As they cantered round the final bend into the home straight Hipkins felt fine. Do the mongrel! Lux's advice in the Green Room had been spot on. Vital to maintain a semblance of competition to fool the punters!
Suddenly his nag stumbled, then collapsed as Hipkins leapt clear. He grabbed the reins again. "Get up horsy, you can do it, not far now." Sadly the beast closed its eyes. "No! No sleep now!" Hipkins desperately lifted its earflap and shrieked into its earhole. "There Is No Alternative! Maggie told us, Ruth told us, Helen obeyed, Jacinda obeyed, I must obey!"
Lux ambled over. "Actually, old chap, mine doesn't seem keen on finishing either." He adroitly gave it an affectionate rub behind the ears. "Doing the mongrel seemed to work for you, eh? I could only goggle in admiration. And that nice tea-lady they used for moderator didn't even ask us about co-governance! Such a fun run, let's go get a beer. I'll tell my team we can make you ambassador to Israel. They clearly need you to do the mongrel at them!"
Hipkins began yesterday at the Waatea Marae in Mangere, the urban Marae founded by the father and mother of Maori Development Minister Willie Jackson, who is now its chair.
In a strong speech, he decried racism in New Zealand and in the campaign. “I think that by Maori for Maori solutions work,” he said. “National used to believe that as well. “In this election, I’ve talked about how disappointing it’s been for National, Act and New Zealand First to use race as a wedge to divide the country. “It’s a strategy that seeks to make New Zealanders believe if one part of our society is getting something, then maybe others are missing out due to the special privileges narrative followed by the one law for all slogan.”
Narrative + slogan usually works on mainstreamers. A push-button formula. Primal fear of stealing by the privileged points to the traditional power structure of the establishment.
Simulating an aggrieved stance works too, via emotional resonance. Best not to mention your own commitment to propping that system up. Honesty is not the best policy!
Also important to distract voters lest they focus on the privileged pakeha along with the privileged Maori. Folks have an implacable tendency to get real at times, so keep it up with the smoke & mirrors act!
"Primal fear of stealing by the privileged points to the traditional power structure of the establishment."
You mean like taking $2 billion off the poorest and giving it to wealthy landlords? But that is the reality of what National is proposing. This is not some feigned attempt to fool people this is what will happen if National gets its way.
So it seems, indeed. Sufficient reason to motivate residual voters? Maybe, we'll soon see. Fear ought not to be discounted, no matter how cynically it is used to trigger folks into action…
NAct's kick 'em ["bottom feeders"] while their down and bleed 'em til they're dry style of 'governance' seems Right – Willux et al. can't help helping themselves.
Get Our CountryUnearned Income Streams Back on Track
Two billion from beneficiaries would only be the beginning, but you can't blame them really – just doing what comes naturally.
Three great forces rule the world: stupidity, fear and greed. – Einstein
Your framing is what is cynical Dennis. Taking any money from the disabled and beneficiaries to give it to multi owner landlords is amoral.
To inform people of what could be lost is not fearmongering, it is showing the rights twisted vision, and disregard of WEAG.
Giving hope has been Chippy's way. "I am in it for you" and "We have your back" Just how does the left refute the awful misery of austerity without saying what could accrue?
To hear Luxon say he wants everyone working, when they plan to sack Government workers is really cynical. Unemployment has always been their lever. They want people fighting for a job and too busy to engage in politics.
The gains people have now could so easily be lost again. Mobilising the poor and marginalised to use their vote to protect their current rights is much harder than convincing the comfortable to vote.
When you consider the huge sums thrown at the Election by the right, they should be streets ahead, the fact that they are not shows the grass roots of the left still believe in community over money. They are rallying.
Not cynical Patricia, realistic. It's how the other third of the nation tends to see it – the flaws of both left & right being evident to them or felt by them. Complicity in the problematic system is Labour's achilles heel…
"Sees it" Sees what… "Theft is ok?" You might be correct but for all our sakes, caring NZers will come out in force and the third will get carried along.
Did you know that the Moon entered Libra a couple of hours ago? Anyone with a clue will instantly, upon receipt of this news, realise that the election will likely have a balanced outcome. An archetype in nature does that Libra thing every lunation. Silly old duffers in science failed to learn about qualia in passing time – they got stuck on measurement & grew old in terminal boredom in consequence…
I wondered who'd be first cab off the rank! Well done. But no, not defending the Nats – I've never done that in my entire six decades of experiencing them!
$1 million plus to each of the wealthiest landlords in the country coming from beneficiaries. Hipkins slammed Luxon on several of the major points so much so that it made Luxon uncomfortable throughout the debate.Hipkins had done his homework .Priceless to see Luxon looking totally gobsmacked.Hipk8ns chimed in with the moderate saying to Luxon just answer the question and in one instance when Luxon was spinning a load of BS. Hipkins jumped in and said that is No.Luxon was rattled constantly. Chippy looked good throughout and sent real stingers in retort to Luxon when he tried to corner chippy!
On the radio this morning electoral commission CEO Karl Le Quesne blithely noted the final result of the election won't be known until the 3rd of November, almost three weeks after polling day tomorrow. This guy has also overseen the fiasco of sending out voting packs long after voting opened and poor communication around voting places for tomorrow.
The electoral commission has been well funded under this government. A three week wait for the final result is to my mind completely unacceptable, as has been the delays and communications issues. The perception of the legitimacy result – not to mention the final make of parliament – means the results need to be known by the middle of next week.
Somehow, we now have a culture where mediocrity in leadership and a lack of accountability from senior managers for poor organisational performance in both the public and private sector is routine, and firing senior managers and CEOs for poor outcomes is regarded as beyond the pale. From the disasterous census, to the board of NZ Rugby to the heads of our CCOs to the electoral commission, we've got an apparently untouchable strata of useless senior leadership who simply are not held accountable.
We are badly in need of an Admiral Byng moment somewhere "pour encourager les autres".
Somehow, we now have a culture where mediocrity in leadership and a lack of accountability from senior managers for poor organisational performance in both the public and private sector is routine
That's due to people voting Nat/Lab for too long. Such behaviour embeds drivel.
The delay in sending out the voting packs is certainly in the 'wtf!' category. I have been told, by somebody who was involved in running past elections, that the time to get out the final results is essentially caused by all the actions that are required by the Electoral Act 1993 and all the checks they are required to make and the time required to get the special votes back to the correct places to be counted.
Let me add – There being not enough voting papers in Glen Eden was a disaster. Heard rumors other early voting places had same problems. The turning away of voters at some polling booths – for a multitude of reasons, but not having a easy vote card is the main one.
I got my voting pack Monday.
If the head of the electoral Commission is not fired after this election, then I worry for future elections.
It takes 3 weeks for all the special votes to be counted – overseas voting, voting outside your electorate, telephone voting for those with disabilities, late enrolments etc.
And recounts can be requested up to 3 working days after the initial declaration, and the District Court has 3 working days after that to actually oversee the recount.
I cannot resist. I am determined to document my pick for the final result. On 3 November the number of seats for each party. is going to be.
National 48, ACT 12. Total 60
Labour 34, Greens 14, TPM 4. Total 52
NZF 8.
This does not include Port Waikato which will end up going to National. What is Winston going to do? I expect him to settle a deal to offer Confidence and Supply to National ACT and to accept an arrangement that NZF will either vote with the Government or abstain on all legislation provided they make Winston the Minister of Foreign Affairs and give a couple of other Ministerial grade jobs (for the pay and perks) to other NZF MPs with these jobs being outside Cabinet.
I am sure Winston will be able to persuade the members of his congregation to accept this as offering the country a stable Government with his wise advice keeping things under control blah, blah, blah
Then he will be able to wine and dine around the world as he drifts of into the distance.
Labour's 34 MPs will include 30 electorate seats. I think that Prime, Rurawhe, Little, Parker, McAnulty and Andersen will be left in the cold with Jackson being the last cab off the rank.
Where's the dead-cat bounce in that scenario? Mustn't rule out Shane either. If Lux makes him minister of regional governance for a re-run, provinces could be impressed. Would be a test of competence for him…
I would expect Shane to be one of the other two NZF MPs to get Ministerial jobs that I mentioned in "couple of other Ministerial grade jobs". He is number 2 on the list after all.
I was emphasizing what Winston would have to get to satisfy him as, even at his age and after a couple of evictions from Parliament, you can still regard New Zealand First as being Winston First. He really is a cat with 9 lives and what he says is what NZF does. The rest of them really don't matter that much.
What were you thinking of when you say "regional Governance"? Local Government and Regional Development perhaps?
What were you thinking of when you say "regional Governance"? Local Government and Regional Development perhaps?
Yeah. It's a view I acquired in the Greens 30 years ago, so I suspect googling bioregionalism would fill it in for you. I reckon Shane can do better than just be a clown, so Lux ought to give him a go. That interview he did recently revealed hidden depth beneath the clown veneer..
Port Waikato may be more interesting than many expected. Will Bayley take his own advice and now indicate that if he will resign if he gets a list place, and not stand at the by-election? – or have I mixed up two different stories?
Shall I compare the election as a chance to appeal to our better angels, rather than to take a calculated risk on the dark side (a discredited economic policy continued by a bald eagle supported by two wings that do not want to go in the same direction).
I have not come to praise those who use their platform to do more harm than good, but to raise serious questions about the lack of substance and intellect behind their advice.
It is well known that the decision over 30 years to go with low wages, no CGT or estate tax led to an economy based around property asset accumulation and this is what has led to relative economic failure and inequality. There is nothing in the National programme that changes any of this.
Not do the platitudes about that from one of the support partners indicate any policy, nor proposal to do anything about it. In fact choosing National meant it was a low priority.
Labour had that policy – directing investors to new builds (mortgage deductability against rent income only available there). And Greens had the 3% rent increase cap for existing property to do the same in a way that helped people with their living costs – so children of their families could afford to stay in school and focus on their education and onto apprenticeships.
A nation without CGT or estate taxes for 30 years has had a massive shortfall in funding for its infrastructure, a wealth tax is the best short term way to resolve this (it restores the balance).
In once again advocating against a sustainable society based on a sustainable economy based on a sustainable environment – and an entire life of voting otherwise, .. one giant thumbs down … meh … mate. As for a Maori choosing that course with Seymour and Peters … HRC/WT/UNDRIP/Treaty referendum "favour to Maori" as per the way to 2040 … while Oz does its white veto on One Voice.
Ian and Karl du Fresne in a tree kissing old mans beard.
once again advocating against a sustainable society based on a sustainable economy based on a sustainable environment
Neither neolib leader actually did that though. Vital that they seem part of the solution whilst operating as part of the problem!
The sucker theory of politics is so antiquated (19th century) that folks have forgotten the nature of the sham. Left = progress, right = status quo. So leftists must produce progress to seem credible. Such a pain in the arse, that. So simulating it sufficiently to manufacture consent via a large number of suckers becomes political strategy.
Suckers Bottom Feeders Fools… take your pick, but don't act surprised if the outcome is not what some hope.
They have poured anxious dollars into the result, oiling the waters, hoping resentments have been fanned and false trails followed while they sing songs on the blue bus.
The red tide dances to the voting stations, this election hangs on about 45000 votes still.
You're not wrong – I often have that jaundiced view myself as a subjective feeling response to what is going on. I do have an overlap with the view from the left that comes to the fore on stuff like personal values, ethos. I just don't see a red tide anywhere but if one shows up I'll happily acknowledge it.
directing investors to new builds (mortgage deductability against rent income only available there)
Interest deductibility is probably only justified in the case of productive economic activity, basically because productive activity is something we would wish to encourage. It should not apply to rental income, apart from new builds, which is extractive rather than productive. A nation without CGT or estate taxes for 30 years has had a massive shortfall in funding for its infrastructure, a wealth tax is the best short term way to resolve this (it restores the balance).
A nation without CGT or estate taxes for 30 years has had a massive shortfall in funding for its infrastructure, a wealth tax is the best short term way to resolve this (it restores the balance).
We also used to have land taxes, though there was a threshold, Land taxes were repealed, I think, by the fourth Labour government.
The Labour government elected in 1984 moved away from taxes on capital in all forms, and in 1990 Parliament passed the Land Tax Abolition Act (1990), ending New Zealand's history of central government taxing land.
Douglas back in 1983 said he preferred an assets tax to a CGT as part of his reform plan – he did everything else (top rate 66 to 33% and GST etc) Palmer was PM and Caygill Minister of Finance when land tax was abolished.
Formed at the 2020 election, Mitchell, who is a Wellington-based artist and designer, says Soap took influence from the personality politics surrounding Jacinda Ardern and the massive figure she was on the world stage.
Half art-piece, half political satire, Mitchell says Soap is about putting showbiz into politics. “It's about political pop culture rather than politics itself. I am looking at the party as a brand and the idea of people buying into the brand.” Given Mitchell’s art background, it becomes impossible then to separate the art from the politics with Soap, despite the fact they have around 50 registered members, billboards, and a campaign manager.
Labour has no labourers as candidates, so authenticity is irrelevant and political brands work regardless of being devoid of substance. Soap washes cleaner though – a bonus.
Researchers in the UK and Australia have found renting a home could make you age faster than owning it.
The research published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health has found a stark difference between the biological aging of owner-occupants and tenants.
So the decline in home ownership has consequences of a nation. So help into ownership is right.
In fact, the findings suggest the impact of renting, as opposed to owner occupancy, is nearly double that of being out of work versus having paid employment. It was also 50 percent greater than having been a former smoker as opposed to never having smoked.
Biological ageing was defined as cultivated damage to the body's tissues and cells, irrespective of actual aging.
"Living in social housing, however, with its lower cost and greater security of tenure, was no different than outright ownership in terms of its association with biological ageing once additional housing variables were included."
And social housing rather than rental market dependent is also good.
In New Zealand, the Green Party has been campaigning on its Pledge to Renters policy which includes limiting how much landlords can increase rent and establishing a Rental Warrant of Fitness.
Tick
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has said his party won't consider rent controls.
0.A 3% rent increase cap per annum funded by windfall profits tax on banks and supermarkets might have won you the election mate. Rent inflation was 7.8% last year and its expected again. So that cap would have reduced costs by $20 plus a week in the past year and again next year.
Meanwhile, the National Party said if elected it would reverse Labour's removal of no-cause terminations and the provisions which see fixed-term tenancies roll into periodic tenancies in most cases.
"Labour has no Labourer candidates", well last I looked National is far from a farming lobby!! It courts small and medium busnesses.. Vape Stores!!
Funny, said to me 65 years ago "You can't be a teacher! Your father is a miner!!"
Now it is "You can't be real Labour, you don't labour" Cloth cap syndrome.
Geez Dennis whatever next. Luxon isn't authentic and it shows. He has worked for entities that needed Govt money. So he wants to distribute more of it to landlords.
Snake oil, true to the National brand. If you became a teacher despite that prejudice, good for you! My father told me I was weird & stupid often enough to make me believe it, then years later I entered college & the state system measured my IQ @ 135.
I had taken my father's measure by then anyway. We elder sons of staunch Nat elder sons tend to be a stroppy tribe! Vape stores seem a blight on society so I have to remind myself I believe in free enterprise & ought not to be so intolerant…
We both know the state system doesn't always get it right Maybe Luxon's IQ was measured privately – apparently he too has "enormous intellectual capability".
So what if Lux has squandered his talents – everyone should have at least one hobby.
His mother was a psychotherapist and his father was a sales executive for Johnson & Johnson.
What a combination! I hope his mother's influence prevailed. If he inherited her talent he'd suss out his colleagues easily. Sales psych is more mechanistic.
At a September gathering in Remuera, Peters told voters: "Carbon dioxide is 0.04 percent of the Earth's atmosphere and of that 0.04 percent, human effect is 3 percent." NIWA principal climate scientist Dr Sam Dean told RNZ humans are responsible for 33 percent of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere these days.
Peters also told the crowd New Zealand was a low-emitting country and tried to link tsunamis to climate change. "We are 0.17 percent of the emissions in this world and China and India and the United States and Russia are not listening … The biggest tsunami the world ever had was 1968 in recent times. We've only been keeping stats for the last 100 years, but you've got all these people out there saying these are unique circumstances and they haven't got the scientific evidence to prove that."
Everyone, of course, has a right to be in alt-reality at any time. It would be helpful, though, if he put up a sign to inform everyone about which world he is in at any particular point of time. Like that No sign of his.
Indeed. Rather sad. Or – just possibly – rat cunning! All he needs to do is head off confidently into the wild blue yonder & the wingnut/moonbat 5% of the electorate will follow him as if he were the Pied Piper…
And you know what? 5 + 8 = 13 and that means Fibonacci! A triad thereof…
he invoked that well-known fable of the man, the boy, and the donkey.
in 2011 – it was, indeed, a voice for a severality of sectors of Kiwi society who felt they’d been marginalized via the rather radical socioeconomic ‘experimentation’ which had been foisted upon us for the preceding then-twenty seven years of onrushing Neoliberalism. Hence, you understand, why it was significantly so antipathic toward National.
I contemplated opening this piece with that famous dictum of Marx – that “Hegel remarks somewhere that all great world-historic facts and personages appear, so to speak, twice. He forgot to add: the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce.”
He then does a short detour thro Dostoevsky before this:
General Koechlin-Schwartz reportedly remarked to Patton that the poorer the quality of infantry, the more it needed artillery … and that the American infantry needed all the artillery they could get . NZF’s big-spend bombardment should seem to be covering for just such a gap.
Ah, the military analyst view of Winston. Could be an opening into the msm for him as soon as Winston takes control of the two sprats.
He's one disillusioned follower, eh Roy! No doubt likely to be an ascerbic commentator on the meandering fortunes of Winston henceforth. I would probably have to google it for relevance, but perapatetic comes to mind.
A journo ought to ask Winston if he's been on a quest during his political career – since there's an element of mythos in his mix and that has an historical link with charisma. There's no doubt his resurrection has a profound meaning for us and MMP but I'll wait for the results to coalesce before venturing into that.
Former prime minister Scott Morrison has called for Australia to deepen its relationship with Taiwan by overhauling its long-standing “One China” policy and allowing the self-governing territory to participate in key international forums such as the Quadrilateral security dialogue.
Taiwan wants to join TPP and (for the OZ PM to talk to Xi Jinping because he decides everything that happens, including policy on Taiwan). ScoMo wants them to affiliate to QUAD.
Our own Pentecostal (they believe in an end time rapture while the rest of us die in end time judgment), Christopher Luxon, is going to tell the Indians he wants a FTA in 100 days or so, or something.
MacArthur went to the Yalu and then fled and asked for POTUS to use nukes, Harry (no I am not a librarian like Dewey) Truman said time to retire, no return to the Yalu for you.
The days of Manifest Destiny, when POTUS James Polk of the year of the first advent 1844, told Mexico that he wanted a sea port on the Pacific Coast … . Then their fleet allowed the Nationalists to flee to Taiwan in 1949.
The new world advent cult and the altar of heaven on earth in the forbidden city in diplomatic dance, my advice is to keep the born again out of adult discussions.
A quaint notion. I like the regenerative thing, just not the dross they string around it. People reinvent themselves in the new age – when by affirmation or catharsis, I'm inclined to acknowledge merit thereby. Gaia loves a trier.
That's more like adopting & wearing a new self. Why an adult would revert to babyhood seems rather irrational. For head-patting?
Yep, the old testament thing, God willed the Israelites be captured & taken to Babylon then later on a few generations he willed Cyrus to free them when he conquered the metropolis so they went home rejoicing they were once again the chosen people. Then he unchose them again a couple of centuries later, sent the Macedonians in to take control of the promised land.
Later still he restored Jewish autonomy. Later still he sent the Romans in. Such an inconstant deity! No wonder the followers got so paranoid.
It's worse – they expect to rule the world for a thousand years after the rest of us are judged, thus their concept of prosperity religion (having or to have imperial coin).
If I was use the bible to judge them (and or the USA in which they arose) I would refer them to the story of Job.
Of course we here have no CGT or estate tax (the only one in the OECD of this sort) and rich people pretend to come here because it is a safe refuge (“actually” to profit from the lack of CGT).
Here judgment would be a wealth tax on Luxon’s property wealth.
I expect that there will still be billboards from conspiracy theorists like Democracy NZ and Loyal NZ on the sides of the streets when we get up tomorrow morning.
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David Farrar writes – Radio NZ reports: The Education Review Office says too many new teachers feel poorly prepared for their jobs. In a report published on Monday, the review office said 60 percent of the principals it interviewed said their new teachers were not ready. ...
New Zealand’s economic performance and the PM’s vision Michael Reddell writes – When I wrote yesterday morning’s post, highlighting how poorly both New Zealand and its Anglo peer countries have been doing in respect of productivity in recent times (ie, in the case of New ...
Hi all,Firstly - thank you! You guys are awesome. The response I’ve received to last night’s mail has been quite overwhelming. It’s a ghastly day outside, but there are no clouds in here.In case you didn’t read my email and are wondering what on earth I’m talking about you can ...
If there was still any doubt as to who is actually running this government – and it isn’t the buffoon from Botany – then this week’s announcement of a huge spend up on charter schools has settled the matter. While jobs and public services continue to be cut in the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Gaye Taylor As widespread drought raises expectations for a repeat of last year’s ferocious wildfire season, response teams across Canada are grappling with the rapidly changing face of fire in a warming climate. No longer quenched by winter, nor quelled by the ...
Half of Christchurch City Holdings Ltd’s directors and its chair resigned en masse last night in protest at Christchurch City Council’s demand to front-load dividends File Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The chair of Christchurch City Council’s investment company and four of its independent directors resigned in protest last ...
The University of Waikato has reworded an advertisement that begins the tender process for its new $300 million-plus medical school even though the Government still needs to approve it. However, even the reworded ad contains an architect’s visualisations of what the school might look like. ACT leader David Seymour told ...
As a follow-up to the Rings of Power trailer discussion, I thought I needed to add something. There has been some online mockery about the use of the same actor for both the Halbrand and Annatar incarnations of Sauron. The reasoning is that Halbrand with a shave and a new ...
This isn’t quite as dramatic as the title might suggest. I’m not going anywhere, but there is something I wanted to talk to you about.Let’s start with a typical day.Most days I send out a newsletter in the morning. If I’ve written a lot the previous evening it might be ...
Buzz from the Beehive The promise of tax relief loomed large in his considerations when the PM delivered a pre-Budget speech to the Auckland Business Chamber. The job back in Wellington is getting government spending back under control, he said, bandying figures which show that in per capita terms, the ...
Yesterday de facto Prime Minister David Seymour announced that his glove puppet government would be re-introducing charter schools, throwing $150 million at his pet quacks, donors and cronies and introducing an entire new government agency to oversee them (the existing Education Review Office, which actually knows how to review schools, ...
Seeing that, in order to discredit the figures and achieve moral superiority while attempting to deflect attention away from the military assault on Rafa, Israel supporters in NZ have seized on reports that casualty numbers in Gaza may be inflated … Continue reading → ...
David Farrar writes – Newstalk ZB report: The man responsible for a horror hit and run in central Wellington last year was on a suspended licence and was so drunk he later asked police, “Did I kill someone?” Jason Tuitama injured two women when he ran a red ...
Muriel Newman writes – Former US President Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation.” The fight for ...
Why Courts should have said Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Karen Chhour Gary Judd writes – In the High Court, Justice Isacs declined to uphold the witness summons issued by the Waitangi Tribunal to compel Minister for Children, Karen Chhour, to appear before it to be ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The number of voices raising concerns about the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill is rapidly growing. This is especially apparent now that Parliament’s select committee is listening to submissions from the public to evaluate the proposed legislation. Twenty-seven thousand submissions have been made to Parliament ...
An average of 166 New Zealand citizens left the country every day during the March quarter, up 54% from a year ago.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy and housing market is sinking into a longer recession through the winter after a slump in business and consumer confidence in ...
The government has made it abundantly clear they’re addicted to the smell of new asphalt. On Tuesday they introduced a new term to the country’s roading lexicon, the Roads of Regional Significance (RoRS), a little brother for the Roads of National (Party) Significance (RoNS). Driving ahead with Roads of Regional ...
School is outAnd I walk the empty hallwaysI walk aloneAlone as alwaysThere's so many lucky penniesLying on the floorBut where the hell are all the lucky peopleI can't see them any moreYesterday morning, I’d just sent out my newsletter on Tama Potaka, and I was struggling to make the coffee. ...
Hi,I wanted to check in and ask how you’re doing.This is perhaps a selfish act, of attempting to find others feeling a similar way to me — that is to say, a little hopeless at the moment.Misery loves company, that sort of deal.Some context.I wish I could say I got ...
I have hitherto been fairly quiet on the new season of Rings of Power, on the basis that the underwhelming first season did not exactly build excitement – and the rumours were fairly daft. The only real thing of substance to come out has been that they have re-cast Adar ...
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 ...
“The thing is,” Chris Luxon says, leaning forward to make his point, “this has always been my thing.”“This goes all the way back to the first multinational I worked for. I was saying exactly the same thing back then. The name of our business needs to be more clear; people ...
Buzz from the Beehive It’s been a momentous few days for Children’s Minister Karen Chhour. The Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court decision which blocked a summons order from the Waitangi Tribunal for her. And today she has announced the Government is putting children first by introducing to ...
In 2014 former Australian army lawyer David McBride leaked classified military documents about Australian war crimes to the ABC. Dubbed "The Afghan Files", the documents led to an explosive report on Australian war crimes, the disbanding of an entire SAS unit, and multiple ongoing prosecutions. The journalist who wrote the ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – According to the respected Pew Research Centre, “In seven of eight [European] countries surveyed, the most trusted news outlet asked about is the public news organization in each country”. For example, “in Sweden, an overwhelming majority (90%) say they trust the public broadcaster SVT”. ...
David Farrar writes – Kata MacNamara reports: Details of Tony Blakely’s involvement in the New Zealand Government’s response to the pandemic raise serious questions about the work of the Covid-19 Royal Commission of Inquiry over which he presides. It has long been clear that Blakely, a ...
Chris Trotter writes – Are you a Brahmin or a Merchant? Or, are you merely one of those whose lives are profoundly influenced by the decisions of Brahmins and Merchants? Those are the questions that are currently shaping the politics of New Zealand and the entire West. ...
RNZ reports – It’s supposed to be a haven of healing and spiritual awakening but residents of the Kawai Purapura community say they’ve been hurt and deceived. It’s the successor to the former Centrepoint commune, and has been on the bush block opposite Albany shopping centre since 2008. It ...
TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. Usually we have a video chat to go with this wrap, but were unable to do one this week. We’ll be back next week.Several reports ...
The Transport Minister has set a hard 'fiscal envelope' of $6.54 billion for transport capital spending. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy is settling into a state of suspended animation as the Government’s funding freezes and job cuts chill confidence and combine with stubbornly high interest rates to ...
To be precise, the term “anti- Zionism” refers to (a) criticism of the political movement that created a modern Jewish state on the historical land of Israel, and to (b)the subjugation of Palestinians by the Israeli state. By contrast, the term “anti-Semitism” means bigotry and racism directed at Jewish people, ...
This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Because hurricanes are one of the big-ticket weather disasters that humanity has to face, climate misinformers spend a lot of effort muddying the waters on whether climate change is making hurricanes more damaging. With the official start to the hurricane ...
Yesterday the Mayor released what he calls his “plan to save public transport” which is part of his final proposal for the Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP). This comes following consultation on the draft version that occurred in March which showed, once again, that people want more done on transport, especially ...
And it's a pleasure that I have knownAnd it's a treasure that I have gainedAotearoa’s coalition government is fragile. It’s held together by the obsequious sycophancy of Christopher Luxon, who willingly contorts his party into the fringe positions of his junior coalition partners and is unwilling to contradict them. The ...
The Select Committee hearing submissions on the fast-track consenting legislation is starting to become a beat-up of regional councils. The inflexibility and slow workings of the Councils were prominent in two submissions yesterday. One, from the Coromandel Marine Farmers Association, simply said that the Waikato Regional Council’s planning decisions were ...
Back in April, the High Court surprised everyone by ruling that Ministers are above the law, at least as far as the Waitangi Tribunal is concerned. The reason for this ruling was "comity" - the idea that the different branches of government shouldn't interfere with each other's functions. Which makes ...
Buzz from the BeehiveTolling was mentioned when Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced the government was re-introducing the Roads of National Significance (RoNS) programme, with 15 “crucial” projects to support economic growth and regional development across New Zealand. All RoNS would be four-laned, grade-separated highways, and all funding, financing, and ...
or the past 14 years, ever since the Spanish government cheated on an autonomy deal, Catalonia has reliably given pro-independence parties a majority of seats in their regional parliament. But now that seems to be over. Catalans went to the polls yesterday, and stripped the Catalan parties of their majority. ...
Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick used this year's State of the Planet to call on the Government to prioritise people and planet as the delivery of the Budget approaches. A full transcript of their speeches can be found below. ...
Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick have used their State of the Planet speeches to challenge the Government to prioritise people and planet over profit as the delivery of the Budget approaches. ...
The Government’s introduction of legislation that would enable landlords to end tenancies with no reason marks a dark day for the 1.4 million people who rent their home in Aotearoa. ...
The Minister for Mental Health has found the Suicide Prevention Office and mental health support for 111 calls slipping through his fingers, says Labour spokesperson for Mental Health Ingrid Leary. ...
Today’s justification from the Minister for Children for scrapping protections for our tamariki was either a case of ignorance or deliberate deception. ...
The Green Party says the Government’s misguided policy on gangs will fail, following the announcement of the establishment of a national gang unit and district gang disruption units to target gang activities. ...
“With Police pay negotiations still unresolved after six months in Government, Mark Mitchell has today rolled the Commissioner out for a rebrand of their approach to gang crime,” Labour police spokesperson Ginny Andersen said. ...
The Government bringing back 50 charter schools will not increase achievement and is a distraction from the core mission of the education system, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Te Pāti Māori is showing extreme concern over the Environment Select Committees adoption of a lucky dip draw to determine hearings for the Fast Track Approvals bill. Of the 27,000 submissions, 2,900 requested to present. All organisations will be heard; however, the remaining 2,350 submitters will be subject to a ...
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...
The Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced that the Government will make it easier for lines firms to take action to remove vegetation from obstructing local powerlines. The change will ensure greater security of electricity supply in local communities, particularly during severe weather events. “Trees or parts of trees falling on ...
Wairarapa Moana ki Pouakani were the top winners at this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy awards recognising the best in Māori dairy farming. Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka announced the winners and congratulated runners-up, Whakatōhea Māori Trust Board, at an awards celebration also attended by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister ...
"On the 27th of March, I sought assurances from the Chief Executive, Department of Internal Affairs, that the Department’s correct processes and policies had been followed in regards to a passport application which received media attention,” says Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden. “I raised my concerns after being ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins has announced the appointment of three new District Court Judges, to replace Judges who have recently retired. Peter James Davey of Auckland has been appointed a District Court Judge with a jury jurisdiction to be based at Whangarei. Mr Davey initially started work as a law clerk/solicitor with ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour is calling on the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) to put ideology to the side and focus on students’ learning, in reaction to the union holding paid teacher meetings across New Zealand about charter schools. “The PPTA is disrupting schools up and down the ...
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly today announced the appointment of Craig Stobo as the new chair of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). Mr Stobo takes over from Mark Todd, whose term expired at the end of April. Mr Stobo’s appointment is for a five-year term. “The FMA plays ...
Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand will continue to be able to keep people safe in, on, and around the water following a funding boost of $63.644 million over four years, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “Heading to the beach for ...
New Zealand and Tuvalu have reaffirmed their close relationship, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand is committed to working with Tuvalu on a shared vision of resilience, prosperity and security, in close concert with Australia,” says Mr Peters, who last visited Tuvalu in 2019. “It is my pleasure ...
New Zealand is gravely concerned about the situation in New Caledonia, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The escalating situation and violent protests in Nouméa are of serious concern across the Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “The immediate priority must be for all sides to take steps to de-escalate the ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met today with Samoa’s O le Ao o le Malo, Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, who is making a State Visit to New Zealand. “His Highness and I reflected on our two countries’ extensive community links, with Samoan–New Zealanders contributing to all areas of our national ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has announced that he has approved Waiheke Island ferry operator Island Direct to be eligible for SuperGold Card funding, paving the way for a commercial agreement to bring the operator into the scheme. “Island Direct started operating in November 2023, offering an additional option for people ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters today announced further sanctions on 28 individuals and 14 entities providing military and strategic support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Russia is directly supported by its military-industrial complex in its illegal aggression against Ukraine, attacking its sovereignty and territorial integrity. New Zealand condemns all entities and ...
A year on from the tragedy at Loafers Lodge, the Government is working hard to improve building fire safety, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I want to share my sincere condolences with the families and friends of the victims on the anniversary of the tragic fire at Loafers ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for having me here in the lead up to my Government’s first Budget. Before I get started can I acknowledge: Simon Bridges – Auckland Business Chamber CEO. Steve Jurkovich – Kiwibank CEO. Kids born ...
New Zealand and Vanuatu will enhance collaboration on issues of mutual interest, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “It is important to return to Port Vila this week with a broad, high-level political delegation which demonstrates our deep commitment to New Zealand’s relationship with Vanuatu,” Mr Peters says. “This ...
Minister for Land Information, Chris Penk will travel to Peru this week to represent New Zealand at a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region on behalf of Trade Minister Todd McClay. The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting will be held on 17-18 May ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford will head to the United Kingdom this week to participate in the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) and the 2024 Education World Forum (EWF). “I am looking forward to sharing this Government’s education priorities, such as introducing a knowledge-rich curriculum, implementing an evidence-based ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford has today thanked outgoing New Zealand Qualifications Authority Chair, Hon Tracey Martin. “Tracey Martin tendered her resignation late last month in order to take up a new role,” Ms Stanford says. Ms Martin will relinquish the role of Chair on 10 May and current Deputy ...
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Emmanuel Macron of France today announced a new non-governmental organisation, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to coordinate the Christchurch Call’s work to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. This change gives effect to the outcomes of the November 2023 Call Leaders’ Summit, ...
Distinguished public servant and former diplomat Sir Maarten Wevers will lead the independent review into the disability support services administered by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. The review was announced by Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston a fortnight ago to examine what could be done to strengthen the ...
Today’s announcement by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster of a National Gang Unit and district Gang Disruption Units will help deliver on the coalition Government’s pledge to restore law and order and crack down on criminal gangs, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. “The National Gang Unit and Gang Disruption Units will ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today expressed regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric towards New Zealand and its international partners. “New Zealand proudly stands with the international community in upholding the rules-based order through its monitoring and surveillance deployments, which it has been regularly doing alongside partners since 2018,” Mr ...
Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies MNZM is the new Chief of Defence Force, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. The Chief of Defence Force commands the Navy, Army and Air Force and is the principal military advisor to the Defence Minister and other Ministers with relevant portfolio responsibilities in the defence ...
Legislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has been introduced to Parliament. The Bill’s introduction reaffirms the Coalition Government’s commitment to the safety of children in care, says Minister for Children, Karen Chhour. “While section 7AA was introduced with good intentions, it creates a conflict for Oranga ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week travel to the UK and Italy to meet with her defence counterparts, and to attend Battles of Cassino commemorations. “I am humbled to be able to represent the New Zealand Government in Italy at the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of what was ...
The upcoming Budget will include funding for up to 50 charter schools to help lift declining educational performance, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today. $153 million in new funding will be provided over four years to establish and operate up to 15 new charter schools and convert 35 state ...
“The results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has now been received, with results indicating over 13,000 submissions were made from members of the public,” Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “We heard feedback about the extended lockdowns in ...
Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, other Members of Parliament Acting Chief of Defence Force, Secretary of Defence Distinguished Guests Defence and Diplomatic Colleagues Ladies and Gentlemen, Good afternoon, tēna koutou, apinun tru It’s a pleasure to be back in Port Moresby today, and to speak here at the Kumul Leadership ...
Health, infrastructure, renewable energy, and stability are among the themes of the current visit to Papua New Guinea by a New Zealand political delegation, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Papua New Guinea carries serious weight in the Pacific, and New Zealand deeply values our relationship with it,” Mr Peters ...
The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealand’s ...
A high-level New Zealand political delegation in Honiara today congratulated the new Government of Solomon Islands, led by Jeremiah Manele, on taking office. “We are privileged to meet the new Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet during his government’s first ten days in office,” Deputy Prime Minister and ...
New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says. “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me. I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
NC La Première television reports on the clearing of barricades after a week of protests and rioting in the capital Nouméa. Video: NC 1ère TVBy Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk With New Caledonia about to enter its second week of deadly riots, French authorities have mounted ...
Asia Pacific Report Pacific civil society and solidarity groups today stepped up their pressure on the French government, accusing it of a “heavy-handed” crackdown on indigenous Kanak protest in New Caledonia, comparing it to Indonesian security forces crushing West Papuan dissent. A state of emergency was declared last week, at ...
On May 18, the Taiwanese community in Christchurch came together for the "Health for All, Taiwan Can Help" march, urging the World Health Organization (WHO) to grant Taiwan participation. ...
The instability comes as the party tries to refresh its brand after six years of being part of a right-wing, pro-imperialist government with both the Labour Party and, from 2017-2020, the far-right NZ First Party. ...
Based on the latest Treasury forecasts, New Zealand Government debt will tick above $90,000 per household for the first time ever at 10pm today, Sunday 19 May 2024. The Taxpayers’ Union is calling it “$90k Debt Day”. Commenting on this, Taxpayers’ ...
Arawata Shane Arawata Shane had wandered long In the wild tangled hills of the West Coast. He came to a stop on the mighty range And looked down at the wide river flats. He breathed in the clean air, And he took in the shadows playing across The face of ...
SPECIAL REPORT:Islands Business in Suva Today is the 24th anniversary of renegade and failed businessman George Speight’s coup in 2000 Fiji. The elected coalition government headed by Mahendra Chaudhry, the first and only Indo-Fijian prime minister of Fiji, was held hostage at gunpoint for 56 days in the country’s ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist and Kelvin Anthony, RNZ Pacific digital journalist Police have used tear gas and stun grenades on rioters at an airport near Nouméa as the chaos in New Caledonia stretched into its sixth day. Five people, including two police officers, have died and hundreds of ...
Asia Pacific ReportThe global human rights watchdog Amnesty International has called on France to not “misuse” a crackdown in the ongoing unrest in the non-self-governing French Pacific territory of Kanaky New Caledonia in the wake of a controversial vote by the French Parliament to adopt a bill changing the territory’s ...
A major provider of school lunches fears the government's new $3 limit for most students will see them eating more pre-packaged and processed food. ...
The star of Dark City: The Cleaner takes us through his life in TV, including the VHS revolution and the John Campbell impression that started it all. Best known for his comedic roles, Cohen Holloway says he struggled at times to maintain the stone cold facade of serial killer on ...
David Hill remembers an old friend, who you’ve probably never heard of. My friend Doug never travelled; he had little interest in the world beyond his own tiny rural town. I’ve rarely known anyone who radiated such contentment. Doug (I’ll call him that) died in March. You won’t know him. ...
Some of the earliest photos of life in Aotearoa are on display at Auckland Museum right now – but the identities of some of the people in them are a mystery.What was it like to be one of the first people in New Zealand to have their photo taken? ...
Since its founding almost a decade ago, Featherston Booktown has grown into one of the country’s most interesting and idiosyncratic literary events. Erin Banks reports from the audience. “Come in, have you had lunch? I’m about to make a cheese toastie.” Mary Biggs, operations manager of Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival, ...
After 33 years abroad, Loveni Enari recently returned to Aotearoa and Samoa in what a friend joked was an “existential crisis”. He learnt and re-learnt so much about his family, friends and both countries. Almost as an afterthought, he got a Samoan tatau. This is his story. (Accompanying it are ...
Nearly 30 years ago, two people told me they’d killed a woman they knew. I thought the truth would come out, that others would tell it. In the end, I had to. The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.Fact: in 1995, Angela Blackmoore ...
Editor Madeleine Chapman looks back at the week and shines a light on some increasingly rare longform journalism. Mōrena and welcome to The Weekend where there will sadly be no aurora to see. After a busy week last week of short, sharp pieces, this week we swung the other way, ...
ANALYSIS:By David Robie, editor of Asia Pacific Report Jean-Marie Tjibaou, a revered Kanak visionary, was inspirational to indigenous Pacific political activists across Oceania, just like Tongan anthropologist and writer Epeli Hao’ofa was to cultural advocates. Tragically, he was assassinated in 1989 by an opponent within the independence movement during ...
Forget thin is in, apparently now bigger is better … or is it? After over a decade of body positivity, girls, teens and women are even more confused about what body positivity actually is. The movement began with women confronting unrealistic expectations of how their bodies should look. But sub-strands ...
Grace always sat at the bar at the back of The Cambridge, where she could watch who came in. A huge mirror ran the length of the pub, so you could sometimes watch people without them knowing. The mirror made the place seem a lot bigger than it really was. ...
MONDAY Sheriff Mark Mitchell rose at dawn. He had a long day’s ride ahead of him. He was headed for Waikeria. Waikeria! Even the name itself stirred his blood, and set root in his imagination. There was nothing and no one in Waikeria. But he would bend it to his ...
The first phase of the inquest into the death of Gore toddler Lachlan Jones finished this week, turning up plenty of revelations and few answers. But through all the confusion, heartbreak and antipathy on display, the simple fact at the heart of this case remains: if little Lachie’s body had ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roger Benjamin, Professor in Art History, University of Sydney “She’s no oil painting”. Those were the unkind words of a colleague commenting on the subject of Vincent Namatjira’s acrylic painting, Gina. Every one of the prominent Australians and cultural heroes in Namatjira’s ...
Government plans to require local councils hold a referendum on whether to have Māori wards breaches the Treaty of Waitangi, a Waitangi Tribunal report has found. ...
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As they cantered round the final bend into the home straight Hipkins felt fine. Do the mongrel! Lux's advice in the Green Room had been spot on. Vital to maintain a semblance of competition to fool the punters!
Suddenly his nag stumbled, then collapsed as Hipkins leapt clear. He grabbed the reins again. "Get up horsy, you can do it, not far now." Sadly the beast closed its eyes. "No! No sleep now!" Hipkins desperately lifted its earflap and shrieked into its earhole. "There Is No Alternative! Maggie told us, Ruth told us, Helen obeyed, Jacinda obeyed, I must obey!"
Lux ambled over. "Actually, old chap, mine doesn't seem keen on finishing either." He adroitly gave it an affectionate rub behind the ears. "Doing the mongrel seemed to work for you, eh? I could only goggle in admiration. And that nice tea-lady they used for moderator didn't even ask us about co-governance! Such a fun run, let's go get a beer. I'll tell my team we can make you ambassador to Israel. They clearly need you to do the mongrel at them!"
Smash it team.
South Ak sleepers awake! https://www.politik.co.nz/it-has-come-down-to-south-auckland/
Narrative + slogan usually works on mainstreamers. A push-button formula. Primal fear of stealing by the privileged points to the traditional power structure of the establishment.
Simulating an aggrieved stance works too, via emotional resonance. Best not to mention your own commitment to propping that system up. Honesty is not the best policy!
Also important to distract voters lest they focus on the privileged pakeha along with the privileged Maori. Folks have an implacable tendency to get real at times, so keep it up with the smoke & mirrors act!
"Primal fear of stealing by the privileged points to the traditional power structure of the establishment."
You mean like taking $2 billion off the poorest and giving it to wealthy landlords? But that is the reality of what National is proposing. This is not some feigned attempt to fool people this is what will happen if National gets its way.
So it seems, indeed. Sufficient reason to motivate residual voters? Maybe, we'll soon see. Fear ought not to be discounted, no matter how cynically it is used to trigger folks into action…
NAct's kick 'em ["bottom feeders"] while their down and bleed 'em til they're dry style of 'governance' seems Right – Willux et al. can't help helping themselves.
Two billion from beneficiaries would only be the beginning, but you can't blame them really – just doing what comes naturally.
The Side Eye’s Two New Zealands: The Table
Your framing is what is cynical Dennis. Taking any money from the disabled and beneficiaries to give it to multi owner landlords is amoral.
To inform people of what could be lost is not fearmongering, it is showing the rights twisted vision, and disregard of WEAG.
Giving hope has been Chippy's way. "I am in it for you" and "We have your back" Just how does the left refute the awful misery of austerity without saying what could accrue?
To hear Luxon say he wants everyone working, when they plan to sack Government workers is really cynical. Unemployment has always been their lever. They want people fighting for a job and too busy to engage in politics.
The gains people have now could so easily be lost again. Mobilising the poor and marginalised to use their vote to protect their current rights is much harder than convincing the comfortable to vote.
When you consider the huge sums thrown at the Election by the right, they should be streets ahead, the fact that they are not shows the grass roots of the left still believe in community over money. They are rallying.
Not cynical Patricia, realistic. It's how the other third of the nation tends to see it – the flaws of both left & right being evident to them or felt by them. Complicity in the problematic system is Labour's achilles heel…
"Sees it" Sees what… "Theft is ok?" You might be correct but for all our sakes, caring NZers will come out in force and the third will get carried along.
Did you know that the Moon entered Libra a couple of hours ago? Anyone with a clue will instantly, upon receipt of this news, realise that the election will likely have a balanced outcome. An archetype in nature does that Libra thing every lunation. Silly old duffers in science failed to learn about qualia in passing time – they got stuck on measurement & grew old in terminal boredom in consequence…
Defending National punching down and talking astrology
FFS
I wondered who'd be first cab off the rank! Well done. But no, not defending the Nats – I've never done that in my entire six decades of experiencing them!
Every silly old duffer should have at least one hobby – I know I do!
$1 million plus to each of the wealthiest landlords in the country coming from beneficiaries. Hipkins slammed Luxon on several of the major points so much so that it made Luxon uncomfortable throughout the debate.Hipkins had done his homework .Priceless to see Luxon looking totally gobsmacked.Hipk8ns chimed in with the moderate saying to Luxon just answer the question and in one instance when Luxon was spinning a load of BS. Hipkins jumped in and said that is No.Luxon was rattled constantly. Chippy looked good throughout and sent real stingers in retort to Luxon when he tried to corner chippy!
On the radio this morning electoral commission CEO Karl Le Quesne blithely noted the final result of the election won't be known until the 3rd of November, almost three weeks after polling day tomorrow. This guy has also overseen the fiasco of sending out voting packs long after voting opened and poor communication around voting places for tomorrow.
The electoral commission has been well funded under this government. A three week wait for the final result is to my mind completely unacceptable, as has been the delays and communications issues. The perception of the legitimacy result – not to mention the final make of parliament – means the results need to be known by the middle of next week.
Somehow, we now have a culture where mediocrity in leadership and a lack of accountability from senior managers for poor organisational performance in both the public and private sector is routine, and firing senior managers and CEOs for poor outcomes is regarded as beyond the pale. From the disasterous census, to the board of NZ Rugby to the heads of our CCOs to the electoral commission, we've got an apparently untouchable strata of useless senior leadership who simply are not held accountable.
We are badly in need of an Admiral Byng moment somewhere "pour encourager les autres".
Somehow, we now have a culture where mediocrity in leadership and a lack of accountability from senior managers for poor organisational performance in both the public and private sector is routine
That's due to people voting Nat/Lab for too long. Such behaviour embeds drivel.
The delay in sending out the voting packs is certainly in the 'wtf!' category. I have been told, by somebody who was involved in running past elections, that the time to get out the final results is essentially caused by all the actions that are required by the Electoral Act 1993 and all the checks they are required to make and the time required to get the special votes back to the correct places to be counted.
Let me add – There being not enough voting papers in Glen Eden was a disaster. Heard rumors other early voting places had same problems. The turning away of voters at some polling booths – for a multitude of reasons, but not having a easy vote card is the main one.
I got my voting pack Monday.
If the head of the electoral Commission is not fired after this election, then I worry for future elections.
It may be different in the province's but I voted last week without the card.
Gave my name and just had to confirm my address. Also Hipkins had said on the radio, don't need easy-vote card nor I.D. to vote.
Good to hear you had no problems.
Issues up here in the not so far north.
It takes 3 weeks for all the special votes to be counted – overseas voting, voting outside your electorate, telephone voting for those with disabilities, late enrolments etc.
This is normal and happens every election.
And recounts can be requested up to 3 working days after the initial declaration, and the District Court has 3 working days after that to actually oversee the recount.
Headsup on what is likely to be happening on The Standard tomorrow (election day)
This is what we did in 2020. Probably similar this year (Election day rules post, and Open Mike), but will wait to hear what Lprent plans.
https://thestandard.org.nz/election-day-rules-2020/
Please read this years rules once they are up if you intend to comment between midnight tonight and 7pm tomorrow.
I remember the editorial of 2005 by the Herald.
Anyone got any quotes from this … ?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/editorial-election-2023-and-climate-change-the-uncomfortable-truth/XIITF7QXGJDVFNBSQZ3GY4ZRMM/
I cannot resist. I am determined to document my pick for the final result. On 3 November the number of seats for each party. is going to be.
National 48, ACT 12. Total 60
Labour 34, Greens 14, TPM 4. Total 52
NZF 8.
This does not include Port Waikato which will end up going to National. What is Winston going to do? I expect him to settle a deal to offer Confidence and Supply to National ACT and to accept an arrangement that NZF will either vote with the Government or abstain on all legislation provided they make Winston the Minister of Foreign Affairs and give a couple of other Ministerial grade jobs (for the pay and perks) to other NZF MPs with these jobs being outside Cabinet.
I am sure Winston will be able to persuade the members of his congregation to accept this as offering the country a stable Government with his wise advice keeping things under control blah, blah, blah
Then he will be able to wine and dine around the world as he drifts of into the distance.
Labour's 34 MPs will include 30 electorate seats. I think that Prime, Rurawhe, Little, Parker, McAnulty and Andersen will be left in the cold with Jackson being the last cab off the rank.
Where's the dead-cat bounce in that scenario? Mustn't rule out Shane either. If Lux makes him minister of regional governance for a re-run, provinces could be impressed. Would be a test of competence for him…
I would expect Shane to be one of the other two NZF MPs to get Ministerial jobs that I mentioned in "couple of other Ministerial grade jobs". He is number 2 on the list after all.
I was emphasizing what Winston would have to get to satisfy him as, even at his age and after a couple of evictions from Parliament, you can still regard New Zealand First as being Winston First. He really is a cat with 9 lives and what he says is what NZF does. The rest of them really don't matter that much.
What were you thinking of when you say "regional Governance"? Local Government and Regional Development perhaps?
What were you thinking of when you say "regional Governance"? Local Government and Regional Development perhaps?
Yeah. It's a view I acquired in the Greens 30 years ago, so I suspect googling bioregionalism would fill it in for you. I reckon Shane can do better than just be a clown, so Lux ought to give him a go. That interview he did recently revealed hidden depth beneath the clown veneer..
Port Waikato may be more interesting than many expected. Will Bayley take his own advice and now indicate that if he will resign if he gets a list place, and not stand at the by-election? – or have I mixed up two different stories?
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/pro/national-mp-in-key-seat-didnt-disclose-big-shareholding
My prediction is Nact failing by 1 so your number with Nat giving 1 to Labour.
I predict a National NZF minority government with Winston as DP and Foreign Minister.
ACT will get two ministers outside of government in consideration for abstaining.
Shall I compare the election as a chance to appeal to our better angels, rather than to take a calculated risk on the dark side (a discredited economic policy continued by a bald eagle supported by two wings that do not want to go in the same direction).
I have not come to praise those who use their platform to do more harm than good, but to raise serious questions about the lack of substance and intellect behind their advice.
It is well known that the decision over 30 years to go with low wages, no CGT or estate tax led to an economy based around property asset accumulation and this is what has led to relative economic failure and inequality. There is nothing in the National programme that changes any of this.
Not do the platitudes about that from one of the support partners indicate any policy, nor proposal to do anything about it. In fact choosing National meant it was a low priority.
Labour had that policy – directing investors to new builds (mortgage deductability against rent income only available there). And Greens had the 3% rent increase cap for existing property to do the same in a way that helped people with their living costs – so children of their families could afford to stay in school and focus on their education and onto apprenticeships.
A nation without CGT or estate taxes for 30 years has had a massive shortfall in funding for its infrastructure, a wealth tax is the best short term way to resolve this (it restores the balance).
In once again advocating against a sustainable society based on a sustainable economy based on a sustainable environment – and an entire life of voting otherwise, .. one giant thumbs down … meh … mate. As for a Maori choosing that course with Seymour and Peters … HRC/WT/UNDRIP/Treaty referendum "favour to Maori" as per the way to 2040 … while Oz does its white veto on One Voice.
Ian and Karl du Fresne in a tree kissing old mans beard.
once again advocating against a sustainable society based on a sustainable economy based on a sustainable environment
Neither neolib leader actually did that though. Vital that they seem part of the solution whilst operating as part of the problem!
The sucker theory of politics is so antiquated (19th century) that folks have forgotten the nature of the sham. Left = progress, right = status quo. So leftists must produce progress to seem credible. Such a pain in the arse, that. So simulating it sufficiently to manufacture consent via a large number of suckers becomes political strategy.
It was a reply to an opine by Ian Taylor in Stuff, I refuse to link to it.
Suckers Bottom Feeders Fools… take your pick, but don't act surprised if the outcome is not what some hope.
They have poured anxious dollars into the result, oiling the waters, hoping resentments have been fanned and false trails followed while they sing songs on the blue bus.
The red tide dances to the voting stations, this election hangs on about 45000 votes still.
You're not wrong – I often have that jaundiced view myself as a subjective feeling response to what is going on. I do have an overlap with the view from the left that comes to the fore on stuff like personal values, ethos. I just don't see a red tide anywhere but if one shows up I'll happily acknowledge it.
directing investors to new builds (mortgage deductability against rent income only available there)
Interest deductibility is probably only justified in the case of productive economic activity, basically because productive activity is something we would wish to encourage. It should not apply to rental income, apart from new builds, which is extractive rather than productive. A nation without CGT or estate taxes for 30 years has had a massive shortfall in funding for its infrastructure, a wealth tax is the best short term way to resolve this (it restores the balance).
A nation without CGT or estate taxes for 30 years has had a massive shortfall in funding for its infrastructure, a wealth tax is the best short term way to resolve this (it restores the balance).
We also used to have land taxes, though there was a threshold, Land taxes were repealed, I think, by the fourth Labour government.
Douglas back in 1983 said he preferred an assets tax to a CGT as part of his reform plan – he did everything else (top rate 66 to 33% and GST etc) Palmer was PM and Caygill Minister of Finance when land tax was abolished.
Soap was a fab sitcom, mid-'70s…
Labour has no labourers as candidates, so authenticity is irrelevant and political brands work regardless of being devoid of substance. Soap washes cleaner though – a bonus.
New Zealand and Australia in the world at this point.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-67076216
And after One Voice fails in Oz and if we have Seymour and Peters in government – dissing UNDRIP etc.
What then?
Sorry to be sneery but Australia really is a backward basket case of a country.
Except for its wage rates.
Tick
Well Being and Party Policy
So the decline in home ownership has consequences of a nation. So help into ownership is right.
And social housing rather than rental market dependent is also good.
Tick
0.A 3% rent increase cap per annum funded by windfall profits tax on banks and supermarkets might have won you the election mate. Rent inflation was 7.8% last year and its expected again. So that cap would have reduced costs by $20 plus a week in the past year and again next year.
X
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2023/10/new-study-finds-shocking-link-between-renting-and-aging.html
I certainly have very grey hairs…
"Labour has no Labourer candidates", well last I looked National is far from a farming lobby!! It courts small and medium busnesses.. Vape Stores!!
Funny, said to me 65 years ago "You can't be a teacher! Your father is a miner!!"
Now it is "You can't be real Labour, you don't labour" Cloth cap syndrome.
Geez Dennis whatever next. Luxon isn't authentic and it shows. He has worked for entities that needed Govt money. So he wants to distribute more of it to landlords.
Snake oil, true to the National brand. If you became a teacher despite that prejudice, good for you! My father told me I was weird & stupid often enough to make me believe it, then years later I entered college & the state system measured my IQ @ 135.
I had taken my father's measure by then anyway. We elder sons of staunch Nat elder sons tend to be a stroppy tribe! Vape stores seem a blight on society so I have to remind myself I believe in free enterprise & ought not to be so intolerant…
We both know the state system doesn't always get it right Maybe Luxon's IQ was measured privately – apparently he too has "enormous intellectual capability".
So what if Lux has squandered his talents – everyone should have at least one hobby.
What a combination! I hope his mother's influence prevailed. If he inherited her talent he'd suss out his colleagues easily. Sales psych is more mechanistic.
"everyone should have at least one hobby."
Punching down seems to be a pastime he enjoys.
just so. I suggest painting by dots. It would suit him.
Winston played the moonbat:
Everyone, of course, has a right to be in alt-reality at any time. It would be helpful, though, if he put up a sign to inform everyone about which world he is in at any particular point of time. Like that No sign of his.
Silly old duffer Winston – negligible understanding of the science – sign of the times
Indeed. Rather sad. Or – just possibly – rat cunning! All he needs to do is head off confidently into the wild blue yonder & the wingnut/moonbat 5% of the electorate will follow him as if he were the Pied Piper…
And you know what? 5 + 8 = 13 and that means Fibonacci! A triad thereof…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibonacci_sequence
Curwen Ares Rolinson does an insider spill! https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2023/10/13/on-nz-firsts-impending-return-to-parliament-both-in-the-mirror-through-the-looking-glass/
He then does a short detour thro Dostoevsky before this:
Ah, the military analyst view of Winston. Could be an opening into the msm for him as soon as Winston takes control of the two sprats.
Phew, well done for reading through all that lot, Dennis. I couldn't make it. At least he's now got his eccentric punctuation use under control.
He's one disillusioned follower, eh Roy! No doubt likely to be an ascerbic commentator on the meandering fortunes of Winston henceforth. I would probably have to google it for relevance, but perapatetic comes to mind.
A journo ought to ask Winston if he's been on a quest during his political career – since there's an element of mythos in his mix and that has an historical link with charisma. There's no doubt his resurrection has a profound meaning for us and MMP but I'll wait for the results to coalesce before venturing into that.
Taiwan wants to join TPP and (for the OZ PM to talk to Xi Jinping because he decides everything that happens, including policy on Taiwan). ScoMo wants them to affiliate to QUAD.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/morrison-calls-for-one-china-policy-overhaul-in-taiwan-speech-20231011-p5ebic.html
Damn right too! One China bullshit has gone on too long already. Get real, the Han! Ethnic supremacy ain't a goer in the 21st century! Free Tibet!
Our own Pentecostal (they believe in an end time rapture while the rest of us die in end time judgment), Christopher Luxon, is going to tell the Indians he wants a FTA in 100 days or so, or something.
MacArthur went to the Yalu and then fled and asked for POTUS to use nukes, Harry (no I am not a librarian like Dewey) Truman said time to retire, no return to the Yalu for you.
The days of Manifest Destiny, when POTUS James Polk of the year of the first advent 1844, told Mexico that he wanted a sea port on the Pacific Coast … . Then their fleet allowed the Nationalists to flee to Taiwan in 1949.
The new world advent cult and the altar of heaven on earth in the forbidden city in diplomatic dance, my advice is to keep the born again out of adult discussions.
born again
A quaint notion. I like the regenerative thing, just not the dross they string around it. People reinvent themselves in the new age – when by affirmation or catharsis, I'm inclined to acknowledge merit thereby. Gaia loves a trier.
That's more like adopting & wearing a new self. Why an adult would revert to babyhood seems rather irrational. For head-patting?
It's rooted in the idea of being adopted as God's favourites, thus a tendency to division against and lordship over others.
Yep, the old testament thing, God willed the Israelites be captured & taken to Babylon then later on a few generations he willed Cyrus to free them when he conquered the metropolis so they went home rejoicing they were once again the chosen people. Then he unchose them again a couple of centuries later, sent the Macedonians in to take control of the promised land.
Later still he restored Jewish autonomy. Later still he sent the Romans in. Such an inconstant deity! No wonder the followers got so paranoid.
It's worse – they expect to rule the world for a thousand years after the rest of us are judged, thus their concept of prosperity religion (having or to have imperial coin).
If I was use the bible to judge them (and or the USA in which they arose) I would refer them to the story of Job.
Of course we here have no CGT or estate tax (the only one in the OECD of this sort) and rich people pretend to come here because it is a safe refuge (“actually” to profit from the lack of CGT).
Here judgment would be a wealth tax on Luxon’s property wealth.
Indeed, yet in principle, generally, judgment ought to be suspended!
I expect that there will still be billboards from conspiracy theorists like Democracy NZ and Loyal NZ on the sides of the streets when we get up tomorrow morning.
See if I'm wrong.
Those nutters think rules don't apply to them.
If you do see any, you’ll have to bite your tongue here.
Take photos of them and send to Electoral Office.