OMG English being interviewed by Ali on newshub this morning.. far out brussel sprout.
He says… anyone whom believes Nick Smith hasn’t done a good job is wrong.
We won’t go to an early election… his excuse.. apparently the labour party having some mps leaving is not a good enough reason !!!!!!! Excuse me?? How many Nat MP’s are not seeking re-election?
I heard on the news last night that he will be too busy to meet with the Bernie and the Pike relatives today… does he have any idea how much of a mission it is to get from the west coast to Wellington?
By crickey Bill you are a gone burger, the public are already a bit unsettled about you being PM, but more of the same? Bye bye Bill mark my words you won’t last long.
Could be… tell you what, Ali Mau is a very good interviewer, deepest condolences to Henry as his Mum passed away.
ALI… impressed with your questions this morning, thank you for not being a cheer leader for a certain political party, thank you for your lack of bias and intelligent questions.
Key is not seeking re-election, neither is Parata, let’s not forget what happened in Northland. Williamson is leaving as is Chester Burrows, Jono Naylor and Lindsey Tisch all six of them from the Nat party. McCully want to just be on the list, the PM has changed as has the deputy. Did any national party voters vote for that? Or was that merely the decision of Nat Party MP’s?
It’s got nothing to do with money as Incognito suggests, it’s about doing what is fair. An early election would be fair to ALL citizens of NZ.
Anyways here is the link to the interview I heard on the wireless this morning.
You doubt they foresaw it? Really.
The only reason they were coming was because English was about to become PM and they knew it. Look at this from The Herald
Monk can easily make a statement like that after things have changed but the trip was booked to deliver material to other politicians before Key stepped down.
So they’ve had one weeks notice of a new prime minister and in that time they’ve managed to get international experts to draw up a new recovery plan and get other experts to peer review said plan. Then plan a group trip to Wellington to present the plan. You really are dreaming.
Of course they didn’t do any such thing.
Monk has been going on for years that it is safe to re-enter the mine and claims he has “experts” who agree with him.
Claiming he, and others, are going to Wellington to “petition Bill English” is of course rubbish. He, and the others, know very well they aren’t going to meet English today. He is just stirring the pot with that claim.
And Little is playing along with him.
Although some Nat MPs are not seeking re-election, neither are they vacating their seats before the next election, a la Shearer. Therein lies the difference.
Do you seriously think Helen would have thrown National an early election bone if one of their MPs was heading off overseas?
One very much doubts it.
Indeed in 2008 she held off the election until almost the last legally possible day in order to drag out her time in the bosses chair.
She also made Steve Maharey stay in Parliament rather than take up his appointment as Massey VC until he had reached the date when she could avoid a by-election. He wasn’t doing anything in Wellington but he still wouldn’t resign.
So far 6 Nat MP’s are leaving and not seeking re-election including the PM whom quit. But it’s not my job to deal with the internal problems of the outgoing government, whom have lost their brand and their leader.
Re branding takes time.
How much time has Bill taking already to show the electorate what he’s capable of? So much time he’s ditched his electorate for the list?
“So far 6 Nat MP’s are leaving and not seeking re-election including the PM whom quit”
All of whom are serving out their terms so as not to cause a by-election
“But it’s not my job to deal with the internal problems of the outgoing government, whom have lost their brand and their leader.”
Rejuvenation of a party does seem to be something the left struggle with
“How much time has Bill taking already to show the electorate what he’s capable of?”
As PM? As much time as he, that’s he not you or anyone else for that matter, decides
” So much time he’s ditched his electorate for the list?”
Good on him, he obviously decided he couldn’t devote enough time to his electorate so he went list only as opposed to Andrew Little who can’t seem to win an electorate seat so has to go list
” So much time he’s ditched his electorate for the list?”
Oddly enough exactly the same thing as Michael Cullen did when he was Finance Minister. Probably the same excuse too.
On the other hand it may have been that Michael found Otago, and Bill found Southland far too cold in the winter.
“the labour party having some mps leaving is not a good enough reason”
There is a minor difference of course.
The Labour MPs running for the exits weren’t willing to serve out the period they committed to when they ran in the last election. They are quitting before the end of their term.
There are a number of National MPs, and Labour MPs for that matter, who have said they will serve out the entire term and will not run at the next election. Don’t you really see the difference?
As for the Pike River people wanting to see him?
Don’t you think he is entitled to be asked when there would be a suitable time, rather than just turn up on his first full day as PM and that they can just march into his office.
I just tried to get an appointment with Andrew Little for today. I said I wanted half an hour of his time at 2pm today.
Someone in his office told me he couldn’t see me. The miserable old bugger. Thinks he is too important to meet me does he? Seeing me at 2pm should be of far more importance than any other trivial activity he wants to get involved in.
It’s awful, so many families living hand to mouth, the cost of having a roof over their heads eating up most of their income, leaving them hungry, kids are hurting all over NZ. Parents/caregivers are stressed as a result.
NZ needs a change of government, one that cares about the future, one that put’s kids first, all kids. It’s not the kids fault that they are in such a situation, let’s just help them, blaming parents still does not help the kids.
Another reason for a UBI? I think so. Or at the very least, provide lunch for all kiwi kids at school.
If so many people are in poverty, struggling to get by, then the economy is not in good shape.
It’s a very skewed understanding of what a country’s economy is, if only the better off are getting the benefits of it (allegedly) being in good shape.
The economy is about allocation of resources. Anyone who thinks a great economy is one that only benefits the well-off, do not value a fair and inclusive society: one where everyone is cared for, and allocated with a fair share of the resources.
It’s all about values, not corporation (including NZ Inc) balance sheets.
Here is an idea for superannuation – if you wish to keep working, or if you can afford it, you can from the age of 65 “gift” your super payment for a period of time to your children or grandchildren or another nominated person, with the money going into a retirement scheme for the nominated person?
Also, you don’t get the state pension unless you apply for it. And for those with high incomes from other sources, most of it would be lost in taxes anyway.
The pension is not enough to live on, especially for a pensioner with no savings and who is renting. So, even with the state pension, many will need to keep on working, at least part time.
“for those with high incomes from other sources, most of it would be lost in taxes anyway.”
Well no actually. You may not have realised it but the maximum marginal tax rate on income is 33%.
Socialist Governments are much greedier of course. Under the 1945-1951 Labour Government in Britain the marginal tax rate exceeded 100%. I am sure many Labour and Green supporters contributing to this Blog would love such a regime. The Politics of envy at work.
The second day of Christmas – from the Friendship book:
So long as we love, we serve; so long as we are loved by others, I would almost say that, we are indispensable; and no man is useless while he has a friend.
Robert Louis Stevenson
The CIA has confirmed that Russian cyberhackers procured material from the Hillary Clinton campaign that appeared, via WikiLeaks, at key moments in the US election. Hacked emails became part of a successful trolling campaign to discredit Clinton (and continue to inspire hysteria in the form of Pizzagate, the bizarre conspiracy theory that just won’t die). During the campaign, Trump frequently repeated lines lifted directly from Russian propaganda, including threats that President Barack Obama “founded Isis” and Clinton would “cause World War III”
And the more the Trumpet denies it, the more we know it is true – which it is!
It’s an interesting read because it is not the first time Putin’s Russia has used the method to manipulate elections in other countries and they’re about to do it again in Germany.
Yes…a convenient scapegoat. From interviews it was patently clear he didn’t have a clue what he was supposed to be talking about. Almost as if it were deliberate on the part of his ‘colleagues’.
I bet he’ll have his autobiography ghost written at some point and spill a few beans.
“time to get a full parliamentary pension”.
You are way out of date. The fabled gold-plated Parliamentary pension was scrapped a long time ago.
It ceased to be available to any MP who wasn’t in Parliament on some date in 1992. There will still be a few sitting members who will get it when they retire but Sam isn’t one of them.
If he put in 8% of his back bench basic salary it will be matched by a 20% contribution. It is just a defined sum, NOT the old defined benefit scheme. It is generous but not greatly different to what a lot of companies offer. He would get the amount built up regardless of how long he was a member.
Anyway…all these little coincidences are merely interesting asides…the Mayor, John Carter, “said yesterday that he had now been made aware of the issue, and had demanded a report from staff by tomorrow.”
So we can all safely assume that the Perehipe Reserve will be restored to its former status as a public reserve….
But the DAP will be new and shiny! And it probably won’t leak, for a wee while!.
/
A pipeline leak has spilled tens of thousands of gallons of crude oil into a North Dakota creek roughly two and a half hours from Cannon Ball, where protesters are camped out in opposition to the Dakota Access pipeline.
[…]
North Dakota officials estimate more than 176,000 gallons of crude oil leaked from the Belle Fourche Pipeline into the Ash Coulee Creek. State environmental scientist Bill Suess says a landowner discovered the spill on Dec. 5 near the city of Belfield, which is roughly 150 miles from the epicenter of the Dakota Access pipeline protest camps.
NIWA principal scientist climate Dr Brett Mullan said the figures were in line with global average temperatures and confirm the longer-term trends of climate change.
“What we are seeing is the stark reality of global warming.”
Globally, the World Meteorological Organisation said 2016 was set to be the hottest year on record by a significant margin with temperatures 1.2C above pre-industrial times.
As opposed to window shopping down Lambton Quay’ like your mate Jonathan Coleman.
And cutting and running and lying , like Ponytail Key.
“The first thing is I’m here to give you and absolute reassurance, we committed to getting the boys out, and nothing’s going to change that. So- when people try and tell you we’re not, they’re playing, I hate to say it, but they’re playing on your emotions”
“So you are the number one group that wants get those men out and quite-quite frankly I am number two -because I want to get them out”
I’m sure he was and then he information stating its too dangerous, if someone was to die in the recovery then the government would be held accountable for that
“The first thing is I’m here to give you and absolute reassurance, we committed to getting the boys out, and nothing’s going to change that. So- when people try and tell you we’re not, they’re playing, I hate to say it, but they’re playing on your emotions”
From memory, my point was Key’s lack of integrity.
As you can’t defend this, you choose to make it an issue about his popularity ( he won 3 elections).
My point stands. Key is a dodgy trader.
‘Previously unheard audio that reveals breakdowns, missing equipment and a gas leak all on the day of the Pike River Mine explosion has been leaked.
When charges against the former CEO of the company Peter Whittall were dropped, it became apparent that the Pike River was a disaster with no responsibility.
Twenty-nine people could die, a business could be lost, a community could be shattered and no one would be held accountable.’
Gary Heavin calls Haiti “the hidden holocaust” because of the media blackout that protected the Clinton Foundation from public fallout. Something to keep in mind if it ever should come out that Key gave NZ$ to these charletons.
Be prepared to have Bennett tell the sob story of how she was a ‘Poor Solo -mum .Nothing about the fact that her parents owned a shop and looked after her child whilst she went to university. Nothing about the fact that it was a Labour Government who made it possible for her to domthis.
And she is now making the most of her
This news reminds us the issue of poverty has not gone away.
$2300 a week for family to stay in motel
‘Work and Income is paying $2300 a week for a family to stay in a motel.
Tuaine Murray, her partner and her son have been living in motels for most of the year, while they wait for a Housing New Zealand property.
Initially the money had to be repaid, but now the government is paying for it.
Ms Murray said the $2300 per week was for a unit at the Allenby Park Hotel in Papatoetoe.
She said she desperately needed a Housing New Zealand house, because they were struggling to get a private rental and were at the mercy of Work and Income.’
This is a post about the Mountain Tui substack, and small tweaks - further to the poll and request post the other day. Please don’t read if you aren’t interested in my personal matters. Thank you all.After oohing-and-aahing about how to structure the Substack model since November, including obtaining ...
This transcript of a recent conversation between the Prime Minister and his chief economic adviser has not been verified.We’ve announced we are the ‘Yes Government’. Do you like it?Yes, Prime Minister.Dreamed up by the PR team. It’s about being committed to growth. Not that the PR team know anything about ...
The other day, Australian Senator Nick McKim issued a warning in the Australian Parliement about the US’s descent into fascim.And of course it’s true, but I lament - that was true as soon as Trump won.What we see is now simply the reification of the intention, planning, and forces behind ...
Among the many other problems associated with Musk/DOGE sending a fleet of teenage and twenty-something cultists to remove, copy and appropriate federal records like social security, medicaid and other supposedly protected data is the fact that the youngsters doing the data-removal, copying and security protocol and filter code over-writing have ...
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tuneBird fly high by the light of the moonOh, oh, oh, JokermanSong by Bob Dylan.Morena folks, I hope this fine morning of the 7th of February finds you well. We're still close to Paihia, just a short drive out of town. Below is the view ...
It’s been an eventful week as always, so here’s a few things that we have found interesting. We also hope everyone had a happy and relaxing Waitangi Day! This week in Greater Auckland We’re still running on summer time, but provided two chewy posts: On Tuesday, a guest ...
Queuing on Queen St: the Government is set to announce another apparently splashy growth policy on Sunday of offering residence visas to wealthy migrants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, February 7:PM Christopher ...
The fact that Waitangi ended up being such a low-key affair may mark it out as one of the most significant Waitangi Days in recent years. A group of women draped in “Toitu Te Tiriti” banners who turned their backs on the politicians’ powhiri was about as rough as it ...
Hi,This week’s Flightless Bird episode was about “fake seizure guy” — a Melbourne man who fakes seizures in order to get members of the public to sit on him.The audio documentary (which I have included in this newsletter in case you don’t listen to Flightless Bird) built on reporting first ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk The 119th Congress comes with a price tag. The oil and gas industry gave about $24 million in campaign contributions to the members of the U.S. House and Senate expected to be sworn in January 3, 2025, according to a ...
Early morning, the shadows still long, but you can already feel the warmth building. Our motel was across the road from the historic homestead where Henry Williams' family lived. The evening before, we wandered around the gardens, reading the plaques and enjoying the close proximity to the history of the ...
Thanks folks for your feedback, votes and comments this week. I’ll be making the changes soon. Appreciate all your emails, comments and subscriptions too. I know your time is valuable - muchas gracias.A lot is happening both here and around the world - so I want to provide a snippets ...
Data released today by Statistics NZ shows that unemployment rose to 5.1%, with 33,000 more people out of work than last year said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. “The latest data shows that employment fell in Aotearoa at its fastest rate since the GFC. Unemployment rose in 8 ...
The December labour market statistics have been released, showing yet another increase in unemployment. There are now 156,000 unemployed - 34,000 more than when National took office. And having thrown all these people out of work, National is doubling down on cruelty. Because being vicious will somehow magically create the ...
Boarded up homes in Kilbirnie, where work on a planned development was halted. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, February 5 are;Housing Minister Chris Bishop yesterday announcedKāinga Ora would be stripped of ...
This week Kiwirail and Auckland Transport were celebrating the completion of the summer rail works that had the network shut or for over a month and the start of electric trains to Pukekohe. First up, here’s parts of the press release about the shutdown works. Passengers boarding trains in Auckland ...
Through its austerity measures, the coalition government has engineered a rise in unemployment in order to reduce inflation while – simultaneously – cracking down harder and harder on the people thrown out of work by its own policies. To that end, Social Development Minister Louise Upston this week added two ...
This year, we've seen a radical, white supremacist government ignoring its Tiriti obligations, refusing to consult with Māori, and even trying to legislatively abrogate te Tiriti o Waitangi. When it was criticised by the Waitangi Tribunal, the government sabotaged that body, replacing its legal and historical experts with corporate shills, ...
Poor old democracy, it really is in a sorry state. It would be easy to put all the blame on the vandals and tyrants presently trashing the White House, but this has been years in the making. It begins with Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan and the spirit of Gordon ...
The new school lunches came in this week, and they were absolutely scrumptious.I had some, and even though Connor said his tasted like “stodge” and gave him a sore tummy, I myself loved it!Look at the photos - I knew Mr Seymour wouldn’t lie when he told us last year:"It ...
The tighter sanctions are modelled on ones used in Britain, which did push people off ‘the dole’, but didn’t increase the number of workers, and which evidence has repeatedly shown don’t work. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, ...
Catching you up on the morning’s global news and a quick look at the parallels -GLOBALTariffs are backSharemarkets in the US, UK and Europe have “plunged” in response to Trump’s tariffs. And while Mexico has won a one month reprieve, Canada and China will see their respective 25% and 10% ...
This post by Nicolas Reid was originally published on Linked in. It is republished here with permission. Gondolas are often in the news, with manufacturers of ropeway systems proposing them as a modern option for mass transit systems in New Zealand. However, like every next big thing in transport, it’s hard ...
This is a re-post from The Climate BrinkBoth 2023 and 2024 were exceptionally warm years, at just below and above 1.5C relative to preindustrial in the WMO composite of surface temperature records, respectively. While we are still working to assess the full set of drivers of this warmth, it is clear that ...
Hi,I woke up feeling nervous this morning, realising that this weekend Flightless Bird is going to do it’s first ever live show. We’re heading to a sold out (!) show in Seattle to test the format out in front of an audience. If it works, we’ll do more. I want ...
From the United-For-Now States of America comes the thrilling news that a New Zealander may be at the very heart of the current coup. Punching above our weight on the world stage once more! Wait, you may be asking, what New Zealander? I speak of Peter Thiel, made street legal ...
Even Stevens: Over the 33 years between 1990 and 2023 (and allowing for the aberrant 2020 result) the average level of support enjoyed by the Left and Right blocs, at roughly 44.5 percent each, turns out to be, as near as dammit, identical.WORLDWIDE, THE PARTIES of the Left are presented ...
Back in 2023, a "prominent political figure" went on trial for historic sex offences. But we weren't allowed to know who they were or what political party they were "prominent" in, because it might affect the way we voted. At the time, I said that this was untenable; it was ...
I'm going, I'm goingWhere the water tastes like wineI'm going where the water tastes like wineWe can jump in the waterStay drunk all the timeI'm gonna leave this city, got to get awayI'm gonna leave this city, got to get awayAll this fussing and fighting, man, you know I sure ...
Waitangi Day is a time to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and stand together for a just and fair Aotearoa. Across the motu, communities are gathering to reflect, kōrero, and take action for a future built on equity and tino rangatiratanga. From dawn ceremonies to whānau-friendly events, there are ...
Subscribe to Mountain Tūī ! Where you too can learn about exciting things from a flying bird! Tweet.Yes - I absolutely suck at marketing. It’s a fact.But first -My question to all readers is:How should I set up the Substack model?It’s been something I’ve been meaning to ask since November ...
Here’s the key news, commentary, reports and debate around Aotearoa’s political economy on politics and in the week to Feb 3:PM Christopher Luxon began 2025’s first day of Parliament last Tuesday by carrying on where left off in 2024, letting National’s junior coalition partner set the political agenda and dragging ...
The PSA have released a survey of 4000 public service workers showing that budget cuts are taking a toll on the wellbeing of public servants and risking the delivery of essential services to New Zealanders. Economists predict that figures released this week will show continued increases in unemployment, potentially reaching ...
The Prime Minister’s speech 10 days or so ago kicked off a flurry of commentary. No one much anywhere near the mainstream (ie excluding Greens supporters) questioned the rhetoric. New Zealand has done woefully poorly on productivity for a long time and we really need better outcomes, and the sorts ...
President Trump on the day he announced tariffs against Mexico, Canada and China, unleashing a shock to supply chains globally that is expected to slow economic growth and increase inflation for most large economies. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate ...
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on UnsplashHere’s what we’re watching in the week to February 9 and beyond in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty:Monday, February 3Politics: New Zealand Government cabinet meeting usually held early afternoon with post-cabinet news conference possible at 4 pm, although they have not been ...
Trump being Trump, it won’t come as a shock to find that he regards a strong US currency (bolstered by high tariffs on everything made by foreigners) as a sign of America’s virility, and its ability to kick sand in the face of the world. Reality is a tad more ...
A listing of 24 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, January 26, 2025 thru Sat, February 1, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
What seems to be the common theme in the US, NZ, Argentina and places like Italy under their respective rightwing governments is what I think of as “the politics of cruelty.” Hate-mongering, callous indifference in social policy-making, corporate toadying, political bullying, intimidation and punching down on the most vulnerable with ...
If you are confused, check with the sunCarry a compass to help you alongYour feet are going to be on the groundYour head is there to move you aroundSo, stand in the place where you liveSongwriters: Bill Berry / Michael Mills / Michael Stipe / Peter Buck.Hot in the CityYesterday, ...
Shane Jones announced today he would be contracting out his thinking to a smarter younger person.Reclining on his chaise longue with a mouth full of oysters and Kina he told reporters:Clearly I have become a has-been, a palimpsest, an epigone, a bloviating fossil. I find myself saying such things as: ...
Warning: This post contains references to sexual assaultOn Saturday, I spent far too long editing a video on Tim Jago, the ACT Party President and criminal, who has given up his fight for name suppression after 2 years. He voluntarily gave up just in time for what will be a ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is global warming ...
Our low-investment, low-wage, migration-led and housing-market-driven political economy has delivered poorer productivity growth than the rest of the OECD, and our performance since Covid has been particularly poor. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty this ...
..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.As far as major government announcements go, a Three Ministers Event is Big. It can signify a major policy development or something has gone Very Well, or an absolute Clusterf**k. When Three Ministers assemble ...
One of those blasts from the past. Peter Dunne – originally neoliberal Labour, then leader of various parties that sought to work with both big parties (generally National) – has taken to calling ...
Completed reads for January: I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson The Black Spider, by Jeremias Gotthelf The Spider and the Fly (poem), by Mary Howitt A Noiseless Patient Spider (poem), by Walt Whitman August Heat, by W.F. Harvey Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White The Shrinking Man, by Richard Matheson ...
Do its Property Right Provisions Make Sense?Last week I pointed out that it is uninformed to argue that the New Zealand’s apparently poor economic performance can be traced only to poor regulations. Even were there evidence they had some impact, there are other factors. Of course, we should seek to ...
Richard Wagstaff It was incredibly jarring to hear the hubris from the Prime Minister during his recent state of the nation address. I had just spent close to a week working though the stories and thoughts shared with us by nearly 2000 working people as part of our annual Mood ...
Odd fact about the Broadcasting Standards Authority: for the last few years, they’ve only been upholding about 5% of complaints. Why? I think there’s a range of reasons. Generally responsible broadcasters. Dumb complaints. Complaints brought under the wrong standard. Greater adherence to broadcasters’ rights to freedom of expression in the ...
And I said, "Mama, mama, mama, why am I so alone"'Cause I can't go outside, I'm scared I might not make it homeWell I'm alive, I'm alive, but I'm sinking inIf there's anyone at home at your place, darlingWhy don't you invite me in?Don't try to feed me'Cause I've been ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ star is on the rise, having just added the Energy, Local Government and Revenue portfolios to his responsibilities - but there is nothing ambitious about the Government’s new climate targets. Photo: SuppliedLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate ...
It may have been a short week but there’s been no shortage of things that caught our attention. Here is some of the most interesting. This week in Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt took a look at public transport ridership in 2024 On Thursday Connor asked some questions ...
The East Is Red: Journalists and commentators are referring to the sudden and disruptive arrival of DeepSeek as a second “Sputnik moment”. (Sputnik being the name given by the godless communists of the Soviet Union to the world’s first artificial satellite which, to the consternation and dismay of the Americans, ...
Hi,Back on inauguration day we launched a ridiculous RFK Jr. “brain worms” tee on the Webworm store, and I told you I’d be throwing my profits over to Mutual Aid LA and Rainbow Youth New Zealand. Just to show I am not full of shit, here are the receipts. I ...
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: on the week in geopolitics, including the latest from Donald Trump over Gaza and Ukraine.Health expert and author David Galler ...
In an uncompromising paper Treasury has basically told the Government that its plan for a third medical school at Waikato University is a waste of money. Furthermore, the country cannot afford it. That advice was released this week by the Treasury under the Official Information Act. And it comes as ...
Back in November, He Pou a Rangi provided the government with formal advice on the domestic contribution to our next Paris target. Not what the target should be, but what we could realistically achieve, by domestic action alone, without resorting to offshore mitigation. Their answer was startling: depending on exactly ...
Photo by Mauricio Fanfa on UnsplashKia oraCome and join us for our weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news with myself , plus regular guest David Patman and ...
I don't like to spend all my time complaining about our government, so let me complain about the media first.Senior journalistic Herald person Thomas Coughlan reported that Treasury replied yeah nah, wrong bro to Luxon's claim that our benighted little country has been in recession for three years.His excitement rose ...
Back in 2022, when the government was consulting internally about proactive release of cabinet papers, the SIS opposed it. The basis of their opposition was the "mosaic effect" - people being able to piece together individual pieces of innocuous public information in a way which supposedly harms "national security" (effectively: ...
With The Stroke Of A Pen:Populism, especially right-wing populism, invests all the power of an electoral/parliamentary majority in a single political leader because it no longer trusts the bona fides of the sprawling political class among whom power is traditionally dispersed. Populism eschews traditional politics, because, among populists, traditional politics ...
I’ve spent the last week writing a fairly substantial review of a recent book (“Australia’s Pandemic Exceptionalism: How we crushed the curve but lost the race”) by a couple of Australian academic economists on Australia’s pandemic policies and experiences. For all its limitations, there isn’t anything similar in New Zealand. ...
Mr Mojo Rising: Economic growth is possible, Christopher Luxon reassures us, but only under a government that is willing to get out of the way and let those with drive and ambition get on with it.ABOUT TWELVE KILOMETRES from the farm on the North Otago coast where I grew up stands ...
You're nearly a good laughAlmost a jokerWith your head down in the pig binSaying, 'Keep on digging.'Pig stain on your fat chinWhat do you hope to findDown in the pig mine?You're nearly a laughYou're nearly a laughBut you're really a crySongwriter: Roger Waters.NZ First - Kiwi Battlers.Say what you like ...
This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Climate denial is dead. Renewable energy denial is here. As “alternative facts” become the norm, it’s worth looking at what actual facts tell us about how renewable energy sources like solar and wind are lowering the price of electricity. As ...
SIR GEOFFREY PALMER is worried about democracy. In his Newsroom website post of 27 January 2025 he asserts that “the future of democracy across the world now seems to be in question.” Following a year of important electoral contests across the world, culminating in Donald Trump’s emphatic recapture of the ...
The Government hasn’t stopped talking about growth since the Prime Minister made his “yes” speech at the Auckland Chamber of Commerce last week. But so far, the measures announced would seem hardly likely to suddenly pitch New Zealand into the fast-growth East Asian league. The digital nomad announcement hardly deserved ...
Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...
The Government’s move to increase speed limits substantially on dozens of stretches of rural and often undivided highways will result in more serious harm. ...
In her first announcement as Economic Growth Minister, Nicola Willis chose to loosen restrictions for digital nomads from other countries, rather than focus on everyday Kiwis. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to stand firm and work with allies to progress climate action as Donald Trump signals his intent to pull out of the Paris Climate Accords once again. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget 2025 – the Growth Budget - will be delivered on Thursday 22 May. “This year’s Budget will drive forward the Government’s plan to grow our economy to improve the incomes of New Zealanders now and in the years ahead. “Budget 2025 will build ...
For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament. “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes students back to school with a call to raise attendance from last year. “The Government encourages all students to attend school every day because there is a clear connection between being present at school and setting yourself up for a bright future,” says Mr ...
The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism Minister Louise Upston say. “The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto ...
The opening of Kāinga Ora’s development of 134 homes in Epuni, Lower Hutt will provide much-needed social housing for Hutt families, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I’ve been a strong advocate for social housing on Kāinga Ora’s Epuni site ever since the old earthquake-prone housing was demolished in 2015. I ...
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will travel to Australia today for meetings with Australian Trade Minister, Senator Don Farrell, and the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF). Mr McClay recently hosted Minister Farrell in Rotorua for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting, where ANZLF presented on ...
A new monthly podiatry clinic has been launched today in Wairoa and will bring a much-needed service closer to home for the Wairoa community, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.“Health New Zealand has been successful in securing a podiatrist until the end of June this year to meet the needs of ...
The Judicial Conduct Commissioner has recommended a Judicial Conduct Panel be established to inquire into and report on the alleged conduct of acting District Court Judge Ema Aitken in an incident last November, Attorney-General Judith Collins said today. “I referred the matter of Judge Aitken’s alleged conduct during an incident ...
Students who need extra help with maths are set to benefit from a targeted acceleration programme that will give them more confidence in the classroom, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Last year, significant numbers of students did not meet the foundational literacy and numeracy level required to gain NCEA. To ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced three new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ...
Ki te kahore he whakakitenga, ka ngaro te Iwi – without a vision, the people will perish. The Government has achieved its target to reduce the number of households in emergency housing motels by 75 per cent five years early, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The number of households ...
The opening of Palmerston North’s biggest social housing development will have a significant impact for whānau in need of safe, warm, dry housing, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The minister visited the development today at North Street where a total of 50 two, three, and four-bedroom homes plus a ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced the new membership of the Public Advisory Committee on Disarmament and Arms Control (PACDAC), who will serve for a three-year term. “The Committee brings together wide-ranging expertise relevant to disarmament. We have made six new appointments to the Committee and reappointed two existing members ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora, good morning, talofa, malo e lelei, bula vinaka, da jia hao, namaste, sat sri akal, assalamu alaikum. It’s so great to be here and I’m ready and pumped for 2025. Can I start by acknowledging: Simon Bridges – CEO of the Auckland ...
The Government has unveiled a bold new initiative to position New Zealand as a premier destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) that will create higher paying jobs and grow the economy. “Invest New Zealand will streamline the investment process and provide tailored support to foreign investors, to increase capital investment ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced the largest reset of the New Zealand science system in more than 30 years with reforms which will boost the economy and benefit the sector. “The reforms will maximise the value of the $1.2 billion in government funding that goes into ...
Turbocharging New Zealand’s economic growth is the key to brighter days ahead for all Kiwis, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. In the Prime Minister’s State of the Nation Speech in Auckland today, Christopher Luxon laid out the path to the prosperity that will affect all aspects of New Zealanders’ lives. ...
The latest set of accounts show the Government has successfully checked the runaway growth of public spending, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “In the previous government’s final five months in office, public spending was almost 10 per cent higher than for the same period the previous year. “That is completely ...
The Government’s welfare reforms are delivering results with the number of people moving off benefits into work increasing year-on-year for six straight months. “There are positive signs that our welfare reset and the return consequences for job seekers who don't fulfil their obligations to prepare for or find a job ...
Jon Kroll and Aimee McCammon have been appointed to the New Zealand Film Commission Board, Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “I am delighted to appoint these two new board members who will bring a wealth of industry, governance, and commercial experience to the Film Commission. “Jon Kroll has been an ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has hailed a drop in the domestic component of inflation, saying it increases the prospect of mortgage rate reductions and a lower cost of living for Kiwi households. Stats NZ reported today that inflation was 2.2 per cent in the year to December, the second consecutive ...
Two new appointed members and one reappointed member of the Employment Relations Authority have been announced by Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden today. “I’m pleased to announce the new appointed members Helen van Druten and Matthew Piper to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) and welcome them to ...
Health NZ's CEO has resigned, but frontline healthworkers are sceptical that installing new leadership will make any difference to a system grappling with problems. ...
Gail Duncan, Chairperson of the St Peter’s on Willis Social Justice Group, one of the organisations invited to submit on the Bill, says the Government’s actions are unprecedented. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amani Kasherwa, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Queensland In late January, a rebel group that has long caused mayhem in the sprawling African nation of Democratic Republic of Congo took control of Goma, a major city of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yee-Fui Ng, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Monash University An ad falsely depicting independent candidate Alex Dyson as a Greens member.ABC News/Supplied The highly pertinent case of a little-known independent candidate in the Victorian seat of Wannon has exposed a gaping ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lauren Ball, Professor of Community Health and Wellbeing, The University of Queensland Nik/Unsplash You might have heard that eating too many eggs will cause high cholesterol levels, leading to poor health. Researchers have examined the science behind this myth again, and ...
Everything you missed from the third day of the Treaty principles bill hearings, when the Justice Committee heard four hours of oral submission. Read our recaps of day one of the hearings here, and day two here. Parliament was quiet on Friday for the third day of hearings on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thomas Jeffries, Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, Western Sydney University Tijana Simic/Shutterstock The news last week that three people in Sydney were hospitalised with botulism after receiving botox injections has raised questions about the regulation of the cosmetic injectables industry. The ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jens Blotevogel, Principal Research Scientist and Team Leader for Remediation Technologies, CSIRO Mino Surkala, Shutterstock Lithium-ion batteries are part of everyday life. They power small rechargeable devices such as mobile phones and laptops. They enable electric vehicles. And larger versions store ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edith Jennifer Hill, Associate Lecturer, Learning & Teaching Innovation, Flinders University Netflix Netflix’s new limited series, Apple Cider Vinegar, tells the story of the elaborate cancer con orchestrated by Australian blogger Annabelle (Belle) Gibson. The first episode opens with Gibson’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dee Ninis, Earthquake Scientist, Monash University Greece’s government has just declared a state of emergency on the island of Santorini, as earthquakes shake the island multiple times a day and sometimes only minutes apart. The “earthquake swarm” is also affecting other ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Western Australian state election will be held on March 8. A Newspoll, conducted January 29 to February 4 from a sample ...
She’s back behind the wheel, and this time, she wants to find out what it is that makes us tick. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. After a prolific career on stage and screen, 83-year-old Miriam Margolyes is on the road again. ...
A new poem by Jordan Hamel. Real Poet Every word earned its place and so did he, so should you. Real poet lives in the capital but writes himself into the Mackenzie country golden hour, man of the paper land, he neglects to mention his pollen ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Understanding Te Tiriti by Roimata Smail (Wai Ako Press, $25) No better time to get ...
The committee has published this list to inform the public about its work, and to give clarity to submitters who have contacted the committee asking if they will be invited to make an oral submission. ...
Alex Casey and Gabi Lardies dissect their Laneway 2025 experience. Gabi Lardies: Hi Alex :))))))) Congratulations on not getting sunburnt. Everyone I talked to at Laneway yesterday was braving the sun for one thing. Charli XCX. How was your brat experience?Alex Casey: We will talk about the rest of ...
The US President's suggestion, which sparked enormous debate globally, has been labelled as a threat, not a proposal, by the Federation of Islamic Associations. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christine McCarthy, Senior Lecturer in Interior Architecture, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Interior of Auckland South Men’s Prison.Getty Images Prisons are not colourful places. Typically, they are grey or some variation of a monochrome colour scheme. But increasingly, ...
FICTION1Tree of Nourishment (Kāwai 2) by Monty Soutar (David Bateman, $39.99)Interesting to note that the author of the biggest-selling New Zealand novel in Waitangi Week is Māori (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tai, and Ngāti Kahungunu).2 Kāwai: For Such a Time as This (Kāwai 1) by Monty Soutar (David ...
Remembering the renowned New Zealand writer, who died on February 5, 2025. The Stopover When the trout rise like compassion It is worth watching when the hinds come down from the hills with a new message it will be as well to listen. – Brian Turner Poet, environmentalist, sportsman, journalist, ...
Survivors can choose to have former High Court judge Paul Davison assess their individual claims to tailor payments to their personal circumstances. ...
Are we too modest when it comes to celebrating our putrid plant life?She’s beauty. She’s grace. She smells like a decaying corpse and lurks in the backrooms of Auckland Zoo, wallowing tragically in a bucket. In recent weeks an Australian corpse plant named Putricia has captured the noses and ...
Politicians from the coalition government received a frosty reception at Waitangi this year, but Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says the pōwhiri that received so much attention was just one part of many events throughout the week. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jenny Allen, Postdoctoral research associate, Griffith University A humpback whale mother and calf on the New Caledonian breeding grounds.Mark Quintin All known human languages display a surprising pattern: the most frequent word in a language is twice as frequent as ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justin Keogh, Associate Dean of Research, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University Jordan Mailata is an Australian-born NFL star who plays for the Philadelphia Eagles as an offensive left tackle. This position favours very tall, heavy and strong athletes who ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nigel Tucker, Research Associate in Environment and Sustainability, James Cook University TREAT volunteers planting treesTREAT Like ferns and the tides, community conservation groups come and go. Many achieve their goal. Volunteers restore a local wetland or protect a patch of urban ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karyn Healy, Honorary Principal Research Fellow in Psychology, The University of Queensland Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock The start of the school year means new classes, routines, after-school activities and sometimes even a new school. This can be a really exciting time for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kerrie Sadiq, Professor of Taxation, QUT Business School, and ARC Future Fellow, Queensland University of Technology The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) released a discussion paper this week on investment tax breaks. The study looks at whether tax incentives, such as instant ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Naomi Zouwer, Visual Artist and Lecturer in Teacher Education, University of Canberra Galleries and art museums can be intimidating and alienating even for adults. Imagine it from a child’s point of view. Stern security guards in uniforms stationed the doors, bags checked, ...
The clock is ticking in the great chain chase. 2025 is an election year in New Zealand. Not the general variation, obviously, but the local form. If you’re thinking of running, nominations open in just five months, and your chances are good – about 50% across the various races; in ...
OMG English being interviewed by Ali on newshub this morning.. far out brussel sprout.
He says… anyone whom believes Nick Smith hasn’t done a good job is wrong.
We won’t go to an early election… his excuse.. apparently the labour party having some mps leaving is not a good enough reason !!!!!!! Excuse me?? How many Nat MP’s are not seeking re-election?
I heard on the news last night that he will be too busy to meet with the Bernie and the Pike relatives today… does he have any idea how much of a mission it is to get from the west coast to Wellington?
By crickey Bill you are a gone burger, the public are already a bit unsettled about you being PM, but more of the same? Bye bye Bill mark my words you won’t last long.
Bling and Pulla honeymoon over, then?
Could be… tell you what, Ali Mau is a very good interviewer, deepest condolences to Henry as his Mum passed away.
ALI… impressed with your questions this morning, thank you for not being a cheer leader for a certain political party, thank you for your lack of bias and intelligent questions.
Link?
will see if it’s up and post asap
Maybe another costly by-election in Mt Albert might drain precious resources from Labour’s war chest for the General Elections.
However, another resounding win for Labour will give it another psychological boost but hopefully not push them into hubris territory.
Key is not seeking re-election, neither is Parata, let’s not forget what happened in Northland. Williamson is leaving as is Chester Burrows, Jono Naylor and Lindsey Tisch all six of them from the Nat party. McCully want to just be on the list, the PM has changed as has the deputy. Did any national party voters vote for that? Or was that merely the decision of Nat Party MP’s?
It’s got nothing to do with money as Incognito suggests, it’s about doing what is fair. An early election would be fair to ALL citizens of NZ.
Anyways here is the link to the interview I heard on the wireless this morning.
http://www.newshub.co.nz/politics/prime-minister-bill-english-rules-out-early-election-2016121308
“However, another resounding win for Labour will give it another psychological boost but hopefully not push them into hubris territory.”
Strewth, you’d hope that after the last 10 years Labour were all out of hubris.
Labour? I would say hubris is far more representative of the National Party.
Hubris is puffed up – how would we like to describe our pollies and their advisors and backers – ‘astute and pragmatic’?
The pike river families should have planned that a bit better. It’s his first day.
I doubt they foresaw that when they booked their air tickets.
You doubt they foresaw it? Really.
The only reason they were coming was because English was about to become PM and they knew it. Look at this from The Herald
“The protestors will head to Wellington to petition the new Prime Minister Bill English on Tuesday, his first day in office ………Monk said”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11764933
Monk even said it was his first day.
Monk can easily make a statement like that after things have changed but the trip was booked to deliver material to other politicians before Key stepped down.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/320286/pike-river-families-to-announce-new-re-entry-plan
So they’ve had one weeks notice of a new prime minister and in that time they’ve managed to get international experts to draw up a new recovery plan and get other experts to peer review said plan. Then plan a group trip to Wellington to present the plan. You really are dreaming.
Of course they didn’t do any such thing.
Monk has been going on for years that it is safe to re-enter the mine and claims he has “experts” who agree with him.
Claiming he, and others, are going to Wellington to “petition Bill English” is of course rubbish. He, and the others, know very well they aren’t going to meet English today. He is just stirring the pot with that claim.
And Little is playing along with him.
Although some Nat MPs are not seeking re-election, neither are they vacating their seats before the next election, a la Shearer. Therein lies the difference.
Do you seriously think Helen would have thrown National an early election bone if one of their MPs was heading off overseas?
One very much doubts it.
Indeed in 2008 she held off the election until almost the last legally possible day in order to drag out her time in the bosses chair.
She also made Steve Maharey stay in Parliament rather than take up his appointment as Massey VC until he had reached the date when she could avoid a by-election. He wasn’t doing anything in Wellington but he still wouldn’t resign.
We won’t go to an early election… his excuse.. apparently the labour party having some mps leaving is not a good enough reason !!!!!!!
– Why should National give up an advantage to Labour simply because Labour didn’t treat Shearer right?
– Why shouldn’t Bill English take as much time as he needs to show the electorate what he’s capable of?
Excuse me?? How many Nat MP’s are not seeking re-election?
– National MPs are staying on so the country doesn’t have to have by-elections, its Labour forcing the issue by not rejuvenating properly
So far 6 Nat MP’s are leaving and not seeking re-election including the PM whom quit. But it’s not my job to deal with the internal problems of the outgoing government, whom have lost their brand and their leader.
Re branding takes time.
How much time has Bill taking already to show the electorate what he’s capable of? So much time he’s ditched his electorate for the list?
“So far 6 Nat MP’s are leaving and not seeking re-election including the PM whom quit”
All of whom are serving out their terms so as not to cause a by-election
“But it’s not my job to deal with the internal problems of the outgoing government, whom have lost their brand and their leader.”
Rejuvenation of a party does seem to be something the left struggle with
“How much time has Bill taking already to show the electorate what he’s capable of?”
As PM? As much time as he, that’s he not you or anyone else for that matter, decides
” So much time he’s ditched his electorate for the list?”
Good on him, he obviously decided he couldn’t devote enough time to his electorate so he went list only as opposed to Andrew Little who can’t seem to win an electorate seat so has to go list
” So much time he’s ditched his electorate for the list?”
Oddly enough exactly the same thing as Michael Cullen did when he was Finance Minister. Probably the same excuse too.
On the other hand it may have been that Michael found Otago, and Bill found Southland far too cold in the winter.
“On the other hand it may have been that Michael found Otago, and Bill found Southland far too cold in the winter.”
Can’t blame them for that
What a sensible and unified transition from the old leader to the new leader Bill English.
New Zealanders can head into Christmas and the New Year confident that Bill English and the government are stable and heading in the right direction.
“the labour party having some mps leaving is not a good enough reason”
There is a minor difference of course.
The Labour MPs running for the exits weren’t willing to serve out the period they committed to when they ran in the last election. They are quitting before the end of their term.
There are a number of National MPs, and Labour MPs for that matter, who have said they will serve out the entire term and will not run at the next election. Don’t you really see the difference?
As for the Pike River people wanting to see him?
Don’t you think he is entitled to be asked when there would be a suitable time, rather than just turn up on his first full day as PM and that they can just march into his office.
I just tried to get an appointment with Andrew Little for today. I said I wanted half an hour of his time at 2pm today.
Someone in his office told me he couldn’t see me. The miserable old bugger. Thinks he is too important to meet me does he? Seeing me at 2pm should be of far more importance than any other trivial activity he wants to get involved in.
Why would AL waste his time on an internet troll? Even writing this reply to your drivel is a waste of my time.
“Seeing me at 2pm should be of far more importance than any other trivial activity he wants to get involved in.”
Oh dear. I fear that may have been a little bit too subtle for Ropata
Look at numbers 1 and 4 in this link.
Sorry. The link got lost.
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/order-paper-questions/list-of-oral-questions/oral-questions-13-december-2016/
Just to make sure, you are referring to Phil Goff and David Shearer, aren’t you?
No wonder that the main Rat has abandoned his stinking, filthy, sinking ship – just in time, with this report on child poverty coming out today:
Third generation of Kiwi children face life of poverty
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/320242/third-generation-of-kiwi-children-face-life-of-poverty
Key’s legacy Part 1
Poverty NZ’s ‘new normal’ – report
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/307110/poverty-nz's-'new-normal'-report
Today’s news reminds us theis issue has not gone away.
Great work, John Key.
It’s awful, so many families living hand to mouth, the cost of having a roof over their heads eating up most of their income, leaving them hungry, kids are hurting all over NZ. Parents/caregivers are stressed as a result.
NZ needs a change of government, one that cares about the future, one that put’s kids first, all kids. It’s not the kids fault that they are in such a situation, let’s just help them, blaming parents still does not help the kids.
Another reason for a UBI? I think so. Or at the very least, provide lunch for all kiwi kids at school.
How can this be happening within an economy that is going gangbusters?
If so many people are in poverty, struggling to get by, then the economy is not in good shape.
It’s a very skewed understanding of what a country’s economy is, if only the better off are getting the benefits of it (allegedly) being in good shape.
The economy is about allocation of resources. Anyone who thinks a great economy is one that only benefits the well-off, do not value a fair and inclusive society: one where everyone is cared for, and allocated with a fair share of the resources.
It’s all about values, not corporation (including NZ Inc) balance sheets.
Here is an idea for superannuation – if you wish to keep working, or if you can afford it, you can from the age of 65 “gift” your super payment for a period of time to your children or grandchildren or another nominated person, with the money going into a retirement scheme for the nominated person?
I really like that idea.
Sounds like a very good idea.
and there is absolutely nothing stopping that from occurring now.
Also, you don’t get the state pension unless you apply for it. And for those with high incomes from other sources, most of it would be lost in taxes anyway.
The pension is not enough to live on, especially for a pensioner with no savings and who is renting. So, even with the state pension, many will need to keep on working, at least part time.
“for those with high incomes from other sources, most of it would be lost in taxes anyway.”
Well no actually. You may not have realised it but the maximum marginal tax rate on income is 33%.
Socialist Governments are much greedier of course. Under the 1945-1951 Labour Government in Britain the marginal tax rate exceeded 100%. I am sure many Labour and Green supporters contributing to this Blog would love such a regime. The Politics of envy at work.
It’s not the politics of envy, it’s the politics of an even distribution of resources.
Andrew Little’s response to the latest Super debate:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/320272/video-little-says-labour-would-keep-super-age-at-65
I agree with him.
The second day of Christmas – from the Friendship book:
A lovely thought. Thanks greywarshark. 🙂
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11765829
Well colour me surprised
This might help you PR to understand the Russian’s actual modus operandi. The tampering with electoral machines was always the long shot:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11765820
And the more the Trumpet denies it, the more we know it is true – which it is!
It’s an interesting read because it is not the first time Putin’s Russia has used the method to manipulate elections in other countries and they’re about to do it again in Germany.
This was the bit that I thought was interesting:
Wisconsin’s recount uncovered no widespread problems or hacking as Stein had suggested, without evidence, that there might be.
Manipulate elections…not the first time…Putin…
As you sound certain of interference, this time in Germany…do be sure to share your you intel with Merkel
Goodness me, whatever next!
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11765897
Poor Old Sam a goneburger.
Not surprising, as he has repeatedly been the front person for National’s failed programs…bus fodder he is.
I always thought him incompetent, a little….uninformed… and altogether unsuited for politics at this level.
In conversation to someone close to him who I have a certain respect for…he’s a hell of a nice guy…just useless at his job.
Another rat leaves the sinking ship.
Did such a good job with private prisons.
Yeah a real sinking ship delusional much.http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/7061-roy-morgan-new-zealand-voting-intention-november-2016-201611301845
Pfft everyone knows the polls are biased, the msm is biased, the land lines are biased and the electoral results are biased
Yes…a convenient scapegoat. From interviews it was patently clear he didn’t have a clue what he was supposed to be talking about. Almost as if it were deliberate on the part of his ‘colleagues’.
I bet he’ll have his autobiography ghost written at some point and spill a few beans.
he was/is dead set useless. It was an absolute train wreck listening to him on the radio when Philip John Smith absconded to Brazil.
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11765897
Just enough time to get a full parliamentary pension and poof! Gone
Typical careerist crap.
“time to get a full parliamentary pension”.
You are way out of date. The fabled gold-plated Parliamentary pension was scrapped a long time ago.
It ceased to be available to any MP who wasn’t in Parliament on some date in 1992. There will still be a few sitting members who will get it when they retire but Sam isn’t one of them.
If he put in 8% of his back bench basic salary it will be matched by a 20% contribution. It is just a defined sum, NOT the old defined benefit scheme. It is generous but not greatly different to what a lot of companies offer. He would get the amount built up regardless of how long he was a member.
Why do we have this poverty when we have a Rockstar Economy going gangbusters?
Why?
Neo-liberal capitalism.
There’s a “festering” row in the Far North over the illegal appropriation of a council reserve by the owners of the Whatuwhiwhi Top 10 Holiday Park.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/northland-age/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503402&objectid=11765838
Now, the Whatuwhiwhi Top ten Holiday park was sold to the owners of the Carrington Resort back in 2015….
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11441306
…the Carrington Resort of course being the Great Hope for Economic Recovery for the Far North…
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/business/luxury-northland-resort-could-be-the-next-port-douglas-6210667
….and fully endorsed by Far North Mayor and former Hollow Men bit player National’s John Carter.
And of course, since we look after our own….former National MP Mike Sabin was appointed CEO of Peppers Carrington Resort.
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/embattled-former-mp-mike-sabin-heads-luxurious-golf-resort-6288575
Anyway…all these little coincidences are merely interesting asides…the Mayor, John Carter, “said yesterday that he had now been made aware of the issue, and had demanded a report from staff by tomorrow.”
So we can all safely assume that the Perehipe Reserve will be restored to its former status as a public reserve….
Pass me a Tui…
But the DAP will be new and shiny! And it probably won’t leak, for a wee while!.
/
A pipeline leak has spilled tens of thousands of gallons of crude oil into a North Dakota creek roughly two and a half hours from Cannon Ball, where protesters are camped out in opposition to the Dakota Access pipeline.
[…]
North Dakota officials estimate more than 176,000 gallons of crude oil leaked from the Belle Fourche Pipeline into the Ash Coulee Creek. State environmental scientist Bill Suess says a landowner discovered the spill on Dec. 5 near the city of Belfield, which is roughly 150 miles from the epicenter of the Dakota Access pipeline protest camps.
http://linkis.com/www.cnbc.com/2016/12/8JvJd
News that dwarfs all other news.
NIWA principal scientist climate Dr Brett Mullan said the figures were in line with global average temperatures and confirm the longer-term trends of climate change.
“What we are seeing is the stark reality of global warming.”
Globally, the World Meteorological Organisation said 2016 was set to be the hottest year on record by a significant margin with temperatures 1.2C above pre-industrial times.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11765947
Peter Wadhams Interview: Could Modern Civilization Collapse?
Except that it doesn’t “dwarf other news”, Paul
Great and courageous move.
Winston Peters pledges to be first to enter Pike River mine.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11766014
Oh please it means nothing when he knows he’ll never be called on to do so (good publicity for him though)
As opposed to window shopping down Lambton Quay’ like your mate Jonathan Coleman.
And cutting and running and lying , like Ponytail Key.
“The first thing is I’m here to give you and absolute reassurance, we committed to getting the boys out, and nothing’s going to change that. So- when people try and tell you we’re not, they’re playing, I hate to say it, but they’re playing on your emotions”
“So you are the number one group that wants get those men out and quite-quite frankly I am number two -because I want to get them out”
I’m sure he was and then he information stating its too dangerous, if someone was to die in the recovery then the government would be held accountable for that
Read my lips.
“The first thing is I’m here to give you and absolute reassurance, we committed to getting the boys out, and nothing’s going to change that. So- when people try and tell you we’re not, they’re playing, I hate to say it, but they’re playing on your emotions”
He then got information stating it was too dangerous to go back in so rather then sacrifice anyone else he made the hard call
Of course, anything Key says is true.
https://thestandard.org.nz/the-great-big-list-of-john-keys-big-fat-lies-updated/
Yet managed to convincingly win three elections, shows how good Labour is
Hitler was popular too.
That is not relevance to his honesty.
Nice bit of anti-semitism there Paul, john Keys left and you still can’t let it go
oh look, a dead cat.
Paul, you are on fire today, brilliant analogy, keep it up!
That is because he promised the families of Pike River something, then cut and run.
Putin is very popular in Russia.
That is not relevant to his honesty.
Last time I checked Key doesn’t ship people off to the Auckland Islands if they disagree with him
From memory, my point was Key’s lack of integrity.
As you can’t defend this, you choose to make it an issue about his popularity ( he won 3 elections).
My point stands. Key is a dodgy trader.
You want him to send people, potentially, to their deaths whereas he made the decision to not send anyone else in
You call it lying, I call it making the hard call because you’re the leader
Pity Winston is not PM – he’d go in, because he has courage and integrity.
Down further: “Last time I checked Key doesn’t ship people off to the Auckland Islands if they disagree with him”
Oh yeah? Where’s Jason Ede then?
Unheard audio from Pike River leaked
‘Previously unheard audio that reveals breakdowns, missing equipment and a gas leak all on the day of the Pike River Mine explosion has been leaked.
When charges against the former CEO of the company Peter Whittall were dropped, it became apparent that the Pike River was a disaster with no responsibility.
Twenty-nine people could die, a business could be lost, a community could be shattered and no one would be held accountable.’
Gary Heavin calls Haiti “the hidden holocaust” because of the media blackout that protected the Clinton Foundation from public fallout. Something to keep in mind if it ever should come out that Key gave NZ$ to these charletons.
Be prepared to have Bennett tell the sob story of how she was a ‘Poor Solo -mum .Nothing about the fact that her parents owned a shop and looked after her child whilst she went to university. Nothing about the fact that it was a Labour Government who made it possible for her to domthis.
And she is now making the most of her
Is Andrew Clay the most ill-informed panelist on Mora’s awful show?
Cringeworthy
This news reminds us the issue of poverty has not gone away.
$2300 a week for family to stay in motel
‘Work and Income is paying $2300 a week for a family to stay in a motel.
Tuaine Murray, her partner and her son have been living in motels for most of the year, while they wait for a Housing New Zealand property.
Initially the money had to be repaid, but now the government is paying for it.
Ms Murray said the $2300 per week was for a unit at the Allenby Park Hotel in Papatoetoe.
She said she desperately needed a Housing New Zealand house, because they were struggling to get a private rental and were at the mercy of Work and Income.’
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/320319/$2300-a-week-for-family-to-stay-in-motel