when”. At some point the slumbering masses will wake up and realise they’ve been duped by the smiley snake. Retribution will be swift and savage.
Go Labour and the Greens just keep prodding and shaking those sleep-walking Kiwis there’s still time to wake them before the 26th. And when the tide turns just watch the MSM rush to scramble on board.
I don’t let people off the hook re enrolling and voting M, am involved with producing union election publications too. More people will realise pretty soon that they cannot eat aspiration.
Agree, the important group is the young; my daughter says she is voting Labour for the local seat and Green for party vote – as are many of her friends. We need to mobilise the young to protect their future.
The “National could govern alone” narrative depends on the exclusion of the undecideds, and even here, where they rate a mention, they are excluded from the calculation.
However the polls do not include those who have lost confidence in this country and have voted with their feet. To quote from the Herald article posted below: “(Dr Newell’s) research shows that New Zealand’s losses (to Australia) are higher among low-skilled and semi-skilled workers, including tradespeople, than among professional people, who benefit from New Zealand’s lower-than-Australia taxes on high incomes.
But almost half of the net loss in the past year was of people in their twenties and thirties, leaving a big hole in New Zealand’s working-aged population.”
Let’s hope that many of these people are still registered to vote here, prefer policies that would make their home country more welcoming, and are able to throw a spanner into the works.
After the discussion on the “invincibility” of National in the polls the Herald published this in relation to their Mood of the Nation.
“When the responses of youth voters (aged 18 to 24) are looked at in isolation, Labour has turned the tables on National, with the support of 46 per cent of young voters against National’s 29 per cent.”
Only a tiny sample but interesting. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10764668
The hard part is getting that segment of the population enrolled and voting, Ian. The point of the MSM’s meme of National strolling to victory is to encourage people not to bother voting because the election is a done deal. This is intended to become a self fulfilling prophesy; if the Herald et al can convince swing voters not to bother turning out to the booths, then National win by default.
Dosn’t Whaleoil just waste the Electoral Commission’s time. They are the ones who referred it to the police – wouldn’t have thought they would do that if they thought it was frivolous.
Um Christchurch is a Labour strong-hold. National only hold one electorate seat, Ilam. The voting there outside Ilam and Waimakariri tends to be 50-50 in other electorates or Labour outperforming National. Thus it makes sense for National to work harder in an area where they don’t do very well.
I just wish they gave more of a fight to Wigram. Because if you combine Labour’s vote with Progressives from 2008 you get a 2200 vote gap. If ever they’re going to take Wigram now would be a time. Its an electorate that is changing with a growing Asian influence. It shouldn’t be a left-wing cakewalk but at the moment it is.
The Prime Minister has ruffled people’s feathers after being shown on television talking during a minute’s silence for Christchurch quake victims.
Although, I actually get more annoyed the waste of resources that is the temporary stadium being labelled as “good news”. Talk about getting the priorities completely wrong. Fiddling while Rome Burns seems to be modus operandi for this government.
“ACT have been very stable, so ACT returning to Parliament is something I’d like to see as opposed to something I wouldn’t like to see;” John Key said.
Does the with-holding that the ACT nod, indicate something? Key will only nod if he believes they really really need ACT. Isn’t that a bit contemptuous? Discard the voters if we don’t need them.
“I will only have a date with you if I can’t find anyone better.”
Some time ago now I refuted some remarkably foolish and ignorant statements you made about the running of the 2007 World Cup. You have for some reason (embarrassment, perhaps?) not replied.
To jog your memory, you can look over the débâcle of your attempt to disrespect French rugby HERE….
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said he will resign after suffering a humiliating setback in parliament that showed a party revolt had stripped him of a majority.
Berlusconi confirmed a statement from President Giorgio Napolitano that he would step down as soon as parliament passed urgent budget reforms demanded by European leaders after Italy was sucked into epicentre of the euro zone debt crisis.
Exactly – don’t believe it until it happens. He has more time to manipulate the ‘traitors’ who voted against him to voting for him the longer he stays.
major non news is that dimwit from the dompost tracy watkins crowing that kweewee and his gang re going to win th election outright.
in a pigs bum lady.
you might be stupid after too many rubber chickens legs and hi fat sosage rollsa t bellamys but the public aren’t.
McKelvie’s none too bright. He made the papers (and got labelled by David Farrar as ‘stupid’) for putting his election signage up earlier than the local council by-laws allowed. That’s the council where he’s currently mayor. D’oh!
I’m also told that he said at one electorate meeting that he would not campaign in the north of the Rangitikei electorate because ‘they’re all poor, maori or both up there’.
So in other words he’s one the old boys representing National’s true blue roots, which wouldn’t be complete without being a racist and treating the poor as shit…
A different attack, this time Gareth Hughes on Labour. The Dom Post has just had a Live Chat with the Ohariu candidates. Hughes carefully phrased round Labour in relation to their electorate support arrangement, but closed off the chat with a poke at Labour’s filibustering. Hughes versus Chauvel.
The number of articles appearing on Stuff today that talk up National and talk down Labour makes me wonder if the righties are running a little scared.
“Whale Oil blogger Cameron Slater has been denied leave to appeal his convictions for deliberately breaking court suppression orders. ” -The Court of Appeal
So that is that.
Slice of asset sale profits to go to irrigation – National
So, selling state assets now produces profits? Anyone got any actual data to back that up? Because I’m pretty sure, once we take into account inflation from the time the assets were built until now, and revenue loss we won’t be seeing any profits from selling them. What we will see, under proper accounting, is a massive loss.
MANA’s Manukau East candidate John Minto has challenged the long-serving incumbent Labour MP Ross Robertson to a public debate on the failure of the MP to effectively represent one of New Zealand’s poorest electorate in his 20 years in parliament.
“I’ve taught for over 10 years in the electorate and can’t recall a single instance of the MP speaking out strongly for the most vulnerable families in New Zealand who have been hammered by the economic policies of successive Labour and National governments.
Robertson is master of the meaningless press release and space-filler public comments but he has failed to represent the voters of the electorate.
I was with one of his constituents a couple of weeks back and she said to me “Ross is only good for a cup of tea…”
I’m not sure about the cup of tea but I know he’s been missing in action for 20 years.
John Minto
Copy of the Open letter sent
9 November 2011
Kia ora Ross,
Challenge to public debate
I’m writing to challenge you to a public debate in the Manukau East electorate at any time up till the last day of campaigning – although the sooner it takes place the better for voters to consider the issues before polling day.
I decided to stand against you in this electorate because in the time you have been the MP the people of Manukau East have gone backwards with low-pay, high unemployment and endemic poverty.
I taught in this electorate for over 10 years and have seen so many Maori and Pacific families struggling to maintain their self-respect and dignity in the face of the awful social impact of the economic policies of Labour and National. Yet in all your time as MP I can’t recall a single occasion when you have spoken out strongly for the most vulnerable people of your electorate.
For example while I was teaching at Tangaroa College from 2000 to 2004 the number of Pacific Island families in severe hardship increased from 16% to 30%. You were the MP and Labour was in government but you were silent.
It seems that throughout your time as an MP you have collected a big salary, eaten your lunch and become patron of several sports clubs – what else?
In the last few days I’ve been reading the Statistics Department quarterly income survey and found that (adjusted for inflation) the last three years have been even more disastrous for Maori and Pacific families who make up the majority of people in your electorate.
The median income for Maori from 2008 to 2011 is nearly 16% lower – they are $86 a week worse off. For Pacific Islanders it is even worse – they are over $100 a week worse off.
You weren’t in government then Ross but that’s no excuse for remaining silent while your constituents suffer. You are their MP. It seems to me you have used these people as voting fodder to give you a politician-for-life lifestyle.
The statistics for pokie machines, liquor outlets and loan sharks are also appalling – the parasites on poverty have been active in the electorate but you have been inert. Have you ever raised your voice above a whisper on any of these issues?
I was with one of your constituents a couple of weeks back and she said to me “Ross is only good for a cup of tea…” I can see no evidence to think otherwise.
It seems you have been missing in action for 20 years Ross.
These are the issues I want to raise in public with you and give you the opportunity to respond in public. The people of this electorate deserve to hear you speak out on your own behalf for the dreadful situation you have remained silent about for 20 years.
I will make myself available at any time and any place within the electorate for the debate. Please contact me or my campaign manager as soon as possible to make appropriate arrangements.
List MPs should be ordered on the
number of votes they attract, so
removing the gift giving of party
power brokers. Would Garrett have
won any votes once his child
idenity fraud came to light?
Greens have too much freedom to
choose who is on their list.
Remove the 5% rule, remove the
one constituent MP rule.
Strictly proportional representation,
you win an MP (and they did win an
electorate) then the MP comes from
the MP of that party with the
highest vote. So if Banks gets the
highest vote of ACT MPs, he would
be first on the list even if he
lost Epson, but ACT got enough
proportion of the vote.
We vote for a list but not the individuals on it unless they are in an electorate, and many do not compete in them. In some of the STV systems voters get the chance to rank the lists too. Ireland I think is the most noteable (but I may be out of date there).
My poitn was, keep MMP but order list MPs according to how many votes
they got. This would turn list MP into local MPs who have an interest in
their constitutiences.
Just happened on this Editorial at the Manawatu Standard and well said Warwick Rasmussen.
Great to have a byline.
Agree about the response from spectators at Leaders Debates is based on responses to slanging.
And the weird nature of poll focus perhaps being used to steer voters or even create a partisan climate.
Good work Warwick. http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/opinion/5914516/Editorial-Slanging-match-cheapens-election
Just flicked onto Close Up tonight and surprised to see the unsmiling Mike Hoskins interviewing (!) John Key!!! (I bet John thought he would get the soft touch from Mark Sainsbury.)
But no! Immigration to Australia and advantage of Australia over NZ and how it is not really an issue to Key. But Mike says to Key you cannot deny it. The facts are there.
End of interview. Key mask drops. He looks off camera right and does not look to be a happy chappy.
Not up yet on Replay but wonder if it gets pulled for “technical reasons.”
Did you notice the Key face in the last 3 seconds?
I think that he was on the back foot and worked hard at his usual defence, ” Lets take a step back and look…..”
” Lets take a step back and look…..” 4 times – structure and position the conversation so that people feel they are removed from the stance originally taken whilst trying to see it from a veiw that is in your favour.
He (jonkey) spent quite a lot of that in interview trying to deny the real numbers and inserting his own made up ones like the BS that wages have increased when, in real terms, most incomes have actually gone down.
So, his solution to the wage gap is to eliminate all income tax? That would create some interesting fiscal consequences just to claim achievement of what was clearly empty electioneering rhetoric in 2008.
He admits as much when he talked in the interview as if ‘closing the gap’ is (and was?) a ‘silly idea’. As Hoskings said, ‘so you didn’t believe in the Task Force when you set it up?’.
It would have been good to know that he thought it was really silly when, three years ago, he was standing in empty rugby stadia and fronting billboards with planes flying to Australia emblazoned across them.
“National’s moderate approach to emissions scheme”
I remember the editor of The Press once explaining, in response to a letter to the Editor about a supposedly biased headline, that the headline wasn’t biased because the wording acknowledged that the offending words were from a quote of a politician by having scare quotes around the phrase.
It turns out from the article that “moderate approach” were John Key’s words. Unacknowledged. No scare quotes.
here is the beef in the wairarapa. the assets will be sold to pay for a water retention and storage scheme in two locations, upper and lower on the ruamahanga.
the deal should be that the state tenders out the bid and then cuts a deal with the operator rather than shift investment wholesale and let valuable income streams escape from the country.
that is nationals policy.
you know its okay and will probably go ahead but it should have been in the public debate long ago instead of released under what I suspect was intense pressure to make it public.
that is what national has become.
they prefer secret deals rather than good old fashioned public debate.
Barnes & Noble is asking the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Microsoft’s patent-licensing tactics, accusing the software giant of trying to thwart competition with flimsy infringement claims.
Because they’re seriously getting in the way of innovation and being used to reward people and companies for work that they didn’t do.
Interesting to see the amount being thrown at the Nat candidate. Asset sales top of the list (the mixed ownership line was followed by the whole hall chanting “sales”), followed by the debt lies (we’ll spend it on this or maybe that), then “when is the minimum wage likely to be increased we’ve been waiting 20 years”, too many in prisons, education national standards, why the bene bashing? and the last few questions were on local or smaller issues. This was a packed hall in an upper income suburb, SES 10, and I really don’t think the Nats had 52% of the hall or anything near that.
Any chance of electorate meeting reports from elsewhere?
At the Remuera election forum tonight there were five candidates.
Here’s everybody being reminded that Brash should really be standing in Epsom but few would vote for him. Banks on the left: http://i40.tinypic.com/1zdyr1v.jpg
From left: Pat O’Dea (Mana), Paul Goldsmith (National), David Parker (Labour), John Banks (ACT/National), the convenor, David Hay (Green) (speaking), Don Brash (ACT/National) (photo only due to his absence)
May I say that David Parker was outstanding, and would make an excellent and popular Labour PM.
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When they were running for election, Labour promised to overhaul the Employment Relations Act and introduce fair pay agreements to set basic pay and conditions on an industry level, preventing bad employers from undercutting good ones. They followed this up by establishing a working group, which reported back in January ...
A list of indicators of bad science – many of these are found in articles promoted by anti-fluoride activists. Anti-fluoride activists have been pouring money into a scaremongering campaign warning pregnant women not to drink fluoridated water. They claim fluoride will lower the IQ of their future child. Fluoride ...
Nothing Left To Say: Labour's pollster, Stephen Mills, remains swaddled-up in the comforting myths of the 1980s. As if the experience of Roger Douglas’s genuinely radical post-Muldoon policy agenda was literally a once-in-a-lifetime thing – as much as the party could possibly absorb for at least the next 50 years.MEMO ...
The Royal Commission on abuse in care is very significant for the disability community. For many decades last century, thousands of disabled children, and adults who managed to survive, were locked away from families and communities. This was not for anything they had done, but for the perceived threat their ...
With an unfair voting system, uneven electorates and an un-elected upper house, the UK's "democracy" is barely worthy of the name. But now the government wants to make it worse:The government has been accused of suppressing voters’ rights with the potential disenfranchisement of tens of thousands of people after plans ...
Back in the 90's and early 2000's, the building industry was building leaky homes which should never have been granted consent. Now it turns out they've been building dodgy office blocks as well:New imaging technology has revealed hundreds of major buildings nationwide have defective or missing concrete or reinforcing steel. ...
Local body election results were released over the weekend, to joy or despair depending on where you live. In Auckland, Phil Goff trounced John Tamihere, who is muttering darkly about running for Parliament again (but which party would want him?) Wellington is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Weta Workshop, except ...
How could government evolve over the next decades? Reports of democracy’s imminent demise are greatly exaggerated. However, satisfaction with political systems in many countries is low, so there is much to do for governments of all political stripes to improve relevance and trust. Digital technologies are seen as one ...
Two years have now gone by since the Friday afternoon when my university-student son and I headed out of our Barcelona flat to a nearby primary school, designated as a polling station for the vote that was to be held the following Sunday: the referendum on Catalonia’s independence from Spain ...
Overruled: The joint decision of Finance Minister, Grant Robertson (Labour) and his Associate Minister, David Parker (Labour) arguably the two most powerful ministers in Jacinda Ardern’s government, to grant OceanaGold the consents which Land Information Minister, Eugenie Sage (Greens) had earlier denied them, offers bitter proof of how hard fighting ...
More than double the number of people who will vote in this year’s local body elections have tried marijuana or urinated somewhere they shouldn’t have. As local elections look set for the lowest turnout in decades, with many regions falling well short of 40%, the Government is exploring a number ...
A Statement on Abortion Law Reform by the Council of Disobedient Women On the eve of bringing an end to antiquated, anti-women abortion laws Green MP Jan Logie intends to write women out of the Bill. With a stroke of the pen, the woke are aiming for total erasure ...
Musings continue apace about “the experienced businessman!” soon to be taking up a National Party MP position. Or to be more accurate, being parachuted into a seat to shut down their former MP Jamie-Lee Ross, who despite his own shortcomings shed at least some more light on the inner workings ...
The Ugandan government wants to murder gay people:Uganda has announced plans to impose the death penalty on homosexuals. The bill, colloquially known as “Kill the Gays” in Uganda, was nullified five years ago on a technicality, but the government said on Thursday it plans to resurrect it within weeks. The ...
Hassan Vally, La Trobe UniversityWho doesn’t want to know if drinking that second or third cup of coffee a day will improve your memory, or if sleeping too much increases your risk of a heart attack? We’re invested in staying healthy and many of us are interested in reading ...
Freedom Of Speech? The Säuberung (cleansing by fire) was the work of the German Student Union which, on 10 May 1933, under the watchful eye of the Nazi Reichminister for Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels, consigned 25,000 books to the flames in a ritual exorcism of “un-German thought”. According to the logic of the ...
“There can be no such thing as kaupapa Māori political parties or politics in Aotearoa” (Willie Jackson, Labour Party (2017). Māori TV, General/List Election Special) I begin with that claim because at the time, I was confounded at first that it fell out of Willie Jackson’s mouth, and then ...
New Zealand has prided itself for decades with regard to its lack of pollution, and all will be aware that the ‘100% Pure New Zealand‘ meme is under threat through land, water and air pollution of various causes. There is another type of contamination that the country also faces: light ...
New Zealand’s media is doing its part in Japan, reassuring those in the path of the storm that they won’t miss any rugby while away from their flooded homes. New Zealand sports reporters stationed in Japan for the Rugby World Cup have had the rare and heartwarming opportunity to inform ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones is the only Cabinet member in favour of putting it all on green. As Finance Minister Grant Robertson finds himself with an enormous $7.5 billion surplus, the Government has begun intense, at times contentious conversations about whether to put the money on red or black at ...
by Susanne Kemp At the start of September close to 100,000 school teachers went on strike in Jordan. They demanded a 50% pay rise. A pay rise actually agreed to by the regime back in 2014. In early October, however, in the face of government repression and threats, the teachers’ ...
Climate Explained is a collaboration between The Conversation, Stuff and the New Zealand Science Media Centre to answer your questions about climate change.If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, please send it to climate.change@stuff.co.nzWhy do people still think climate change isn’t real?David ...
Back in 2011, journalist Nicky Hager published Other People's Wars, an expose on NZDF's activities over the previous decade of the "war on terror". NZDF didn't like this, and especially didn't like the fact that it was base don leaks from their own. So, they had the SIS investigate him ...
The Zero Carbon Bill is due back from select committee in two weeks, and will likely pass its final stages in November. So naturally, farmers are planning a hate-march against it. But they're not just demanding lower methane targets so they can keep on destroying the planet; they're also demanding ...
Last year, California burned. This year, to stop it happening again (or rather, to stop themselves from being found liable if it happens again), Pacific Gas and Electric is cutting power to half the state for a week:Schools are closed. Traffic lights down. Tunnels dark. Businesses unopened. Hospitals running on ...
The Best Way: Missing from the on-line voting debate is any reference to the voting system that produces turn-out figures ranging from 77 to 93 percent of registered voters. The voting system used to collect and count the votes cast in our parliamentary elections. The system that involves citizens making ...
Among the great new bunch of political friends we have been making recently is the excellent Australian-based Marxist gender-critical site, Freer Lives. So we asked the comrade who set up that blog to write something for Redline on the blog, himself, his analysis of the rise of gender politics and ...
by Don Franks The Auckland City Mission is struggling with a 40 percent increase in demand for food parcels this year. A total of 23,020 were needed by June. Last month Missioner Chris Farrelly told the Herald the “cupboards are bare” and without an emergency food drive, he can’t see ...
by The Council of Disobedient Women Massey Wellington Student Association had a sit-in today. Imagine a sit-in. On a campus. Against a women’s rights meeting. Did the ’60s really happen or did we fucking dream it? They gathered in the student square, an echo chamber. Sitting on soft pillows ...
For some reasons, my post about the mystery message from inside the Downing Street bunker seemed to catch people's attention. Quite a lot of hits from NZ (unsurprisingly) and the USA (a bit more puzzlingly, but hi there, USAians!!) and 76 views from the Ukraine.I've celebrated my Ukrainian readers in ...
First, almost a score of Labour MPs seem to have sent a letter to the EU basically begging them to accept a deal - any deal - just so Britain can get the Heck on with Brexiting instead of being trapped in limbo:
by Phil Duncan In 2016 the National-led government suspended the Parent Visa Category, through which migrants were able to bring their parents into New Zealand. Since then over 5,700 people have been in immigration limbo, stuck on the visa wait list. Labour is now bringing back the scheme. Well, sort ...
The following was released yesterday (Tues, October 8) by the women’s liberation organisation Speak Up for Women. On 23 September Speak Up For Women announced that we would be holding an event at the Massey University Theaterette in Wellington. The event is called Feminism 2020. The intention of the event ...
The government is currently consulting on plans to improve freshwater quality. So naturally, farmers oppose it:South Taranaki farmers are preparing to fight proposed national freshwater changes that some fear will bankrupt them. The Government's proposed National Environment Standard on Freshwater Management, released in September, rated the Waingongoro River as one ...
Yesterday was the last day for (reliably) posting your vote away in local body elections. Turnouts are mostly much lower than the equivalent time last year (Palmerston North is down 2.3%), and so naturally people are pushing their online-voting snake oil again. Because the online census worked so well, lets ...
This essay, on the political legacy of the eugenics movement, by Kenan Malik was originally published in the Observer on 6 October 2019, under the headline ‘The spirit of eugenics is still with us, as immigrants know to their cost’. Birth control. Intelligence tests. Town planning. Immigration controls. It’s striking how ...
Another year, and the government has announced another enormous government "surplus". And just like last year, its nothing of the sort. When we have people homeless and sick and hungry, when we have schools and hospitals still falling down, when we have underpaid public servants and infrastucture unmaintained or unbuilt, ...
James Forsyth at The Spectator (I know, I know) has tapped one of his contacts inside Number Ten for an insight into the Johnson administration's thinking and strategy.It is fascinating, unsettling and quite, quite mad. Some key points:Negotiations have stalled and the Johnson administration are keen to blame the EU: ...
Fatal Contact: With the arrival of captain James Cook in October 1769, the islands of what would become New Zealand ceased to be the preserve of Polynesian navigators and settlers and became a part of both the world’s map and the world’s history.THE MAORI NATIONALIST assault upon the historical meaning ...
Another round of tactical talks about forming a Government of National Unity have come to nothing with the Liberal Democrats still refusing countenance putting Jeremy Corbyn into Downing Street:Opposition talks on Monday made little headway over when to try and vote down Boris Johnson's government and who might succeed him as ...
by Nick Rogers The debate around the meaning of sex and gender made an appearance at this year’s British Labour Party conference in Brighton. Women’s Place UK – an organisation that questions the demand that biological males who self-identify as woman should have access to women’s spaces, to all-women shortlists, ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is predicting a hard Brexit for the United Kingdom, as he believes British Prime Minister Boris Johnson won’t be able to negotiate terms before the October 30 deadline. The Minister, who was one of the first to publicly come out and predict British voters would leave ...
Speaking at the Council of Trade Unions' (CTU) biennial conference, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters told unionists that any future attacks on the Government won't work. "Now, we are being attacked by the union movement in this country. You can have your views but I'm here to say standing ...
We want every New Zealander to be happy, safe, and healthy. To do this, we need to support strong, safe communities, and a robust and efficient health system. ...
Defence Minister Ron Mark has used his powers to overrule a noise complaint ruling against Whenuapai airbase on the grounds of "national security". The Environment Court last month released a ruling in favour of a private developer, declaring the Auckland airbase had to comply with noise restrictions when it performs ...
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has opened fire against "unreconstructed morons" after NZ First MP Shane Jones was photographed on holiday holding an AR-15 rifle. Mr Peters is defending Mr Jones, telling Magic Talk host Peter Williams that his MP was just having fun "like most people do". "The ...
New Zealand First Deputy Leader and Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau was in attendance during the morning blessing of the Rotorua Lakefront development project. Around 60 people gathered on the shores of Lake Rotorua, including city mayor Steve Chadwick and deputy Dave Donaldson. The Lakefront development is a ...
Forestry Minister Shane Jones is considering reining in on conversions of farmland to forestry, and also issued a warning to foreign-owned forestry companies that make up nearly 75 per cent of the industry. He said too many foreign companies had not provided enough access for domestic processors to get timber. ...
Speaking to Radio NZ, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said the tightening of the parental category visa is a direct result of the Party’s coalition negotiations with the Labour Party. He said the new changes switch the financial onus from the parent moving to New Zealand to the child ...
The Coalition Government is set to cut red tape in the building and construction sector in an effort to allow more houses to be built, including prefabricated houses. The changes will enable the mass factory production of "high quality" buildings, slash the likely number of building inspections for factory produced ...
Since coming into Government, we’ve worked hard to tackle homelessness and make sure everyone has a warm, dry home. And today, on World Homeless Day, we want to report back and update you on our progress so far. ...
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has hit back at National Party leader Simon Bridges who criticized the Coalition Government’s approach to crime, and said that the latter isn't credible in his attack on the Government over gang recruitment. "We've got as massive drug problem in this country. It is ...
New Zealand Mānuka honey exporters have welcomed an initiative by the Coalition Government to help secure the term “mānuka honey” to be used exclusively by Kiwi exporters, ensuring that our multimillion-dollar industry is protected. Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones had recently announced that a Provincial Growth Funding of $5.7 ...
Political commentator Mike Hosking has labelled New Zealand First leader Winston Peters as “the voice of reason in a government soft on drugs”, for the Party’s stance on drug testing at music festivals. “If common sense is worth a vote, Winston Peters is quids in,” Mr Hosking said. The Labour ...
Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau has announced Provincial Growth Funding to ensure work opportunities in Turangi and Whanganui, through its skills and employment programme, Te Ara Mahi. A fund of $500,000 will go to Rafting NZ in Turangi for a 16-week river guide training course to train ...
Treasury has shown that the Coalition Government has a $7.5 billion surplus, which is $4 billion higher than what was expected in the 2019 Budget unveiled last May. It is also $2 billion higher than the actual surplus unveiled this time last year, and at a size that has not ...
Official Information Act figures released to NZME show there were 350 assaults on officers in the year to the end of June, 79 more than the year before. The increase in attacks have sparked calls for more legal protection for first responders to be enacted. The assaults included officers being ...
“Nobody wants to see babies uplifted”, this was the pronouncement of Minister for Children Hon. Tracey Martin as her department, Oranga Tamariki, faces multiple inquiries into the number of babies being taken from their families. “But a baby can die with a single punch, “the Minister continued. “So sometimes, Oranga ...
We're making progress on tackling the long-term challenges: from homelessness, to strengthening border security, to bringing banking back New Zealand's small towns. ...
Associate Transport Minister Shane Jones has backed the ambitious plan to move Auckland’s port to Northport, at Whangarei harbour, which he says will be the “King Kong of infrastructure”. The plan is part of the recommendations of a six-person independent working group, which has recommended the Ports of Auckland be ...
A six-member independent working group selected the option of moving Auckland’s port to Northport, in Whangarei, ahead of other options. In what could be New Zealand’s most ambitious infrastructure project yet, a major expansion of the Marsden Point port could happen within 15 years. The project, officially called the “Upper ...
The final Electricity Price Review recommended prohibiting prompt payment discounts but allowing “reasonable” late fees. The findings of this review was welcomed by the Coalition Government, but they hope companies will follow through with its recommendations without regulations needed to be passed. Meridian Energy had already stopped prompt payment discounts, ...
Fletcher Tabuteau, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF)through its skills and employment programme, Te Ara Mahi,will invest nearly $600,000 to ensure work opportunities for locals in Turangia and Whanganui, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau announced today. “I’m pleased to announce the PGF ...
An export-led economy is one of New Zealand First’s key principles, and our commitment to achieving this is shown by the continuing skyrocketing demand for our beef and sheep meat exports. Beef + Lamb New Zealand's New Season Outlook 2019-20 report forecasts beef, lamb and mutton prices to lift from ...
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today in Gisborne an investment of $17.27m into bringing “world-leading” food-growing technology and the creation of more than 100 new jobs in the East Coast city. The funding comes from the Provincial Growth Fund, and included a $15 million loan to LeaderBrand, a ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister for Regional Economic Development More than 100 people in Tairāwhiti’s Tolaga Bay will benefit from two employment initiatives supported by the Provincial Growth Fund, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones and Employment Minister Willie Jackson announced today. “Tolaga Bay is an incredibly tight-knit community, but one in ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister for Regional Economic Development The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) is supporting Gisborne business Leaderbrand to produce salad vegetables year round and create more jobs in the Tairāwhiti region, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. “Our support for Leaderbrand will help them build large greenhouses ...
“Nobody wants to see babies uplifted”, this was the pronouncement of Minister for Children Hon. Tracey Martin as her department, Oranga Tamariki, faces multiple inquiries into the number of babies being taken from their families. “But a baby can die with a single punch, “the Minister continued. “So sometimes, Oranga ...
Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has praised the promise by New Zealand’s biggest banks not to close any provincial branches while the Coalition Government trials regional banking hubs across the country. The Minister said the announce was the “first sign of hope for regional communities”, many of which have ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, New Zealand First Leader New Zealand First is proud to have delivered an upgrade of the SuperGold Card website and a new smartphone app, which will help unlock the full benefits of the SuperGold Card for 750,000 New Zealand seniors.Party Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters, ...
Delivering a key election campaign promise, New Zealand First is proud to have accomplished a long overdue upgrade of the SuperGold Card today. At an event in Auckland, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters joined Minister for Seniors Hon. Tracey Martin in unveiling the new website and smartphone app which ...
The Government today announced its support for a project that could substantially reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions from cattle. The announcement was made as part of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor’s visit to Nelson’s Cawthron Aquaculture Park. The Cawthron Institute will receive $100,000 from the Government’s ...
Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni has welcomed the first reading of the New Zealand Superannuation and Veteran’s Pension Legislation Amendment Bill. “Every New Zealander has a stake in New Zealand Superannuation and Veteran’s Pension,” says Carmel Sepuloni. “They are our most common form of social assistance – nearly 800,000 New ...
Babies in Auckland aged six months and over can receive a free vaccination and children will all have access to vaccines, Associate Minister of Health Julie Anne Genter announced today at Papatoetoe High School. The move comes as part of Government efforts to step up the fight against measles. ...
***Check against delivery*** Good morning. It is a pleasure to be here, and to have the honour of opening this important conference on behalf of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. Let us take the opportunity to acknowledge all the people who have helped make today possible, including our special ...
Police Minister Stuart Nash says the safety of frontline officers and members of the public will be the focus of a new trial of specialist Police response teams in three of our largest urban centres. Police have this morning released details of an initiative to be trialled in Counties Manukau, ...
The Minister of Fisheries is calling for entries for a new public award to celebrate innovation in our seafood sector. “I have established the Seafood Sustainability Awards to recognise and celebrate those throughout industry, tangata whenua and communities who demonstrate outstanding dedication and innovation towards the sustainability of New Zealand’s ...
Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter welcomes leaders in the private sector taking action on closing their gender pay gaps to ensure a fairer workplace for all New Zealanders. Ms Genter today launched a new report, Addressing the gender pay gap and driving women’s representation in senior leadership, from the Champions for ...
Government Ministers today welcomed the release of a marine environment report highlighting the four key issues affecting our oceans, estuaries and coastlines. The release underlines the importance of government proposals to combat climate pollution, ensure clean freshwater, protect biodiversity, make land use more sustainable, and reduce waste and plastic. Environment ...
The Government has approved funding for a new acute mental health facility for Waikato which will provide better care and support to people with mental health and addiction issues. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Health Minister Dr David Clark announced the $100 million project to replace the aging Henry Rongomau ...
The Government is making progress on its goal to integrate te reo Māori into education by 2025, with over 500 teachers and support staff already graduating from Te Ahu o te Reo Māori, Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis announced today. Kelvin Davis made the announcement at an awards ceremony in Waikanae today, for ...
Statistics Minister James Shaw has welcomed the first release of 2018 Census data. The first release of data today, 23 September, includes key data on population, regional growth, the number of homes and the size of different ethnic groups in New Zealand. Data from the 2018 Census will support the ...
Minister for Statistics James Shaw today announced a public consultation on a proposed algorithm charter for government agencies. The charter has been developed by the Government Chief Data Steward in response to growing calls for more transparency in government use of data. Computer algorithms – procedures or formulas for solving ...
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor, Climate Change Minister James Shaw and visiting Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte co-hosted a business roundtable in Auckland this morning focused on working together to address climate change. “The Netherlands is an important partner for New Zealand. We share a strong agricultural history. Sustainable agribusiness and ...
The Government is taking action to build an inclusive economy where more of us receive our fair share at work and businesses can compete on great products and services, not undercutting wages and conditions, Immigration and Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says. Two consultations launched today seek feedback ...
The future for New Zealand’s threatened indigenous freshwater fish looks brighter with the passing of the Conservation (Indigenous Freshwater Fish) Amendment Bill in Parliament today said Minister of Conservation, Eugenie Sage. “Until now, our freshwater fish legislation has been 20 years out of date. We have lacked effective tools to ...
At 1.30pm tomorrow, hundreds of thousands of Kiwis will join about 65 million people around the globe in ShakeOut, the world’s biggest earthquake drill. The annual drill is to remind people of the right action to take during an earthquake which is to Drop, Cover, Hold, and to practise their ...
Kiwis are benefiting from higher wage growth and low inflation under the Coalition Government. Stats NZ data out today shows the rise in the cost of living remains low, as annual Consumers Price Index (CPI) inflation fell to 1.5% in September from 1.7% in June. “The low inflation comes as ...
New Zealand’s economic strength and resilience has been recognised in a major update on the state of the global economy. The IMF’s latest World Economic Outlook released overnight shows a reduced global growth forecast over the next two years as issues like the US-China trade war and Brexit take hold. ...
Justice Minister Andrew Little has today introduced a new Bill to prevent terrorism and support the de-radicalisation of New Zealanders returning from overseas. The Terrorism Suppression (Control Orders) Bill gives the New Zealand Police the ability to apply to the High Court to impose control orders on New Zealanders who ...
A Bill that proposes targeted changes to simplify the processes for Māori land owners when engaging with the Māori Land Court has had its First Reading today. “The approach taken by the Government is to ensure that the protection of Māori land remains a priority as we seek to improve ...
Let me first thank all the new unionists and members in the room. There is nothing more important to improving people’s working lives than people making the decision to care, to get on board and help, to take up the reins and get involved. Congratulations to you. You bring the ...
Minister of Defence Ron Mark has signed a certificate exempting the activity of engine testing at Whenuapai Airbase from the Resource Management Act 1991. The Act gives the Minister of Defence the power to exempt activities for the purposes of national security. The certificate will mean the recent Environment Court ...
Finance Minister Grant Robertson has announced New Zealand will join the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action while attending APEC meetings in Chile. The objective of the 39 member Coalition is to share information and promote action to tackle climate change. It was formed in April this year, in ...
Feedback sought– Lyttelton commercial zone parking The Associate Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Poto Williams, is seeking feedback on a proposal to remove on-site car parking requirements for new developments in the Lyttelton commercial zone. The proposal, by Christchurch City Council, asks that powers under section 71 of the Greater ...
Hon Minister Poto Williams Associate Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration MEDIA STATEMENT Tuesday 15 October 2019 Feedback sought – Hagley Oval The Associate Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Poto Williams, is seeking feedback on a proposal about Hagley Oval. The proposal was developed by Regenerate Christchurch ...
Ladies and gentlemen, NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff, members of respective unions – thank you for the invitation to speak to you today. This might be preaching to the choir, but the importance of trade unions in New Zealand’s historical arch is difficult to understate. And it is my belief that ...
"Let’s start by acknowledging that it has been a huge year. " Police Association Annual Conference James Cook Grand Chancellor Hotel Wellington Nau mai, haere mai. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, ka nui te mihi, ki a koutou katoa. President of the Police Association, Chris Cahill; Members of the Association and ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters and Minister of Defence Ron Mark have announced the New Zealand Government’s decision to again deploy a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 (P-3) maritime patrol aircraft to support the implementation of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions imposing sanctions against North Korea. New ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says New Zealand continues to have serious concerns for peace and stability in north-east Syria. “Recent reports that hundreds of ISIS-affiliated families have fled from a camp are deeply concerning from a humanitarian and security perspective”, Mr Peters says. “While we acknowledge Turkey’s domestic security ...
Biosecurity Minister Damien O’Connor is warning travelling Kiwis to be vigilant as the high-season for the crop-eating brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is under way. “We’re on high alert to stop BMSB arriving in NZ. The high season runs until April 30 and we’ve strengthened our measures to stop stink ...
The Government is moving swiftly to change the law to improve the welfare and pastoral care of students living in university halls of residence and other tertiary hostels. Cabinet has agreed to several changes, including creating a new mandatory Code of Practice that sets out the duty of pastoral care ...
The Minister for Conservation Eugenie Sage has launched a new comprehensive trapping guide for community trappers to help them protect our native birds, plants and other wildlife, at Zealandia in Wellington today. ‘A practical guide to trapping’, has been developed by the Department of Conservation (DOC), and was launched during ...
Associate Health Minister Julie Anne Genter welcomes PHARMAC’s move to improve access to long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs). PHARMAC has today announced it will fund the full cost of Mirena and Jaydess for anyone seeking long term contraception, lifting previous restrictions on access to Mirena. “I welcome women having greater choices ...
The Government has approved the next stage of a major redevelopment of Taranaki Base Hospital, which will deliver new and improved facilities for patients. Health Minister Dr David Clark has announced details of a $300 million dollar project to build a new East Wing at the New Plymouth hospital. It ...
Extra funding will allow Rural Support Trusts to help farming families, says Minister for Rural Communities and Agriculture Damien O’Connor. “I know that rural families are worried about some of the challenges facing them, including the ongoing uncertainty created by the Mycoplasma bovis outbreak. “Those concerns sit alongside ongoing worries ...
Thank you for the opportunity to be here to present certificates to the 16 graduates who have completed a beekeeping course delivered by the Howard League. Let us start by acknowledging Auckland Prison’s Deputy Prison Director Tom Sherlock, and Acting Assistant Regional Commissioner of Corrections Northern Region Scott Walker - ...
Finance Minister Grant Robertson leaves this weekend to attend the APEC Finance Ministers meeting in Santiago, Chile. Discussions between APEC Finance Ministers at the meeting will include the effects of the current global economic uncertainty, risks for APEC economies and sustainable development of the region. While at APEC Grant Robertson ...
The Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio says for Pacific people, language can be a source of strength. It can help ground us and give us confidence. When we speak them, our languages provide us with an immediate and intimate access to our identity and our story - and ...
The Coalition Government has announced an action plan to improve the wellbeing of disabled New Zealanders by addressing inequalities in play, active recreation and sport. The initiative includes training to develop a workforce that understands the needs of children and young people with a range of impairments, advocacy for fit ...
The construction sector is being freed up to allow more homes to be built more quickly as the Government cuts through some of the red tape of the Building Act. “Every New Zealander deserves a warm, dry, safe home and old inefficiencies in the Building Act make building slow and ...
Highly trained, armed police are a necessary tool in emergency situations, but roving teams eager to find work could be a recipe for disaster, writes investigator and former police officer Tim McKinnel for RNZ. Police announced yesterday they are to introduce a trial of Armed Response Teams (ARTs) in Auckland, Waikato ...
“Proposals to curb environmental damage help our coasts and the oceans Government Ministers today welcomed the release of a marine environment report highlighting the four key issues affecting our oceans, estuaries and coastlines. We at CEAC also ...
David Robie, concluding his three-part series about Iran, profiles an extraordinary pair of Tehran brothers who have been pioneering global research adventurers. They have been dubbed the “Persian Indiana Joneses”. Their adventures are fabled and hair-raising, as shown by a Jivaro shrunken human head and relics from curious rituals ...
Four months ago Caroline Shaw bought an e-bike. She explains why they’re the answer to our lethal car culture.Four months ago we took what felt like a huge leap of faith and bought an e-cargo bike. The combination of three things tipped us over the edge: feeling the need to ...
The online magazine that boasted a bigger Instagram following than most New Zealand media has abruptly come to an end. So what was Auckland Mag? Why did it exist? And who was it mysterious founder Dan Rolph? David Farrier investigates. The reply from Dan Rolph at Auckland Magazine came quickly. It came ...
In the wake of the shocking revelations about Three, Duncan Greive assesses the health of New Zealand’s six big media companies.Winston Peters has studied the cold, pitiless heart of a certain strand of New Zealander for four decades now, and has become our foremost expert on both expressing its feelings ...
US justice reform activists Deborah Small and asha bandele say white supremacy and colonialism are at the heart of punitive drug laws. They spoke to Teuila Fuatai about how drug reform can reverse their effects on minority communities. Deborah Small sees Donald Trump as the US Dorian Gray. “He’s the physical ...
Madeleine Chapman spent a day learning about Christchurch through its most famous dishes.What is there do with with a day in Christchurch? Thanks to the inexplicably early check-out times at hotels all over the world and a 7pm flight back to Auckland, I had a full day to wander the ...
Winston Peters says his party is a handbrake on bad ideas and a "supercharged turbo" for good ones - but will it be in the driver's seat come 2020? ...
Our former prime minister secured a meeting with Chinese premier Xi Jinping outside all normal diplomatic channels. Interest’s Jenée Tibshraeny asks what it means for New Zealand’s evolving relationship with the superpower.Former prime minister John Key secured a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week without the involvement of ...
David Robiecontinues his three-part series about travelling in Iran. I stumbled on the scene by chance. Our host family in Iran’s second city Mashhad, a modern and beautiful metropolis that would comfortably fit in New Zealand’s entire population, was taking us on a drive to the outskirts to ...
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has lashed out at the media, in particular, MediaWorks, just a day after the company announced it was selling off its television arm. ...
About a hundred disgruntled licensed gun owners have descended on the New Zealand First conference to tell the party leader Winston Peters that they feel like victims. ...
New Zealand First members will vote on a policy today that would allow businesses of all sizes to enforce 90-day trials when they employ people straight out of prison. ...
"Each time she held her lighter underneath the pipe and sucked the smoke into the back of her throat, the promise was there": a New Zealand tragedy by Alice Tawhai. ...
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Open mike 09/11/2011 
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Grim but not unexpected, the latest Fairfax poll shows a Labour slide to 25.9%
Greens are the main beneficiary, up to 12.6%
National are steady on 52.5%
Apart from a miracle survival for Winston Peters the only logical balance to National’s power is United Future./a>
Probably just a rogue poll
Oh well Pet
Hmmm, what happened there?
What I meant to say was oh well Petey at least there is a silver lining. It looks like United Follicles and ACT are terminal and will not be back. Good riddance.
That’s exactly what I assumed you meant micky.
Weird but I started to type it, the WYSWIG kicked in, I then had to click in the window to type the rest and then posted but only the bit that I initially typed showed up.
I suspect you are a lot more worried than me Micky.
I’ve already achieved some of my goals. And I’ve set in place something that could make quite a difference in Dunedin. Even Labour people are supporting it.
Every realised opportunity on top of that is a bonus.
And I’m having a lot of fun too. I sense you’re not smiling.
smug little shit aren’t you pete
your head is getting so big I’m surprised you haven’t done your leadership challenge yet what with you being so influencial and all
I’m not after leadership, I’m just helping generate more interest in active politics in Dunedin.
that’s a pity pete because i would think you’d be a good leader of UF and you would have much more influence to present your ideas on the way to go.
and whilst i do think you are smug I don’t think you are a poo so sorry about that.
Waking up and down pinehill is as close as you will get
Hope you get the silver crown off Dunne when you take over leadership Pete…good luck and stay off the kronic when wandering the trails…you might get lost in the wilderness.
I’d be worried if I was the Nat’s, I wouldn’t want this next term, particularly as the biggest cheerleaders of neo-libealism.
Let’s say they win an outright majority, good luck to them explaining the implosions of their mantra as the depression really bites and anger really hits the streets.
Here is an Australian economist pointing out how Austerity is killing the Ozzie economy, which holds two warnings for us, the Ozzies upon who’s economy we rely is now on a serious slow down, secondly, responsible for this is a mantra of surplus, which is Nationals platform. Careful what you promise…
“Employment growth has been virtually zero for some months and other indicators of growth are faltering.
The ABS published the latest International Trade in Goods and Services, Australia for September 2011 today which showed the trade surplus (before invisibles) narrowing with exports falling on the back of declining terms of trade (so prices rather than volumes falling).”
http://bilbo.economicoutlook.net/blog/?p=16807
There’s another angle.
The right may well relish the prospect of reigning during a global economic crisis. That allows severe measures to be put through under the justification that the foul-tasting medicine is our only chance at economic survival.
Aka, the shock doctrine.
Too true, unless the shock is so great the can’t control it.
But I get your point.
I’m with Chris Trotter on the over-reliance on polls:
http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2011/11/no-time-for-instant-verdicts.html
I usually don’t comment on polls, however good or bad they look for the left. I just get fed up with the way the media focuses more on them than on a fair discussion of policies.
+1
I think the NZ MSM coverage of politics and elections has jumped the shark.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumping_the_shark
I agree, but like it or not the media control most of the narrative and have a large influence on what gets attention and what gets ignored. And they know their influence.
But they don’t always get it right, they have been caught out before by being too caught up in their own game to see what’s happening beyond their sphere. Elections are one time the voters take control.
Agreed re the media controling the narrative. If polls must be used, todays headline could have read;
Goff rapidly rising from 9.1 to 13.5 per cent in the preferred prime minister stakes!
And if they include the 14.3% undecideds in their overall result, National was selected by 44.9% of those questioned, so in no way does that support the headline that National could govern alone.
Fairfax media poll
Nats 52.5%
Lab. 25.9%
Greens 12.6%
Undecided a Whopping 14.3%
The poll may show a historic record breaking landslide to National is in the offing.
On the other hand there is a real possibility of their defeat as well.
If the undecided go with Labour and the Greens, it would make a total of 52.8%
So come on Labour where is that break through policy release we have been promised?
And no more non-promises
How about turning empty rhetoric about “Axing the Tax” and commit to reversing the increase in GST to 15% on immediate return to the Treasury benches.
How about a promise to seriously investigate an Financial Transactions Tax as a way of combating the fiscal deficit.
Come on Labour time to pull out all the stops.
With these poll results:
What have you got to lose?
Its a mistake to think that policies are going to win this election.
National is not polling at the 50% level based on its policies, or the lack of them.
You mean that you would like Labour to start their term by adding another $3B hole to the Government’s annual accounts?
But you’d have to suspect that a large portion of ‘undecided’ will remain undecided and not bother to turn up on polling day…
Yep. Labour’s chances go down if turn out is only 78% or 79%.
It goes up if turn out is 83% or 84%.
Turnout will be under 75%.
In a turnout scenario that low, Labour will get slammed.
Why do you think a low turnout would help National?
I would’ve thought that a lot of the people who wouldn’t turn out to vote are people who would vote Nation and think oh well National are going to win anyway no point me going down there.
Whereas people against National would have more incentive to go vote?
Don’t think so. I’m thinking that it’s going to be closer to 90%.
Actually I support the 15% GST. A tax on consumption is good (although regressive).
What I don’t support was the tax-switch that went to the top 10%.
If we’d had a tax package that put GST up to 15% and compensated those on the lowest incomes at 3x the rate that GST was supposed to rise on paper, we would be much better off.
In theory yes.
In practice those on the lowest wages aren’t paying enough income tax to make that adjustment without more of the clumsy employer subsidy WFF.
The answer is to get wages up, not meddle at the edges of the tax system.
I agree with more emphasis being placed on a consumption based tax rather than a personal income tax in principle, but realise it’s hard to implement GST as a significant proportion. Avoiding GST is the only national sport in this country to exceed rugby in popularity.
I don’t have a problem with a greater than 15% consumption tax in principle since it favors us being more resource efficient. And I appreciate the goals of lowering personal income tax, since it favors rewarding the efforts of the individual. And perhaps the only answer to fill the shortfall is a CGT tax, and more effort to stay on top of the freeloaders and loopholes.
Jenny
How the heck can you read a defeat in those numbers for National???
Jenny
So all 14% of the undecided has to go to national?
“but like it or not the media control most of the narrative”
Unless you’re under 30, they certainly haven’t controlled the narrative of the Global OWS movement, they have been ignored and circumvented by it.
It’s a changing world Pete, not by Nov 26th, but it’s changing…
Yes, but that simply leads to more headlines: ‘Shock Result!!’; ‘Voters Defy Polls!!’
All of which is just another step in the ‘create a story’ journalistic dance that passes for serious commentary.
I, for one, can’t wait to tick the box for Chauvel when I cast my vote in Ohariu. I’ve encouraged everyone I know to do the same.
The sooner we get rid of United Future and their “This garbage is not worth replying to” couldn’t-give-a-toss-about-anyone-who’s-not-like-me politics, the better.
If you don’t know what a callous and nasty piece of work Peter Dunne really is, you only need to read this: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0308/S00132.htm
I can’t believe you’d fall in line behind this guy, Petey. You might be doing some good, but the fact that you would consider a man so obviously missing any sort of empathy as a “leader” clearly signifies your inability to judge character.
Unguarded ‘honesty’ always gets them in the end.
Peter Dunne has some explaining to do.
So much for Mr Sensible/Reasonable.
Just do what I do. I ignore him, i don’t read any of his drivel, i don’t reply to any of his drivel. Means I save about an hour a day.
At last….. Thank God. After more than a decade and despite a change in US administration, and people’s high hopes for Obama, the Bush Doctrine is finally being challenged on the world stage by a major statesman.
Finally……
A major world leader who makes sense.
Sergei Lavrov, has served as Russian foreign minister since 2004.
“Iran exports about 2.4 million barrels a day of petroleum, of which China imports a little over a fourth.
Moreover, it would not be a good thing for anyone to have a global boycott (essentially a blockade) of Iranian petroleum, since that move would take the 2.4 million barrels a day off the world market and drive prices up to several hundred dollars a barrel.
So it just isn’t going to happen.”
http://www.juancole.com/2011/11/iran-looks-to-china-russia-to-break-out-of-us-sanctions.html
I noticed the latest Faifax poll totals out at 114.3%.
Its not clear,whether Nationals support is 52.5% or 52.5/114.3
If its the later ,this mornings headline that “More than half of people spoken to, prefer National” is not only misleading, its factually incorrect.
They haven’t counted the 14.3% undecideds.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/fairfax-media-poll/5931281/National-heading-for-outright-win
According to my calculatins if the undecideds are included, National is favoured by 44.99% of those questioned.
857-1000 people polled is not a very big sample.
Why don’t these polling pricks just announce Labour has dropped to zero support and be done with it? The Shark has been jumped alright.
Warning; anecdote follows: I was excluded from a telephone poll the other night because my age group quota was covered already apparently. I asked what if I was under 40 or 30 would there be space for me, the person said she could not tell me that, but after some cajoling said “probably” before ending the call. It is not just that the polls are bent it is the behavioural effect they have on some people. I have heard two people say they are not going to bother voting because John Key has it stitched up. Brilliant.
Then I suggest talking to them and disabusing them of that by pointing out that if they vote Jonkey doesn’t have it stitched up.
It’s not the size so much, but how you sample that determines the statistical rigour 😛
Looking at these polls the only kind of rigor is the dead and decaying kind
What kind of dickhead dumps a thousand legal-sized snapper?
Also, yet again a National minister (this time Ryall) has refused to front up on Radio NZ to debate his opposition spokesperson.
Oh well, at least it’s not anything important like the FUCKING HEALTH PORTFOLIO, right?
How many times is that? Is anyone in the MSM reporting this pattern?
It amazes me that so few Government Ministers front for interviews Felix. Especially the PM who only fronts to give statements but not interviews as he is “too busy.”
After all the fuss about the alleged affront to Democracy before the 2008 election there is silence about the affront to Democracy by the No-show Government MPs.
As a voter, I feel angry that I am being treated as a fool.
I feel that too, ianmac, and I reckon many others would too if they knew the contempt with which their govt is treating them.
But who’s going to let them know?
Ian / Felix,
Please understand no interviews will be given, only sound bites and definitely flattering photos (but only of the beloved leader)..
Word on the street re. health is that the plans for slashing are well under way
First Bill English’s little bro was brought in (on $400K p.a.) to scale down the MoH.
Second, the whole preventative sector will be deconstructed. They have already started the merging of ALAC and the Health Sponsorship Council.
Third, once upon a time we had 21 DHB’s, then we had 20 when Southland was swallowed up by Otago. There are strong signs that come June next year there will be a maximum of 14 DHB’s. It is interesting that one DHB has already announced the retirement of their CEO exactly at this time, and speculation has been rife regarding its merger with two adjacent DHB’s, so much so there is actually documentation with a logo kicking around.
Expect to see the private sector picking up more and more work, remember those ‘free visits to GP’s for under 6’s after hours’ are subject to cuts elsewhere.
‘I have heard two people say they are not going to bother voting because John Key has it stitched up. Brilliant.’
Just what they want TM – have they no go in them?
The left may not be victorious – heaven help us all but at least those out there doing practical stuff are helping the cause. Where would Labour have been in ’35 if they were not dogged in their pursuit?
Had cause for optimism for our Labour candidate as the National candidate was mercilessly heckled and booed at a meeting last week – maybe those on the sharp edge of things are starting to get a clue.
It’s not “if” but “when”. At some point the slumbering masses will wake up and realise they’ve been duped by the smiley snake. Retribution will be swift and savage.
Go Labour and the Greens just keep prodding and shaking those sleep-walking Kiwis there’s still time to wake them before the 26th. And when the tide turns just watch the MSM rush to scramble on board.
No they won’t, they’ll still talking up Jonkey as a Great Statesman and National as messengers from God. Same as they do now.
I don’t let people off the hook re enrolling and voting M, am involved with producing union election publications too. More people will realise pretty soon that they cannot eat aspiration.
Agree, the important group is the young; my daughter says she is voting Labour for the local seat and Green for party vote – as are many of her friends. We need to mobilise the young to protect their future.
The “National could govern alone” narrative depends on the exclusion of the undecideds, and even here, where they rate a mention, they are excluded from the calculation.
However the polls do not include those who have lost confidence in this country and have voted with their feet. To quote from the Herald article posted below: “(Dr Newell’s) research shows that New Zealand’s losses (to Australia) are higher among low-skilled and semi-skilled workers, including tradespeople, than among professional people, who benefit from New Zealand’s lower-than-Australia taxes on high incomes.
But almost half of the net loss in the past year was of people in their twenties and thirties, leaving a big hole in New Zealand’s working-aged population.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10764731
Let’s hope that many of these people are still registered to vote here, prefer policies that would make their home country more welcoming, and are able to throw a spanner into the works.
Today is the day that registered voters overseas can start to cast their votes.
That’s an interesting point, really.
There are lots of NZers that live in Australia. None of them ever show up in the polls these companies do, and yet they can cast special votes.
Israeli PM a “liar”. Says Sarkozy and Obama!!!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/08/sarkozy-obama-netanyahu-gaffe-microphone
Damn those press microphones.
That’ll be Mr.Mileikowsky they’re talking about.
After the discussion on the “invincibility” of National in the polls the Herald published this in relation to their Mood of the Nation.
“When the responses of youth voters (aged 18 to 24) are looked at in isolation, Labour has turned the tables on National, with the support of 46 per cent of young voters against National’s 29 per cent.”
Only a tiny sample but interesting.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10764668
The hard part is getting that segment of the population enrolled and voting, Ian. The point of the MSM’s meme of National strolling to victory is to encourage people not to bother voting because the election is a done deal. This is intended to become a self fulfilling prophesy; if the Herald et al can convince swing voters not to bother turning out to the booths, then National win by default.
Jim Anderton is a loser with a pathetic attitude
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10764687
No, it’s not a pathetic attitude.
The law is a dog. It needs to be tided up with some common sense provisions.
I assume you’re in favour of WhaleOil and others wasting police time with frivolous complaints?
Dosn’t Whaleoil just waste the Electoral Commission’s time. They are the ones who referred it to the police – wouldn’t have thought they would do that if they thought it was frivolous.
Getting it referred to the police is WhaleOil’s goal.
Something is not going right? National is calling in Nat helpers from as far away as 300kms to help with canvassing in Chch. Gives a lie to the polls.
National are getting desperate. Can feel it in the aura around their paid activists lately, someone’s cracking the whip real hard.
Um Christchurch is a Labour strong-hold. National only hold one electorate seat, Ilam. The voting there outside Ilam and Waimakariri tends to be 50-50 in other electorates or Labour outperforming National. Thus it makes sense for National to work harder in an area where they don’t do very well.
I just wish they gave more of a fight to Wigram. Because if you combine Labour’s vote with Progressives from 2008 you get a 2200 vote gap. If ever they’re going to take Wigram now would be a time. Its an electorate that is changing with a growing Asian influence. It shouldn’t be a left-wing cakewalk but at the moment it is.
I was trying to fathom this ‘Key at races makes women wet’ article and now it makes sense.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10764718
Nice helping hand for National’s party vote in Christchurch…
/vomit
he said as much by admitting he had a vasectomy.
Good to know them fillies cant get him to stand over them for stud fees.
They’ll be getting real busy then:
Although, I actually get more annoyed the waste of resources that is the temporary stadium being labelled as “good news”. Talk about getting the priorities completely wrong. Fiddling while Rome Burns seems to be modus operandi for this government.
The video is here.
And the spin has started.
It seems Johnny Boy did not hear the loudspeaker or notice the deathly silence amongst the crowd.
Ben Santer: Crushing the Myth of Global Cooling
Also: http://www.grist.org/list/2011-11-07-handy-image-shows-how-climate-deniers-manipulate-data
National’s Election Hoarding’s 11
“ACT have been very stable, so ACT returning to Parliament is something I’d like to see as opposed to something I wouldn’t like to see;” John Key said.
Does the with-holding that the ACT nod, indicate something? Key will only nod if he believes they really really need ACT. Isn’t that a bit contemptuous? Discard the voters if we don’t need them.
“I will only have a date with you if I can’t find anyone better.”
Anything to do with Don Brash dating anybody is simply wrong… Cringe!
John Key confesses to his role in destroying the global economy on breakfast TV
Enjoy!!!
Shot ev…good lookin out !
🙂
Memo “seanmaitland”
Some time ago now I refuted some remarkably foolish and ignorant statements you made about the running of the 2007 World Cup. You have for some reason (embarrassment, perhaps?) not replied.
To jog your memory, you can look over the débâcle of your attempt to disrespect French rugby HERE….
Helen & Mark, Cameron’s big society, great cause for inspiration for Key’s welfare policy.
These people committed suicide once they were denied their benefits, I guess it saves Cameron & National, on trains and gas…
Fairly major news just announced: Berlusconi resigns.
WAIT ON.
He said that he WILL resign ONCE new budget measures are passed.
Berlusconi ain’t going no where yet. That boy still has tricks up his sleeve.
Exactly – don’t believe it until it happens. He has more time to manipulate the ‘traitors’ who voted against him to voting for him the longer he stays.
major non news is that dimwit from the dompost tracy watkins crowing that kweewee and his gang re going to win th election outright.
in a pigs bum lady.
you might be stupid after too many rubber chickens legs and hi fat sosage rollsa t bellamys but the public aren’t.
The Nats have just announced they are going to further slow down the introduction of the ETS. This will further blow out their deficit.
Why don’t they just take it out back and shoot it in the head to put it out of its misery?
Here’s the ideal Tory to wield the gun, Mickey:
National Party candidate calls own party policy a ‘con’.
Another rouge Fed. Farmer it seems, replete with the usual dubious weaselling disclaimer:
…
McKelvie’s none too bright. He made the papers (and got labelled by David Farrar as ‘stupid’) for putting his election signage up earlier than the local council by-laws allowed. That’s the council where he’s currently mayor. D’oh!
I’m also told that he said at one electorate meeting that he would not campaign in the north of the Rangitikei electorate because ‘they’re all poor, maori or both up there’.
So in other words he’s one the old boys representing National’s true blue roots, which wouldn’t be complete without being a racist and treating the poor as shit…
A different attack, this time Gareth Hughes on Labour. The Dom Post has just had a Live Chat with the Ohariu candidates. Hughes carefully phrased round Labour in relation to their electorate support arrangement, but closed off the chat with a poke at Labour’s filibustering. Hughes versus Chauvel.
wow pete geroge. thats really scintillating prose to say that Labour is going to open a big can of whipass on the hairdo that dunnit hides behind.
lololol
The number of articles appearing on Stuff today that talk up National and talk down Labour makes me wonder if the righties are running a little scared.
“Whale Oil blogger Cameron Slater has been denied leave to appeal his convictions for deliberately breaking court suppression orders. ” -The Court of Appeal
So that is that.
Please tell me he will go to prison, please tell me he will frequently drop the soap?
now you’re sounding like crushless collins.
Slice of asset sale profits to go to irrigation – National
So, selling state assets now produces profits? Anyone got any actual data to back that up? Because I’m pretty sure, once we take into account inflation from the time the assets were built until now, and revenue loss we won’t be seeing any profits from selling them. What we will see, under proper accounting, is a massive loss.
MANA PRESS RELEASE
9 NOVEMBER 2011
Copy of the Open letter sent
9 November 2011
Kia ora Ross,
Challenge to public debate
I’m writing to challenge you to a public debate in the Manukau East electorate at any time up till the last day of campaigning – although the sooner it takes place the better for voters to consider the issues before polling day.
I decided to stand against you in this electorate because in the time you have been the MP the people of Manukau East have gone backwards with low-pay, high unemployment and endemic poverty.
I taught in this electorate for over 10 years and have seen so many Maori and Pacific families struggling to maintain their self-respect and dignity in the face of the awful social impact of the economic policies of Labour and National. Yet in all your time as MP I can’t recall a single occasion when you have spoken out strongly for the most vulnerable people of your electorate.
For example while I was teaching at Tangaroa College from 2000 to 2004 the number of Pacific Island families in severe hardship increased from 16% to 30%. You were the MP and Labour was in government but you were silent.
It seems that throughout your time as an MP you have collected a big salary, eaten your lunch and become patron of several sports clubs – what else?
In the last few days I’ve been reading the Statistics Department quarterly income survey and found that (adjusted for inflation) the last three years have been even more disastrous for Maori and Pacific families who make up the majority of people in your electorate.
The median income for Maori from 2008 to 2011 is nearly 16% lower – they are $86 a week worse off. For Pacific Islanders it is even worse – they are over $100 a week worse off.
You weren’t in government then Ross but that’s no excuse for remaining silent while your constituents suffer. You are their MP. It seems to me you have used these people as voting fodder to give you a politician-for-life lifestyle.
The statistics for pokie machines, liquor outlets and loan sharks are also appalling – the parasites on poverty have been active in the electorate but you have been inert. Have you ever raised your voice above a whisper on any of these issues?
I was with one of your constituents a couple of weeks back and she said to me “Ross is only good for a cup of tea…” I can see no evidence to think otherwise.
It seems you have been missing in action for 20 years Ross.
These are the issues I want to raise in public with you and give you the opportunity to respond in public. The people of this electorate deserve to hear you speak out on your own behalf for the dreadful situation you have remained silent about for 20 years.
I will make myself available at any time and any place within the electorate for the debate. Please contact me or my campaign manager as soon as possible to make appropriate arrangements.
I wait to hear your positive response.
Regards,
John Minto
List MPs should be ordered on the
number of votes they attract, so
removing the gift giving of party
power brokers. Would Garrett have
won any votes once his child
idenity fraud came to light?
Greens have too much freedom to
choose who is on their list.
Remove the 5% rule, remove the
one constituent MP rule.
Strictly proportional representation,
you win an MP (and they did win an
electorate) then the MP comes from
the MP of that party with the
highest vote. So if Banks gets the
highest vote of ACT MPs, he would
be first on the list even if he
lost Epson, but ACT got enough
proportion of the vote.
We vote for a list but not the individuals on it unless they are in an electorate, and many do not compete in them. In some of the STV systems voters get the chance to rank the lists too. Ireland I think is the most noteable (but I may be out of date there).
My poitn was, keep MMP but order list MPs according to how many votes
they got. This would turn list MP into local MPs who have an interest in
their constitutiences.
Just happened on this Editorial at the Manawatu Standard and well said Warwick Rasmussen.
Great to have a byline.
Agree about the response from spectators at Leaders Debates is based on responses to slanging.
And the weird nature of poll focus perhaps being used to steer voters or even create a partisan climate.
Good work Warwick.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/opinion/5914516/Editorial-Slanging-match-cheapens-election
In celebration of our movie makers 😀
John Key gets interviewed by an expert!!!!!
Just flicked onto Close Up tonight and surprised to see the unsmiling Mike Hoskins interviewing (!) John Key!!! (I bet John thought he would get the soft touch from Mark Sainsbury.)
But no! Immigration to Australia and advantage of Australia over NZ and how it is not really an issue to Key. But Mike says to Key you cannot deny it. The facts are there.
End of interview. Key mask drops. He looks off camera right and does not look to be a happy chappy.
Not up yet on Replay but wonder if it gets pulled for “technical reasons.”
Here it is. Very good cover.
http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/091111-wed-video-4516959
More specifically:
http://tvnz.co.nz/close-up/john-key-returns-fire-over-aussie-exodus-video-4516961
Did you notice the Key face in the last 3 seconds?
I think that he was on the back foot and worked hard at his usual defence, ” Lets take a step back and look…..”
Yes but note how the item is headlined in glowing terms for Key…
The eyes! Those lying eyes! It’s more obvious on the link you provided, Ian, there’s a second more before the cut at the very end. Shifty as.
I wouldn’t call it “shifty” so much as worried. Key knew that his lies hadn’t been bought.
” Lets take a step back and look…..” 4 times – structure and position the conversation so that people feel they are removed from the stance originally taken whilst trying to see it from a veiw that is in your favour.
He (jonkey) spent quite a lot of that in interview trying to deny the real numbers and inserting his own made up ones like the BS that wages have increased when, in real terms, most incomes have actually gone down.
Key keeps using that ‘after tax’ figure.
So, his solution to the wage gap is to eliminate all income tax? That would create some interesting fiscal consequences just to claim achievement of what was clearly empty electioneering rhetoric in 2008.
He admits as much when he talked in the interview as if ‘closing the gap’ is (and was?) a ‘silly idea’. As Hoskings said, ‘so you didn’t believe in the Task Force when you set it up?’.
It would have been good to know that he thought it was really silly when, three years ago, he was standing in empty rugby stadia and fronting billboards with planes flying to Australia emblazoned across them.
Now here’s an interesting headline:
“National’s moderate approach to emissions scheme”
I remember the editor of The Press once explaining, in response to a letter to the Editor about a supposedly biased headline, that the headline wasn’t biased because the wording acknowledged that the offending words were from a quote of a politician by having scare quotes around the phrase.
It turns out from the article that “moderate approach” were John Key’s words. Unacknowledged. No scare quotes.
He might call it “moderate” –
I’d call it “less than useless”.
Looks like the jug is at the boil and the doilies are being laid out.
Anyone for a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party?
here is the beef in the wairarapa. the assets will be sold to pay for a water retention and storage scheme in two locations, upper and lower on the ruamahanga.
the deal should be that the state tenders out the bid and then cuts a deal with the operator rather than shift investment wholesale and let valuable income streams escape from the country.
that is nationals policy.
you know its okay and will probably go ahead but it should have been in the public debate long ago instead of released under what I suspect was intense pressure to make it public.
that is what national has become.
they prefer secret deals rather than good old fashioned public debate.
Why patents needs to be reviewed and/or abolished
Because they’re seriously getting in the way of innovation and being used to reward people and companies for work that they didn’t do.
I’ve been going to electorate meetings.
Interesting to see the amount being thrown at the Nat candidate. Asset sales top of the list (the mixed ownership line was followed by the whole hall chanting “sales”), followed by the debt lies (we’ll spend it on this or maybe that), then “when is the minimum wage likely to be increased we’ve been waiting 20 years”, too many in prisons, education national standards, why the bene bashing? and the last few questions were on local or smaller issues. This was a packed hall in an upper income suburb, SES 10, and I really don’t think the Nats had 52% of the hall or anything near that.
Any chance of electorate meeting reports from elsewhere?
At the Remuera election forum tonight there were five candidates.
Here’s everybody being reminded that Brash should really be standing in Epsom but few would vote for him. Banks on the left:
http://i40.tinypic.com/1zdyr1v.jpg
Banks had to put up with the Brash photo in front of the lectern for 18 minutes:
http://i40.tinypic.com/23ralx3.jpg
until Banks could stand it no longer, and he chucked the picture of his leader out the back:
http://i41.tinypic.com/2nc17au.jpg
Great photos
They say a picture speaks a thousand words! A decisive moment or 3!
awesome photos jaymam
that photo of brash is scary
John Banks holding his leader Brash by the hair:
http://i42.tinypic.com/350s6ye.jpg
Feel free to publish these photos elsewhere!
classic 😆
thanks jaymam , will do
So , out of the five, one is obviously Banks, who are the others?
Here are all the Epsom candidates:
http://i41.tinypic.com/2duy2rb.jpg
From left: Pat O’Dea (Mana), Paul Goldsmith (National), David Parker (Labour), John Banks (ACT/National), the convenor, David Hay (Green) (speaking), Don Brash (ACT/National) (photo only due to his absence)
May I say that David Parker was outstanding, and would make an excellent and popular Labour PM.