Not really dead: "What is increasingly looking a hard-fought contest between National and ACT for the centre-right vote took another turn last night with ACT releasing a bold economic plan to stimulate recovery from the Covid-19 lockdown and border closures. National is under intense polling pressure with leaked polls continuing to suggest it is sitting below 30 per cent. ACT, in contrast, has been picking up support with the party likely to return with at least one additional MP after the election." https://www.politik.co.nz/2020/05/12/act-is-back-with-more-members-more-money-and-a-bold-new-plan/ | Politik
"Seymour said what impressed him about the visits to the website was the way people were donating money, small amounts like $15. “That really strikes me because there’s no button to automatically donate that much. It’s not a round number. Maybe that’s all they can give. “But we raised $100,000 in the 100 days leading in to the crisis.”
Center-right voters seem to be making a tactical shift to boost ACT. I wonder if the Nats put the word out?? Shedding voters in desperation is an odd move if they did.
“All up, the ACT document is comprehensive, detailed and contains some radical ideas. It stands in stark contrast to a brief “Five Point Plan” promoted yesterday by National’s Finance spokesperson, Paul Goldsmith.”
Anyone else think the 50 limit on funerals is actually going to be harder to implement than the 10?
Funerals are non-invite occasions, with people turning up when they read a notice with date, time and location. With a limit of 10, most will assume that the closest family would be attending and stay away. 50, and there will be differing judgement levels from different people going on, and a lot of confusion over whether someone makes it into the closest 50 or not.
The best way would be to invite 50 family and friends to the funeral. Apart from the added task given to the already grieving, there may be some conflict and long-standing grievances arising from the resulting attendance list.
If 50 is considered to be acceptable in terms of transmission risk, then perhaps an easier method to implement would be that direct family relatives, children, parents, siblings and invited close friends were all allowed to attend up to a maximum of 50. If transmission does occur, close relationships between attendees will allow faster tracking of the clusters.
Funerals were always going to be the hardest group activity to design and implement. Hopefully it will not result in adverse police monitoring and behaviour when it doesn't go to plan.
In a couple of weeks, we will have more data on how we are managing in terms of suppressing the virus. I hope all of us will have the opportunity to say goodbye to anyone we lose at that time.
It is how we manage this transition, in terms of clarity of message (which has been quite good to date) and the understanding of those messages from everyone in the general public.
The Covid-19 site, sends you to the MoH recommendations for funeral services, which spells it out pretty well. Although, the increase to 50 has been made, there are restrictions that limit that 50 to groups of ten at a time. And contact tracing forms to be filled out in case of transmission.
I guess the logistics of how the numbers of mourners are identified and managed will be implemented by the family/friends and the funeral homes. This will be more difficult with at home wakes or tangihanga.
"The FCO’s Venezuela Reconstruction Unit was set up in Autumn 2019 to coordinate a UK approach to international efforts to respond to the dire economic and humanitarian situation in Venezuela."
"The existence of a secretive Venezuela Reconstruction Unit within the FCO, combined with the FCO’s private discussions with Guaidó’s UK representative, seems to demonstrate the extent to which the UK government is committed to the overthrow of the Venezuelan government. These documents also suggest that ‘regime change’ in Venezuela is following the typical procedure: the countries that contribute most during the destabilisation phase can expect to share the financial spoils in the ‘reconstruction’ phase."
"The Covid-19 pandemic enabled him to present himself as statesmanlike in his role as Minister of Foreign Affairs and made him look good as the saviour of New Zealanders trapped overseas and desperate to come home. It also allowed him to promote himself as a Man of the People by disclosing that health officials had been rebuffed when they advised the Government to close our borders, which would have left those travellers stranded. It was inconceivable, Peters declared, “that we [would] ever turn our backs on our own”. He was thus able to parade as a patriot who stood firm against flint-hearted bureaucrats."
"The virus scare also gave Peters an opportunity to unleash his inner Muldoonist by railing against globalisation and promoting economic protectionism — all of which might have sounded appealing to anyone not old enough to remember what New Zealand was like when everything from shoes to cars was shoddily made and overpriced."
Overpriced, yes, but not shoddily made. I never noticed any evidence of any such tendency. "He was on equally safe ground advocating a trans-Tasman bubble, calling for greater state control over Air New Zealand and championing Taiwan’s bid, over China’s objections, for observer status at the World Health Organisation. All three moves played to populist sentiment".
"Not only would Peters have been confident that the public would back his support for plucky little Taiwan, since China is seen as the nasty bully standing in the Naughty Corner, but it also had the advantage of differentiating his position from that of Ardern".
Yeah, kiwis support the underdog and Ardern's foreign policy – while adept – lacks evidence of geopolitical nous as yet. So the Great Tuatara bestrides the Aotearoa political stage like a colossus, according to the du Fresne thesis. Cool imagery but seems a tad overstated – unless the next poll validates it.
My recollection too. Not shoddily made. There are many personal examples from gumboots to a Healing Shogun to a toaster still functioning after 30 years (I kid you not). The way people falsely run down the quality of NZ manufacturing really saddens me !
Thats an additional $2500 spent on holidaying for every man woman and child in NZ in the next 12 months….no matter how much you may wish to support local business are you in a position to supply that sort of outlay?
I wish them luck, but in reality, I expect that normal domestic tourism will be down this year, and the next. Rather than increasing in total. Too many people worried about virus spread, or out of work.
I expect we will be spending more than that. But we've been planning, and putting aside, because other things get in the way, like baby sitting grandkids 😊 a South Island trip for years
only figures I can find quickly suggest the two balance each other out (roughly)
"New Zealanders are forecast to keep up their multi billion-dollar spending spree on overseas travel next year after they have spent about $10 billion on trips during the past year" (2016)
This would appear to support the view previously expressed by some that there is little gained from international tourism except perhaps the opportunity it provides for kiwis to travel…food for thought
Been trying for definitive figures to put on here. It has proven a much involved exercise. What I've found so far confirms my previous back of the envelope calcs. Net spend in tourism is negative as far as our balance of payments are concerned. Inbound tourism spend was roughly equivalent to outbound. But then there are all the imports, campervans, oil etc, to cater for tourism, and the money taken overseas by all those temporary visa holders and backpackers, working in the industry. Plus profits and interest going offshore.
Unfortunately I don't think that cash that kiwis would have spent overseas will automatically be transferred to the domestic economy.
We have been saving for and were planning a trip to the UK this year to see family. The trip won't be happening this year but we still plan to go at some point in the future.
Unfortunately that cash will probably just sit in an account until we can go.
"Unfortunately I don't think that cash that kiwis would have spent overseas will automatically be transferred to the domestic economy."
Nor do I (though some will)….even if we ignore the fact that much of that discretionary cash will disappear or be applied to other uses (including saving)
I have no sympathy for the hyper-tourism operators. It was never going to be a sustainable industry in the long term and the Key government screwed us all by pushing it. Let those companies change their business model or die. We need to redesign our economy with long term sustainability in mind. This also means getting over our dairy obsession, which has us kowtowing to China. Work on our primary produce so that New Zealand is self-sustainable – we should easily be able to feed ourselves without even importing food. Invest in infrastructure, it pays for itself many times over in the long term.
Simon Bridges really needs to listen to himself speak. And sack whoever is advising him.
Last night on the news (news, news) he did that thing politicians like (like, like) where you say the key word three times (times, times). For example, both Ardern and Bridges a few weeks ago said "test, test, test". It's a common rhetorical device.
So Simon yesterday said plan (plan, plan), team (team, team), tax (tax, tax), and so on (on, on), and it sounded like he'd lost the plot (plot, plot).
Free advice, Simon. Do it once and it's a sound bite on the TV news. Do it many times in one speech and it's a comedy routine. But they're not laughing with you.
Similarly, I heard Bridges bemoaning the difference between church and bar goers. He used a mangled reference to the folk in the pub as a congregation.
I know what he was referencing, but it ended sounding disrespectful to church folk.
Maybe Bridges' mangling was some sort of Freudian thing when in his mind there's a thought of how the National faithful are going to receive what he says.
He's imagining them out here in TVland shaking their heads saying, "Jesus, it was enough to drive me to drink."
Today, the budget, then, an opportunity: “In the coming month the Government will launch a comprehensive engagement programme that will pose a simple proposition – look what our team of 5 million achieved together in beating the virus, now what can we do together to get our economy moving again, to look after our people, and rebuild in a way that make things better than they were before".
"And we need to do it fast – as fast as we possibly can – so that Labour can compile the “people’s manifesto” with maximum speed."
An hallucination? Surely Labour will simply default to technocrats & business, as usual. Or will there actually be a genuine attempt to crowd-source wisdom? If Labour really is that radical, people will be amazed.
Framing used as leverage can shift mass perception. Works better if one uses the right frame (to suit the situation). Are they up to that level of performance? We await the next thrilling episode…
? Sceptic, not critic. I'm willing to buy into Jacinda's aspiration on a similar basis to the trotter, but I need to see evidence that she's taking Labour with her into a scheme that will seem too new-age to Labour traditionalists…
I'm not sure he is anymore. I suspect that Dennis is right, and it's the neolibs that are trad Labour now. Some of the old school Labourites fit into that well enough, but not Trotter.
Short answer: neoliberal. Someone who doesn't necessarily adhere to the 19th century ideology out of economic conviction, but who is pragmatic enough to go with what works, and enough of a slow learner to yet figure out that the end is nigh on that stance…
Looks like Lab traditionalist Roberston won this round. Better luck next time Ardern. I'm still open to the absence of NZF eventually being a release valve, but not holding my breath too much.
FPPis the only sensible structure for a Democracy.
The Act nonsense, tying up endless parliamentary time, is a bird without much of a feather. So is Mrs Paula Bennett. As is our painful, slippy Tauranga lawyer.
Followed by the expected mountains of crap from the elderly NZF personnel, lurching around in a self-made spiral. Abusing and Attacking face on face our once esteemed China Ambaassadors and friends.
But also via Duncan blimmin Garner who took the role of weird assassin in the very face of his guest – the Chinese Ambassador.
Gross Garner. Gross. Very Gross.
How stupid is NZF going to get !
Let us return to FPP – and safely clear away the rubbish.
The wretched Journos in the wider Ranks, are in fact a coterie of national / Act pimps, replete with misleading attempts, forever writing to the rubbish bin, and forever attacking the competent Government of difficult YR 2020.
"NZer's voted overwhelmingly for MMP…" – if only that were true Cinny.
“Had the referendum been held a week earlier I believe we would have lost”
– Rod Donald
The vote in favour of MMP was 53.9% – I'd like to think MMP enjoys more support now. The change to a fairer national proportional voting system was progressive, and overdue. Without doing the research, I'd also like to believe that globally the movement is all one way, i.e. from non-proportional to proportional representation systems only, with no back-sliding (e.g. to FPP) now, or in future.
Dunno what powers a State Governor has – but John Bel Edwards the Governor of Louisiana is a Democrat. Also Kamala Harris and the prisoners used to fight California's wild fires…?
Hi just got word from work, was on the night shift last night, that we will be halving staff numbers from next week, I'm keeping my job but 17 are losing theirs, poor buggers, not looking forward to tonights shift.
Crazy times, my work which is considered sunset industry (courier, mail) & in the last 10 years we've shed thousands of jobs (were you sympathetic about that?), is going through a boom, we need more drivers, we're utterly swamped. So it goes.
Today we had zero new cases of the virus. 3rd day running.
It's axiomatic that only the bad makes news ("if it bleeds it leads"). So this won't make big headlines, especially on Budget day. But on the first day of enjoying level 2, this is what we have achieved at levels 3 & 4.
We'll never know what could have happened. And thank goodness for that.
Meanwhile Joe is showing that he is able to embody progressives in his platform:
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will co-chair a task force for Joe Biden's campaign on climate change, a move that adds progressive credentials to the former vice president's effort to unify the party ahead of the general election.
Ocasio-Cortez will work with former Democratic presidential nominee and Secretary of State John Kerry, the panel's other co-chair, in a group that also includes Varshini Prakash, the executive director of the Sunrise Movement, the youth-led champions of the Green New Deal.
The task forces, which also cover health care, the economy, criminal justice and education, include a lineup of progressive leaders and top Biden campaign aides and allies. Sanders revealed plans to form the advisory panels when he dropped out of the presidential primary last month, a sign of both campaigns' desire to form a united front against President Donald Trump and smooth over worries among Democrats that the party would splinter along ideological lines.
Right ho, just to alert you, my idiot born again Christian relatives ( you've seen what they've done in Oz, let alone America) are going big time about freedom v. Jacinda. Evangelical Christianity is what happens when you put what suits above what is. This is the right time for a war government re climate change. Reality is this. I really am amused by right-wingers talking about our 'longterm' future — investment and all — without reference to climate change. There is nothing but climate change now. To the Left and the Right.
There is just climate change now. Unless you lot disagree. No, I was joking. I entirely don't care for wrong opinions. All our shoulders to the wall. For our children and theirs. There is nothing else.
Brigette Morten arguing on RNZ, yeh, but, like, they should have told business what was going to happen with the international travel industry and given them certainty about that, by solving corona worldwide like Simon would have.
National has a plan apparently.
These people are scary
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Peter Dunne writes – The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
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 ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Asia Pacific Report A West Papuan resistance leader has condemned the United Nations role in allowing Indonesia to “integrate” the Melanesian Pacific region in what is claimed to be an “egregious act of inhumanity” on 1 May 1963. In an open letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Organisasi Papua Merdeka-OPM ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra A key part of the Albanese government’s political strategy is to fill the news cycle with its presence and messaging. Ministers are deployed to the maximum, even when they’ve little to say. This week ...
Recent extreme weather events showed the importance of a well-functioning insurance system, says Commerce and Consumer Affairs minister Andrew Bayly. ...
By Jo Moir, RNZ News political editor, and Craig McCulloch, deputy political editor New Zealand’s Labour Party is demanding Winston Peters be stood down as Foreign Minister for opening up the government to legal action over his “totally unacceptable” attack on a prominent AUKUS critic. In an interview on RNZ’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christian Brakenridge, Postdoctoral research fellow at Swinburne University, Centre for Urban Transitions, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute The Conversation, Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock People have a pretty intuitive sense of what is healthy – standing is better than sitting, exercise is great for overall ...
The Wellington-based Reserve Force soldier is now almost three years into his New Zealand Army career with 5th/7th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment. ...
"The Government needs to release the review immediately as this reckless approach to change risks disjointed decision making and creates more distress and uncertainty for staff," Fitzsimons said. ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor Jeremiah Manele has been elected Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, polling 31 votes to 18 over rival candidate and former opposition leader Mathew Wale with one abstention. The final result of the election by secret ballot was announced by the Governor-General, Sir David Vunagi, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Priestley Habru, PhD candidate, public diplomacy, University of Adelaide Former foreign minister Jeremiah Manele has been elected the next prime minister of Solomon Islands, defeating the opposition leader, Matthew Wale, in a vote in parliament. The result is a mixed bag for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shaun Eaves, Senior Lecturer in Physical Geography, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Jamey Stutz, CC BY-SA How often do mountains collapse, volcanoes erupt or ice sheets melt? For Earth scientists, these are important questions as we try ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Flood, Professor of Sociology, Queensland University of Technology Shutterstock Most young adult men in Australia reject traditional ideas of masculinity that endorse aggression, stoicism and homophobia. Nonetheless, the ongoing influence of those ideas continues to harm men and the people ...
The NZQA proposal released to staff today would involve a net loss of 35 roles. There are 66 roles being disestablished with 13 of those currently vacant, and 31 new roles proposed, said Fleur Fitzsimons Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga ...
Alex Casey talks to Loren Taylor, the writer, director and star of new film The Moon is Upside Down, about assembling her dream ensemble cast, toilet paper pads and turning literal dreams into reality. There’s a moment in The Moon is Upside Down where frazzled anaesthetist Briar (Loren Taylor) gets ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cassy Dittman, Senior Lecturer/Head of Course (Undergraduate Psychology), Research Fellow, Manna Institute, CQUniversity Australia With winter sports swinging into action, adults around the country have volunteered or been volunteered by others (humorously known as being “volun-told”) to coach junior sports teams. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karleen Gribble, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University richardernestyap/Shutterstock Parents are often advised to burp their babies after feeding them. Some people think burping after feeding is important to reduce or prevent discomfort crying, or to ...
Workers at a major ASB contact centre in Auckland have voted to take strike action and withdraw their labour following disappointing pay negotiations with the employer and an "offer" to workers that would leave them worse off than the previous year. ...
As the government tries to get the country back on track with a school phone ban, Tara Ward has an idea for where they should turn their attention to next.New Zealand students returned to school on Monday morning, but their cellphones did not. The government’s new phone ban began ...
The Labour Party is demanding Peters be stood down, saying "he's embarrassed the country" with a "totally unacceptable" attack on a prominent AUKUS critic. ...
The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance, whose members were victims of a China-backed cyber attack, is discussing forming a standing committee to deal with foreign influence. ...
The PSA is concerned that the voluntary redundancies being offered to staff by Stats NZ will impact on the agency’s ability to deliver on its core functions. ...
Results ranged from surprisingly yum to soul-destroying. I love cooking. The kitchen is a hearth of culinary creation, of sensory delights, of gastronomic poetry. I also can’t afford anything nice. Why does a pack of instant noodles and some milk cost ten bucks? I love you, Aotearoa, but I miss ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor Police in Solomon Islands are on high alert ahead of the election of the prime minister today. The two candidates for the top job are former foreign affairs minister Jeremiah Manele at the head of the Coalition for National Unity and Transformation, which is ...
He’s fine but it feels like I’m losing a friend and it’s making me bitter. How do I say ‘enough is enough’? Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzHey Hera,I’ve recently moved in with a girlfriend, her partner Steve, and his friend. We all live in a lovely little house. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nick Chartres, Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of Sydney shutterstockAhmet Misirligul/Shutterstock You go to the gym, eat healthy and walk as much as possible. You wash your hands and get vaccinated. You control your health. This is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacqueline Hendriks, Research Fellow and Lecturer, Curtin University Children and young people may be seeing news headlines about men murdering women or footage of people rallying to call for action. Perhaps they or their friends have even gone to the protests. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Balanzategui, Senior Lecturer in Media, RMIT University ABC “Bluey mania” shows no sign of abating. Bluey’s season finale, The Sign, was the most viewed ABC program of all time on iView. A “hidden” follow-up episode, aptly named The Surprise, created ...
Labour market figures came in softer than the Reserve Bank had forecast, but they won’t be enough to move the needle on interest rates, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Unemployment ...
The campaign will engage the community and encourage submissions on the bill to the New Zealand government by the closing submission deadline of Friday 31st of May 2024 4pm. ...
The paper raises concerns about declining trust in New Zealand's political institutions and democratic processes, and the role that the overuse of Parliamentary urgency plays in that. ...
The Urban Habitat Collective was an attempt to built an innovative new form of apartment building in Wellington. Here’s why it failed, and why the idea could still work, writes co-founder Bronwen Newton. When we started the Urban Habitat Collective in November 2018, we thought we were starting a revolution, ...
Two decades ago this week, a controversial law that attempted to define ownership of the foreshore and seabed prompted a formidable display of outrage and kōtahitanga as 15,000 marched to parliament. Jamie Tahana looks back.‘Hīkoi, hīkoi,” they chanted by the thousands as the biggest Māori march in a generation ...
Why has New Zealand slipped from third to 12th on Quality of Death Indexes over the past decade or so? Hospice New Zealand Chief Executive Wayne Naylor has a list of reasons. “We don’t have a current national strategy – the Government hasn’t renewed our 2001 strategy, so we don’t ...
While women’s sport is exploding in Aotearoa and around the world, you still don’t hear a lot of talk about athletes and their periods, RED-S, breastfeeding and visible panty-lines. SASS (Suze and Sez Sports)Talk isn’t afraid to have that kōrero.LockerRoom founder Suzanne McFadden and Olympian broadcaster Sarah ...
On an unusually hot night in January 2019, a little boy’s lifeless body was found face up in a small town’s sewage oxidation pond. To the police, it was an open and shut case: three-year-old Lachlan Jones had run away from his home in the Southland town of Gore, climbed ...
A Labour Party Member’s Bill aims to plug a culpability gap between manslaughter and health and safety breaches The post New push for corporate killing laws appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Terence O’Brien had the rare and no doubt undesired distinction of rising to one of the most exalted positions in New Zealand diplomacy, then being unceremoniously recalled to Wellington without explanation just when his career was at its zenith. What is perhaps more surprising is that he appears to have ...
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Rongotai MP Julie Anne Genter has apologised in Parliament after National accused her of intimidating and attacking one of its ministers in the House. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Prime Minister and state and territory leaders met on Wednesday as the national cabinet to discuss a crisis gripping Australia – the horrific number of women murdered this year. The killings have shocked ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Radhika Raghav, Teaching Fellow, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Otago Netflix Indian director Sanjay Leela Bhansali is known for his big-budget Bollywood production, featuring grand sets, star casts, meticulously choreographed dance sequences and lavish costumes, jewellery and furnishings. ...
Sir Robert devoted his life to disability rights after living in institutions in his younger years, says Kaihautū Tika Hauātanga | Disability Rights Commissioner Prudence Walker. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University Violence against women is not a women’s problem to solve, it is a whole of society problem to solve; and men in particular have to take responsibility. Those were the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Allen, Senior Lecturer in Chemical and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of Newcastle Snapshot freddy/ShutterstockPlans to revive an old coal-fired power station using bioenergy are being considered in the Hunter region of New South Wales. Similar plans for the station ...
Responding to the long-awaited release of judges’ special allowances, including free air travel and hotels for spouses, generous sabbaticals, and access to limousines, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Alex Murphy said: “In what world does your employer ...
Not really dead: "What is increasingly looking a hard-fought contest between National and ACT for the centre-right vote took another turn last night with ACT releasing a bold economic plan to stimulate recovery from the Covid-19 lockdown and border closures. National is under intense polling pressure with leaked polls continuing to suggest it is sitting below 30 per cent. ACT, in contrast, has been picking up support with the party likely to return with at least one additional MP after the election."
https://www.politik.co.nz/2020/05/12/act-is-back-with-more-members-more-money-and-a-bold-new-plan/ | Politik
"Seymour said what impressed him about the visits to the website was the way people were donating money, small amounts like $15. “That really strikes me because there’s no button to automatically donate that much. It’s not a round number. Maybe that’s all they can give. “But we raised $100,000 in the 100 days leading in to the crisis.”
Center-right voters seem to be making a tactical shift to boost ACT. I wonder if the Nats put the word out?? Shedding voters in desperation is an odd move if they did.
“All up, the ACT document is comprehensive, detailed and contains some radical ideas. It stands in stark contrast to a brief “Five Point Plan” promoted yesterday by National’s Finance spokesperson, Paul Goldsmith.”
Seems like somebody left off the zero's while explaining how to 'anonymise' a donation.
Anyone else think the 50 limit on funerals is actually going to be harder to implement than the 10?
Funerals are non-invite occasions, with people turning up when they read a notice with date, time and location. With a limit of 10, most will assume that the closest family would be attending and stay away. 50, and there will be differing judgement levels from different people going on, and a lot of confusion over whether someone makes it into the closest 50 or not.
The best way would be to invite 50 family and friends to the funeral. Apart from the added task given to the already grieving, there may be some conflict and long-standing grievances arising from the resulting attendance list.
If 50 is considered to be acceptable in terms of transmission risk, then perhaps an easier method to implement would be that direct family relatives, children, parents, siblings and invited close friends were all allowed to attend up to a maximum of 50. If transmission does occur, close relationships between attendees will allow faster tracking of the clusters.
Funerals were always going to be the hardest group activity to design and implement. Hopefully it will not result in adverse police monitoring and behaviour when it doesn't go to plan.
It will be 100 in a couple of weeks.
The number at a funeral is important. But the number of funerals is what matters most.
In a couple of weeks, we will have more data on how we are managing in terms of suppressing the virus. I hope all of us will have the opportunity to say goodbye to anyone we lose at that time.
It is how we manage this transition, in terms of clarity of message (which has been quite good to date) and the understanding of those messages from everyone in the general public.
The Covid-19 site, sends you to the MoH recommendations for funeral services, which spells it out pretty well. Although, the increase to 50 has been made, there are restrictions that limit that 50 to groups of ten at a time. And contact tracing forms to be filled out in case of transmission.
I guess the logistics of how the numbers of mourners are identified and managed will be implemented by the family/friends and the funeral homes. This will be more difficult with at home wakes or tangihanga.
There's a stealth operation happening, courtesy of the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). https://www.thecanary.co/exclusive/2020/05/13/revealed-secretive-british-unit-planning-for-reconstruction-of-venezuela/
"The FCO’s Venezuela Reconstruction Unit was set up in Autumn 2019 to coordinate a UK approach to international efforts to respond to the dire economic and humanitarian situation in Venezuela."
"The existence of a secretive Venezuela Reconstruction Unit within the FCO, combined with the FCO’s private discussions with Guaidó’s UK representative, seems to demonstrate the extent to which the UK government is committed to the overthrow of the Venezuelan government. These documents also suggest that ‘regime change’ in Venezuela is following the typical procedure: the countries that contribute most during the destabilisation phase can expect to share the financial spoils in the ‘reconstruction’ phase."
Also competing for the center-right vote: "He came back from his Northland lockdown firing on all cylinders. If you wanted confirmation that this is an election year, there it was.. the Great Tuatara was quick to re-assert himself on the political stage." https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/121496064/coronavirus-crisis-gives-winston-peters-the-chance-to-reassert-himself
"The Covid-19 pandemic enabled him to present himself as statesmanlike in his role as Minister of Foreign Affairs and made him look good as the saviour of New Zealanders trapped overseas and desperate to come home. It also allowed him to promote himself as a Man of the People by disclosing that health officials had been rebuffed when they advised the Government to close our borders, which would have left those travellers stranded. It was inconceivable, Peters declared, “that we [would] ever turn our backs on our own”. He was thus able to parade as a patriot who stood firm against flint-hearted bureaucrats."
"The virus scare also gave Peters an opportunity to unleash his inner Muldoonist by railing against globalisation and promoting economic protectionism — all of which might have sounded appealing to anyone not old enough to remember what New Zealand was like when everything from shoes to cars was shoddily made and overpriced."
Overpriced, yes, but not shoddily made. I never noticed any evidence of any such tendency. "He was on equally safe ground advocating a trans-Tasman bubble, calling for greater state control over Air New Zealand and championing Taiwan’s bid, over China’s objections, for observer status at the World Health Organisation. All three moves played to populist sentiment".
"Not only would Peters have been confident that the public would back his support for plucky little Taiwan, since China is seen as the nasty bully standing in the Naughty Corner, but it also had the advantage of differentiating his position from that of Ardern".
Yeah, kiwis support the underdog and Ardern's foreign policy – while adept – lacks evidence of geopolitical nous as yet. So the Great Tuatara bestrides the Aotearoa political stage like a colossus, according to the du Fresne thesis. Cool imagery but seems a tad overstated – unless the next poll validates it.
My recollection too. Not shoddily made. There are many personal examples from gumboots to a Healing Shogun to a toaster still functioning after 30 years (I kid you not). The way people falsely run down the quality of NZ manufacturing really saddens me !
Tourism industry hoping to maintain activity by replacing the 12 billion annual spend by international tourists with an increase in domestic tourism.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018746394/coronavirus-canterbury-campaign-aims-to-encourage-spending
Thats an additional $2500 spent on holidaying for every man woman and child in NZ in the next 12 months….no matter how much you may wish to support local business are you in a position to supply that sort of outlay?
Our econometricians are going to have to start measuring the velocity of tourists.
Slow and rich is a better yield, with more time to sell them higher prices services and experiences.
I wish them luck, but in reality, I expect that normal domestic tourism will be down this year, and the next. Rather than increasing in total. Too many people worried about virus spread, or out of work.
I expect we will be spending more than that. But we've been planning, and putting aside, because other things get in the way, like baby sitting grandkids 😊 a South Island trip for years
It would be interesting to see the figures on what NZers spend on overseas travel.
only figures I can find quickly suggest the two balance each other out (roughly)
"New Zealanders are forecast to keep up their multi billion-dollar spending spree on overseas travel next year after they have spent about $10 billion on trips during the past year" (2016)
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11773204
This would appear to support the view previously expressed by some that there is little gained from international tourism except perhaps the opportunity it provides for kiwis to travel…food for thought
Been trying for definitive figures to put on here. It has proven a much involved exercise. What I've found so far confirms my previous back of the envelope calcs. Net spend in tourism is negative as far as our balance of payments are concerned. Inbound tourism spend was roughly equivalent to outbound. But then there are all the imports, campervans, oil etc, to cater for tourism, and the money taken overseas by all those temporary visa holders and backpackers, working in the industry. Plus profits and interest going offshore.
Unfortunately I don't think that cash that kiwis would have spent overseas will automatically be transferred to the domestic economy.
We have been saving for and were planning a trip to the UK this year to see family. The trip won't be happening this year but we still plan to go at some point in the future.
Unfortunately that cash will probably just sit in an account until we can go.
"Unfortunately I don't think that cash that kiwis would have spent overseas will automatically be transferred to the domestic economy."
Nor do I (though some will)….even if we ignore the fact that much of that discretionary cash will disappear or be applied to other uses (including saving)
I have no sympathy for the hyper-tourism operators. It was never going to be a sustainable industry in the long term and the Key government screwed us all by pushing it. Let those companies change their business model or die. We need to redesign our economy with long term sustainability in mind. This also means getting over our dairy obsession, which has us kowtowing to China. Work on our primary produce so that New Zealand is self-sustainable – we should easily be able to feed ourselves without even importing food. Invest in infrastructure, it pays for itself many times over in the long term.
Hopefully this budget won't be the last Labour budget till 2030…
What exactly is in it, is going to be completely unexpected, no matter what it is.
Simon Bridges really needs to listen to himself speak. And sack whoever is advising him.
Last night on the news (news, news) he did that thing politicians like (like, like) where you say the key word three times (times, times). For example, both Ardern and Bridges a few weeks ago said "test, test, test". It's a common rhetorical device.
So Simon yesterday said plan (plan, plan), team (team, team), tax (tax, tax), and so on (on, on), and it sounded like he'd lost the plot (plot, plot).
Free advice, Simon. Do it once and it's a sound bite on the TV news. Do it many times in one speech and it's a comedy routine. But they're not laughing with you.
Best to not criticize and let him carry on
Similarly, I heard Bridges bemoaning the difference between church and bar goers. He used a mangled reference to the folk in the pub as a congregation.
I know what he was referencing, but it ended sounding disrespectful to church folk.
Gsays His base supporters ie the Brethren and Destinies Brian Tamaki will be who bridges is Dog whistling
And Tamaki vows that his church service will go ahead on Sunday regardless of any mortal law.
Maybe Bridges' mangling was some sort of Freudian thing when in his mind there's a thought of how the National faithful are going to receive what he says.
He's imagining them out here in TVland shaking their heads saying, "Jesus, it was enough to drive me to drink."
It was a response to Jacinda's speech earlier in the day where she said jobs jobs jobs.
Lame but thats why
When he does a speech he speaks so slowly, with big long pauses, like how one would speak to a pre-schooler. It drives me up the wall.
His triple words yesterday was a wtf moment for sure.
Today, the budget, then, an opportunity: “In the coming month the Government will launch a comprehensive engagement programme that will pose a simple proposition – look what our team of 5 million achieved together in beating the virus, now what can we do together to get our economy moving again, to look after our people, and rebuild in a way that make things better than they were before".
Quoted by Chris Trotter, who frames the PM's call as a co-design opportunity. http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2020/05/go-hard-jacinda-more-importantly-go.html
"And we need to do it fast – as fast as we possibly can – so that Labour can compile the “people’s manifesto” with maximum speed."
An hallucination? Surely Labour will simply default to technocrats & business, as usual. Or will there actually be a genuine attempt to crowd-source wisdom? If Labour really is that radical, people will be amazed.
The Overton Window works both ways, it is not a mirror.
"All social reform movements have to shift the Overton window to make progress." https://conceptually.org/concepts/overton-window
Framing used as leverage can shift mass perception. Works better if one uses the right frame (to suit the situation). Are they up to that level of performance? We await the next thrilling episode…
you're getting a real Pete George vibe going on there. All critic, no direction.
? Sceptic, not critic. I'm willing to buy into Jacinda's aspiration on a similar basis to the trotter, but I need to see evidence that she's taking Labour with her into a scheme that will seem too new-age to Labour traditionalists…
what is a Labour traditionalist these days?
Mr Trotter?
I'm not sure he is anymore. I suspect that Dennis is right, and it's the neolibs that are trad Labour now. Some of the old school Labourites fit into that well enough, but not Trotter.
Shows you know absolutely zero about Labour.
Short answer: neoliberal. Someone who doesn't necessarily adhere to the 19th century ideology out of economic conviction, but who is pragmatic enough to go with what works, and enough of a slow learner to yet figure out that the end is nigh on that stance…
Looks like Lab traditionalist Roberston won this round. Better luck next time Ardern. I'm still open to the absence of NZF eventually being a release valve, but not holding my breath too much.
Someone who knows about John A Lee and Bulldozer Bob.
http://www.caterpillarexperience.co.nz/the-nz-caterpillar-experience/fun-facts-bout-cats_idl=51_idt=2714_id=15670_.html
An halfwit?
Meanie. I'd rate him three-quarters on average. 🕘
Stop complaining about a commentator and start thinking for yourself.
You're just being lazy.
FPP is the only sensible structure for a Democracy.
The Act nonsense, tying up endless parliamentary time, is a bird without much of a feather. So is Mrs Paula Bennett. As is our painful, slippy Tauranga lawyer.
Followed by the expected mountains of crap from the elderly NZF personnel, lurching around in a self-made spiral. Abusing and Attacking face on face our once esteemed China Ambaassadors and friends.
But also via Duncan blimmin Garner who took the role of weird assassin in the very face of his guest – the Chinese Ambassador.
Gross Garner. Gross. Very Gross.
How stupid is NZF going to get !
Let us return to FPP – and safely clear away the rubbish.
The wretched Journos in the wider Ranks, are in fact a coterie of national / Act pimps, replete with misleading attempts, forever writing to the rubbish bin, and forever attacking the competent Government of difficult YR 2020.
FPP
You will be chucking The Greens out with the bathwater going to FPP.
NZer's voted overwhelmingly for MMP, and that's a good thing. Imagine living in a two party country like the USA… yeah nah.
"NZer's voted overwhelmingly for MMP…" – if only that were true Cinny.
The vote in favour of MMP was 53.9% – I'd like to think MMP enjoys more support now. The change to a fairer national proportional voting system was progressive, and overdue. Without doing the research, I'd also like to believe that globally the movement is all one way, i.e. from non-proportional to proportional representation systems only, with no back-sliding (e.g. to FPP) now, or in future.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_reform_in_New_Zealand#1993_electoral_referendum
https://teara.govt.nz/en/cartoon/36962/pro-mmp-poster
This whole Stuff/NZME shemozzle is getting more wacky by the day.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/121506766/govt-wont-bail-out-media-but-stuff-has-other-dance-partners
Scott GN where is ACT on all this govt welfare for private enterprise.
Let them fail the market's invisible hand will solve everything.
I thought she hated Facebook post Christchurch? Now you can't seem to get her off it.
Reminds me of some other leader who uses social media to govern? What's his name???
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
DNFTT
How scummy can the right get – OH they can get really truly scummy.
How scummy can the right get
Dunno what powers a State Governor has – but John Bel Edwards the Governor of Louisiana is a Democrat. Also Kamala Harris and the prisoners used to fight California's wild fires…?
Oh come on , the democrats have a long long history of being right wing turds – just look at the Jim Crow laws.
Oh speaking of Kamala Harris – big talk of her being joes girls.
Ocasio-Cortez is now on Biden's team.
Eventually anyone who wants to achieve things sees sense.
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/12/politics/ocasio-cortez-biden-campaign-task-force-climate-change/index.html
Especially the young idealists.
Hi just got word from work, was on the night shift last night, that we will be halving staff numbers from next week, I'm keeping my job but 17 are losing theirs, poor buggers, not looking forward to tonights shift.
Crazy times, my work which is considered sunset industry (courier, mail) & in the last 10 years we've shed thousands of jobs (were you sympathetic about that?), is going through a boom, we need more drivers, we're utterly swamped. So it goes.
I hope by everything I hold holy that you get to keep your job.
It's just brutal in business right now trying to survive this winter.
600,000 jobs lost in April in Australia.
At least 33 seniors dead after aged care workers abandon a resthome in Montreal.
https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/records-reveal-chaos-in-the-days-before-staff-abandoned-the-herron/
jesus.
We saw something similar in Spain a month or so back.
Today we had zero new cases of the virus. 3rd day running.
It's axiomatic that only the bad makes news ("if it bleeds it leads"). So this won't make big headlines, especially on Budget day. But on the first day of enjoying level 2, this is what we have achieved at levels 3 & 4.
We'll never know what could have happened. And thank goodness for that.
Meanwhile Joe is showing that he is able to embody progressives in his platform:
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/12/politics/ocasio-cortez-biden-campaign-task-force-climate-change/index.html?
She can see it coming.
Thread.
https://twitter.com/laurelchor/status/1260784481159442434
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1260784481159442434.html
Another day, another crazy tweet by a National MP:
Katie Hopkins? Can it get any worse?
Their problems are much bigger than just Simon Bridges.
Right ho, just to alert you, my idiot born again Christian relatives ( you've seen what they've done in Oz, let alone America) are going big time about freedom v. Jacinda. Evangelical Christianity is what happens when you put what suits above what is. This is the right time for a war government re climate change. Reality is this. I really am amused by right-wingers talking about our 'longterm' future — investment and all — without reference to climate change. There is nothing but climate change now. To the Left and the Right.
There is just climate change now. Unless you lot disagree. No, I was joking. I entirely don't care for wrong opinions. All our shoulders to the wall. For our children and theirs. There is nothing else.
Brigette Morten arguing on RNZ, yeh, but, like, they should have told business what was going to happen with the international travel industry and given them certainty about that, by solving corona worldwide like Simon would have.
National has a plan apparently.
These people are scary
Kia Ora The Am Show.
The is going to be 8000 more whare built for beneficiaries.????.
Some people can't help being rude.
Its hard to keep everyone happy.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Newshub.
That's a good idea a people's vaccine.
Yes all the fishing tangata will be on the Moana this weekend watch for the keiore to.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
Condolences to Wiremu whanau for their loss.
Its great to see smiles at Maori TV with the extra funding for Māori TV.
Ka kite Ano.