Open mike 12/09/2023
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6:00 am, September 12th, 2023 - 38 comments
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AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...6 days ago - Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut
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- Thank You
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Hi,“What I love about New Zealanders is that sometimes you use these expressions that as Americans we have no idea what those things mean!"I am watching a 30-something year old American ramble on about how different New Zealanders are to Americans. It’s his podcast, and this man is doing a ...1 week ago - Chris Penk’s Hate Parade
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All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...1 week ago
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Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...3 days ago
- Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...3 days ago
- Release: Rule-Czar bill a right-wing power grab
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...3 days ago
- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is running away from problems of his own creation, with his decision not to go to Waitangi. ...3 days ago
- Govt’s ‘free speech’ legislation stokes fear, not freedom
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...3 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...4 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...4 days ago
- ECE no place to cut corners
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...5 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...5 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...5 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...5 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...5 days ago
- Warning to Fast-Track Applicants – ‘Exploit the Whenua, Face the Consequences’
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...5 days ago
- Release: Govt cuts wages for lowest paid NZers… again
For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
- Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt shirking responsibility for rate hikes
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
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The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...6 days ago
- Release: Govt breaks promise on EV chargers
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...6 days ago
- Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...7 days ago
- Govt child poverty targets allow for increase in poverty
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
- Govt’s emissions plan for measly 1% reduction
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
- Greens stand in solidarity with Whakaata Māori on sad day
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
- Govt gifts renters housing anxiety for Christmas
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
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Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
- Bill to sanction unlawful occupation of Palestine
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
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The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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This is the latest Newshub Reid poll released yesterday:
I'm not sure who writes the RNZ headlines but Labour and the Greens have been "left in the dust" according to their news reports this morning.
In fact Lab/Gr/TPM 42.2% versus Nat/ACT 51.0% is nowhere near as bad as described by RNZ.
Of interest is Hipkins going UP 6.6% in the preferred PM stakes and Seymour dropping 3.9%.
Also this is the fourth poll I have seen where the Greens have beaten ACT, who seem to be in freefall.
This poll doesn't take into account Luxon's dire performance when interviewed on Sunday by Jack Tame nor Seymour's loony "we will not give National supply" utterances yesterday.
The rumour is that the 20% of people who have not yet made up their mind mostly voted Labour last time. All is not lost.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/497780/labour-drops-5-point-5-points-in-latest-newshub-reid-research-poll
RNZ have their numbers wrong. It’s Luxon who is up 6.6% not Hipkins
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/09/newshub-reid-research-poll-heartbreak-for-chris-hipkins-as-christopher-luxon-climbs-to-match-him-on-preferred-pm-ranking.html
Ah ok…thanks Jack. At least Hipkins has stayed level with Luxon.
There will be some sore heads on October 15 if the dirty Natzos and filthy Act are able to assume office due to revenge voting (“what have I done”….). Of course that will be just part of the story, renter transience, homelessness and the degradation of NZ Post into basically a courier service, alienation, low profile of non published roll, new gen and Māori roll turnout, will all play their part. As will have Labour’s timidity on a wealth tax recommended by Robbo and David Parker following a clear lead from IRD.
It is a strange time indeed when undecideds may decide the fate of the rest of us. NActFirst have laid it out rather clearly what will be lost for the majority and how Capital and Finance Capital will benefit if NZ Labour and Green’s multiple incremental reforms are trashed by would be vandals Seymour and Baldrick.
VI Lenin posited that Parliamentary elections are an exam on the level of working class political understanding. But I guess NZ has such a high quotient of petit bourgeoisie, self employed, and aspirationals–as many decades of elections have demonstrated, that a class analysis makes little odds to the “me me me’s”.
I’ll still be campaigning for a Labour/Green/Te Pāti Māori Govt. in various ways and it is definitely not over yet.
Yea I cannot fathom the reasoning behind that ! Its such a small minded action. I know I personally will be worse off, if NActFirst get their claws on NZ. But I absolutely think of all the many thousands of others…like me..or even worse off.
You are so on to it…
Networks, online, local markets and media channels, and signs on our corner site with reasonable vehicle movement numbers.
2017 it was Andrew Little then signs changed to Jacinda, 2020 Jacinda, partner worked for an NZLP affiliated union so I agreed to that signage. 2023 it is TPM and Green as she has retired and supports CGT and Wealth Tax!
We are all Left. And Solidarity. We can do it.
VUW law prof; Rimmer's in front of his skis.
Geoff McLay
@GeoffMcLay1
Hmm as @drdeanknight is away does it fall to me to point that under our constitutional system supply is confidence? If you can’t guarantee you can pay to govern you can’t govern!
https://twitter.com/GeoffMcLay1/status/1701045832806728152
Jenner Lynch Newshub Editor
So that gives me pause.
They(the press) say Talbot Mills is favourable to the Left.
I say this Newshub Reid Mills Poll is an outlier for the Right, cementing in the Newshub theme of the Right are winners.
Keep hopeful Labour as we are fighting for the undecided 20%.
So far they are not convinced by Lux and Willis.
Labour need to present our cheerful hardworking crew and consider other alignments with the Greens and Te Maori Party which show solidarity of purpose.
Don't believe all the presented hype, stand tall for our beliefs.
Sorry Mods, I added the 20% and now I have two comments , the second is the actual finished one.
Things are bad when I'm agreeing with matthew hooten on luxon.
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2023/09/12/luxon-caught-out-in-back-room-cut-election-lies/
ouch
Well Mathew Hooton may not be wrong, but what is his motive for this knifing one may wonder?
First time I heard Luxury Luxon on RNZ before he officially became leader, he was asked a welfare related question regarding solo parents and benefit abatement rates and gave a reasonable but totally non National response–he likely got a good slapping when he got back to the office.
Why has it taken Hoots so long? It was pretty obvious to me about 30 seconds after I first heard Luxon open his mouth around 2 years ago. And I do imagine that someone is paying Hooton well for making so many enemies. (And what Weka said at 4.2.1)
Ultimately it doesn't matter much what motivates Hooton, he's always been in love with the sound of his own voice. But elections are not about voting for commentators to govern us.
What does matter is the character and competence of the man who wants to be PM. On that score Matthew's assessment is sadly accurate. Luxon is emptiness personified: "Let me be clear, what I'm saying to you is … (nothing)".
I've asked since he became leader: what is it we are supposed to respect? The answer is always the same: "But Labour bad, but Labour bad!". Which speaks volumes.
Nobody – not even fervent Nats – can ever come up with anything else in his favour. Open invitation for anyone to do so here – without talking about his opponents, or polls, or any other non-answer – just him.
Expect tumbleweed.
Roll him now or roll him soon.
There is zero chance that he would last a term as PM. National are driven by one thing: get re-elected. So he's a goner, win or lose.
If he does somehow manage to negotiate a deal with ACT and possibly NZF and become PM he won’t handle the pressure of running Government and actually deal with the many issues that will need his attention. He’ll be a complete shambles as PM and Minister.
He’ll want to add it to his CV and add I-used-to-run-a-countrty, next to I-used-to-run-an-airline. He’s no different from John Key in this respect.
I think he’ll be rolled by Christmas, one way or another.
Blimey that was an interesting read. Hooton thinks Luxon is a complete idiot.
let's not forget that Hooton's job is to garner votes in the interests of the ruling classes. In this case, my guess is they want more votes going to ACT than Nat.
he's also running the perennial bullshit lines about the Greens and Nat.
True Hooton always has a hidden agenda when he says anything. His comments on Jacinda in the article are, frankly, insulting.
Yep, Mathew is a jumped up chancer, always with a “game changer” plan. Jacinda is way beyond what he ascribes to her.
Matthew 'team muller' Hooten folks. Worth remembering as he used his soapbox very effectively for that.
Didn’t work out for him and is now back doing what he does best.
Always worth recalling… 50th anniversary of Allende coup.
https://jacobin.com/2023/09/salvador-allende-chile-coup-fiftieth-anniversary-politics-socialism-anti-imperialism-legacy-memory?mc_cid=aa0621c01d&mc_eid=5a2883fd7c
There was ultimately an NZ connection too, several hundred Chilean exiles made their way to NZ as the 70s ran on, some starting printing businesses, restaurants and musical groups. I had the fortune through political networks to meet some of them and assist in various ways. The Chilean exiles always showed up when torture ship Esmeralda came to these shores. A colleague of mine was actually in Santiago for academic reasons during the coup. And…the Natzos union busting 1991 Employment Contracts Act was based in part on Chilean Labour law from Pinochet’s first Labor Secretary–José Piñera.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/José_Piñera
Leftists all had their own take on what should have and could have happened re the attack on the Presidential Palace and the long right wing destabilisation campaign. But none the less it was US Imperialism’s effort to warn the rest of Latin America not to go socialist.
We have no idea of suffering endured by Chileans like Jorge.
Jorge Sandoval MNZM
@SandovalJorge
Today 11 September, mark 50 years of the military coup in Chile. A minute for me to honor the memory of my friends killed during the tortures we suffered. Neither forgive nor forget, no to impunity.
https://twitter.com/SandovalJorge/status/1700996502129348758
https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/24-10-2018/kiwi-legend-the-chilean-refugee-who-became-a-new-zealand-cycling-star
Yes. The people I met had to flee for their very lives. The untold story perhaps is the concentration and torture camps in remote locations from Patagonia to more central Chile–horrific. That is why Pinochet had to be pursued to the end.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_abuses_in_Chile_under_Augusto_Pinochet
I can vividly recall touring the Esmeralda with my grandfather, a former boy seaman aboard the TS Amokura, and being mightily impressed with the height of the masts, the rigging, the smell, the noises, and pretty much everything else aboard.
I shudder when I think about what went on aboard during Pinochet's years.
The new austerity normal …unless we broaden our revenue streams.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/09/election-2023-government-to-open-its-books-cameron-bagrie-warns-deficits-could-become-new-normal.html
Is that the same Cameron Bagrie I remember arguing for asset sales?
Well what d'ya know? The economy is better than expected. National must be spewing!
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/497824/election-2023-pre-election-economic-and-fiscal-update-release-government-books-in-better-shape-than-expected
So NZ no longer in recession (which it never was really) with growth of 1.3% to year end June 2024.
Fitch, Standard and Poor's and Moody's still love us.
It's all a pretty good effort given the massive cost of Covid and the cyclones that hit Auckland and the East Cape and Hawke's Bay.
(The current account deficit, at 6.6% of GDP, still looks a bit rough though.)
“National must be spewing”
They wheeled out the same attack cliches they would have used whatever the PREFU said: i.e., that Grant Robertson would go down as the worst Finance Minister ever, that it was economic mismanagement on a scale never seen before, that Robertson had been spraying the money hose around.
No-one asked Luxon on the basis of what historical data had he made that characterisation of Robertson. No-one (save Tame last Sunday) would have stopped him babbling out his usual evasions in response to that question, no-one would have asked him to withdraw his assertion as he had no data, etc. Lying and catastrophising with impunity.
Far right loser Kyle Chapman charged with the unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.
those who know about….or dont..this is all a real worry. (Norinco NHM 90 kinda similar to AK 47 ? ! )
I was also boggled, seeing this name…connectivity?
The civil version of the Chinese AK knockoff.
Well…yes. A prohibited firearm. And IMO Kyle Chapman not really the kind of person to be in possession of that and ammo for same…..
I realize that trivial matters like health are not as important as opinion polls [/sarc], but in Luxon's PREFU press conference just now (available soon as links in usual media) he was repeatedly asked about Nationals' Big Lie (my description, not the reporters').
He's been coached to repeat the line "we will spend more on health". If you've seen/heard any Luxon interviews in recent days, you've probably heard it.
At the press conference several journalists, who know a con when they hear one, asked the obvious follow-up question: is that more in real terms? (allowing for inflation, population growth etc. ).
Luxon did what he always does: repeated his prepared script ("what I'm saying to you …") and didn't answer.
Cuts. If you vote National you vote for cuts in health services. It could not be any clearer if Luxon was wearing a T-shirt with the message on it.
Lying liar lies.
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https://archive.li/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/election-2023-christopher-luxon-and-the-truth-about-schools/VP7VRZL2RJFATJNESSP575AZCY/