An avowed socialist, a champion for raising the minimum wage, campaigning on recalling all overseas troops, and campaigning on climate change. And raising taxes on the rich, and controls on banks.
The opposition parties in this country should be taking notes.
It’s a typically poor analysis. Obama was winning in pledged delegates by about 60 when they went into the convention – so the superdelegates seeing the “voice of the people” swapped to his side.
Sanders is unlikely to have the pledged delegates lead in this race – so the superdelegates will see the “voice of the people” calling for Hillary and stay where they are.
For this outcome to be credible, Sanders would have to win New York and Pennsylvania. This is not very likely. But we will all actually know in a week.
Sanders claims 7 out of the last 8 primaries, but they are mostly small caucus run primaries comprising of party activists. It seems in the US, as with left wing parties elsewhere, that the activist membership is much more left than the general public who are inclined to vote left.
Interestingly, at least in NZ and Australia, that seems less true of centre-right parties. The activists pretty much mirror the voters who are vote for their parties.
We have seen one success of the last 30 odd years, that you lot are not quick to champion, and that is massive disillusionment with the political process. Your so called centre-right is about what, 1/3 of the population – if we lucky? Begs many questions, and yes of the labour party as well.
That said, I find it funny that the narrative keeps changing on Sanders to fit your world view. Congratulations for not asking him to stand down, at least that old chestnut has stopped. I’d like him to win, then we would see what the centre looks like again. Because lets face it – Bernie is nothing if not centre.
Also are you trying to deflect from the fact that many independents vote in the party primaries? And these people are not leftist on the whole, as you claim. Yes some are, some are even greens. But the overwhelming majority of these Americans see something is rotten in their system – that being corporate money in politics, and are voting against it.
Good luck with your narrative Wayne, but more and more people are becoming disillusioned with a system set up to enrich the already rich, at the expense of the poor and middle class.
Bernie will not persuade a single super delegate by trying to say that all those who don’t vote would support him, or that he can dramatically improve voter turnout in the general election.
Whoever wins, wins. Bernie cannot make a loss mean a win. He actually has to win on the votes.
I’d say Bernie has done really well in getting disillusioned voters to vote. And independents are a group we don’t understand well in New Zealand.
I don’t think Bernie has ever said he represent those who have not voted. Can’t think of a time when he has.
I look at New York with much interest, it has been rather enjoyable to watch Bernie been written off so many times, only to see him come back stronger.
But if Sanders loses, he will be following the spectacular fall of the left’s vote that has occurred in Australasia and Europe for a decade. It’s bad for your reflux to hope and risk so much on so little. You may have to learn to settle.
I’m glad I don’t have to wake up in the morning and wrestle with that kind of tortuous logic coming from my own head Ad. 😉
A guy who stood on a centrist (statist) programme, began at 5 or 10% (something like that) and will, at worst, run Clinton close. And that’s a ‘spectacular fall of the left’s (statist’s) vote’?
Still shaking my head here trying to get a grip on the thought processes behind your conclusion.
“But if Sanders loses, he will be following the spectacular fall of the left’s vote that has occurred in Australasia and Europe for a decade. It’s bad for your reflux to hope and risk so much on so little. You may have to learn to settle.” Ad
Getting a wee bit previous there, aren’t we Ad? Be careful you don’t peak too soon. And blow the whole scam.
Ad, the left’s vote has fallen for the very reason you are promoting, the Tony Blair’s and the Roger Douglas’s and the Kevin Rudd’s who have taken their parties to the right, disillusioned their support base.
Personally I think you are being a bit premature suggesting that the Labour Party go down this path this early in.
Bernie Sanders genius, is in ignoring all this “accepted wisdom”.
As I said before; it is my opinion that Labour, (and the Greens) would be well advised to take a lead from Bernie Sanders and start openly promoting similar and even more radical left policies.
Let’s see how the electorate responds.
Like Bernie Sanders they might be pleasantly surprised at the support they receive.
And, what have Labour got to lose, they seem to be on a downward spiral at the moment.
For this outcome to be credible, Sanders would have to win New York and Pennsylvania.” WAYNE
Though it is contained within the link. I didn’t, make any comment on the outcome.
It is my opinion that it is a pretty foregone conclusion that the establishment will close ranks to avert the threat from their left posed by Sanders. (Probably more effectively and with more determination than they will to oppose the threat from their right.)
What is noteworthy is the thirst for openly expressed Left wing policies by the American public.
Which seems to go against all accepted wisdom. Or so we are told.
Just watch this space:
When the Labour Party lose the next election, (which seems from all polling quite likely), I expect a huge hue and cry will be raised from the media and all the establishment pundits, (even from those within their own Party) that for Labour to win they need to be more like National and John Key, and even more conservative than they are now.
The real lesson of Bernie Sanders will be buried under an avalanche of right wing columnists and editorials and ernest to-camera monologue’s, urging Labour to move rightward.
The best Prime Minister New Zealand almost didn’t have.
Norman Kirk, as leader of the Labour Party lost two elections before he was elected Prime Minister.
The best Prime Minister New Zealand will never have.
David Cunliffe lost one election and was tumbled in an undemocratic coup by a right wing cabal inside the Labour caucus calling themselves the ABC group.
It can be strongly argued that Labour lost the election not because of David Cunliffe’s leadership but due to the fact of his very last minute promotion (over the objection of the ABC cabal) that the die had already been cast. That and the fact that David Cunliffe had to make some unpopular compromises with his right wing dominated caucus.
It is my opinion that David Cunliffe could have turned Labour’s fortunes around if he had been given the chance during this election cycle.
Instead from where we are now it looks certain that Labour is looking down the barrel of another defeat.
It is all water under the bridge now. But the sacking of David Cunliffe compared to the retention Norman Kirk, is a good example of how the conservative establishment do their best to make sure that Business Continues as Usual.
So how can this situation be remedied.
I would strongly suggest that Andrew Little start listening to David Cunliffe and promote him to a senior role in his shadow cabinet, and that Andrew Little needs to show more ABC neo-liberal hardliners where the door is.
This would be a good organisational start. But more than this Andrew Little needs, contrary to the advice of Wayne and others like him, take on board the lesson of Bernie Sanders.
“It seems in the US, as with left wing parties elsewhere that the activist membership is much more left than the general public who are inclined to vote left.”
And yet Sanders does appreciably better than Hillary in all of the one-to-one match-ups with the various possible Republican nominees (interestingly, that’s also true in the New York State Polls).
So all the world’s rich bankers and wankers avoid their tax all over the planet…
… meaning that the people’s representatives (the government) does not receive proper tax income for use in that society….
… so how about this for a means of raising income for the government…..
Abandon tax.
Government issues its own money as a proportion of the economy each year and uses that. That hits the entire economy equally across the board – fat cats, bankers and wankers, everyone, especially those with wealth and richness, who then suffer the proportionately same amount as the cleaners, drivers, teachers and preachers.
Of course there would inflationary / deflationary and other effects as well, but that cancels itself out.
So – no more tax.
Government issues its own money, at a set proportion of the economy each year, and spends it into the economy as necessary.
With these two actions we make hoarding money worthless.
We would, of course, bring natural monopolies back into government ownership and make it so that they cannot be sold. In fact, no government service will be provided by private businesses. They’re government services for a reason or three: More efficient, benefit from economies of scale but are limited to the people in the nation (i.e, extending outside the nation doesn’t extend the scale), Everyone benefits from them.
Limit income to $100k. Anything over $100k will be taxed at 100%. Really, no one needs an income greater than $100k and so anything more than that is just greed and greed is destroying our society and the environment.
These will make it so that no one will own major assets at all and remove the incentives to own ever more minor assets.
Ban offshore ownership. This will keep the prices in NZ within the bounds of those living in NZ. As far as owning housing and businesses go the market is local, not global.
That’s for starters. Haven’t got time to too much in depth but my posts and comments on TS cover quite a bit.
Under your system Draco what incentive is thier to be industrious, innovate, efficient ( ie the opposite of monopolies) , etc. How competitive would NZ be as an economy if we went with your prescription over time, Would our best and brightest stay, would we evolve or end up like eastern Europe under communism living in a time warp as the west moved on in nearly every human endeavour
I mean tax the economy. Don’t tax the people – they are too tricky…
The economy would effectively be taxed because the additional money issued would lower the value of the existing money in the system. This would happen equally and across the board. Kinda like a flat tax – so it doesn’t address the “progressive tax” issue…
But taxing people is all too hard. I was trying to think of a way to tax something inert and large and unable to be individually fiddled.. and something that applies across everyone….
… which is f course the whole lot of it…. the entire economy …. just take slice of the economy each year to pay for the essentials etc … and a slice can be taken by issuing more money….
Just print money and trust the politicians, who decides essential, when does can’t be bother just print me money become an essential. Both Draco and yourself fail to appreciate human nature in your prescription assuming we just all live in one big homogenous hippy community re our values, goals, aspirations and motivations,likewise we are totally disconnected from of the rest of the world, thus no unintended consequences ie every one chose to stay in our little paradise
On Martyn Bradbury’s Waatea TV last night Nicky Hagar gave an example of an Indonesian billionaire who burned down the rainforests for palm oil and all the profits were channelled through paper companies in untraceable tax havens so he paid no tax in Indonesia to benefit the local population. Or anywhere.
Meanwhile, as a result of this destructive industry orangutangs die (and the NZ dairy industry imports the palm kernel for cow feed). These are the stories we should be told in the mainstream media.
yep, Waatea is how the news should be, not great quality video for obvious reasons but it is way more bearable than clear images of “Hosko” and the rest of the Nat brown nosers
Tolley office “Molotov firebombing”–anyone got any updated info on this?
the PM smeared the TPPA movement via TV and other media on 5 Feb after the impressive actions of 4 Feb, by attempting to link TPPA protests to graffiti and an apparent attempted fire setting in one of Anne Tolley’s four electorate offices (one is shared with another Nat MP)
no statement from Police or Nats since, Tolley’s office is situated in an alley near a bank, with various security cams in place so some idea should have been gained as to the perpetrators
another cold case? it is frustrating that the Nats get a nationwide “hit” on the TPPA movement for free
This Waatea Fifth Estate panel discussion with Winston Peters, Grant Robertston and Nicky Hager on the Panama Papers is excellent – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7F54KgYjkQ
I don’t get it. This morning on National Radio a man was describing how careful his firm is before accepting Trusts from overseas. But why are, say English rich, putting their money in NZ Trusts? Why do they not put their Trusts in their own country like the Honorable John Key?
Oh. And no one has ever asked his firm for Trust details. Not IRD or anyone else!
His views are more relevant to the UK situation, and are superficial at best. I really hate the word ‘Islamophobia’, but I think that many who are dragging up his comments are guilty of just that. Its less about Muslims and more about the source of the Muslim immigrants.
Just do the maths: India (133m Muslims), China (133m Muslims), Indonesia (196m) Muslims, and so on. How many terrorists come from these populations? Many people from these Muslim populations are already well settled and reasonably well integrated in NZ and Australia.
The common thread in the Islamic terrorists, lack of integration and so on in European countries (with a few exceptions) are more related to Middle Eastern and Bangladeshi immigrants. Most of these have had to make a quantum change from poverty, oppression and so on.
Don’t tar all Muslim immigrants around the world with the same brush.
Superficial? He’s the former chair of the EHRC, a former leader of his student union
“When I was chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, I played a principal role in the creation of UK laws against religious discrimination — and it was a report that I commissioned exactly 20 years ago that first introduced the term Islamophobia to Britain”
I think he’s well qualified to talk about this subject
You are part of the problem and that’s why I hope that our refugee intake isn’t increased unless we give equal measure to other religions because I don’t want NZ to become like Europe
You are part of the problem and that’s why I hope that our refugee intake isn’t increased
Lol
You want to determine immigration policy based on Peter’s comments? sounds rational. /sarc
As for your idea of a quota system to allow equal representation of other religions, we could probably do with more Zoroastrians and Satanists in the country, although agnostics and atheists should be recognised, too. But is this consistent with your previous stance on Labour’s so-called “man ban”?
I’m ok with adding atheists and agnostics in as well but its more that why does one religion seem to get more publicity then any other religion (or indeed those without religion)
ISTR watching John Oliver a while back, and he made a persuasive case that “muslim” refugees (and refugees in general) have a lower crime rate than the population into which they flee.
Just food for thought, should you decide to think.
Not, the proposition wasn’t that there was no crime associated with immigrants. Just that the crime rate, even of the “muslim” immigrants who scare you so much, is lower than the general population they flee to. So a higher proportion of slave trafficking rings would be ruin by non-muslims, similarly with other sexual assaults. And your link to the school was about the local school princopal being as racist as you.
Like I say, if you want to start actually thinking, there are places you can go for help.
What do you think is happening in europe and aus, first?
Let’s say criminals in a population are like alcohol concentration: if you take a drop of wine and put it in a bottle of whiskey, is the resulting concoction more or less alcoholic? Wine is refugees, whiskey is the population they flee to.
Wow so adding child like xenophobia to your list of faults Puckish Rouge.
Desperate for a distraction from you corrupt and bent mate John Key.
Woken up the fact that this national government is possibly the worst in our history have we, so looking for scape goats and new things to raise false flags about.
What a sad, sad human being you are.
Look the Alpha programme may help, let me know where you live and I’ll see if we can infuse some love into your heart.
That’s an astronomical price for a 124 square metre house on 360 square metres of land. Who’s going to be fool enough to buy that?
I thought it was bad enough around our way. One developer has been trying to flog off 124 square metre houses in an MDH project. 30 units crammed onto a hillside, with the plan that they will be developed in 3 stages. Well, they started out on stage one two years ago with the units being marketed at $465K. It went up to $485K, then to $494K and now they are $508K. 3 units have sold from the first stage. The first purchase was 18 months ago and none of the units have been completed yet. Developer logic is “houses won’t sell, raise the price”.
Time will tell how any of of these SHA’s around the country will contribute to the stock of “affordable homes”. I’m not holding my breath for the Wellington region. Our council has a disturbingly cosy relationship with developers.
The SHA is another government farce and botch up – in Auckland they are selling for 1 million in Huapai.
It really is some sort of Marie Antoinette moment of the government.
Thanks for those ‘affordable’ houses Key. Neoliberalism really works! A bit like how NZ is ‘not a tax haven’ for his offshore buddies even though we are mentioned 60,000 times. sarc.
I guess the issue is, from what I’ve read, is that the offending is at the lower end of the scale so there’s no other physical evidence to back the complainant up so it comes down to their word against his and since you need to be sure beyond reasonable doubt…
Which is always the case with the nature of this type of offending. It’s so easy for offenders to get away with it, they have the immediate advantage of a lack of physical evidence of their offending, over their victims.
I worry that these girls, alongside thousands of others that have gone before them, won’t get the justice they deserve.
Yes but only if what they say is true of course (I’m inclined to believe them as their stories seem to corroborate each other but of course I haven’t sat in on the case)
Firstly why would two young girls lie and put themselves thru the wringer,
And secondly if you were going to lie to get someone in the shit wouldn’t your allegations be of a more serious nature than these ones are?
Yes, well I guess the girls thought it would be a real hoot to make something up, make a police complaint, talk to adults about intimate parts of their bodies that a young girl is only getting used to the idea of, spend ages waiting for it to go to trial and then have their experiences laid bare to strangers and cope with a defence that rips them to shreds and belittles them.
Totally in it for the lols.
So yes, I do have a bias to support girls and women who make such allegations, knowing how often such experiences are never reported and how much strength and courage it takes for a person to go through this process. So if I’ve got my blinkers on, it’s for good reason.
Comments above show why similar cases often end with Jury stalemates.
In any group of 12 jurors there is highly likely to be at least one who believes the victim/s would not make the claim unless it was true, and at least one juror who believes that an accusation without evidence cannot possibly meet the test of ‘beyond reasonable doubt’.
if neither is prepared to shift their position, Jury is stalemated. I was involved in one of those juries once, and before dismissing us the judge informed us not to feel bad because we were the third jury to be ‘hung’ on the same case.
So the victims and accused had been through the wringer 3 times….and the expense to taxpayer was?
Personally, I would rather see such cases be tried purely by a Judge.
Very good point The lost sheep, thanks for making It.
I feel being a prom…… in NZ and being tried in your home base,Judge along wound been mandatory, does anyone now were the law stands, will the defendant choose.
But there are also cases of where men have been unjustly complained against, and had their lives ruined.
Im not saying that in this case at all (I havn’t been watching it that closely) – but I do know that cases like this people need ALL the information and blinkers (from any side) – are harmful.
however, you obviously have some history – and I can understand that impacts your view on things – which is only natural. So can understand (as much as I can) where you are coming from.
But there are a lot on here that want him found guilty – simply because of the damage it could do to [you know who].
Honestly – I just hope that justice prevails – whatever the outcome and that people can accept the verdict from people who have heard all the facts.
Note – if he is guilty – I hope they throw the book at him.
You know what? I do know of one man who was accused of attempted rape and he was actually innocent. The complainant had a certain motivation against this man. I do know how his life was affected for quite some before the charges were dropped.
However, the issue is that, to quote a completely misunderstood politician, “family and sexual violence is perpetrated overwhelmingly by men, so the first message to men out there is to wake up, stand up man up and stop this bullshit”.
Key word is “overwhelmingly”. So you know the odds are stacked against women and children.
I think it was quite normal to be suspicious of the man in this case, given our statistics in NZ. But he has been not found guilty. That has to be accepted.
But there are a lot on here that want him found guilty – simply because of the damage it could do to [you know who].
You believe that, your fucken idiot.
To many prominent people are getting away with this heinous crime, and you Mr are politicizing this, their is censorship, so I will stop here for the moment.
I think we are more interested in seeing Key’s tax returns for the last 8 years he has been PM.
Nothing to hide nothing to fear and all that.
Plus John Key is sooooo honest, cos he tells us that. And gives all his salary to charity. NZ is not a tax haven and he his blind trusts are irrelevant. I’m sure he doesn’t have quillions in his kids names around the globe.
Oh you poor blind, deluded fool (and I don’t mean that harshly) you and others like yourself have so much irrational hatred for John Key built up that you’re just like a dog barking at any passing car in the forlorn hope that’ll finally be the issue to bring down John Key
Most people will see it for what it is and that’s just a cheap, meaningless political stunt.
They’ll think that they wouldn’t want their tax returns published so why should John Key
They’ll think of course John Key has trusts because he’s wealthy (he’s never hidden it) and they’ll think they’d do the same if they were in his position
They’ll think as long as he’s following the rules then its ok
and then they’ll think of Labour and all they’ll think of is spite, negativity and malice
That’s what we want to know!
What is it that he is desperately trying to hide?
Remember that this is the result of only one of the four largest firms dealing in this sort of stuff. It implicates 140 politicians around the globe avoiding tax in their own countries or worse.
We know Key has “blind” trusts.
The chances are he is as heavily implicated in this sort of shinanagans as the rest.
Or in other words, it’s not good enough for our public officials to merely be honest. They must be demonstrably honest.
That’s one thing I learned from my security days – someone checking up on me wasn’t that they didn’t trust me, it was so that if shit happened in a high risk environment, they could vouch that I’d done everything properly.
Seems only fair that the people know whether the person who railroaded through the changes that made NZ a tax haven (and then ignored advice on seven separate occasions to rectify the problem) benefitted personally from those changes.
that is what we want to find out!
We know he is a lying bastard – especially where his personal trusts are concerned. He has been the one driving, the new zero tax regime for foreign investors (quid pro quo?), and he is the one who has appointed the sham Shewan to do a whitewash of the whole affair. His actions speak of one giant arse cover-up!
yes. Because numbers get their meaning and importance from their context. 60 is a number. $60 in your pocket is pretty good. 60 charges against you in court is pretty bad. But your IQ of 60 should get you off most of those charges due to mental incompetence.
The meaning and importance comes from the context.
@ Mcflock 60 is a number. $60 in your pocket is pretty good. 60 charges against you in court is pretty bad. But your IQ of 60 should get you off most of those charges due to mental incompetence
60 is pretty good or pretty bad? And this from someone who once claimed that… “75,000 might or might not be significant”
It’s all in the context….and the context is what suits you at the time as far as I can see.
Fuck 75,000, 75 million might be insignificant: 75 million tonnes of gold or 75 million gold atoms would have significantly different value, no?
But you’d argue that 75 million gold atoms (a tiny fraction of a gram) is just as a significant amount of gold as around 100 times all the gold ever mined. Because you’re a moron.
context is what suits you at the time
No, context is “the parts of something written or spoken that immediately precede and follow a word or passage and clarify its meaning.” Learn english, fucko.
“If he has nothing to hide he should show his returns”
Because hes done nothing wrong or been shown to have done anything wrong or theres been nothing to link him to anything wrong because you’re just fishing for evidence…any of the above really
How long have these documents been out for…over a year, I’d bet Nicky Hagers already had a look so if there was anything it’d be known about already
Unless of course Nicky just sits on it until about 4 weeks out from the next election like the little creep he is
There’s really only one response to that, and that’s a quote from Frank Marvin, the late editor of Mountain Scene, my local paper.
“If you don’t want it on the front page, don’t do it”
Frank was a top man, and utterly fearless in his reporting of the goings on around Queenstown and always had plenty of material. He was very effective at keeping the place in order. His world view was quite different to Hager’s though.
Every year since 2006 MP’s have been required to declare their Financial Interests
MP’s should also be unaverse to declaring their tax returns as well if they have nothing to hide. They are the ones who set the taxes – they should show they they are above board in that regard as well.
When you cry wolf all the time, when most of what you say is a lie, and sorry Puckish Rouge, but your track record is quite bad – especially when you parrot the party line.
So here is some hints; Try not lying, try being reasonable, try not ranting with hyperbole some time, and we may listen.
Then again in this case the national government dropped the ball, they created a tax haven, tarnished our good name and besmirched us all.
The problem is national party supporters like yourself rather than own up to that, go on the attack. Engage in dirty politics and then moan about it when we call you on it.
The poor me routine is very bloody tiresome. As is the distractions. I see your boy Brash decided Racism was the distraction the government needed this time.
So quite frankly Puckish Rogue, a amoral punter like yourself, could take a look at the lack of morals shown in the last few days or you could just carry on moaning.
Exactly – I’ve sat on the jury one of these sort of cases and after 2 weeks of evidence and a whole raft of “prominent NZers” giving “evidence in support” of the accused – convicted and discharged.
Anyone else would be in the big house.
I suppose we have to accept the jury decision. Assuming he is innocent it will find it hard to be left alone with other people’s kids. Stigma is not always fair.
There’s a difference between that and doing it socially. Although I’m prepared to accept it might be a cultural variation I have, but the only people I’ve given or received social massages from have been folks with whom it added a little frisson of enjoyment to both. Just as Tony Rockyhorror should have known.
Regardless of this case, all too often, the “privileged” are able to manipulate outcomes in court hearings, justice, sometimes, appears to be a commodity.
See, here’s the thing. I don’t believe you, Mr “Prominent Man.” I think you were grooming the girls so you could keep sexually abusing them. I think that’s why you were buying them things. I think it was going to get worse – as one girl said, she was scared you were going to rape her – and I think the best outcome of this whole travesty is that the girls actually got it to stop.
I was up against a Public Service superior years ago who was terrorising me (no, not sexually but something equally as frightening) both in the workplace and beyond. I reported him to the management. He lied to them. They believed him because of his superior position. My career ended in tatters but at least the terrorising stopped.
My wife had a similar experience with one of her previous employers, at the final hearing, the employer thought they had the case wrapped up, my wife is not good at defending herself, so knowing the circumstances of the case, I spoke up and put forward a couple of very pertinent questions surrounding the validity of the accusations against my wife, these questions resulted in a win for my wife, but if I hadn’t been there, the employer would have won, he had tried to pay off our lawyer with a bribe as well, I’m just glad Iv’e got a big mouth and a willingness to challenge the BS.
The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 17.1.3.2.3.2
It’s the firm his lawyer works for now. So likeliest explanation is that Key’s lawyer held the deposit for something in trust (the firm’s trust) for a short time, as is usual when making decent sized financial transactions. One example – many here bought a house? The usual process is the deposit is held by your lawyer in a trust until settlement.
Keep in mind the declarations for this register were made before 31st Jan 2016 – it’s not like Key has suddenly declared this transaction in the wake of the Panama Papers.
Unfortunately, it’s not a smoking gun. This appears to be just a financial “interest”, held in trust by a lawyer, acting on Key’s behalf, for some as yet unknown purpose.
There appears to be no tax avoidance or evasion that we can see. He was required to declare it and was right to do so.
Despite the attempts by Patrick Gower et al to suggest that the funds held are suspect by association with the company the lawyer now works for are a bit much.
To have Key caught out would a delight but alas – but I will be watching this space
Not sure any legitimate poster here has suggested this is a smoking gun. BM and his right wing allies are suggesting the socially conscious left believe it to be a smoking gun but that is not the case.
Given the current attention around New Zealand being a soft touch for secretive funds, this is what the media says it is – embarrassing for John Key.
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Looking at the headlines this morning it’s hard to feel anything other than pessimistic about the future of humanity.Note that I’m not speaking about the future of mankind, but the survival of our humanity. The values that we believe in seem to be ebbing away, by the day.Perhaps every generation ...
Swabbing mixed breed baby chicks to test for avian influenzaUh oh. Bird flu – often deadly to humans – is not only being transmitted from infected birds to dairy cows, but is now travelling between dairy cows. As of last Friday, Bloomberg News reports, there were 32 American dairy herds ...
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 ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
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 ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
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. ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
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 ...
A poem by Wellington writer Tayi Tibble.Hoki Mai She kisses him goodbye with her eyes still wet and alight from their last swim in the Awatere river. At the train station celebration, she leads the Kapa Haka but her voice keeps breaking under and over itself like waves. ...
A poem from Bill Manhire’s 2017 book of verse Some Things to Place in a Coffin.My World War I Poem Inside each trench, the sound of prayer. Inside each prayer, the sound of digging. Image courtesy of Auckland War Memorial Museum. ...
There are three books I have wolfed down in one sitting over the last two years. Colleen Maria Lenihan’s gorgeous and sad debut Kōhine, Noelle McCarthy’s memoir Grand about becoming her mother and then unbecoming her, and now Hine Toa, a staunch yet gentle self-portrait by living legend Ngāhuia te ...
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A year ago – who had even heard of Bernie Sanders?
http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/sanders-become-democratic-nominee-even-if-clinton-leads-in-delegates_b_9657952.html?
Bernie Sanders Will Become Democratic Nominee Even If Clinton Leads in Delegates
____________________________
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
Great point. Penny.
An avowed socialist, a champion for raising the minimum wage, campaigning on recalling all overseas troops, and campaigning on climate change. And raising taxes on the rich, and controls on banks.
The opposition parties in this country should be taking notes.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/poll-flag-flop-fails-dent-governments-popularity
It’s a typically poor analysis. Obama was winning in pledged delegates by about 60 when they went into the convention – so the superdelegates seeing the “voice of the people” swapped to his side.
Sanders is unlikely to have the pledged delegates lead in this race – so the superdelegates will see the “voice of the people” calling for Hillary and stay where they are.
Penny and Jenny,
For this outcome to be credible, Sanders would have to win New York and Pennsylvania. This is not very likely. But we will all actually know in a week.
Sanders claims 7 out of the last 8 primaries, but they are mostly small caucus run primaries comprising of party activists. It seems in the US, as with left wing parties elsewhere, that the activist membership is much more left than the general public who are inclined to vote left.
Interestingly, at least in NZ and Australia, that seems less true of centre-right parties. The activists pretty much mirror the voters who are vote for their parties.
Sanders was 10 points behind in the last NY poll, so he has that in the bag.
Those who vote Wayne.
We have seen one success of the last 30 odd years, that you lot are not quick to champion, and that is massive disillusionment with the political process. Your so called centre-right is about what, 1/3 of the population – if we lucky? Begs many questions, and yes of the labour party as well.
That said, I find it funny that the narrative keeps changing on Sanders to fit your world view. Congratulations for not asking him to stand down, at least that old chestnut has stopped. I’d like him to win, then we would see what the centre looks like again. Because lets face it – Bernie is nothing if not centre.
Also are you trying to deflect from the fact that many independents vote in the party primaries? And these people are not leftist on the whole, as you claim. Yes some are, some are even greens. But the overwhelming majority of these Americans see something is rotten in their system – that being corporate money in politics, and are voting against it.
Good luck with your narrative Wayne, but more and more people are becoming disillusioned with a system set up to enrich the already rich, at the expense of the poor and middle class.
Adam,
As I said we will all know within a week.
In a literal sense only those who vote count.
Bernie will not persuade a single super delegate by trying to say that all those who don’t vote would support him, or that he can dramatically improve voter turnout in the general election.
Whoever wins, wins. Bernie cannot make a loss mean a win. He actually has to win on the votes.
Wayne,
I’d say Bernie has done really well in getting disillusioned voters to vote. And independents are a group we don’t understand well in New Zealand.
I don’t think Bernie has ever said he represent those who have not voted. Can’t think of a time when he has.
I look at New York with much interest, it has been rather enjoyable to watch Bernie been written off so many times, only to see him come back stronger.
But if Sanders loses, he will be following the spectacular fall of the left’s vote that has occurred in Australasia and Europe for a decade. It’s bad for your reflux to hope and risk so much on so little. You may have to learn to settle.
I’m glad I don’t have to wake up in the morning and wrestle with that kind of tortuous logic coming from my own head Ad. 😉
A guy who stood on a centrist (statist) programme, began at 5 or 10% (something like that) and will, at worst, run Clinton close. And that’s a ‘spectacular fall of the left’s (statist’s) vote’?
Still shaking my head here trying to get a grip on the thought processes behind your conclusion.
Hope can be terrible.
We can see the backlash ready if Trump loses.
Same on the left, with less blood and more handwringing.
Check out thus weeks’ Economist; it tracks the decline of the leftie vote.
Try this on for size then Ad
I hope you can live with the establishment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TTeBfgMh3I&mc_cid=fd13db2f17&mc_eid=524e48683c
Hope:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrDXM8ROdls
Getting a wee bit previous there, aren’t we Ad? Be careful you don’t peak too soon. And blow the whole scam.
Ad, the left’s vote has fallen for the very reason you are promoting, the Tony Blair’s and the Roger Douglas’s and the Kevin Rudd’s who have taken their parties to the right, disillusioned their support base.
Personally I think you are being a bit premature suggesting that the Labour Party go down this path this early in.
Bernie Sanders genius, is in ignoring all this “accepted wisdom”.
As I said before; it is my opinion that Labour, (and the Greens) would be well advised to take a lead from Bernie Sanders and start openly promoting similar and even more radical left policies.
Let’s see how the electorate responds.
Like Bernie Sanders they might be pleasantly surprised at the support they receive.
And, what have Labour got to lose, they seem to be on a downward spiral at the moment.
@Ad, more “Sensible Talk”
http://www.dailykos.com/blog/Tom%20Tomorrow/
Which recent state win did Bernie have recently where only days before the polls had him 20% behind Clinton?
Which state win did Bernie have recently where only days before the polls had him 20% behind Clinton?
Though it is contained within the link. I didn’t, make any comment on the outcome.
It is my opinion that it is a pretty foregone conclusion that the establishment will close ranks to avert the threat from their left posed by Sanders. (Probably more effectively and with more determination than they will to oppose the threat from their right.)
What is noteworthy is the thirst for openly expressed Left wing policies by the American public.
Which seems to go against all accepted wisdom. Or so we are told.
Just watch this space:
When the Labour Party lose the next election, (which seems from all polling quite likely), I expect a huge hue and cry will be raised from the media and all the establishment pundits, (even from those within their own Party) that for Labour to win they need to be more like National and John Key, and even more conservative than they are now.
The real lesson of Bernie Sanders will be buried under an avalanche of right wing columnists and editorials and ernest to-camera monologue’s, urging Labour to move rightward.
The best Prime Minister New Zealand almost didn’t have.
Norman Kirk, as leader of the Labour Party lost two elections before he was elected Prime Minister.
The best Prime Minister New Zealand will never have.
David Cunliffe lost one election and was tumbled in an undemocratic coup by a right wing cabal inside the Labour caucus calling themselves the ABC group.
It can be strongly argued that Labour lost the election not because of David Cunliffe’s leadership but due to the fact of his very last minute promotion (over the objection of the ABC cabal) that the die had already been cast. That and the fact that David Cunliffe had to make some unpopular compromises with his right wing dominated caucus.
It is my opinion that David Cunliffe could have turned Labour’s fortunes around if he had been given the chance during this election cycle.
Instead from where we are now it looks certain that Labour is looking down the barrel of another defeat.
It is all water under the bridge now. But the sacking of David Cunliffe compared to the retention Norman Kirk, is a good example of how the conservative establishment do their best to make sure that Business Continues as Usual.
So how can this situation be remedied.
I would strongly suggest that Andrew Little start listening to David Cunliffe and promote him to a senior role in his shadow cabinet, and that Andrew Little needs to show more ABC neo-liberal hardliners where the door is.
This would be a good organisational start. But more than this Andrew Little needs, contrary to the advice of Wayne and others like him, take on board the lesson of Bernie Sanders.
@ Wayne
“It seems in the US, as with left wing parties elsewhere that the activist membership is much more left than the general public who are inclined to vote left.”
And yet Sanders does appreciably better than Hillary in all of the one-to-one match-ups with the various possible Republican nominees (interestingly, that’s also true in the New York State Polls).
Abso-bloody-lutely
Was Unaoil one of the oil industry lobbyists for New Zealand deep sea oil concessions?
Serious questions need to be asked in parliament by opposition MPs of the government and the Labour Party.
The two biggest companies and only individual named so far in the New Zealand Shell company tax haven scandal,
Mossack Fonseca (Tax evasion)
Unaoil (Bribery)
And their Kiwi Frontman Ian Taylor (Gun running)
Have all been raided by the police, and are facing serious investigation, in overseas jurisdictions.
Have any government, (or opposition) MPs ever met with agents of Mossack Fonseca, Unaoil, or Ian Taylor?
So all the world’s rich bankers and wankers avoid their tax all over the planet…
… meaning that the people’s representatives (the government) does not receive proper tax income for use in that society….
… so how about this for a means of raising income for the government…..
Abandon tax.
Government issues its own money as a proportion of the economy each year and uses that. That hits the entire economy equally across the board – fat cats, bankers and wankers, everyone, especially those with wealth and richness, who then suffer the proportionately same amount as the cleaners, drivers, teachers and preachers.
Of course there would inflationary / deflationary and other effects as well, but that cancels itself out.
So – no more tax.
Government issues its own money, at a set proportion of the economy each year, and spends it into the economy as necessary.
No more hiding from tax.
Kinda. The government would create the money that it needs to fully fund itself every year. None of this proportionate BS.
But can we abandon tax? I’m not sure on that one. I think it would be more that we would be changing what, when and how things are taxed.
We would be looking at demurrage. And we’d make it progressive so that the more money you had in the bank the more you would pay.
We would be looking to decrease interest rates to zero.
With these two actions we make hoarding money worthless.
We would, of course, bring natural monopolies back into government ownership and make it so that they cannot be sold. In fact, no government service will be provided by private businesses. They’re government services for a reason or three: More efficient, benefit from economies of scale but are limited to the people in the nation (i.e, extending outside the nation doesn’t extend the scale), Everyone benefits from them.
Limit income to $100k. Anything over $100k will be taxed at 100%. Really, no one needs an income greater than $100k and so anything more than that is just greed and greed is destroying our society and the environment.
These will make it so that no one will own major assets at all and remove the incentives to own ever more minor assets.
Ban offshore ownership. This will keep the prices in NZ within the bounds of those living in NZ. As far as owning housing and businesses go the market is local, not global.
That’s for starters. Haven’t got time to too much in depth but my posts and comments on TS cover quite a bit.
Under your system Draco what incentive is thier to be industrious, innovate, efficient ( ie the opposite of monopolies) , etc. How competitive would NZ be as an economy if we went with your prescription over time, Would our best and brightest stay, would we evolve or end up like eastern Europe under communism living in a time warp as the west moved on in nearly every human endeavour
Yes, comical.
Lots. People aren’t motivated the way that RWNJs think that they’re motivated and, in fact, they fuck up badly when paid more.
Massively so.
Yes they would as they would actually have something to challenge them rather than being forced into being a bloody farmer.
What’s destroying NZ is RWNJ ideology. In fact, it’s destroying the environment and all other societies as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc
Not convincing Draco, sorry and F
Draco and others…
I mean tax the economy. Don’t tax the people – they are too tricky…
The economy would effectively be taxed because the additional money issued would lower the value of the existing money in the system. This would happen equally and across the board. Kinda like a flat tax – so it doesn’t address the “progressive tax” issue…
But taxing people is all too hard. I was trying to think of a way to tax something inert and large and unable to be individually fiddled.. and something that applies across everyone….
… which is f course the whole lot of it…. the entire economy …. just take slice of the economy each year to pay for the essentials etc … and a slice can be taken by issuing more money….
conceptually I think it works…
Just print money and trust the politicians, who decides essential, when does can’t be bother just print me money become an essential. Both Draco and yourself fail to appreciate human nature in your prescription assuming we just all live in one big homogenous hippy community re our values, goals, aspirations and motivations,likewise we are totally disconnected from of the rest of the world, thus no unintended consequences ie every one chose to stay in our little paradise
If the UK required one single set of tax laws across its Caribbean protectorate we would start narrowing further the Rabbit holes of the 1%.
I suspect the UK review will broaden to this.
Protectorates
Very few would trust the government to have this amount of power.
I wouldn’t.
Winston Peters was excellent this morning on RNZ. The interviewer was very cynical and didn’t know his stuff, Winston schooled him.
Yes winnie runs rings around these jonolists we have.
The opposition in general need to treat them as the shills they are to wrest back the narrative from CT spin lines
On Martyn Bradbury’s Waatea TV last night Nicky Hagar gave an example of an Indonesian billionaire who burned down the rainforests for palm oil and all the profits were channelled through paper companies in untraceable tax havens so he paid no tax in Indonesia to benefit the local population. Or anywhere.
Meanwhile, as a result of this destructive industry orangutangs die (and the NZ dairy industry imports the palm kernel for cow feed). These are the stories we should be told in the mainstream media.
yep, Waatea is how the news should be, not great quality video for obvious reasons but it is way more bearable than clear images of “Hosko” and the rest of the Nat brown nosers
It was a great episode – Grant Robertson, Winston Peters and Nicky Hager – worth watching they all came across really well.
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/04/11/waatea-5th-estate-the-panama-papers-special/
Thanks again, saveNZ
Tolley office “Molotov firebombing”–anyone got any updated info on this?
the PM smeared the TPPA movement via TV and other media on 5 Feb after the impressive actions of 4 Feb, by attempting to link TPPA protests to graffiti and an apparent attempted fire setting in one of Anne Tolley’s four electorate offices (one is shared with another Nat MP)
no statement from Police or Nats since, Tolley’s office is situated in an alley near a bank, with various security cams in place so some idea should have been gained as to the perpetrators
another cold case? it is frustrating that the Nats get a nationwide “hit” on the TPPA movement for free
thats the first i hear about it. don’t think the ‘hit’ went that far.
This Waatea Fifth Estate panel discussion with Winston Peters, Grant Robertston and Nicky Hager on the Panama Papers is excellent – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7F54KgYjkQ
I don’t get it. This morning on National Radio a man was describing how careful his firm is before accepting Trusts from overseas. But why are, say English rich, putting their money in NZ Trusts? Why do they not put their Trusts in their own country like the Honorable John Key?
Oh. And no one has ever asked his firm for Trust details. Not IRD or anyone else!
He finally got it, 20 years too late but he finally got it. Will NZ repeat the mistakes of Europe?
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/04/trevor-phillips-is-finally-discovering-the-pitfalls-of-the-term-islamophobia/
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3533161/This-life-death-struggle-stark-analysis-former-equalities-chief-reveals-extremist-ideas-allowed-flourish.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2996235/At-man-dares-tell-truth-race-Ex-race-tsar-says-silencing-debate-devastating-harm-Britain.html
Finally a leftie with the courage to speak out…theres a lesson there somewhere
His views are more relevant to the UK situation, and are superficial at best. I really hate the word ‘Islamophobia’, but I think that many who are dragging up his comments are guilty of just that. Its less about Muslims and more about the source of the Muslim immigrants.
Just do the maths: India (133m Muslims), China (133m Muslims), Indonesia (196m) Muslims, and so on. How many terrorists come from these populations? Many people from these Muslim populations are already well settled and reasonably well integrated in NZ and Australia.
The common thread in the Islamic terrorists, lack of integration and so on in European countries (with a few exceptions) are more related to Middle Eastern and Bangladeshi immigrants. Most of these have had to make a quantum change from poverty, oppression and so on.
Don’t tar all Muslim immigrants around the world with the same brush.
Muslim population data:
http://www.islamicweb.com/begin/population.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevor_Phillips
Superficial? He’s the former chair of the EHRC, a former leader of his student union
“When I was chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, I played a principal role in the creation of UK laws against religious discrimination — and it was a report that I commissioned exactly 20 years ago that first introduced the term Islamophobia to Britain”
I think he’s well qualified to talk about this subject
Being a former head of his student union is relevant how exactly?
Former head of EHRC does not mean his views now are correct, any more than his views then were correct.
Its superficial in that he treats all muslim immigrants as though they are of one mind.
You are part of the problem and that’s why I hope that our refugee intake isn’t increased unless we give equal measure to other religions because I don’t want NZ to become like Europe
Lol
You want to determine immigration policy based on Peter’s comments? sounds rational. /sarc
As for your idea of a quota system to allow equal representation of other religions, we could probably do with more Zoroastrians and Satanists in the country, although agnostics and atheists should be recognised, too. But is this consistent with your previous stance on Labour’s so-called “man ban”?
Not quite sure how you’re linking man-bans with religion but that does remind me of something, where’s Tracey got to?
I always enjoyed reading her posts
I’m just intrigued as to why you favour a quota for religion but not for gender.
I’m ok with adding atheists and agnostics in as well but its more that why does one religion seem to get more publicity then any other religion (or indeed those without religion)
You sure it’s not more why some people get their knickers in a bigger twist over one religion than they do over many others?
I don’t mind saying that I’d like to stop all Muslim refugees from entering NZ from this point on if that’s what you’re getting at
There are plenty of refugees out there we can take from many religious beliefs or none at all
ISTR watching John Oliver a while back, and he made a persuasive case that “muslim” refugees (and refugees in general) have a lower crime rate than the population into which they flee.
Just food for thought, should you decide to think.
So what?
I’m sure a case can be also made for child sex rings run by Muslims:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotherham_child_sexual_exploitation_scandal
As can cases for random bombings (far too many to link to but I’m sure you’ll agree that I don’t need to prove it)
Or the dangers school kids face:
https://www.rt.com/news/270214-bavaria-muslim-school-clothes/
Or how about this: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/cologne-attacks-what-happened-after-1000-women-were-sexually-assaulted-a6867071.html
So yeah bring in our quota of refugees but lets leave the Muslims to other countries
Not, the proposition wasn’t that there was no crime associated with immigrants. Just that the crime rate, even of the “muslim” immigrants who scare you so much, is lower than the general population they flee to. So a higher proportion of slave trafficking rings would be ruin by non-muslims, similarly with other sexual assaults. And your link to the school was about the local school princopal being as racist as you.
Like I say, if you want to start actually thinking, there are places you can go for help.
No McFlock, we have enough problems in NZ without importing more, known, problems into NZ
What makes you think that whats happening in Europe and, recently in Australia, can’t happen here
I know you’re that naïve so what is it?
What do you think is happening in europe and aus, first?
Let’s say criminals in a population are like alcohol concentration: if you take a drop of wine and put it in a bottle of whiskey, is the resulting concoction more or less alcoholic? Wine is refugees, whiskey is the population they flee to.
Wow so adding child like xenophobia to your list of faults Puckish Rouge.
Desperate for a distraction from you corrupt and bent mate John Key.
Woken up the fact that this national government is possibly the worst in our history have we, so looking for scape goats and new things to raise false flags about.
What a sad, sad human being you are.
Look the Alpha programme may help, let me know where you live and I’ll see if we can infuse some love into your heart.
Well, whatever happened to the Special Housing Areas being for “affordable” homes?
The first one to come on stream in the Wakatipu hits the market with a house package at $755,000.00 More like special developer profits
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/379362/entry-level-home-755000
That’s an astronomical price for a 124 square metre house on 360 square metres of land. Who’s going to be fool enough to buy that?
I thought it was bad enough around our way. One developer has been trying to flog off 124 square metre houses in an MDH project. 30 units crammed onto a hillside, with the plan that they will be developed in 3 stages. Well, they started out on stage one two years ago with the units being marketed at $465K. It went up to $485K, then to $494K and now they are $508K. 3 units have sold from the first stage. The first purchase was 18 months ago and none of the units have been completed yet. Developer logic is “houses won’t sell, raise the price”.
Time will tell how any of of these SHA’s around the country will contribute to the stock of “affordable homes”. I’m not holding my breath for the Wellington region. Our council has a disturbingly cosy relationship with developers.
The SHA is another government farce and botch up – in Auckland they are selling for 1 million in Huapai.
It really is some sort of Marie Antoinette moment of the government.
Thanks for those ‘affordable’ houses Key. Neoliberalism really works! A bit like how NZ is ‘not a tax haven’ for his offshore buddies even though we are mentioned 60,000 times. sarc.
Hmmm. Stalemate.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/78824702/prominent-new-zealander-trial-jury-at-stalemate
I guess the issue is, from what I’ve read, is that the offending is at the lower end of the scale so there’s no other physical evidence to back the complainant up so it comes down to their word against his and since you need to be sure beyond reasonable doubt…
Which is always the case with the nature of this type of offending. It’s so easy for offenders to get away with it, they have the immediate advantage of a lack of physical evidence of their offending, over their victims.
I worry that these girls, alongside thousands of others that have gone before them, won’t get the justice they deserve.
Yes but only if what they say is true of course (I’m inclined to believe them as their stories seem to corroborate each other but of course I haven’t sat in on the case)
Firstly why would two young girls lie and put themselves thru the wringer,
And secondly if you were going to lie to get someone in the shit wouldn’t your allegations be of a more serious nature than these ones are?
I don’t know and that’s why we have trials
Its happened before.
You are assuming that he is guilty. It may be that the people who have heard the evidence think he isnt (well enough of them to cause this stalemate).
It could be that he is innocent – so no justice to the girls is required. Just the opposite in fact.
I guess we have to wait for the jury decision to know huh.
Yes, well I guess the girls thought it would be a real hoot to make something up, make a police complaint, talk to adults about intimate parts of their bodies that a young girl is only getting used to the idea of, spend ages waiting for it to go to trial and then have their experiences laid bare to strangers and cope with a defence that rips them to shreds and belittles them.
Totally in it for the lols.
So yes, I do have a bias to support girls and women who make such allegations, knowing how often such experiences are never reported and how much strength and courage it takes for a person to go through this process. So if I’ve got my blinkers on, it’s for good reason.
Its good you have your blinkers on and the stats are skewed against complainants but its still innocent until proven guilty
Peter Ellis may have a different view though
Comments above show why similar cases often end with Jury stalemates.
In any group of 12 jurors there is highly likely to be at least one who believes the victim/s would not make the claim unless it was true, and at least one juror who believes that an accusation without evidence cannot possibly meet the test of ‘beyond reasonable doubt’.
if neither is prepared to shift their position, Jury is stalemated. I was involved in one of those juries once, and before dismissing us the judge informed us not to feel bad because we were the third jury to be ‘hung’ on the same case.
So the victims and accused had been through the wringer 3 times….and the expense to taxpayer was?
Personally, I would rather see such cases be tried purely by a Judge.
Pretty sure that’s why we no longer go for unanimous jury decisions.
Or is that still in the too hard basket for National?
Very good point The lost sheep, thanks for making It.
I feel being a prom…… in NZ and being tried in your home base,Judge along wound been mandatory, does anyone now were the law stands, will the defendant choose.
I can understand that Rosie.
But there are also cases of where men have been unjustly complained against, and had their lives ruined.
Im not saying that in this case at all (I havn’t been watching it that closely) – but I do know that cases like this people need ALL the information and blinkers (from any side) – are harmful.
however, you obviously have some history – and I can understand that impacts your view on things – which is only natural. So can understand (as much as I can) where you are coming from.
But there are a lot on here that want him found guilty – simply because of the damage it could do to [you know who].
Honestly – I just hope that justice prevails – whatever the outcome and that people can accept the verdict from people who have heard all the facts.
Note – if he is guilty – I hope they throw the book at him.
Agreed, if found guilty then he needs to be named while suppressing all details of the victims and his relationship to the victims
He’s been found not guilty. Stuff still have the story under the original heading:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/78824702/prominent-new-zealander-trial-jury-at-stalemate.html
You know what? I do know of one man who was accused of attempted rape and he was actually innocent. The complainant had a certain motivation against this man. I do know how his life was affected for quite some before the charges were dropped.
However, the issue is that, to quote a completely misunderstood politician, “family and sexual violence is perpetrated overwhelmingly by men, so the first message to men out there is to wake up, stand up man up and stop this bullshit”.
Key word is “overwhelmingly”. So you know the odds are stacked against women and children.
http://areyouok.org.nz/family-violence/statistics/
I think it was quite normal to be suspicious of the man in this case, given our statistics in NZ. But he has been not found guilty. That has to be accepted.
To james
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/78821057/labour-leader-andrew-little-to-release-tax-records-back-to-2010-but-key-refuses
– Wow a publicity stunt from a Labour leader…theres no way this could backfire
Little said he could not speak for his finance spokesman Grant Robertson. “He tells me his tax affairs are more boring than mine.”
A publicity stunt and a mention of Grant Robertson… this is smart from Andrew Little
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/snapper-review/9065298/David-Shearers-dead-snapper-stunt
Do you think thats little trying to push robertson under the bus?
Well anything’s possible and he is a lawyer but in this case I’m thinking it wouldn’t be the first time Mr Robertson has set up a rival
I think we are more interested in seeing Key’s tax returns for the last 8 years he has been PM.
Nothing to hide nothing to fear and all that.
Plus John Key is sooooo honest, cos he tells us that. And gives all his salary to charity. NZ is not a tax haven and he his blind trusts are irrelevant. I’m sure he doesn’t have quillions in his kids names around the globe.
Lets find out if he is telling the truth?
Oh you poor blind, deluded fool (and I don’t mean that harshly) you and others like yourself have so much irrational hatred for John Key built up that you’re just like a dog barking at any passing car in the forlorn hope that’ll finally be the issue to bring down John Key
Most people will see it for what it is and that’s just a cheap, meaningless political stunt.
They’ll think that they wouldn’t want their tax returns published so why should John Key
They’ll think of course John Key has trusts because he’s wealthy (he’s never hidden it) and they’ll think they’d do the same if they were in his position
They’ll think as long as he’s following the rules then its ok
and then they’ll think of Labour and all they’ll think of is spite, negativity and malice
It’s not really all that irrational.
I have meet people who still think saint key gives all his pm wages to charity so at least it would clear that little myth up.
Most people will see it for what it is and that’s just a cheap, meaningless political stunt.
This, especially when Littles tax records are just his pay slips for the time he’s been a MP.
Obvious political stunt is obvious.
I can see this has clearly rattled a nerve with our Troll Key Cheerleaders.
Not really irrational when David Cameron is releasing his tax returns.
And the Icelandic PM has had to resign.
But Key still claims NZ is not a tax haven he himself advocated for when NZ is mentioned 60,000 times in the Panama papers.
Not really irrational when David Cameron is releasing his tax returns.
And the Icelandic PM has had to resign.
What has that got to do with John Keys tax?
That’s what we want to know!
What is it that he is desperately trying to hide?
Remember that this is the result of only one of the four largest firms dealing in this sort of stuff. It implicates 140 politicians around the globe avoiding tax in their own countries or worse.
We know Key has “blind” trusts.
The chances are he is as heavily implicated in this sort of shinanagans as the rest.
Has John Key been implicated?
Apparently that doesn’t matter, he just looks guilty
If he looks guilty and he is not – then he should prove that he is not.
Or in other words, it’s not good enough for our public officials to merely be honest. They must be demonstrably honest.
That’s one thing I learned from my security days – someone checking up on me wasn’t that they didn’t trust me, it was so that if shit happened in a high risk environment, they could vouch that I’d done everything properly.
“If he looks guilty and he is not – then he should prove that he is not.”
I think you may have had an intimate relationship with a farmyard animal because you look guilty of it, please provide proof that you haven’t.
*Just as an example of why that line of reasoning is not a good one to use
Or I think you have child pornography on your computer.
If you don’t hand over your computer so we can check it out, you’re obviously guilty.
Maybe someone should run that one past Andrew Little, see how he reacts.
Seems only fair that the people know whether the person who railroaded through the changes that made NZ a tax haven (and then ignored advice on seven separate occasions to rectify the problem) benefitted personally from those changes.
that is what we want to find out!
We know he is a lying bastard – especially where his personal trusts are concerned. He has been the one driving, the new zero tax regime for foreign investors (quid pro quo?), and he is the one who has appointed the sham Shewan to do a whitewash of the whole affair. His actions speak of one giant arse cover-up!
Yep, in the panama papers NZ has 60,000 mentions.
I’m sure with all those long holidays in the US, that is probably the tax haven of choice for Key though, and with friends there to protect him.
60,000 mentions out of what, 1.1 million documents?
So mentioned in 0.55% of them? Amazing.
Ooooooh another who can do arithmetic
WOW
I’ve seen much higher percentages (falls in Labour polling for example) dismissed on this forum as not important.
yes. Because numbers get their meaning and importance from their context. 60 is a number. $60 in your pocket is pretty good. 60 charges against you in court is pretty bad. But your IQ of 60 should get you off most of those charges due to mental incompetence.
The meaning and importance comes from the context.
Hi ranfurz,
You might want to check your arithmetic.
1,100,000 documents. 60,000 mentions. Think about it.
Here’s a clue: 60,000 is 1% of 6,000,000
More than 1 in 20 documents, on average, mentioned New Zealand.
(Of course, presumably some documents mentioned New Zealand more than once.)
@ Mcflock
60 is a number. $60 in your pocket is pretty good. 60 charges against you in court is pretty bad. But your IQ of 60 should get you off most of those charges due to mental incompetence
60 is pretty good or pretty bad? And this from someone who once claimed that…
“75,000 might or might not be significant”
It’s all in the context….and the context is what suits you at the time as far as I can see.
That’s because you can’t see very far at all.
Fuck 75,000, 75 million might be insignificant: 75 million tonnes of gold or 75 million gold atoms would have significantly different value, no?
But you’d argue that 75 million gold atoms (a tiny fraction of a gram) is just as a significant amount of gold as around 100 times all the gold ever mined. Because you’re a moron.
No, context is “the parts of something written or spoken that immediately precede and follow a word or passage and clarify its meaning.” Learn english, fucko.
Oh stop with the poor me routine BM, it was tiresome days ago. Today it just a bit sickening. Add to the conversation.
If you want to winge, go over to whale oil, I’m sure that hate munger will wallow in crap you are spinning.
I really don’t see what the fuss is about. If dear Leader has got nothing to hide he should simply roll out his tax returns.
Fuck, we ask for more from someone who is simply applying for an unemployment benefit after they lost their jobs.
If he has nothing to hide he should show his returns.
“If he has nothing to hide he should show his returns”
Because hes done nothing wrong or been shown to have done anything wrong or theres been nothing to link him to anything wrong because you’re just fishing for evidence…any of the above really
How long have these documents been out for…over a year, I’d bet Nicky Hagers already had a look so if there was anything it’d be known about already
Unless of course Nicky just sits on it until about 4 weeks out from the next election like the little creep he is
There’s really only one response to that, and that’s a quote from Frank Marvin, the late editor of Mountain Scene, my local paper.
“If you don’t want it on the front page, don’t do it”
Frank was a top man, and utterly fearless in his reporting of the goings on around Queenstown and always had plenty of material. He was very effective at keeping the place in order. His world view was quite different to Hager’s though.
Every year since 2006 MP’s have been required to declare their Financial Interests
MP’s should also be unaverse to declaring their tax returns as well if they have nothing to hide. They are the ones who set the taxes – they should show they they are above board in that regard as well.
Seriously, some on the right comment on something dumb a Labour leader does and its taken as we’re rattled
So let me guess if we don’t comment on something dumb the Labour leader de jour does then that also proves we’re rattled?
When you cry wolf all the time, when most of what you say is a lie, and sorry Puckish Rouge, but your track record is quite bad – especially when you parrot the party line.
So here is some hints; Try not lying, try being reasonable, try not ranting with hyperbole some time, and we may listen.
Then again in this case the national government dropped the ball, they created a tax haven, tarnished our good name and besmirched us all.
The problem is national party supporters like yourself rather than own up to that, go on the attack. Engage in dirty politics and then moan about it when we call you on it.
The poor me routine is very bloody tiresome. As is the distractions. I see your boy Brash decided Racism was the distraction the government needed this time.
So quite frankly Puckish Rogue, a amoral punter like yourself, could take a look at the lack of morals shown in the last few days or you could just carry on moaning.
That’s nice dear
I see you went for moaning.
It would be nice, if there were the slightest chance that you’d stop with the lies and distractions and derailments.
More product in railing against the wind, I fear…
But when one thinks of Key and Trusts – all one can think of is lying and feathering his own nest
Andrew Little has just tabled his Income Tax Records in the House. Now where is Key’s?
Everyone already knows Andrew Little’s tax record, MP’s salaries are public knowledge.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/78824702/prominent-new-zealander-trial-jury-at-stalemate.html
“Prominent New Zealander trial: Not Guilty”
Any one really surprised ?
Since I wasn’t on the jury and didn’t hear the evidence, I’m neither surprised nor unsurprised.
“I’m neither surprised nor unsurprised.”
clearly some kind of nihilist….
edgy !
Not really. Tough on the kids.
Still, I doubt that many people who know him would now ask him to be a child-minder.
Prominent Kiwi sex charge case: Not guilty to all charges
Helps so much if you are protected by people in high places, what career you used to have and expensive lawyers to plant seeds of doubt.
Exactly – I’ve sat on the jury one of these sort of cases and after 2 weeks of evidence and a whole raft of “prominent NZers” giving “evidence in support” of the accused – convicted and discharged.
Anyone else would be in the big house.
He was found not-guilty based on the evidence.
and far from a whole raft of “prominent NZers” giving “evidence in support”
It sounds like it was more the evidence of the girls not being backed up, or changing.
You were not there, nor did you hear all the evidence – so its stupid, to suggest that anyone else would be in the “big house”.
I suppose we have to accept the jury decision. Assuming he is innocent it will find it hard to be left alone with other people’s kids. Stigma is not always fair.
Fuck, I avoid being left alone with kids anyway, and haven’t been accused of a damned thing.
Massaging kids is a bit weird (regardless of everything else), too.
Physios, fucking deviants.
There’s a difference between that and doing it socially. Although I’m prepared to accept it might be a cultural variation I have, but the only people I’ve given or received social massages from have been folks with whom it added a little frisson of enjoyment to both. Just as Tony Rockyhorror should have known.
It always means something…
“Massaging kids is a bit weird ”
we had a teacher who did exactly that at my primary school many many years ago….
he was arrested, charged and did 18 months…
I wonder how it would have panned out had it been a teacher giving massages to kids?
Will the guy get his old job back…will they want him back?
I wonder if he’ll be [r0b: deleted for obvious legal reasons] now?
History repeating it’s self, ignoring evidence from children, because their children, and therefore lack credibility.
that’s one of those comments that you expect to be replaced by modface bold reasonably soon…
Aye!
That has to be close to be breaking suppression orders.
Mods may want to make a call on that one.
Indeed.
Ooops, apologies!
Regardless of this case, all too often, the “privileged” are able to manipulate outcomes in court hearings, justice, sometimes, appears to be a commodity.
http://thehandmirror.blogspot.co.nz/2016/04/making-him-stop.html
Excerpt:
I was up against a Public Service superior years ago who was terrorising me (no, not sexually but something equally as frightening) both in the workplace and beyond. I reported him to the management. He lied to them. They believed him because of his superior position. My career ended in tatters but at least the terrorising stopped.
Anne
My wife had a similar experience with one of her previous employers, at the final hearing, the employer thought they had the case wrapped up, my wife is not good at defending herself, so knowing the circumstances of the case, I spoke up and put forward a couple of very pertinent questions surrounding the validity of the accusations against my wife, these questions resulted in a win for my wife, but if I hadn’t been there, the employer would have won, he had tried to pay off our lawyer with a bribe as well, I’m just glad Iv’e got a big mouth and a willingness to challenge the BS.
Yeah, fucking Doug Graham and Bill Jeffries buying their convictions.
“Prime Minister John Key has declared a short term deposit to a company specialising in foreign trusts.
The latest register of MPs pecuniary interests listed the Antipodes Trust Group Limited as a debtor in Key’s entry. The register was released today.
On its website, the Antipodes Trust calls itself a specialist provider or trustee and associated services for foreign trusts using New Zealand as their jurisdiction of choice.”
Anyone know what this means? Good or Bad?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/78838228/prime-minister-john-key-deposited-money-with-company-specialising-in-foreign-trusts
It’s the firm his lawyer works for now. So likeliest explanation is that Key’s lawyer held the deposit for something in trust (the firm’s trust) for a short time, as is usual when making decent sized financial transactions. One example – many here bought a house? The usual process is the deposit is held by your lawyer in a trust until settlement.
Keep in mind the declarations for this register were made before 31st Jan 2016 – it’s not like Key has suddenly declared this transaction in the wake of the Panama Papers.
Its not like he declared it publicly himself either in all those interviews he’s done since the Panama papers came it. It must have slipped his mind.
Unfortunately, it’s not a smoking gun. This appears to be just a financial “interest”, held in trust by a lawyer, acting on Key’s behalf, for some as yet unknown purpose.
There appears to be no tax avoidance or evasion that we can see. He was required to declare it and was right to do so.
Despite the attempts by Patrick Gower et al to suggest that the funds held are suspect by association with the company the lawyer now works for are a bit much.
To have Key caught out would a delight but alas – but I will be watching this space
Not sure any legitimate poster here has suggested this is a smoking gun. BM and his right wing allies are suggesting the socially conscious left believe it to be a smoking gun but that is not the case.
Given the current attention around New Zealand being a soft touch for secretive funds, this is what the media says it is – embarrassing for John Key.