How’s the Dearest Leader polling? Fantastic, only he had to flip flop 360 degrees on his ‘NZs foreign trusts practices are legit-stance, move on, nothing to see here’ to saying he’ll appoint an independent expert to review the policies.
John Key wanted his legacy to be to leave New Zealand with a corporate logo as its flag that would announce to the world that New Zealand Inc. was open for business.
How did the dream go so wrong?
John Key’s real legacy is to make New Zealand a safe place for corporate criminals and wealthy tax dodgers to hide their money.
“We found pedophiles in the data, people, bad people, really bad people. We found mafia figures. Not just from Italy, but from Japan from America from everywhere, and they were convicted people.”
…..criminals involved in drugs and human trafficking generated the greatest amount of illicit funds.
But the criminals who had set up trusts in New Zealand were more likely to be involved in large-scale cartels, corruption and professional “trade-based” money-laundering.
One New Zealand trust has already been associated with Unaoil, a Monaco company under investigation for helping multinationals bribe oil ministers and officials in the Middle East.
…….Prime Minister John Key had said the OECD had “looked at our foreign trust rules in the past and had no concerns”.
Labour leader Andrew Little said an OECD report published in 2013 showed that was incorrect.
And Little is saying he thinks the debate about the UBI is a likely factor in Labours drop.
That doesn’t surprise me at all. All of you who rushed to turn the UBI into a trojan horse for wealth re-distribution can take a bow.
“Three years ago National led Labour by 7% in the ONCB poll. Today it is a 22% lead. Do Labour really think they are on the right path?”
Not only did Labour fall by 4%, but Peters is now at 10% for preferred PM, versus Little on 7%. He is simply failing to connect with traditional Labour voters, and showing no signs of winning back the center.
Free education and money for all failed, so where to now?
And when did Andrew Little support a UBI? Your answer does not add up, it seems you are spinning. A lie, even. How could anyone who supports national not tell the truth? Or twist things for their own political ends.
Quick turn the Nintendo back on, or Nessalt will come up with some comment to hate the poor with. Or tell us greed is good.
And your obvious lack of understand of what a UBI is – shows. Do you want a napkin, as you seem to be dribbling all over the keyboard?
Adam, you poor deluded sack of shit. obviously with no one to love you, you have decided to turn your vitriol to those who don’t care. annonymous commentators on the internet.
Either you really are the human incarnation of slowpoke, or you are a troll, here to make the mad left look even madder.
Hmmm, no. it means a universal benefit. obviously taking it is optional. Seeing as you plan to sting me 50-70% of my earnings to pay for it being universal, i’m going to take it however. as will all. as that’s what happens with these things.
weka, back to spinning for labour as if his sad life depended on it.
I’m not surprised at your smug hateful rant, you could try to be at least a wee bit funny with it.
Like pulling your phallus out and comparing sizes, I pretty sure at this point – mine is way bigger than yours. Or maybe you could try exercising a modicum of dignity when jumping in on a comment stream. Too soon?
Again – what is a UBI? Apart from the obvious paranoid delusions you showed when ranting at weka. That mode of crazy not-happy freaking about mythical tax rates. The Fox News porn star, who only has time for themselves. Ever wondered why we call your ilk, RWNJ?
Or are we going to get back to picking on people by calling them crazy, you seem good at that. Like kicking the poor when they are down. Bet you not so secretly hate single mothers, and absolutely love section with 70a.
I’d be amiss Nessalt to leave out that I have much love in my life. That is just one the joys of being a Christian, and a person who works for and in the community. I see self indignant wreaks like you all the time, give up the hate son, and let love into your heart.
All this supposes that the poll is not a complete fabrication.
There have been an abundance of scandals since the flag debacle – by selective questioning it’s perfectly possible to pretend that the flag had no effect on Key. But the people in Key’s own camp who deserted him over this issue are significant – even if they don’t show up in a fake statistical vehicle designed to attack Andrew Little. They’re taking a second look at Winston and saying ‘God I hate him – but he’s better than Key.’
But it’s the TPP that has really dented John – and it won’t go away as the costs are up front and the supposed benefits won’t kick in till 2030. When Key brays about his surplus this year, and borrowing reaches $150 billion to support the fiction even Key’s clowns will be starting to notice the gilt paint is flaking off their little tin pot dictator.
Given that the poll – with no measures of accuracy – was immediately weaponized by the MSM to attack Little’s leadership – we need not regard it as anything but a fascist ploy.
One might just as easily have constructed a story about the Gnats dumping Key for his involvement in illegal and dishonest tax constructs – and it would have no basis in fact either – this generation of Gnats being crookeder than anything outside of prison, neither dishonesty nor tax cheating trouble them at all. But they trouble the public.
Better that the MSM publish polls without comment and leave the speculative attacks to scum-sucking vermin like Farrar and Slater.
In the more than fifty years that I’ve been following NZ politics my landline has never been polled. Selective much? And who polices neutrality = no-one.
There is a measurable political opportunity just lying there for any pollster unscrupulous enough to simply lie through their teeth.
How sure are you that labour voters where asked and in which numbers.
I had a look at the breakdown of the poll, and guess what it does state nowhere that the questions asked where answered by selfidentified labour/national/nzfirst/green voters, they were answered by voters. They might all have been National/ex conservative/exact/expeterdunneparty/exmaoriparty voters. you would actually not know.
all the poll says is that of a sample of 1000 people polled on a landline on a monday 7% preferred Little. 39% said they preferred JK – that would have both of them down compared to the last poll and 10% said winston, a full 13% gave no answer.
And Little is saying he thinks the debate about the UBI is a likely factor in Labours drop.
Nope, hasn’t been long enough and the majority in a NZHerald online poll of people actually supported it. Same as it hasn’t been long enough for National’s inaction and probable culpability on the Panama Paper to make a change.
All of you who rushed to turn the UBI into a trojan horse for wealth re-distribution can take a bow.
The UBI isn’t about wealth redistribution – capitalism is as it redistributes the nations wealth to the rich.
So the likely coalition of opposition parties is within a couple of percent of the government over a year out from the election, and nz1’s gains in the rural electorates seem to be pretty solid.
But in most little tories I’ve known, a firm handshake and confident outlook is often used to compensate for actual achievement or skill. Nothing new, really.
just like how he said that the post-1996 election govt wouldn’t be a national government.
And actually, he’s only 2% off the balance of power. I’m sure he’ll get that in rural votes after a few more months of fucked milk prices.
He mightn’t be part of an ‘opposition coalition’ at the moment, the question is whether he’ll be part of a government coalition after the election. And he can see which way the wind is blowing, and it’s away from Key.
But then, you’re a pointless mouthpiece sucking off the current regime, so whatever…
You have noted Winnie and Don Brashes recent romance McFlock?
You are aware of his stance on Maori/Treaty issues?
You have heard what he has said about the Greens financial policies?
And you did get his firm denial last week that there would be any kind of shared platform between NZF and The Labour/Greens last week?
And at this point he wouldn’t even be needed by JK…..
If that’s a wind blowing against him, then that straw you are clutching must be a log.
What’s JK’s preferred pm rating again? 39%? Didn’t you bastards used to keep saying it was around 60%? Try that wind on for size. Or you can choose to focus solely on Labour’s results and pretend it’s a two-horse race.
The relevant comparison isn’t between Key and Little, it’s between Key and the National party’s polling. The former, going by this poll, is at 39%, not enough to prop up the latter if it heads even slightly south. Key is no longer in a position to boost National’s polling greatly. His fortunes hold or crumble with those of the party, not the other way around. This poll is in the realms of “too close to call”, not a comfortable win for National.
FPP would be another story altogether McFlock. Going by the electorate seats results at the last election, The Nats would be governing alone with a massive majority, and heading for the same situation next time around…..
That’s why I was a very early and energetic campaigner for the move to MMP.
At that stage I was convinced that MMP would destroy the Nat’s. If you’d told me then what the situation in 2016 would be I would have never believed it….
There is still 28% that think unions taking money from low paid workers so highly paid Labour party politicians don’t need to spend their own money campaigning. Wow, lessons from history are completely ignored by that many people ?
We are all suffering except the 1% and that’s why 50% of us would vote for the Neo Libs Nats to stay in power, and another 35% would vote for parties that will only tinker slightly with the current paradigm.
It must be so frustrating to be one of the few who know the real truth, and yet not be able to open the eyes of the poor stupid masses who lack your powers of perception!
What can be done in a world so full of easily deceived idiots eh?
Honest John skewered by Guyon this morning. Honest John, preferred PM, riding high in the polls sounded like he was choking on his own tongue. Obviously lying through his teeth, his speech was virtually indecipherable. So he has had money in a blind trust in Singapore, divulged when questioned closely, with a nervous titter, but dodged any further questions in the same vein. All the rest……. don’t know, haven’t been advised, have to ask IRD, etc, etc. The man is a shameful horror.
It just doesn’t fly that we have a PM who so readily and repeatedly tells us that he knows nothing about so much. So what is it that he does know that he’s hiding ?
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 7.2.1
He worked in Singapore. His employer had a super scheme. It is a trust. So, he has an interest in an off shore trust. But I’m not sure why we need to get excited about that.
It’s Key’s MO – secret trusts and tax evasion are his hallmarks. You’re right there’s nothing to get excited about yet though – but it’s not because Key isn’t a crook, but because the proof hasn’t surfaced yet.
Of course, as a far-right tr0ll, you’re comfortable with crimes of dishonesty, drug-dealing and paedophilia, but these are not qualities that most kiwis consider desirable in a leader.
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 7.2.1.1.1
No. Blind trusts are set up by politicians so that they do not know what their assets are invested in. In this way the decisions they make are not impacted by the assets they own.
Why shouldn’t he participate in his employer’s super scheme? Is this rule going to be applied to everyone?
No. Blind trusts are set up by politicians so that they do not know what their assets are invested in. In this way the decisions they make are not impacted by the assets they ow
No. Blind trusts are set up by politicians so that they do not know what their assets are invested in. In this way the decisions they make are not impacted by the assets they own.
SO how can he say this
he had never used sheltering vehicles.
“I’m quite comfortable and very confident of my tax record,” he told Radio NZ.
It’s Key’s MO – secret trusts and tax evasion are his hallmarks.
Remember Mike Williams was tipped off a few years back about something dodgy involving Key and during the course of a visit to Aussie he did some digging. He didn’t find what he was looking for, but you can be sure there’s plenty of evidence of dodgy deals etc. somewhere. Sooner or later something is likely to emerge from the Panama Papers that will leave a clue as to the whereabouts of this evidence.
If Labour want to prove they have what it takes they will throw everything at it when the time comes. Winston Peters owes much of his longevity to the Winebox papers. He never gave up, and I’m one of those who admired him for his tenacity. So, come on Labour… stop being shrinking violets and show some guts.
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 7.2.1.1.2.1
Hahaha. The Singapore employer’s super is a deliberate red herring that is meant to distract. JK offers that up and, well, of course, that will be found to be kosher but not others that will remain hidden and not disclosed.
“David Cameron will have a humiliating public grilling
Shamefaced David Cameron faces a public grilling over his personal tax affairs amid questions about a second secret stash of shares worth £72,000.
The under-fire Prime Minister will make a humiliating statement to Parliament after his tax returns showed he secretly sold off another huge tranche of shares in 2010 alongside the £31,000 stake in his dad’s offshore fund.
Downing Street is refusing to say which other investment funds or private firms the PM held a stake in – and if any more of them were based in dodgy tax havens.
On RNZ news this morning , the PM, when questioned about would he be prepared to declare his tax details to the public like David Cameron had just to let the people know he didn’t have any dodgy deals, he said “he certainly would not do that”. He has always tried to explain that the Government Spying Agency isn’t harmful if you have nothing to hide. Well, this explains it quite plainly, that the PM has tax matters that are dodgy and he does have something to hide. You can’t have a bob both ways. The whole situation stinks to high heaven and how on earth he still gets high ratings in the polls stinks too. They have to be rigged, nothing else for it. We may be stupid in NZ but nobody is that stupid that they could keep voting his popularity so highly, unless we are a nation of crooks and enjoy wallowing in the corruption that is going on. I just hope that the Government isn’t going to be the one to set the Terms of Reference for this “so called” enquiry the PM says he “may” set up. Beggars belief.
He certainly will tell is his pissing in the shower habits but not his money habits. One of these things is not like the other…. nothing to hide, right?
Although I reckon what he fears is the public reaction when the charity to which he donates his salary is revealed. He’ll have the other stuff covered.
He will always be able to fudge his way through an investigation into his own affairs but he should RESIGN for the major part he played in introducing a law that isn’t in the interest of NZer’s, and is harmful to the functioning of our society due to lost tax revenue.
The poverty that tax dodgers create around the globe is criminal. Our PM is complicit in preventing tax funds going to the people that need it most. While poverty increases in NZ so does the wealth of those not paying tax in our country.
Stand Down Key.
And a song to go with it. Apologies for double posting
Nicky Hager, if you looking on please, we need you. Get in touch with that international consortium of journalists and start doing your thing. You have your notes and computer back, this country needs you badly right now. Keep safe.
don’t think so and i think the last line of the article gives it away.
‘The case is under strict name suppression MAINLY TO PROTECT THE GIRLS.
Mainly….meaning also to protect the alleged offender, and any public body the prominent NZ’ler may work with?
In Scottish law they have a verdict of ‘not proven’. This indicates that ‘we know very well you’ve done something, but the evidence is insufficient thus far’. NZ culture is more Scots descended than English.
Bain – the police involved should be sacked they screwed up so badly – There’s a precedent in NZ law about circumstatial evidence that should be taken as disproved when there’s an abundance of physical evidence that fails to support the case. Christchurch creche thing was probably worse in terms of actual lack of evidence.
hang on stuart..
“the police involved should be sacked they screwed up so badly “,
you aren’t suggesting that violence travel up the hierarchy, are you?
as happens time and time again, responsibility isn’t for the rich or powerful.
Depends on if permanent name suppression is sort and granted. That probably depends on how the jury rule, the sentence, and if leave for appeal is requested.
Key to Parliament: We will wait to join international coalition on trusts
Woodhouse to media: We will wait to join international coalition on trusts
Key to RNZ: We may appoint an independent expert
hmm…….backdown? For Key and Cameron a week in politics is….
Perhaps we could also look at other trusts, like say Aldgate & Whitechapel.
The Right do fear Little – even now Key and Donghwa Liu will be cooking up some piece of tripe for their MSM toadies to stick on Little like the Liu letter on Cunliffe.
We should prepare something similarly discrediting for the traitor Key – if his trusts don’t provide conclusive evidence of criminality before the election.
You forgot all it needs is for labour to go far left and then all those flexible center voters will go with them as they just don’t want national lite, likewise the missing million will get out to vote, The CV and Paul doctrine
Not true at all – Labour only needs to return to the centre – where the moderate centrists like Bernie Sanders, Paul Krugman and Robert Reich are.
I still think we should have a few far lefties though, to put the fear of God and gulags into career criminals like Key, Shipley, Talley and yourself. With greater roles, greater responsibilities – Stealing public assets is ample reason to incarcerate an MP for life without parole.
National have previously been informed by both the IRD working party AND were also warned in the OECD report in 2013…..but obviously saw no need to heed that advice as things were operating exactly as intended
Its been reported that there are unlikely to be many Americans who have used this Panamanian law firm because they have plenty of dodgy companies of their own they can use.
Yes, ask the hard questions mate. If hoping some how linking John Key to Panama papers is Labour’s winning strategy, I can’t see Labour returning to power for at least another two terms. This is the kind of attitude, tax and spend policies have driven former Labour voters like me away from Labour. Still they won’t learn and that is the sad part.
[BLiP: Concern trolling – plus assuming that The Standard is involved in Labour’s strategy. VERY close to a ban. Moved to Open Mike.]
[lprent: Add your handle in some form when moderatimg please. Good call otherwise. This twerp ticks all of the boxes for a stupid concern troll. Personally I’d have just banned him/her for their parrot stupidity. ]
This is the kind of attitude, tax and spend policies have driven former Labour voters like me away from Labour.
Nope .. you’re a National party voter. They’re the natural home of sociopaths who parasite on the ‘tax and spend’ the rest of us normal people are happy to pay as the price of ‘civilisation’.
Nope .. you’re a National party voter. They’re the natural home of sociopaths who parasite on the ‘tax and spend’ the rest of us normal people are happy to pay as the price of ‘civilisation’.
QFT
National works on the principle that money should flow to them and their rich mates from the poor and set up the economy to do just that.
That’s what the Panama Papers are – proof of theft by the rich. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Being rich is, essentially, proof that you’re a thief.
See, I actually know how to become rich and it’s got nothing to do with me working hard and everything to do with me taking from as many people as possible. It comes down to the saying: A little bit here, a little bit there and pretty soon your talking serious money.
The rich steal little amounts from everyone to become rich. We used to call it usury and banned it but the powerful bribed the pope to allow it back a few centuries ago and now we’ve got a society that based almost entirely around theft.
This has to be the funniest comment of the day (sorry Adam)
“See, I actually know how to become rich and it’s got nothing to do with me working hard and everything to do with me taking from as many people as possible.”
Now Helen Clark has teamed up with Key for her tilt at the UN’s top job.
That must rankle.
It’s not just Key endorsing Clark. It’s Clark endorsing Key. They are now a team who talk and strategize. They are Richie McCaw and Dan Carter after the top prize.
Labour under Clark was disciplined, cohesive and competent. Labour under Clark won three elections and the trust of middle voters. Little is the fourth Labour leader since her departure and the party still lacks the drive and traction she provided. Labour appears unfit for Opposition, let alone Government.
That last line by itself is gold: Labour appears unfit for Opposition, let alone Government.
Careful fender, Puckish Rogue loves rolling around in his own mud.
The fact of the matter is it’s been a bad few weeks for this national government, and the only option the have is to lie. And of course they will reach for the big lie.
Funny I don’t know anyone who takes rodney hide seriously after his abuse of the public purse.
And truly odd, that act party hacks taking the led, must be the national party know they can’t front anything – otherwise they will look like the lying cretonnes they are.
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 23.2.2.1
Oh look, we have a PM who lies, and PM who likes to pull young women hair,a national party that lost a referendum, a national party who reaches for corporate money, a national party who aids and abets criminals. A national party who is happy to rip apart this country for power. A national party who are happy to keep on hurting the poor.
But I’m wrong, because you can produce a poll of people – who will vote.
Grow up The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell, it’s like talking to a two year old. The world is a bit more complex that your one liners.
Keep up the sneering, the smugness and the putting down of all who question that the self interested in this country do not speak for us all.
Keep believing that creating a divided nation is good for your children, and your children’s children.
If the polls mean anything – that to many of the people who support this national government, are self interested and self absorbed to the point of being amoral. Or let me put that in much simpler terms.
To many people who support this national government are but the tools of the deceiver.
So much irony in one comment there adam. you spouted off seven one-liners, then told ole gormy to grow up and not spout one-liners, Then spouted off 5 more one line slogans.
learn the difference between to and too as well, it makes reading your gibberish more painful than it needs to be.
Yes absolutely Labour is going well and National is doing poorly (according to Labours internal polls which are never, ever published) so whatever you do not change what Labour is doing.
Andrew Little just needs some more time for the voters to get to know him…
If nothing else works, again with the big lie ah Puckish Rogue. Everyone one on the standard is a labour party supporter.
Grow up.
The opposition is made up of a few parties, just in case you missed what a parliament looks like in M.M.P democracy.
So in the real world, the opposition is not just labour, and the next PM may not be the leader of the labour party.
I’m a lefty who says you and your ilk can’t stop lying and face the hard truth. You have lost the support of the majority of the population, and that was a while ago. The labour party have not picked up that support, and as an anti-authoritarian democrat I’m happy about that also.
It’s not a world of your simplistic spun duality Puckish Rogue, and when ever you grow up and face that reality – I look forward to having an adult discussion.
“If nothing else works, again with the big lie ah Puckish Rogue.”
– You don’t quite seem to grasp that , for John Key, it is working, it is working, really, really well.
“The opposition is made up of a few parties, just in case you missed what a parliament looks like in M.M.P democracy.”
– Yes, the parties that have let John Key win three elections so far and looking good for a fourth
“So in the real world, the opposition is not just labour, and the next PM may not be the leader of the labour party.”
– NZ under MMP is still strongly influenced by FFP thinking and if Labour ever want a sniff of power then they need to well above 30% come election time otherwise they’re going to be subjected to the will and whim of Winston Peters
“I’m a lefty who says you and your ilk can’t stop lying and face the hard truth. You have lost the support of the majority of the population, and that was a while ago. The labour party have not picked up that support, and as an anti-authoritarian democrat I’m happy about that also”
– I can say that until John Keys lose an election then the majority do support him
“It’s not a world of your simplistic spun duality Puckish Rogue, and when ever you grow up and face that reality – I look forward to having an adult discussion.”
– That you seem incapable of understanding the political realities of NZ leads me to suggest that: pot, kettle, black
– I can say that until John Keys lose an election then the majority do support him
That is a lie. Out right, are you saying that every one not voting supports this national government?
– That you seem incapable of understanding the political realities of NZ leads me to suggest that: pot, kettle, black
Thanks for proving my point
– You don’t quite seem to grasp that , for John Key, it is working, it is working, really, really well.
So you are happy for our society being destroyed, and the poor being ground down. And the culture of greed and naval gazing wins.
But again, you frame things to suit yourself. And don’t answer my questions so are you working for the deceiver? Or do you just worship him?
– NZ under MMP is still strongly influenced by FFP thinking and if Labour ever want a sniff of power then they need to well above 30% come election time otherwise they’re going to be subjected to the will and whim of Winston Peter
What does the sentence even mean? Gibberish or a new lie?
That is a lie. Out right, are you saying that every one not voting supports this national government?
It’s a vote for the status quo, otherwise you’d be out voting.
There’s one other little Mossack Fonseca connection in New Zealand, not obviously connected to foreign trusts, that will get special attention in a forthcoming post.
@Adam – in order to redistribute wealth we need to get the super rich to pay their share. This is very important stuff. If the left keep going after the declining middle class for taxes then they start voting right. By identifying that the super rich and in particular foreign super rich and/or criminals are using our laws to hide money under a law Key directly passed himself, then it does two things.
1/ identifies Key is one who is for the 0.001% and to help foreigners hide money in NZ
2/ Finds unpaid taxes from the super rich 0.001% and then can redistribute back to ripped off Kiwis.
How about a Law, like for drugs where those found profiting from their ill gotten gains gets all their assets seized by the government? Would love to see Key and co’s wealth given back to the people he stole it from.
At least we can pretty much guarantee that Little, Cunliffe, Turei and Shaw will not have foreign ‘trusts’ and tax havens in their past! They are honest politicians!
Don’t think we can say that from Key, Mitchell and Collins and probably most of the rest of the National party.
So saveNZ, getting back to what I said – can I ask what you are doing to organise people to either be opposed to this? Or are you organising something else, part of anything else?
I agree, it’s happening in NZ, and this national government have become overt enablers. It happen else were, but quite frankly I’m more interested in people’s needs. Like beds, food and healthy roof over their heads. I find this a distraction, we should let legal minds fight out. Whilst we work on improving things.
Let’s see, 36% of NZers voted for national, half of that is 18%… you reckon that we have a government like this even though the proportion of tory scum in NZ is less than one in five?
Fairly bleak worldview, that – we’re all slaves to the most manipulative, sociopathic, small-minded fifth of the nation…
You’ve convinced me with your argument, you should contact all left wing MPs to get the message out and tell it to all that:National voters are poor-hating tory scum
It’ll cause a huge upswing in the polls for the left for sure
Personally, I reckon only about a quarter or a third of the country are fuckwits, but at least that means that our system is vaguely democratic. You’re the one who argued that we have a tax-haven-making, waterway-shitting, resource-stripping, carbon-puking, poverty-bludgeoning government of sociopaths and [details suppressed by the courts] despite the majority of people who voted for those pricks being quite nice and normal.
Tell you what: if the nats campaigned honestly on their policies of stripping NZ resources for sale overseas, watching NZers die young, and leaving what remains as a toxic wasteland, then the Left should campaign on the slogan that anyone who votes for the nats is a selfish, stupid piece of shit.
I’ve no idea what the polls would be, but at least the only bullshit will be in our waterways if you pricks win again.
Poor Puckish Rogue, do you not like being called a Tory scum bag. Who has no empathy, nor any compassion.
And you are lying again Puckish Rouge, where is that majority of New Zealanders who voted Tory? I see no overwhelming Tory mandate by society.
Tory is what Tory is Puckish Rouge, I can’t be held responsible for the utter lack of humanity, or just plan decency of the people they elect. That when you hurt people by being ideologically rigid – I get to call you scum.
But go on, no doubt you will frame the debate away again…
Last week I observed John Key on a visit to Hamilton where he spent time in a very posh retirement home.
The interesting part of the visit to me was the reception he got from the cleaning, catering and carer staff. It ranged from delighted to rapturous, with one of the carers giving him a hug before he left.
Key made a point of talking with the cleaners and cooks showing what seemed like genuine interest and friendliness and patiently posed for selfies.
It was a bit like a visit from a rock star.
What is the secret of his appeal? When he left everyone was smiling and excitedly telling about what he had said to them.
I consider the Hawthorne effect may have a bearing on this. While various summaries of it differ, I think its main results arise from the aspect of having friendly interest taken in people who are workers in unrewarding jobs. This interest gives them pleasure and a rare feeling of respect and affirmation and is received enthusiastically.
Google heading –
What is Hawthorne effect? definition and meaning http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/Hawthorne-effect.html
Definition of Hawthorne effect: Observation that employee motivation is affected as much or more by recognition and show of concern, as it is by improvements in …
You’re assuming Bea Brown’s anecdote is true but, just for fun, lets assume it might be. In that case, I tend to agree; it will be some sort of manifestation of social ill-ease rather than any kind of display of affection or respect for John Key. It might even be as simple as the staff enjoying a few moments away from their duties, a brief respite from the drudgery of their zero-hour minimum-wage situation.
It is almost half way through National’s third term, so it is useful to compare it to the same poll halfway through National’s second term.
In April 2013 National was at 43% and Labour 36% – a 7% gap.
In April 2016 National is at 50% and Labour 28% – a 22% gap.
This is the lowest Labour has been since the election, and also the highest National has been. And taken after the flag referendum which Labour were convinced would damage National, so they opposed change against their own policy. Nice outcome guys.
Key Little is also at 7% Preferred Prime Minister. This is the lowest for a Labour Leader since May 2010. He is now 3% behind Peters.
Labour said in December 2014 their aim was to be polling at 40% by the end of 2015. It’s April 2016 and they’re in the 20s.
If I was a Labour MP, I’d be asking what exactly do they think will change in the next 18 months, so it isn’t a repeat of the last 18 months?
This is the third time today you have harped on about polls. Really, who cares. Only one poll counts, and yes your mob won the last one.
But in the mean time they don’t mean jack. Unless the Tory scum are on the ropes, then you and you ilk come on here, and write post after post, saying how wonderful Key is because of some poll. Forget, the flag loss, forget poverty, forget enabling criminals. It’s all about a bloody poll.
Polls are to the public relations spin doctors like yourself, just another avenue to make stuff up, and do what you do best, lie.
The last three ones you mean 🙂 actually the ones who do come on here are quite consistent, we come on here when Nationals up and when Labours down and vice versa
For the last 8 years its mostly been the former of course
Wow, can’t give the PR consultant Puckish Rogue an inch ah, or they will winge a mile.
And let me repeat, this is not a labour party web site, and are you that dumb you can’t see the difference?
I mean all day, and for some time now, the way you talk it’s all about labour and national. Are you that stupid, or do you not understand the left is a bit more divergent than that?
We get you are a part of a group who lies. Thanks Frank for the great article by the way.
Ahh Adam I admire the way you ignore the difficult (ie Labour sucks and Labours the largest left wing party in NZ so when they suck it makes it harder overall for the left to gain power in an MMP environment) and instead focus on the less important
You know the listener just had a piece expounding the virtues of eugenics recently? It is a magazine which these days is just odd. And that is the nicest thing I can say for it.
Puckish Rogue with his war fetish, his stereotype debasement and indifference to refugees, and his hard line support for the drug Alcohol is a keyboard warrior of the worst type.
When I look at what he supports with all its misery, damage and death I rate him on par with a pedophile….. I may get a ban for this statement but it is a 100% honest assessment of the regard I hold him in……. based on his own posting history that I have read.
Him gloating over a poll is the least of his sins but typical of his personality .
Everyone can enjoy the fact they are not a puckish rouge …..
Although BM and others do try to be as gross, idiotic and dishonest on occasion ………………..
I think they come to The Standard because they like being annoying arseholes and their sort are a dime a dozen over at kiwisewer or whalesoil so they don’t stand out there.
Dang you would think that such outpouring of love and admiration of dear leader is captured on film (or what ever the digital equivalent) and shown to the fawning masses on telly, and printmedia
Question: Was an appropriate amount of roses, undies and ponytails thrown at the stage?
The sewer seems to be morphing into a white supremacist site with commenters linking to the reactionary musings from the alt-right touting race realism.
It is true and could easily be verified. I was a bystander with no involvement at all.
Don’t we want to know the secret of his appeal?
The carer who hugged Key was almost in tears, he was so happy and overcome. It was moving to see his emotion.
I don’t think we can keep on saying these people are stupid, dumb slaves.
Even in Dubai last year a hotel chef told me when he found out I was a NZer that our PM John Key had stayed there and he had gone out of his way to speak to many of the staff who looked after him and everyone liked him. This was far away from NZ and any political pay-off.
Until we understand Key’s appeal, we cannot possibly defeat him.
Hurling insults at me or him or one another gets us nowhere.
Most unusual. The Herald online is publishing heaps of stuff about murders, sport, Labour and the poll etc. But surprisingly, there is nothing that I can see about Panama, Trusts or Key blustering around. S’pect the Key edict to CEO is drop it!
Except for Mike Hoskings Radio live interview.
Unbelievable. Had to check for myself. On the site’s front page, click-bait about Posh Spice’s thighs merits a higher ranking than any political story.
Bea, some people have an uncanny knack of walking the walk and talking the talk, Clinton was another one who had smooze oozing out of him. Its automatic to them but its hardly a sacrifice what they are doing, nothing these people do is out of the goodness of their hearts, believe me there is motive behind it. It’s not in their DNA to actually do good things and not expect payment of some kind. The PM from the moment he wakes up is “playing to the crowds” – he adores admiration, sucks it up like a neglected child, ever see him walking the Matakana Markets – he is like royalty itself, waving and smiling – its his life blood – he needs it like oxygen. He is a Leo for God’s sake – look up what their personality is like – they have to be the centre of attention to survive, pity his poor missus is I what I say – how she fits in his life I have no idea.
But, he is as cunning as a weasel and lies like a stoat, everything he does has motive behind it – he desperately needs a legacy, he couldn’t survive without having good things written about him in history books – he is an attention seeker and a fraud. A hollow man, the poor sods in the retirement home probably thought he was a super star. They wouldn’t have a bloody clue what he gets up to. Very sad really, they probably all live in rented homes, on low wage rates and long hours and up to their hocks in debt, slaving away with difficult clients to manhandle into bed each night. Be sorry for them they don’t know any better. He has nothing to show for his life’s work so far whatever the adoring crowds think of him and he is dangerous to our country.
The higher they elevate the greater they fall – it never fails.
Apologies Rosie, but some Leo’s certainly like being the centre of attention, I have known a few of them in my life time. Social animals and crave attention – you may be the exception so once again apologies.
Lols, no apologies. I don’t think I’m in on the astrology anyway. According the zodiac map at the Aotearoa Henge in Carterton there are 13 signs, not 12. The designers of the henge believe we’re a bit off with our astrological signs.
The poll in question. Frankly i don’t know what the excitement is about. 1000 people were polled. Not really a huge sample. And again only People with Landline got the pleasure to answer. Most of the phone calls were conducted on a Monday, so I would guess that a lot of working age people were not the ones that answered. Which makes this sample of the NZ public a very small segment of the population.
National as a Party is up, but then all their allies are down. These voters are not likely to swing to Labour in the first place, and I think that the ACT/Conservatives/Peter Dunne Party (as far as mentioned in the Poll still at 1%) voters have to go somewhere. I am not venturing a guess with the Maori Party(also at 1%) members, as I can see them spread throughout the political landscape should/if/when they desert what is currently the Maori Party.
However John Key, Dear leader is down a 1%.
And up – are the undecided/confused/wont answer by 2%, now up to thirteen.
So for those that want to say that John Key is at 50% approval, sorry he ain’t. The National Party is, he is at 39%.
I also have an issue with only Landline polling as about 20-25% of the population by now would only use Mobile. (the consensus stated somewhere 80+% use of landline in 2013 and the trend is decreasing Landline use). Only calling Landline also has a fair chance of over polling a certain segment of the population, mainly those with properties owned, older and generally speaking more conservative vs Mobile phones only use seem to indicate a younger and a more transient population).
Consider as well the sampling error +-3 and frankly this poll is where the last one was.
National not moving, Labour/Greens/NZfirst shifting – especially that the same poll last month had the Greens at -4%. Are we really to believe that the Greens would just shave 4% of its voter base from one month to the next? Cause the Green Voters that I know are rather committed and would not switch to another party.
So as i said elsewhere, i need more meat on my poll. This one is the same as the last one. But it delivered the Headline needed, namely that the Flag Change did not affect the PM. How convenient for the cowardly run away PM – holidaying in Hawaii is so much more pleasant then to to answer any question re the Flag Change, the money squandered, the opportunities squandered.
Really, not worth the fear of those that despair with John Key and not worth the elation of the John Key 101st keyboard brigade.
actually no, there are a lot of things that not well with labour, and i know that.
but i will not pull my hair, clutch my pearls and bang my head for a poll that is essentially meaning less without a bit more information.
And considering that we have people here complaining about lack of information either way, either the media is too liberal or it is too rightwing, make of that what you want, i think we can all agree that having good information is something we all value.
So no I am not going tp bury my head in the sand just because there is another poll that buries the Labour party.
What you guys forget in all of that is that Labour alone will not form a government. Full stop. Right here. And you know what, it does not have too either. Welcome to the World of MMP were one or several parties can form a government.
All Labour has to do is stay steady, develop some good policies, and form a working and functioning coalition with the other opposition parties and a victory for National might not be so casually gained.
To me the poll results are such where National has to have a huge majority as it seems it has lost all its coalition partners for 2017. Having your supportive parties trending at 1% simply can’t be good. And while 36% are form him, 64% are against him. An uphill battle you may say. 🙂
All the while Labour, The Greens, NZFirst and maybe even the Maori Party could very well work out a coalition / support agreement and form a decent enough government.
And for me that is good enough. I rather have a left/centre left coalition government than another several years of the gruel we are having currently.
Winston calls for a royal commission on the foreign trusts but we get from Key ,one man as competent as he may be, the point is that govts since 1988 are responsible for this .Therefore a royal commission should be called to do this job .For one reason so we can watch the amount of money all this is going to cost but I fear Key has eroded the powers of royal commissions since he has been PM, ie I believe there is enough in Dirty politics to warrant a royal commission but we didnt get that. Key is always finding ways to short circuit in depth inquiries that will tie up his govts speedball processes but its ok to waste shit loads of time on a fuckin flag change
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. ...
Chris Trotter writes – MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. The data is from February this ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications:Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
Chris Trotter writes – The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three. ...
Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blogIn 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
Citizen Science writes – Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
Karl du Fresne writes – There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
David Farrar writes – The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time.A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Māori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
The Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
Changes to minimum wage and benefit indexation means many New Zealanders will get less this year, as the Government gives a big tax break to landlords instead. ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research. “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
In apparent defiance of the Biden administration, the Netanyahu government has now initiated missile strikes against Iran. Last Saturday night (Sunday morning in New Zealand) Iran launched more than 300 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles against Israeli military targets. With the assistance of US, UK and possibly French forces, ...
Māori representation brings a perspective that encompasses not only the interests of Māori communities but also a broader, holistic approach to environmental stewardship and community well-being, principles deeply embedded in Te Ao Māori (the Māori ...
This week in Auckland, a group of young people took over the microphone at a ministerial press conference, to explain why they oppose the Fast-Track Approvals Bill. One young woman said, ‘We’re here because we love Aotearoa New Zealand. We want to raise our children in an environment that’s thriving, ...
The summer was wonderful. Evie was wonderful, too; finally a teenager, finally worthy of long, hot days. She shaved her legs for the first time and bought cut-off shorts from the op-shop that made them look long. She got a Warehouse singlet so tight on her new shape that her ...
When Thomas James was on his solo camp as part of Outward Bound, the keen outdoorsman didn’t find it too challenging, as others often do. In what might just be the perfect illustration of his character, he saw it as a great opportunity to solve a few problems. “I thought, ...
From the unstable and drippy to the hi-tech and pretty, here’s our ranking of all the tunnels you can drive through in this country. The first tunnel seems to have been built in 2200BC in Babylonia, kicking off a global phenomenon for digging holes in order to get places more ...
Lucinda Bennett on the art of being greedy but resourceful. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. When I picture the market, it is always this time of year. Crisp air, dripping nose, counting coins with cold fingers. Sunlight pale, filtered through specks of dew still ...
Zoë Colling’s favourite piece in the ‘That’s So Last Century’ collection is a lubrication chart for a sewing machine from the ’60s. It’s about the size of a postcard, and carefully maintained. “I like it that this piece of ephemera highlights that manual and technical side of the skill involved ...
Kia Ora Gaza A passionate haka reverberated through Auckland International Airport as a medical team of three New Zealand doctors received an emotional farewell from a big crowd of supporters before flying to Turkey to join the international Freedom Flotilla to Gaza. The doctors, who left Auckland yesterday, hope to ...
With submissions closing today, Macassey-Pickard says groups around the country have been supporting a huge range of people to make their submissions. ...
Our response to the new legislation is informed by targeted conversations with practitioners working in the system and through an implementation lens. ...
The new ‘Fast-track Approvals Bill’ would give just three Ministers the power to approve or deny development projects. They would avoid the usual checks and balances that are in place to protect rivers, land, the ocean, and communities. ...
COMMENTARY:By Eugene Doyle Helen Clark, how I miss you. The former New Zealand Prime Minister — the safest pair of hands this country has had in living memory — gave a masterclass on the importance of maintaining an independent foreign policy when she spoke at an AUKUS symposium held ...
The government's released the list of organisations provided with information on how to apply - just hours before public submissions on the bill close. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Before climate change really got going, eastern Australia’s flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range. But that’s changing. Now ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Finkel, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University Sia Duff / South Australian Museum In February, the South Australian Museum “re-imagined” itself. In the face of rising costs and inadequate government funds, CEO David Gaimster, who took the reins last June, declared ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, School of Allied Heath, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University, La Trobe University This week, Collingwood AFL player Nathan Murphy announced his retirement, brought on by his concussion history and ongoing issues. The 24-year-old’s seemingly sudden retirement, ...
The Mental Health Foundation provides support and resources for those facing the loss of their job, so it’s wrong in the very week the Government adds another 1000 jobs to its tally of cuts, that this is happening. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/Sydney Theatre Company Decay, terror, revulsion. These are three of the central themes of Thomas Bernhard’s rarely performed play The President. The Austrian is one of the greatest ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ye In (Jane) Hwang, Postdoctoral Research Associate at School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock You’d be hard pressed to find any aspect of daily life that doesn’t require some form of digital literacy. We need only to look back ten ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says threats by ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour to reform or close down the Waitangi Tribunal were “ill-considered”, as legal experts say the ministers may have breached Cabinet Manual conventions. “I think those comments are ill-considered and we expect all ministers to actually exercise good ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Newton, Professor of Exercise Medicine, Edith Cowan University Pexels/RDNE stock project You’re not in your 20s or 30s anymore and you know regular health checks are important. So you go to your GP. During the appointment they measure your waist. ...
A new poem by Evangeline Riddiford Graham. Mitochondrial Problem I. It was long drive to Kansas for the man and his dog but you have to understand he said She doesn’t fly. Which calls to mind not carsick shitting barking or whining but a dog who chooses not to as ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)Hot off the press, this debut ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Wajnryb McDonald, PhD candidate in Criminology, University of Sydney Less than 24 hours after Ashlee Good was murdered in Bondi Junction, her family released a statement requesting the media take down photographs they had reproduced of Ashlee and her family without ...
Chief executive Shaun Robinson said it has not had any government funding cut, but government-funded contracts have not kept pace with rising costs. ...
The Ministry of Health has delayed the release of its evidence brief on the safety, reversibility and mental health and wellbeing outcomes for puberty blockers. While we wait, Julia de Bres speaks to those with firsthand experience. Best practice gender-affirming healthcare is based on trans people’s self-determination and agency. The ...
Barcelona’s city streets have gone from traffic-clogged to pedestrian-friendly. How? Superblocks. Ellen Rykers explains. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week I read a great interview with renowned urbanist Janette Sadik-Khan by The Spinoff’s Wellington editor Joel MacManus: “You can reimagine streets, ...
Student groups ‘Climate Action VUW’, Schools Strike 4 Climate and VUWSA will be on the street in Wellington today, the last day for submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, with a message that the fight against the Government’s ‘War on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sofia Ammassari, Research Fellow, Griffith University Since 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity has grown exponentially – and so has the formidable organisational machine of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These two factors will be key to delivering the BJP a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Professor of Education (Adjunct) & Senior Manager (BCE), Charles Sturt University During COVID almost all Australian students and their families experienced online learning. But while schools have long since gone back to in-person teaching, online learning has not gone ...
Yes, they’re better for the environment. No, that’s not a good enough reason for me to use them. Once every 26 days or so, my period arrives, and if struck by an act of God, I am caught red-crotched without products. How, after 17 years of this, do I still ...
“It will cause significant harm to our environment and communities. It is completely at odds with New Zealanders’ relationship with nature and our need for a low-carbon, sustainable economic future." ...
The Chair of the National Maori Authority, Matthew Tukaki, has warned a Parliamentary Select Committee that fast-tracking legislation is a perilous practice that undermines the core tenets of democracy, transparency, and accountability. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Tenbensel, Associate Professor, Health Policy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Since coming into power, the coalition government has adopted a simple but shrewd see-how-fast-we-can-move political strategy. However, in the health sector this need for speed entails ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Hronis, Clinical Psychologist, University of Technology Sydney Darya Sannikova/Pexels Whether you’re watching TV, attending a footy game, or eating a meal at your local pub, gambling is hard to escape. Although the rise of gambling is not unique to Australia, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Wong, Forrest Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Have you ever wondered if there are more insects out at night than during the day? We set out to answer this question by combing through the scientific ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carol T Kulik, Research Professor, University of South Australia IR Stone/Shutterstock In Australia, it’s not the done thing to know – let alone ask – what our colleagues are paid. Yet, it’s easy to see how pay transparency can make pay ...
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is sounding a warning to migrants, that running foul of the law may see them leaving the country prematurely. ...
The government’s plan to get 50,000 people off jobseeker support by 2030 has had a rocky start, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Beneficiary numbers are up – and so are ...
Raglan Roast is a staple of Wellington coffee culture. But with five branches across the capital, which one is the best? I am a die-hard Raglan Roast fan. It’s consistently the most affordable cafe in Wellington, and one of the only places you can get a coffee after 3pm. So, ...
Residents of University of Auckland halls are being urged to withhold their accommodation fees from May 1, in a bid to force the university to take student concerns over rent hikes seriously.The University of Auckland is facing a strike from students over the cost of on-campus accommodation. The Students ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 19 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Opinion: With maths understanding at 42 percent for Year 8 students, there’s no doubt something has to be done. But how? The post Financial literacy should be on all of us appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Hineaupounamu ‘Missy’ Nuku has been scaling mountains in Canada for her college basketball team, the Lakeland Rustlers. Alberta is currently home for the 20-year-old point guard, who is in her first year of a scholarship at Lakeland College, where she is studying for a business degree. She has certainly made ...
New Zealand and the Philippines have signed a new maritime security agreement and stated their concerns over activity in the South China Sea, as Chinese vessels continue to flout international law. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Philippines President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos committed to signing a Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement by ...
The thousands of government “back-office” job cuts are causing widespread pain in the capital city. In today’s episode of The Detail, we speak to three journalists and a think tank researcher, looking at the larger picture around the cuts and what effect it will have on Wellington, a city that’s ...
Opinion: The famed American architect and urban designer Daniel Burnham once said, “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood!” Burnham wouldn’t have been referring to the transport plans in Aotearoa New Zealand over the past five years; projects so big they hadn’t the credibility to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra When ASIO boss Mike Burgess delivered his annual threat assessment earlier this year, he stressed the rising danger posed by espionage and foreign interference. “In 2024, threats to our way of life have surpassed ...
The Tribunal had called on Minister for Children Karen Chhour to provide evidence at an urgent inquiry into the repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By T.J. Thomson, Senior Lecturer in Visual Communication & Digital Media, RMIT University Midjourney image by T.J. Thomson As more than half of Australian office workers report using generative artificial intelligence (AI) for work, we’re starting to see this technology affect every ...
John Key needs to immediately board a jet for Malta to explain to the people there that New Zealand is not a tax haven.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/europe/78760843/new-zealand-link-to-panama-papers-row-in-malta
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHJymLCET9I
And preferably never come back.
We now have a reputation among world’s scumbag multimillionaires as a soft touch easy-go tax haven
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11620120
Hows the left polling?
How’s the Dearest Leader polling? Fantastic, only he had to flip flop 360 degrees on his ‘NZs foreign trusts practices are legit-stance, move on, nothing to see here’ to saying he’ll appoint an independent expert to review the policies.
One of the ‘world’s scumbag multimillionaires’.
Great definition for Key.
John Key wanted his legacy to be to leave New Zealand with a corporate logo as its flag that would announce to the world that New Zealand Inc. was open for business.
How did the dream go so wrong?
John Key’s real legacy is to make New Zealand a safe place for corporate criminals and wealthy tax dodgers to hide their money.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHJymLCET9I
Ahh.. The polls are in.
Dear leader is taking a review to parliament.
Good job this isn’t an issue that needed swift action.
I suppose this is what happens when a manager rather than a leader is running the show.
“Lets keep that review narrow and with a fellow tax avoiding crony who is linked to the Labour party. ”
“Excellent suggestion PM.”
Yup. The polls are in.
Thought the Flag was the beginning of the end for JK?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/78754432/national-support-hits-50-per-cent-labour-and-little-fall-in-new-poll
And Little is saying he thinks the debate about the UBI is a likely factor in Labours drop.
That doesn’t surprise me at all. All of you who rushed to turn the UBI into a trojan horse for wealth re-distribution can take a bow.
One should read the comments under ones link, before one puts a link would be my guess.
Scathing of poll much?
Then a odd up down thumb ratio as well.
Seems to me when you are doing propaganda – unless you do it well. It comes across as a bare faced lie.
Can I understand this, adam? You rely on comments on the poll as more accurate than the poll itself?
It’s no wonder the Left is completely fucked.
No, not what I said.
What I said was if your going to do propaganda you had better do it well.
Which I failed at myself I see, as you have spun it to suit yourself.
Does this sum it up?
“Three years ago National led Labour by 7% in the ONCB poll. Today it is a 22% lead. Do Labour really think they are on the right path?”
Not only did Labour fall by 4%, but Peters is now at 10% for preferred PM, versus Little on 7%. He is simply failing to connect with traditional Labour voters, and showing no signs of winning back the center.
Free education and money for all failed, so where to now?
You don’t get out much do you Ben, nor read other posts?
I get out a lot, and read other posts. What’s your point Adam?
So where is it written that Andrew Little said money for all?
UBI.
Try and keep up.
UBI how in your head did that become money for all?
And when did Andrew Little support a UBI?
Do you understand what the U stands for in UBI? “Universal”, which means for all.
Was Andrew Little not floating the idea of a UBI? not policy of course. just floating it.
And when did Andrew Little support a UBI? Your answer does not add up, it seems you are spinning. A lie, even. How could anyone who supports national not tell the truth? Or twist things for their own political ends.
Quick turn the Nintendo back on, or Nessalt will come up with some comment to hate the poor with. Or tell us greed is good.
And your obvious lack of understand of what a UBI is – shows. Do you want a napkin, as you seem to be dribbling all over the keyboard?
Adam, you poor deluded sack of shit. obviously with no one to love you, you have decided to turn your vitriol to those who don’t care. annonymous commentators on the internet.
Either you really are the human incarnation of slowpoke, or you are a troll, here to make the mad left look even madder.
Please enlighten us with what you think a UBI is.
“Do you understand what the U stands for in UBI? “Universal”, which means for all.”
Universal in UBI means that everyone is eligible for financial support when they need it. It does not mean ‘money for all’.
Hmmm, no. it means a universal benefit. obviously taking it is optional. Seeing as you plan to sting me 50-70% of my earnings to pay for it being universal, i’m going to take it however. as will all. as that’s what happens with these things.
weka, back to spinning for labour as if his sad life depended on it.
None of the models I have looked at give money in hand to everyone. Please link to the model you are referring to that does.
My comment isn’t making a point about Labour. Don’t tell lies about me or my views.
Nessalt,
I’m not surprised at your smug hateful rant, you could try to be at least a wee bit funny with it.
Like pulling your phallus out and comparing sizes, I pretty sure at this point – mine is way bigger than yours. Or maybe you could try exercising a modicum of dignity when jumping in on a comment stream. Too soon?
Again – what is a UBI? Apart from the obvious paranoid delusions you showed when ranting at weka. That mode of crazy not-happy freaking about mythical tax rates. The Fox News porn star, who only has time for themselves. Ever wondered why we call your ilk, RWNJ?
Or are we going to get back to picking on people by calling them crazy, you seem good at that. Like kicking the poor when they are down. Bet you not so secretly hate single mothers, and absolutely love section with 70a.
I’d be amiss Nessalt to leave out that I have much love in my life. That is just one the joys of being a Christian, and a person who works for and in the community. I see self indignant wreaks like you all the time, give up the hate son, and let love into your heart.
All this supposes that the poll is not a complete fabrication.
There have been an abundance of scandals since the flag debacle – by selective questioning it’s perfectly possible to pretend that the flag had no effect on Key. But the people in Key’s own camp who deserted him over this issue are significant – even if they don’t show up in a fake statistical vehicle designed to attack Andrew Little. They’re taking a second look at Winston and saying ‘God I hate him – but he’s better than Key.’
But it’s the TPP that has really dented John – and it won’t go away as the costs are up front and the supposed benefits won’t kick in till 2030. When Key brays about his surplus this year, and borrowing reaches $150 billion to support the fiction even Key’s clowns will be starting to notice the gilt paint is flaking off their little tin pot dictator.
with comments like that i’m going to buy shares in tin foil manufacturers.
On another note, good to see you not threatening violence today. back on the meds? doctors do know best you see
Given that the poll – with no measures of accuracy – was immediately weaponized by the MSM to attack Little’s leadership – we need not regard it as anything but a fascist ploy.
One might just as easily have constructed a story about the Gnats dumping Key for his involvement in illegal and dishonest tax constructs – and it would have no basis in fact either – this generation of Gnats being crookeder than anything outside of prison, neither dishonesty nor tax cheating trouble them at all. But they trouble the public.
Better that the MSM publish polls without comment and leave the speculative attacks to scum-sucking vermin like Farrar and Slater.
I know that as a RWNJ you’re preternaturally stupid, but current technology doesn’t allow anyone to reach through and kick your worthless ass as yet.
All this supposes that the poll is not a complete fabrication.
Have a lie down.
In the more than fifty years that I’ve been following NZ politics my landline has never been polled. Selective much? And who polices neutrality = no-one.
There is a measurable political opportunity just lying there for any pollster unscrupulous enough to simply lie through their teeth.
Perhaps Key setting up NZ as a tax haven for rich criminals and other people just like himself has made him more popular in the polls ???????
Or perhaps they were taken before the latest revelations about dishonest john and the type of laws he actually makes on our behalf.
Personally I think key is walking on a tightrope made slippery with his own shit on this issue ……… I hope he does not slip 😉 .
I also think that Mark Mitchell could be his next ‘go to expert’ and fill the role vacated by his other expert Mike Sabin.
I see great things for national this term …………………..
How sure are you that labour voters where asked and in which numbers.
I had a look at the breakdown of the poll, and guess what it does state nowhere that the questions asked where answered by selfidentified labour/national/nzfirst/green voters, they were answered by voters. They might all have been National/ex conservative/exact/expeterdunneparty/exmaoriparty voters. you would actually not know.
all the poll says is that of a sample of 1000 people polled on a landline on a monday 7% preferred Little. 39% said they preferred JK – that would have both of them down compared to the last poll and 10% said winston, a full 13% gave no answer.
Nope, hasn’t been long enough and the majority in a NZHerald online poll of people actually supported it. Same as it hasn’t been long enough for National’s inaction and probable culpability on the Panama Paper to make a change.
The UBI isn’t about wealth redistribution – capitalism is as it redistributes the nations wealth to the rich.
Hmmm.
So the likely coalition of opposition parties is within a couple of percent of the government over a year out from the election, and nz1’s gains in the rural electorates seem to be pretty solid.
But in most little tories I’ve known, a firm handshake and confident outlook is often used to compensate for actual achievement or skill. Nothing new, really.
The ‘likely’ opposition coalition is sitting on 38%, the current Govt. coalition 52%, and Winnie is 5% off the balance of power.
I think you missed the bit last week where Winnie made it clear he was not part of any ‘opposition coalition’ McFlock.
just like how he said that the post-1996 election govt wouldn’t be a national government.
And actually, he’s only 2% off the balance of power. I’m sure he’ll get that in rural votes after a few more months of fucked milk prices.
He mightn’t be part of an ‘opposition coalition’ at the moment, the question is whether he’ll be part of a government coalition after the election. And he can see which way the wind is blowing, and it’s away from Key.
But then, you’re a pointless mouthpiece sucking off the current regime, so whatever…
You have noted Winnie and Don Brashes recent romance McFlock?
You are aware of his stance on Maori/Treaty issues?
You have heard what he has said about the Greens financial policies?
And you did get his firm denial last week that there would be any kind of shared platform between NZF and The Labour/Greens last week?
And at this point he wouldn’t even be needed by JK…..
If that’s a wind blowing against him, then that straw you are clutching must be a log.
What’s JK’s preferred pm rating again? 39%? Didn’t you bastards used to keep saying it was around 60%? Try that wind on for size. Or you can choose to focus solely on Labour’s results and pretend it’s a two-horse race.
At 50 to 28, and 39 to 7 it’s stretching it to call it a race at present McFlock.
The Left are running the perfect race and JK is running into a strong headwind. What ever happens. Don’t change the plan.
The relevant comparison isn’t between Key and Little, it’s between Key and the National party’s polling. The former, going by this poll, is at 39%, not enough to prop up the latter if it heads even slightly south. Key is no longer in a position to boost National’s polling greatly. His fortunes hold or crumble with those of the party, not the other way around. This poll is in the realms of “too close to call”, not a comfortable win for National.
You’ve got an FPP IQ in an MMP environment, sheepie.
FPP would be another story altogether McFlock. Going by the electorate seats results at the last election, The Nats would be governing alone with a massive majority, and heading for the same situation next time around…..
That’s why I was a very early and energetic campaigner for the move to MMP.
At that stage I was convinced that MMP would destroy the Nat’s. If you’d told me then what the situation in 2016 would be I would have never believed it….
cool story, bro.
There is still 28% that think unions taking money from low paid workers so highly paid Labour party politicians don’t need to spend their own money campaigning. Wow, lessons from history are completely ignored by that many people ?
Two straw men in the same sentence, burt. You’re on fire!
“Wow, lessons from history are completely ignored by that many people ?”
You can say that again and that is why we are all suffering under this neo shit. Correction all except the 1%
We are all suffering except the 1% and that’s why 50% of us would vote for the Neo Libs Nats to stay in power, and another 35% would vote for parties that will only tinker slightly with the current paradigm.
Think about it.
Yep, we’ve all been lied to for so long by the bludging, theiving rich that we’re don’t recognise the truth any more.
The lost sheep certainly doesn’t.
It must be so frustrating to be one of the few who know the real truth, and yet not be able to open the eyes of the poor stupid masses who lack your powers of perception!
What can be done in a world so full of easily deceived idiots eh?
sarc.
Honest John skewered by Guyon this morning. Honest John, preferred PM, riding high in the polls sounded like he was choking on his own tongue. Obviously lying through his teeth, his speech was virtually indecipherable. So he has had money in a blind trust in Singapore, divulged when questioned closely, with a nervous titter, but dodged any further questions in the same vein. All the rest……. don’t know, haven’t been advised, have to ask IRD, etc, etc. The man is a shameful horror.
At least someone had a go at him henry came out from under the desk wiping his chin after his interview with key this am.
It just doesn’t fly that we have a PM who so readily and repeatedly tells us that he knows nothing about so much. So what is it that he does know that he’s hiding ?
He worked in Singapore. His employer had a super scheme. It is a trust. So, he has an interest in an off shore trust. But I’m not sure why we need to get excited about that.
It’s Key’s MO – secret trusts and tax evasion are his hallmarks. You’re right there’s nothing to get excited about yet though – but it’s not because Key isn’t a crook, but because the proof hasn’t surfaced yet.
Of course, as a far-right tr0ll, you’re comfortable with crimes of dishonesty, drug-dealing and paedophilia, but these are not qualities that most kiwis consider desirable in a leader.
Secret trusts and tax evasion? Fuck are you talking about? He was part of his employer’s super scheme.
Because the ’employer’ specializes in instruments which bankrupted entire nations
The blind trust are where they hide the ill gotten gains being referred to as a ‘super scheme’
It’s a scheme alright….
Weak diversionary tactics…. best you phone in for backup
No. Blind trusts are set up by politicians so that they do not know what their assets are invested in. In this way the decisions they make are not impacted by the assets they own.
Why shouldn’t he participate in his employer’s super scheme? Is this rule going to be applied to everyone?
No. Blind trusts are set up by politicians so that they do not know what their assets are invested in. In this way the decisions they make are not impacted by the assets they ow
…….and the assets were never ‘impacted’ by the decisions…….yeah right !
It’s Key’s MO – secret trusts and tax evasion are his hallmarks.
Remember Mike Williams was tipped off a few years back about something dodgy involving Key and during the course of a visit to Aussie he did some digging. He didn’t find what he was looking for, but you can be sure there’s plenty of evidence of dodgy deals etc. somewhere. Sooner or later something is likely to emerge from the Panama Papers that will leave a clue as to the whereabouts of this evidence.
If Labour want to prove they have what it takes they will throw everything at it when the time comes. Winston Peters owes much of his longevity to the Winebox papers. He never gave up, and I’m one of those who admired him for his tenacity. So, come on Labour… stop being shrinking violets and show some guts.
I remember it well. It was embarrassing in the extreme for Labour.
If they were smart, they would not do what they did and scream “This might be big” only to discover there is nothing.
The problem is that they are not smart.
My recollection it was the pro Nat. MSM toadies who did all the screaming – as per Crosby/Textor instructions.
covered in some detail here
http://thestandard.org.nz/the-h-fee-explained/
and here
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/vote-08/news/695248/Labour-trawls-for-Key-smear
Interesting. Thanks for that tfh.
Hahaha. The Singapore employer’s super is a deliberate red herring that is meant to distract. JK offers that up and, well, of course, that will be found to be kosher but not others that will remain hidden and not disclosed.
Honest John-61% don’t want him as PM.
93% for the angry one.
Trump?
The Hank Hill impersonator.
Can’t match your familiarity with second rate US comic characters – he’s not angry though. You’re mixing your memes – did you lose your instructions?
Hank Hill is honest, hard working, family loving & humble, nice comparison!
Gerry Brownlee?
More secret shares?
Is UK Prime Minister David Cameron now mortally wounded and about to become a vulture picked-over political carcass?
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/david-cameron-face-public-grilling-7728437
“David Cameron will have a humiliating public grilling
Shamefaced David Cameron faces a public grilling over his personal tax affairs amid questions about a second secret stash of shares worth £72,000.
The under-fire Prime Minister will make a humiliating statement to Parliament after his tax returns showed he secretly sold off another huge tranche of shares in 2010 alongside the £31,000 stake in his dad’s offshore fund.
Downing Street is refusing to say which other investment funds or private firms the PM held a stake in – and if any more of them were based in dodgy tax havens.
…..”
_________________________________
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
On RNZ news this morning , the PM, when questioned about would he be prepared to declare his tax details to the public like David Cameron had just to let the people know he didn’t have any dodgy deals, he said “he certainly would not do that”. He has always tried to explain that the Government Spying Agency isn’t harmful if you have nothing to hide. Well, this explains it quite plainly, that the PM has tax matters that are dodgy and he does have something to hide. You can’t have a bob both ways. The whole situation stinks to high heaven and how on earth he still gets high ratings in the polls stinks too. They have to be rigged, nothing else for it. We may be stupid in NZ but nobody is that stupid that they could keep voting his popularity so highly, unless we are a nation of crooks and enjoy wallowing in the corruption that is going on. I just hope that the Government isn’t going to be the one to set the Terms of Reference for this “so called” enquiry the PM says he “may” set up. Beggars belief.
He certainly will tell is his pissing in the shower habits but not his money habits. One of these things is not like the other…. nothing to hide, right?
Although I reckon what he fears is the public reaction when the charity to which he donates his salary is revealed. He’ll have the other stuff covered.
It’s because it would show that either he hasn’t donated any of his salary to charity, or that he has and the charity is named “The National Party”.
i think you are on to something here.
‘
^^^ BINGO!
The question of the PM’s potential dodgy tax free dealings could just turn into a side show of the bigger issue – NZ as a tax haven is HIS baby.
http://thestandard.org.nz/key-changed-the-law-to-turn-nz-into-a-tax-haven/
He will always be able to fudge his way through an investigation into his own affairs but he should RESIGN for the major part he played in introducing a law that isn’t in the interest of NZer’s, and is harmful to the functioning of our society due to lost tax revenue.
The poverty that tax dodgers create around the globe is criminal. Our PM is complicit in preventing tax funds going to the people that need it most. While poverty increases in NZ so does the wealth of those not paying tax in our country.
Stand Down Key.
And a song to go with it. Apologies for double posting
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfhxJiE38sE
Good to see Standardistas fighting the fights of the 1980s. Makies a change form the 1930s.
It worked for the Icelandics.
You lot are funny
That PM has become a colander with falling on his petard that many times, not much blood tho, is it human. 👿
I would not pay to much attention to the polls, unless and until the pollster divulge how they achieved their results.
If the government were to set up an inquiery into the shady dealings of NZ TaxHaven Inc. they would give it 5 days and announce they found nothing.
Also my oracle tells me that a full 105% of the population will vote National next time around and until the Kingdom comes.
Nicky Hager, if you looking on please, we need you. Get in touch with that international consortium of journalists and start doing your thing. You have your notes and computer back, this country needs you badly right now. Keep safe.
Will name suppression be lifted at the conclusion of the trial?
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/301159/prominent-nzer's-indecency-trial-draws-to-a-close
The case is under strict name suppression……..MAINLY to protect the girls.
it seems that someone at the NZ Herald is less then impressed?
But to answer your question, props not.
Very hard to get convictions for people who are well connected and above the law and with plenty of money for top lawyers.
Not sure justice will be done here.
poor girls.
Tell that to Doug Graham and Bill Jeffries.
Tip of the iceberg.
nope.
don’t think so and i think the last line of the article gives it away.
‘The case is under strict name suppression MAINLY TO PROTECT THE GIRLS.
Mainly….meaning also to protect the alleged offender, and any public body the prominent NZ’ler may work with?
If found guilty then I hope no more details of the offending and the victims is allowed plus I hope the offender is named
If found not guilty then all details of everyone involved should be suppressed
In Scottish law they have a verdict of ‘not proven’. This indicates that ‘we know very well you’ve done something, but the evidence is insufficient thus far’. NZ culture is more Scots descended than English.
have always liked that quirk of Scottish law
I would like to see that brought in here, I get the feeling a lot of not guilty types would find themselves not proven instead…David Bain for example
Bain – the police involved should be sacked they screwed up so badly – There’s a precedent in NZ law about circumstatial evidence that should be taken as disproved when there’s an abundance of physical evidence that fails to support the case. Christchurch creche thing was probably worse in terms of actual lack of evidence.
Yes. Peter Ellis deserves compensation and an apology, hes been let down horribly by National and Labour.
Agree with you there PR, Ellis deserves compensation!
Agree Ellis was innocent.
+1
hang on stuart..
“the police involved should be sacked they screwed up so badly “,
you aren’t suggesting that violence travel up the hierarchy, are you?
as happens time and time again, responsibility isn’t for the rich or powerful.
Competence issues.
Can’t leave them in their jobs if they can’t manage a crime scene.
Don’t judge them by today’s standards, it was twenty-odd years ago.
Shit sometimes isn’t black and white.
There’s been a bit too much of that kind of crap with the Dunedin cops over the years. They know it too.
Whatever, dude.
Depends on if permanent name suppression is sort and granted. That probably depends on how the jury rule, the sentence, and if leave for appeal is requested.
Ok, Ta Lynn.
What the bet this won’t be on the evening news.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/301147/thousands-on-hold-over-surgery
And if it is, the spin and lies will be so profound as to make the story meaningless.
Wait, here comes The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell to spin it before then.
Key to Parliament: We will wait to join international coalition on trusts
Woodhouse to media: We will wait to join international coalition on trusts
Key to RNZ: We may appoint an independent expert
hmm…….backdown? For Key and Cameron a week in politics is….
Perhaps we could also look at other trusts, like say Aldgate & Whitechapel.
I merely asked a couple of questions.
Here’s another, why did Labour oppose it?
[BLiP: More derail – moved to Open Mike]
So …
No comments about the latest Poll ???
Hahaha
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/78754432/national-support-hits-50-per-cent-labour-and-little-fall-in-new-poll
Don’t worry I’ll do it for them:
The only poll that counts is on election day
This poll only takes in landline phones/mobile phones/computers therefore poor people are excluded from the poll
The media is in the pay of National
DIRTY POLITICS
Soon the people of NZ will understand that John Key is the spawn of Satan
The missing million
Winston Peters is in a coalition of the left
and best of all…the right fear Andrew Little
The Right do fear Little – even now Key and Donghwa Liu will be cooking up some piece of tripe for their MSM toadies to stick on Little like the Liu letter on Cunliffe.
We should prepare something similarly discrediting for the traitor Key – if his trusts don’t provide conclusive evidence of criminality before the election.
You forgot all it needs is for labour to go far left and then all those flexible center voters will go with them as they just don’t want national lite, likewise the missing million will get out to vote, The CV and Paul doctrine
Not true at all – Labour only needs to return to the centre – where the moderate centrists like Bernie Sanders, Paul Krugman and Robert Reich are.
I still think we should have a few far lefties though, to put the fear of God and gulags into career criminals like Key, Shipley, Talley and yourself. With greater roles, greater responsibilities – Stealing public assets is ample reason to incarcerate an MP for life without parole.
Must of missed it. The post is rather long, thus I asked a couple of questions.
It has nothing to do with Labour not having the numbers. It was in regards to Labour making National aware of this very concern.
If they did, then National was aware, but allowed the change regardless.
And this is the crux of it if you want to successfully pin the blame on them.
[BLiP: More derail – moved to Open Mike]
National have previously been informed by both the IRD working party AND were also warned in the OECD report in 2013…..but obviously saw no need to heed that advice as things were operating exactly as intended
Well if that is the case and National were fully aware of the consequence, then National are to blame.
It’s the 0.1% serving the interests of the 0.1%.
People are acting as if this is historically unusual or surprising.
Really, BLiP?
Play fair.
“Labour opposed it because they were for it?”
Why would they oppose it if they were for it?
Now try explaining that.
[BLiP: Attempted derail – moved to Open Mike]
See 20.1 BLiP
Scalps so far –
Prime Minister of Iceland Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson
President of Transparency Chile Gonzalo Delaveu
CEO of Hypo Landesbank Vorarlberg Michael Grahammer (Austria)
FIFA Ethics Committee Member Juan Pedro Damiani (Uruguay)
BN AMRO Bank Board Member Bert Meerstadt (Netherlands)
How many Americans have been exposed so far ?
Its been reported that there are unlikely to be many Americans who have used this Panamanian law firm because they have plenty of dodgy companies of their own they can use.
Perhaps, given the history, Americans think stashing their ill-gotten gains in a Central American country isn’t a particularly good idea.
And a tax treaty.
http://www.reuters.com/article/usa-tax-fatca-idUSL2N0HN15T20130927
And this.
Mathew Ingram Verified account
@mathewi
Editor of Süddeutsche Zeitung responded to the lack of U.S. individuals in the documents, saying “Just wait for what is coming next”
https://twitter.com/mathewi/status/716771686482202625
Intriguing; I wonder whether it has anything to do with the US Presidential Elections – in politics timing is everything.
When do we get Key’s scalp – for his role in setting up NZ in 2011 as a tax haven?
“Labour voted against it. Seems pretty straightforward to me.”
On what grounds did they oppose it?
BLiP: Attempted derail – moved to Open Mike
[lprent: Banned 2 weeks for persistent attempts to run diversions on a post. ]
No. It wasn’t, BLiP.
The grounds on which Labour opposed it was the crux of the discussion.
Was it on the grounds that it would make NZ a tax haven? Thus, making National aware of this?
Yes, ask the hard questions mate. If hoping some how linking John Key to Panama papers is Labour’s winning strategy, I can’t see Labour returning to power for at least another two terms. This is the kind of attitude, tax and spend policies have driven former Labour voters like me away from Labour. Still they won’t learn and that is the sad part.
[BLiP: Concern trolling – plus assuming that The Standard is involved in Labour’s strategy. VERY close to a ban. Moved to Open Mike.]
[lprent: Add your handle in some form when moderatimg please. Good call otherwise. This twerp ticks all of the boxes for a stupid concern troll. Personally I’d have just banned him/her for their parrot stupidity. ]
This is the kind of attitude, tax and spend policies have driven former Labour voters like me away from Labour.
Nope .. you’re a National party voter. They’re the natural home of sociopaths who parasite on the ‘tax and spend’ the rest of us normal people are happy to pay as the price of ‘civilisation’.
QFT
National works on the principle that money should flow to them and their rich mates from the poor and set up the economy to do just that.
And then there is this:
http://www.theguardian.com/news/commentisfree/2016/apr/10/money-offshore-corrupt-democracy-political-influence
Salon.com on why the rich are different to us mere mortals
http://www.salon.com/2016/04/06/lessons_of_the_panama_papers_yes_the_rich_are_different_from_us_they_stole_our_money/
+1
The rich are only rich because they constantly steal from everyone else.
That’s a lie
No, it’s not as all the evidence shows.
That’s what the Panama Papers are – proof of theft by the rich. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Being rich is, essentially, proof that you’re a thief.
See, I actually know how to become rich and it’s got nothing to do with me working hard and everything to do with me taking from as many people as possible. It comes down to the saying: A little bit here, a little bit there and pretty soon your talking serious money.
The rich steal little amounts from everyone to become rich. We used to call it usury and banned it but the powerful bribed the pope to allow it back a few centuries ago and now we’ve got a society that based almost entirely around theft.
This has to be the funniest comment of the day (sorry Adam)
“See, I actually know how to become rich and it’s got nothing to do with me working hard and everything to do with me taking from as many people as possible.”
🙂
Understood, you understand what I said and, because you can’t argue with it, revert to standard RWNJ ad hominem.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11619772
Rodney Hide on fire:
Now Helen Clark has teamed up with Key for her tilt at the UN’s top job.
That must rankle.
It’s not just Key endorsing Clark. It’s Clark endorsing Key. They are now a team who talk and strategize. They are Richie McCaw and Dan Carter after the top prize.
Labour under Clark was disciplined, cohesive and competent. Labour under Clark won three elections and the trust of middle voters. Little is the fourth Labour leader since her departure and the party still lacks the drive and traction she provided. Labour appears unfit for Opposition, let alone Government.
That last line by itself is gold: Labour appears unfit for Opposition, let alone Government.
This from the same man who used to attack Helen Clark as a she-devil intent on destroying democracy in this country.
As my partner says, “Give that man a microphone, he’s so funny”.
That is true but its also not a bad line as lines go
A link to a Rodney Hide load of dribble!
No more credible than your usual whalespew link, drunkish.
No no I assure you that is a link to a proper Rodney Hide article
Careful fender, Puckish Rogue loves rolling around in his own mud.
The fact of the matter is it’s been a bad few weeks for this national government, and the only option the have is to lie. And of course they will reach for the big lie.
Funny I don’t know anyone who takes rodney hide seriously after his abuse of the public purse.
And truly odd, that act party hacks taking the led, must be the national party know they can’t front anything – otherwise they will look like the lying cretonnes they are.
it’s been a bad few weeks for this national government
And yet they lead the opposition by more than they did at the same point in their second term.
Oh look, we have a PM who lies, and PM who likes to pull young women hair,a national party that lost a referendum, a national party who reaches for corporate money, a national party who aids and abets criminals. A national party who is happy to rip apart this country for power. A national party who are happy to keep on hurting the poor.
But I’m wrong, because you can produce a poll of people – who will vote.
Grow up The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell, it’s like talking to a two year old. The world is a bit more complex that your one liners.
Keep up the sneering, the smugness and the putting down of all who question that the self interested in this country do not speak for us all.
Keep believing that creating a divided nation is good for your children, and your children’s children.
If the polls mean anything – that to many of the people who support this national government, are self interested and self absorbed to the point of being amoral. Or let me put that in much simpler terms.
To many people who support this national government are but the tools of the deceiver.
So much irony in one comment there adam. you spouted off seven one-liners, then told ole gormy to grow up and not spout one-liners, Then spouted off 5 more one line slogans.
learn the difference between to and too as well, it makes reading your gibberish more painful than it needs to be.
I’ma gonna call MUPHRy!.
Yes absolutely Labour is going well and National is doing poorly (according to Labours internal polls which are never, ever published) so whatever you do not change what Labour is doing.
Andrew Little just needs some more time for the voters to get to know him…
🙂
If nothing else works, again with the big lie ah Puckish Rogue. Everyone one on the standard is a labour party supporter.
Grow up.
The opposition is made up of a few parties, just in case you missed what a parliament looks like in M.M.P democracy.
So in the real world, the opposition is not just labour, and the next PM may not be the leader of the labour party.
I’m a lefty who says you and your ilk can’t stop lying and face the hard truth. You have lost the support of the majority of the population, and that was a while ago. The labour party have not picked up that support, and as an anti-authoritarian democrat I’m happy about that also.
It’s not a world of your simplistic spun duality Puckish Rogue, and when ever you grow up and face that reality – I look forward to having an adult discussion.
“If nothing else works, again with the big lie ah Puckish Rogue.”
– You don’t quite seem to grasp that , for John Key, it is working, it is working, really, really well.
“The opposition is made up of a few parties, just in case you missed what a parliament looks like in M.M.P democracy.”
– Yes, the parties that have let John Key win three elections so far and looking good for a fourth
“So in the real world, the opposition is not just labour, and the next PM may not be the leader of the labour party.”
– NZ under MMP is still strongly influenced by FFP thinking and if Labour ever want a sniff of power then they need to well above 30% come election time otherwise they’re going to be subjected to the will and whim of Winston Peters
“I’m a lefty who says you and your ilk can’t stop lying and face the hard truth. You have lost the support of the majority of the population, and that was a while ago. The labour party have not picked up that support, and as an anti-authoritarian democrat I’m happy about that also”
– I can say that until John Keys lose an election then the majority do support him
“It’s not a world of your simplistic spun duality Puckish Rogue, and when ever you grow up and face that reality – I look forward to having an adult discussion.”
– That you seem incapable of understanding the political realities of NZ leads me to suggest that: pot, kettle, black
– I can say that until John Keys lose an election then the majority do support him
That is a lie. Out right, are you saying that every one not voting supports this national government?
– That you seem incapable of understanding the political realities of NZ leads me to suggest that: pot, kettle, black
Thanks for proving my point
– You don’t quite seem to grasp that , for John Key, it is working, it is working, really, really well.
So you are happy for our society being destroyed, and the poor being ground down. And the culture of greed and naval gazing wins.
But again, you frame things to suit yourself. And don’t answer my questions so are you working for the deceiver? Or do you just worship him?
– NZ under MMP is still strongly influenced by FFP thinking and if Labour ever want a sniff of power then they need to well above 30% come election time otherwise they’re going to be subjected to the will and whim of Winston Peter
What does the sentence even mean? Gibberish or a new lie?
That is a lie. Out right, are you saying that every one not voting supports this national government?
It’s a vote for the status quo, otherwise you’d be out voting.
if not voting is a vote for the status quo why do the nats chase reducing voter turnout as a strategy?
no one – you me or anyone else, can claim to know why someone didnt vote or what that means
Well apparently the missing million voters didn’t vote because Labour aren’t left enough… 🙂
Puckish Rogue, again with the lies. Let me remind you again, this is not a labour party web site.
Thanks Adam I hadn’t noticed that 🙂
I call BS BM
Check out the comments fender, pretty much all call out Rodney Hydes BS. I didn’t bother reading the Hyde piece, why would I bother.
Patience…..
There’s one other little Mossack Fonseca connection in New Zealand, not obviously connected to foreign trusts, that will get special attention in a forthcoming post.
http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2016/03/mossack-fonseca-the-new-zealand-connection.html
OK, this has happened, and yes the rich have found another free ride.
BUT, and I’m going to say this till I’m blue in the face, we know the economic system is corrupt, stop talking about it and organise!
Who cares, seriously, bigger fish to fry, and other things to get done. This is just another distraction from the facts:
People are homeless
The poor, if housed are sleeping on the floor
This economic system is destroying our world
Disabled people are dying needless deaths
Wages are flat-lining
The lowest 25% pay the most tax, relativity
Regressive taxation is evil and anyone who supports it, is in the service of the deceiver
Poverty is growing
The rich are never satisfied with their wealth, and always want more.
This list could go on, and I’m sure people can add to it.
The reality is, the Tory scum hate the poor, and love the rich. How many times do you need to be told this?
Keep the message simple. This national government enables criminals and the already rich to hide their money. News flash we already knew this!
So stop going over and over on the blame game – get out there and organise!
[BLiP: Off Topic comment now turning into derail. Moved to Open Mike.]
@Adam – in order to redistribute wealth we need to get the super rich to pay their share. This is very important stuff. If the left keep going after the declining middle class for taxes then they start voting right. By identifying that the super rich and in particular foreign super rich and/or criminals are using our laws to hide money under a law Key directly passed himself, then it does two things.
1/ identifies Key is one who is for the 0.001% and to help foreigners hide money in NZ
2/ Finds unpaid taxes from the super rich 0.001% and then can redistribute back to ripped off Kiwis.
How about a Law, like for drugs where those found profiting from their ill gotten gains gets all their assets seized by the government? Would love to see Key and co’s wealth given back to the people he stole it from.
At least we can pretty much guarantee that Little, Cunliffe, Turei and Shaw will not have foreign ‘trusts’ and tax havens in their past! They are honest politicians!
Don’t think we can say that from Key, Mitchell and Collins and probably most of the rest of the National party.
So saveNZ, getting back to what I said – can I ask what you are doing to organise people to either be opposed to this? Or are you organising something else, part of anything else?
I agree, it’s happening in NZ, and this national government have become overt enablers. It happen else were, but quite frankly I’m more interested in people’s needs. Like beds, food and healthy roof over their heads. I find this a distraction, we should let legal minds fight out. Whilst we work on improving things.
“The reality is, the Tory scum hate the poor, and love the rich. How many times do you need to be told this? ”
Yeah I think you’ll find that the majority of NZers that voted National aren’t Tory scum that hate the poor and wouldn’t like being labelled like that
Let’s see, 36% of NZers voted for national, half of that is 18%… you reckon that we have a government like this even though the proportion of tory scum in NZ is less than one in five?
Fairly bleak worldview, that – we’re all slaves to the most manipulative, sociopathic, small-minded fifth of the nation…
You’ve convinced me with your argument, you should contact all left wing MPs to get the message out and tell it to all that:National voters are poor-hating tory scum
It’ll cause a huge upswing in the polls for the left for sure
Hey, I was just following your math.
Personally, I reckon only about a quarter or a third of the country are fuckwits, but at least that means that our system is vaguely democratic. You’re the one who argued that we have a tax-haven-making, waterway-shitting, resource-stripping, carbon-puking, poverty-bludgeoning government of sociopaths and [details suppressed by the courts] despite the majority of people who voted for those pricks being quite nice and normal.
That might be a better message to give to the media just so the left don’t come across as too unhinged:
“I reckon only about a quarter or a third of the country are fuckwits”
Just using you as the template 😉
Tell you what: if the nats campaigned honestly on their policies of stripping NZ resources for sale overseas, watching NZers die young, and leaving what remains as a toxic wasteland, then the Left should campaign on the slogan that anyone who votes for the nats is a selfish, stupid piece of shit.
I’ve no idea what the polls would be, but at least the only bullshit will be in our waterways if you pricks win again.
Poor Puckish Rogue, do you not like being called a Tory scum bag. Who has no empathy, nor any compassion.
And you are lying again Puckish Rouge, where is that majority of New Zealanders who voted Tory? I see no overwhelming Tory mandate by society.
Tory is what Tory is Puckish Rouge, I can’t be held responsible for the utter lack of humanity, or just plan decency of the people they elect. That when you hurt people by being ideologically rigid – I get to call you scum.
But go on, no doubt you will frame the debate away again…
Here we go, oh wait Labour did it too…
And yes they did.
I’m convinced by your argument, you just need to get the message out to the rest of NZ telling all National voters that
Its a sure fire vote winner 🙂
The default Tory response.
Smug
Four election wins on the trot does tend to make one smug I admit
Back to the crack pipe Puckish Rogue, I can get you help for that if you need it.
Save this page and after the next election we’ll see who’s right
Hahahaha, one day you might understand my politics, but I doubt it.
Last week I observed John Key on a visit to Hamilton where he spent time in a very posh retirement home.
The interesting part of the visit to me was the reception he got from the cleaning, catering and carer staff. It ranged from delighted to rapturous, with one of the carers giving him a hug before he left.
Key made a point of talking with the cleaners and cooks showing what seemed like genuine interest and friendliness and patiently posed for selfies.
It was a bit like a visit from a rock star.
What is the secret of his appeal? When he left everyone was smiling and excitedly telling about what he had said to them.
‘
Hahahahahahaha!! Good one.
I consider the Hawthorne effect may have a bearing on this. While various summaries of it differ, I think its main results arise from the aspect of having friendly interest taken in people who are workers in unrewarding jobs. This interest gives them pleasure and a rare feeling of respect and affirmation and is received enthusiastically.
Google heading –
What is Hawthorne effect? definition and meaning
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/Hawthorne-effect.html
Definition of Hawthorne effect: Observation that employee motivation is affected as much or more by recognition and show of concern, as it is by improvements in …
‘
You’re assuming Bea Brown’s anecdote is true but, just for fun, lets assume it might be. In that case, I tend to agree; it will be some sort of manifestation of social ill-ease rather than any kind of display of affection or respect for John Key. It might even be as simple as the staff enjoying a few moments away from their duties, a brief respite from the drudgery of their zero-hour minimum-wage situation.
Hahahaha, that is a worrie, Hey Bea did you have your hand out as well, count all your fingers.
You think that’s funny? You’ll love this then: http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/201/04/latest_poll-36.html
Its a real hoot:
It is almost half way through National’s third term, so it is useful to compare it to the same poll halfway through National’s second term.
In April 2013 National was at 43% and Labour 36% – a 7% gap.
In April 2016 National is at 50% and Labour 28% – a 22% gap.
This is the lowest Labour has been since the election, and also the highest National has been. And taken after the flag referendum which Labour were convinced would damage National, so they opposed change against their own policy. Nice outcome guys.
Key Little is also at 7% Preferred Prime Minister. This is the lowest for a Labour Leader since May 2010. He is now 3% behind Peters.
Labour said in December 2014 their aim was to be polling at 40% by the end of 2015. It’s April 2016 and they’re in the 20s.
If I was a Labour MP, I’d be asking what exactly do they think will change in the next 18 months, so it isn’t a repeat of the last 18 months?
This is the third time today you have harped on about polls. Really, who cares. Only one poll counts, and yes your mob won the last one.
But in the mean time they don’t mean jack. Unless the Tory scum are on the ropes, then you and you ilk come on here, and write post after post, saying how wonderful Key is because of some poll. Forget, the flag loss, forget poverty, forget enabling criminals. It’s all about a bloody poll.
Polls are to the public relations spin doctors like yourself, just another avenue to make stuff up, and do what you do best, lie.
The last three ones you mean 🙂 actually the ones who do come on here are quite consistent, we come on here when Nationals up and when Labours down and vice versa
For the last 8 years its mostly been the former of course
Wow, can’t give the PR consultant Puckish Rogue an inch ah, or they will winge a mile.
And let me repeat, this is not a labour party web site, and are you that dumb you can’t see the difference?
I mean all day, and for some time now, the way you talk it’s all about labour and national. Are you that stupid, or do you not understand the left is a bit more divergent than that?
We get you are a part of a group who lies. Thanks Frank for the great article by the way.
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/04/11/the-mendacities-of-mr-key-16-the-sale-of-kiwibank-eight-years-in-the-planning/
let alone the other lie it has been caught out on.
http://thestandard.org.nz/key-changed-the-law-to-turn-nz-into-a-tax-haven/
or would you like me to link BLiP as well, or are you old enough to do a Google search?
Ahh Adam I admire the way you ignore the difficult (ie Labour sucks and Labours the largest left wing party in NZ so when they suck it makes it harder overall for the left to gain power in an MMP environment) and instead focus on the less important
Keep up the good work comrade 🙂
Wow, so you almost get that this is not a labour web site.
P.S. comrade is for authoritarian swindlers – you one of them?
Just trying to fit in with all the other good socialists 🙂
http://www.listener.co.nz/current-affairs/politics/jacinda-ardern-one-to-watch/
You know the listener just had a piece expounding the virtues of eugenics recently? It is a magazine which these days is just odd. And that is the nicest thing I can say for it.
Puckish Rogue with his war fetish, his stereotype debasement and indifference to refugees, and his hard line support for the drug Alcohol is a keyboard warrior of the worst type.
When I look at what he supports with all its misery, damage and death I rate him on par with a pedophile….. I may get a ban for this statement but it is a 100% honest assessment of the regard I hold him in……. based on his own posting history that I have read.
Him gloating over a poll is the least of his sins but typical of his personality .
Everyone can enjoy the fact they are not a puckish rouge …..
Although BM and others do try to be as gross, idiotic and dishonest on occasion ………………..
I think they come to The Standard because they like being annoying arseholes and their sort are a dime a dozen over at kiwisewer or whalesoil so they don’t stand out there.
Polls…polls.polls.
Do you know how boring you sound?
It must mean they’re happy to receive slave-labour hourly rates and don’t mind missing the concert so long as the lead singer pretends to like them.
And that was not televised?
Dang you would think that such outpouring of love and admiration of dear leader is captured on film (or what ever the digital equivalent) and shown to the fawning masses on telly, and printmedia
Question: Was an appropriate amount of roses, undies and ponytails thrown at the stage?
It was gratitude for being allowed into the country.
The sewer seems to be morphing into a white supremacist site with commenters linking to the reactionary musings from the alt-right touting race realism.
It is true and could easily be verified. I was a bystander with no involvement at all.
Don’t we want to know the secret of his appeal?
The carer who hugged Key was almost in tears, he was so happy and overcome. It was moving to see his emotion.
I don’t think we can keep on saying these people are stupid, dumb slaves.
Even in Dubai last year a hotel chef told me when he found out I was a NZer that our PM John Key had stayed there and he had gone out of his way to speak to many of the staff who looked after him and everyone liked him. This was far away from NZ and any political pay-off.
Until we understand Key’s appeal, we cannot possibly defeat him.
Hurling insults at me or him or one another gets us nowhere.
Are you sure pony boy didn’t mistake him for a child and pull his hair?.
‘
Hahahahahaha . . . tell me about the time when he walked on the surface of Lake Taupo to rescue the drowning kitten . . . gets me every time.
Not the usual complement of mouthy right wing trolls out today. Don’t tell me even their poxified morality is offended.
[BLiP: Off topic. Moved to Open Mike. Been trying to reduce the clutter in that important post so, just to be consistent, here you are.]
Most unusual. The Herald online is publishing heaps of stuff about murders, sport, Labour and the poll etc. But surprisingly, there is nothing that I can see about Panama, Trusts or Key blustering around. S’pect the Key edict to CEO is drop it!
Except for Mike Hoskings Radio live interview.
‘
Unbelievable. Had to check for myself. On the site’s front page, click-bait about Posh Spice’s thighs merits a higher ranking than any political story.
The fix is in.
yes..its all John Keys fault……………………………
[BLiP: Troll clutter. Moved to Open Mike. First and last warning]
A history of NZ money
Very brief but thankfully the rugby player didn’t make it on to the coins. I do like the marlin though.
I think Key would rather resign than show his tax records.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/78778585/nz-pm-john-key-refuses-to-release-tax-records–what-do-we-know-of-his-assets
@ Gangnam Style .
Bingo.
Pressure, pressure.
David Cameron is releasing his tax records and assets.
Now we need John Key’s.
Resigning is fine with me.
KDS going into overdrive,
Bea, some people have an uncanny knack of walking the walk and talking the talk, Clinton was another one who had smooze oozing out of him. Its automatic to them but its hardly a sacrifice what they are doing, nothing these people do is out of the goodness of their hearts, believe me there is motive behind it. It’s not in their DNA to actually do good things and not expect payment of some kind. The PM from the moment he wakes up is “playing to the crowds” – he adores admiration, sucks it up like a neglected child, ever see him walking the Matakana Markets – he is like royalty itself, waving and smiling – its his life blood – he needs it like oxygen. He is a Leo for God’s sake – look up what their personality is like – they have to be the centre of attention to survive, pity his poor missus is I what I say – how she fits in his life I have no idea.
But, he is as cunning as a weasel and lies like a stoat, everything he does has motive behind it – he desperately needs a legacy, he couldn’t survive without having good things written about him in history books – he is an attention seeker and a fraud. A hollow man, the poor sods in the retirement home probably thought he was a super star. They wouldn’t have a bloody clue what he gets up to. Very sad really, they probably all live in rented homes, on low wage rates and long hours and up to their hocks in debt, slaving away with difficult clients to manhandle into bed each night. Be sorry for them they don’t know any better. He has nothing to show for his life’s work so far whatever the adoring crowds think of him and he is dangerous to our country.
The higher they elevate the greater they fall – it never fails.
Can we please ease up on the Leo’s Kate? Not all of us are narcissists. 🙂
Apologies Rosie, but some Leo’s certainly like being the centre of attention, I have known a few of them in my life time. Social animals and crave attention – you may be the exception so once again apologies.
Lols, no apologies. I don’t think I’m in on the astrology anyway. According the zodiac map at the Aotearoa Henge in Carterton there are 13 signs, not 12. The designers of the henge believe we’re a bit off with our astrological signs.
http://www.stonehenge-aotearoa.co.nz/
fwiw, Bill Clinton is a Leo………….!
Doesn’t surprise me one bit, what a charmer he is.
http://colmarbrunton.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/160410-ONE-News-Colmar-Brunton-Poll-report-2-6-Apr-2016-prelim.pdf
The poll in question. Frankly i don’t know what the excitement is about. 1000 people were polled. Not really a huge sample. And again only People with Landline got the pleasure to answer. Most of the phone calls were conducted on a Monday, so I would guess that a lot of working age people were not the ones that answered. Which makes this sample of the NZ public a very small segment of the population.
National as a Party is up, but then all their allies are down. These voters are not likely to swing to Labour in the first place, and I think that the ACT/Conservatives/Peter Dunne Party (as far as mentioned in the Poll still at 1%) voters have to go somewhere. I am not venturing a guess with the Maori Party(also at 1%) members, as I can see them spread throughout the political landscape should/if/when they desert what is currently the Maori Party.
However John Key, Dear leader is down a 1%.
And up – are the undecided/confused/wont answer by 2%, now up to thirteen.
So for those that want to say that John Key is at 50% approval, sorry he ain’t. The National Party is, he is at 39%.
I also have an issue with only Landline polling as about 20-25% of the population by now would only use Mobile. (the consensus stated somewhere 80+% use of landline in 2013 and the trend is decreasing Landline use). Only calling Landline also has a fair chance of over polling a certain segment of the population, mainly those with properties owned, older and generally speaking more conservative vs Mobile phones only use seem to indicate a younger and a more transient population).
Consider as well the sampling error +-3 and frankly this poll is where the last one was.
National not moving, Labour/Greens/NZfirst shifting – especially that the same poll last month had the Greens at -4%. Are we really to believe that the Greens would just shave 4% of its voter base from one month to the next? Cause the Green Voters that I know are rather committed and would not switch to another party.
So as i said elsewhere, i need more meat on my poll. This one is the same as the last one. But it delivered the Headline needed, namely that the Flag Change did not affect the PM. How convenient for the cowardly run away PM – holidaying in Hawaii is so much more pleasant then to to answer any question re the Flag Change, the money squandered, the opportunities squandered.
Really, not worth the fear of those that despair with John Key and not worth the elation of the John Key 101st keyboard brigade.
Quite right Sabine – with NewFlag polling 43% and Labour polling 28%, you definitely need more meat on your pole.
All is well with labour Sabine, you keep believing that
actually no, there are a lot of things that not well with labour, and i know that.
but i will not pull my hair, clutch my pearls and bang my head for a poll that is essentially meaning less without a bit more information.
And considering that we have people here complaining about lack of information either way, either the media is too liberal or it is too rightwing, make of that what you want, i think we can all agree that having good information is something we all value.
So no I am not going tp bury my head in the sand just because there is another poll that buries the Labour party.
What you guys forget in all of that is that Labour alone will not form a government. Full stop. Right here. And you know what, it does not have too either. Welcome to the World of MMP were one or several parties can form a government.
All Labour has to do is stay steady, develop some good policies, and form a working and functioning coalition with the other opposition parties and a victory for National might not be so casually gained.
To me the poll results are such where National has to have a huge majority as it seems it has lost all its coalition partners for 2017. Having your supportive parties trending at 1% simply can’t be good. And while 36% are form him, 64% are against him. An uphill battle you may say. 🙂
All the while Labour, The Greens, NZFirst and maybe even the Maori Party could very well work out a coalition / support agreement and form a decent enough government.
And for me that is good enough. I rather have a left/centre left coalition government than another several years of the gruel we are having currently.
http://colmarbrunton.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/160410-ONE-News-Colmar-Brunton-Poll-report-2-6-Apr-2016-prelim.pdf
details for you…note 13% refused/undecided
yep, up by 2%
chip chip chip.
Winston calls for a royal commission on the foreign trusts but we get from Key ,one man as competent as he may be, the point is that govts since 1988 are responsible for this .Therefore a royal commission should be called to do this job .For one reason so we can watch the amount of money all this is going to cost but I fear Key has eroded the powers of royal commissions since he has been PM, ie I believe there is enough in Dirty politics to warrant a royal commission but we didnt get that. Key is always finding ways to short circuit in depth inquiries that will tie up his govts speedball processes but its ok to waste shit loads of time on a fuckin flag change
They’re all in on it…. https://youtu.be/dMB3hyu0Pek
excellent, nick.
ive seen a few bits of clever satire from jonathon pie.
while i am here, gotta say, love the improvements, the quality of the posts and the less tolerant moderating.
keep up the good work.
Yes and I’d have given Pr the red card for repetitive and dull comments about polls.
Mr Key told media , he was totally 100 per cent confident that his tax affairs are absolutely, and totally secret.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/78778585/nz-pm-john-key-refuses-to-release-tax-records–what-do-we-know-of-his-assets