So think that having a decent wage to cover basic living expenses and ensure one has a decent standard of living as well as access to things such as healthcare and education is ‘getting it easy’?
So you would slash wages and conditions and privatise health care and force everyone to buy health insurance, because that is part of ‘achieving success through ones efforts’.
Oh thats right, UF’s policy is to privatise health care isnt it?
I wouldn’t do anything like that. I think individual effort is important. And don’t think people should be promised an easy life nirvana that can never be delivered. But that’s quite different to the extremes you try and smear with, it’s reality.
Socialism has proven to be a dismal failure, on a small scale and on a large scale.
Good social policies, social support and assistance, are essential in a decent society, but so is hard work, so is as much self sufficiency as possible, and so is self responsibility.
And don’t think people should be promised an easy life nirvana that can never be delivered.
Its what the rich want. That’s why Key gave himself a $1000/week tax cut for doing nothing different.
Socialism has proven to be a dismal failure, on a small scale and on a large scale.
Except in the Christchurch earthquake of course, where the sharing of food, financial resources, and physical resources between neighbours, neighbourhoods and suburbs helped get everyone through.
That wasn’t socialism in Christchurch, it was people supporting each other. But I doubt they will pool their property and close the income gap (same pay for differenrt effort) anytime soon.
You’re sounding like some J Edgar Hoover re-run who could not tell the difference between authoritarian Stalinist style communism and socialism.
Ackshully, most Americans can’t tell the difference either.
Socialism has proven to be a dismal failure, on a small scale and on a large scale.
No it hasn’t. If anything, it’s been the most successful political system yet. The failure has always been capitalism.
Good social policies, social support and assistance, are essential in a decent society, but so is hard work,
Wrong. Hard work is not essential. The only reason why we need hard work now is because the capitalists are taking all the benefits of increased productivity and then accusing those made worse off by their greed of being bludgers.
“Socialism has proven to be a dismal failure, on a small scale and on a large scale.”
I’m not necessarily endorsing Sociali
Per say, especially not in it’s authoritarian form, which is where it failed. I’d say though Pete, village life in many agrarian cultures through history would show your assertion that Socialism fails on a small and large scale false.
More interestingly though, we are now witnessing that not only Communisim, at it’s extreme, but Capitalisim, at it’s unfettered crony extreme has also failed. And tho is where you cold war thinkers fail. Both systems have failed, history didn’t end in 1989, it’s time to stop worrying only about the reds under your beds! It’s time for new thinking which relates and reacts to this moment!
I think all politicians should work with most sides as much as possible. Surely they are there to do what’s best for the people, not have political hissy fits if they are on the wrong side of the spectrum of the day.
United Future aren’t the only ones who will work with any reasonable party, Greens do it too – well, they would if Labour didn’t shut them out. Same for Maori Party.
Greens shut out? An interesting rewrite of history. The greens in 2005 were short of seats. United Future and NZ First stated to Labour that they would not go into coalition with the Greens, but were happy to go into coalition with each other and Labour.
That meant Labour could form a government with a majority without the Greens which lasted through to the election, or a minority government with the Greens which was likely to be unstable.
The Maori party were brand new in parliament, asking for too much, and looked as unstable as they have proved to be this term…
United Future, the party that Pete George is standing for, helped to lock the Greens out of their first realistic chance of government in 2005. Now he prefers to lie about it for political point scoring. You really do look like a kiwiblog candidate….
Pure Guile Singapore China growing centrally planned economies Laissez fair is the failure,No laissez fair economy is growing.
In the US a economic survey carried out by the BBC economics reporter show high taxed more socialist states are actually growing the low taxed laissez fair sates are depressed or in recession not one laissez fair state is growing Follicle F/wit
PG Why Don’t you ask the 100,000 that left for Aus
Every body I know with a family is feed up with the continual loss of spending power
lower incomes
These people work harder than you
They have suffered under you greasy leaders watch
Pathetic
Git
Out in Waitakere things are heating up. Bene basher bully Bennett’s helpers have been playing silly buggers with Labour billboards. Paula’s campaign manager Mark Brickell was seen taking down some labour signs from fences. When asked what he thought he was doing he said the people who owned the Fences had said Labour was not given permission to put the signs up and that they had wanted them down.
There is a truth and reality problem with this explanation though. Carmel’s crew were told at one house that Bennett had shown up wanting to know why they had let Labour put a sign up and at at no point did they ask her or her team to take it down. The sign is back up now.
It is poor form for a Cabinet Minister to terrorise Waitakere constituents for putting up a Labour billboard. There again when you think of the appalling way she treated Natasha Fuller this behavior is not surprising.
National Ltd™ are playing silly buggers over in Maungakiekie too. Poor sod at the Council has nearly had enough. Mind you, some of the “rules” have arbitrarily changed: it seems, a double-sided billboard with the same image on both sides is now considered one sign. Silly little things like that which make more work for everyone with nothing in return – welcome to the Super Shitty. One moment of light entertainment – a complaint about a Labour sign being too close to the fence resulted in the Council finding that so too was National Ltd’s. There’s also a couple of National Ltd signs under the “drip line” of trees – just waiting for a couple of rainy days before reporting those. Oh, what fun.
Er, no, grumpy. Key still hasn’t reached the heights of popularity reached by either Clark or Lange and the most recent polls have him, and his party, dropping in popularity. But other those points, you’re 100% right.
Its amazing what kicking public servants, and poor and low income workers, hoisting costs on the sick and elderly, depriving children, removing democracy from Christchurch, acting like a goober on the world stage, while also growing the underclass can do, isnt it?
and “goober” is a technical term used in the field of international relations to denote a diplomatically incompetent social tourist masquerading as the leader or representative of an insignificant pimple on the geopolitical atlas. It’s needed, because after the official visit of a goober you need to schedule at least two days before the next diplomatic engagement simply so you can clean the *** stains out of the red carpet.
Popular for a brief moment maybe, but of he wins and dolls out Austerity during the coming depression, he’ll soon be able to add most hated to most loved.
Nice one Voice, he’ll get his. Back to local recordings…
Part of Key’s defence line on the “Teapot Tapes” yesterday was “the public don’t like this covert snooping”. Rich, given the Nats Search and Surveillence Bill extension of powers to every copper and tin pot beauracrat. Today on TVNZ the line was protecting us all from News of the World tactics, and nothing to ‘see’ in the soundtrack anyway. “I’m not going to reward the Herald on Sunday for News of the World tactics”.
Yep, Key must also be livid at Paula Bennett’s releasing of the personal information of beneficiaries in a News of the World style breach of privacy. Isn’t he?
And if he’s right that the public don’t like this kind of snooping, how does he explain the sales of womens’ magazines, which rely almost exclusively on actual or thinly veiled snooping on the lives of celebrities?
This is a National beatup to obliterate media coverage for a while. Expect this to be spun out for as long as possible.
The last pollie who sought an injunction to prevent publication of damaging media was coincidentally Don Brash who attempted to inject the publication of the Hollow Men.
I agree MS. Natrad has headlined it all morning – a nice distraction from anything Goff might do. What a clever set up – got him on the news to not say anything apart from News of the World tactics.
How does it feel knowing that your dream of single mother and their children living on the street, and people dying because they have no health insurance is going to become a reality.
‘……and people dying because they have no health insurance is going to become a reality.”
You must have had a bad experience in the health system at some stage Millsy. Nevertheless, you should stop spouting this rubbish, NZ’s health system is and will remain primarily tax payer funded for the foreseeable future. The only things people may benefit from in relation to health insurance is faster surgery for non-urgent procedures.
Colonial, a couple of questions about this statement
(1) whats your source for 10%?
(2) what percentage of public hospital procedures go wrong?
(3) “Private company keeps the profit, socialises the losses on the rest of us”. Surely the loss is less than if would have been had the patient gone to the public hospital in the first place?(given that there must be a percentage of public hospital procedures fail and this particular one could have been one of them)
(4) where’s your source that says that the private hospitals don’t patch up their screwups?
Yes as I stated above private hospitals/insurers are there to primarily provide non-urgent surgery and are set up to provide that service to private. This takes some pressure off the public waiting times for orthopaedic, cardiovascular and ophthalmologic surgery in particular, as you know they are also contracted to provide extra capacity for the various surgery where publicly funded operations are performed at the private hospitals.
In the rare instances that procedures go seriously wrong the patient may be transferred to a specialist critical care/intensive care provider at one of the large DHB hospitals.
CV is right private hospitals in New Zealand rely on back up from the public system they don,t have a great depth in their facilities like the public system has!
The only things people may benefit from in relation to health insurance is faster surgery for non-urgent procedures.
No it’s not. Try having a chronic long-term condition. See your specialist in the private system every 3 months, or see the very same specialist for the very same condition in the public system every 6 months (planned), however due to long waiting lists that 6 months stretches out to 9 months. All the while, for optimal health the meds need prescribing and adjusting every 3 months (and can’t be adjusted by a GP).
The meds cost nothing to get from the specialist, but cost to get from the GP when then need to be prescribed between specialist visits. It’s almost a false economy to stay in the public system.
Time for resources to be diverted back to public IMO.
Actually infused, extremely concerned and deeply disappointed that fellow New Zealanders will possibly be so self-centred and short-sighted. And I say ”possibly” because I still hold hope that compassion and caring for the less fortunate and simple common sense that selling our assets is such a ridiculous thing to do, New Zealanders will rally and make the right choice at the time. Call me an eternal optimist but clambering over others, pulling the ladder up and rewarding greedy behaviour to get to the ‘top’ just doesn’t seem to fit with the average Kiwi I know. Nov 26th will be a defining moment in our history and I still hold hope for a fairer NZ.
Well said LynW, my sentiments exactly. I am appalled that Key even has a chance of being re-elected. He is a liar and he wants to sell off our country to the detriment of all except a few.
And the whole of the world and the lessons out Antipodian hindsight allows us. We – like it or not – are a globalised world, and what is being rolled out in British Universities and Hospitals and Prisons should be a warning to all Kiwi’s, and what’s happening in the Global economy should be a lessonn in the failings of NACT inc’s Ideology.
But we’re caught in our parochial bubble, while the corporations rub their hands in glee at the opportunity in our ignorance.
If Labour is STILL losing votes, obviously NZ is reject labour and their policies. It’s not about greed. It’s about how poor Labours policies actually are.
Even though I support National, I don’t believe everyone is voting National because National have great policies. I think most people see this as the better of two evils. Just look at the asset selling policy, yet people are still sticking to National.
Labour need to dump Goff, stop hating on the rich, and actually bring some fair balanced policy. Not just spending more on useless shit, which seems about as much as Labour can think up.
“Labour need to dump Goff, stop hating on the rich, and actually bring some fair balanced policy. ”
Actually, the voters of NZ need to stop falling for such simple mythologies distributed by toryboys – Labour policies are still tory-lite compared with MJS, most of the labour leadership are pretty well off (their only weakness is a tendency to sympathise with people other than themselves), and Goff is actually a better leader than “dodge the bad news, coast from one lie to the next, whatever it takes [to win]” Key.
“I don’t believe that for a second.”
Which bit? There were multiple assertions. Savage would have just nationalised all major infrastructure including banks, compulsory unionism, and so on – Labour have moved away from asset sales, but they haven’t quite seen the light yet.
“Everyone has an opinion on this years election and I think a lot of people do care.”
But do they care enough to research the topic and see Key lie, or do they just passively accept the perceived truth from TV3? And if a lot of people do care, why are the “undecided/did not respond” counts at anywhere between 20 and 40%?
“No one wants Goff. Look at preferred prime minister. I won’t if Labours vote would go up with him gone.”
Look at Helen’s before she became PM.
“Another example of ‘the people’ rejecting Labour is the Greens gaining their vote.”
Actually I think the Greens might be poaching a bit from the nats. And don’t forget the “undecided/dnr”!
Ah the brighter future…..the roar of a drilling rig all weekend on west coast Waikato farmland. Aparrently the permit expired late October and noise control have no idea what to do as the complaints pile up……snapper spawning grounds are immediately offshore and they’re due to offshore drill as well.
Residents feel powerless and angry……acshully it’s a dinimic situation. Sinosteel and a very large local land owner with limited friends in the community due to his priors.
-the PM is hiding the instructions he gave Banks to roll Brash if they get in
-the PM is hiding the the info he gave Banks on the full Asset sales programme
-the PM is hiding the the info on changes to welfare not yet revealed in policy
-the PM is hiding further changes to tax
-the PM is hiding further borrowing he intends
–
–
–
You can add to the list
The PM has not made and specific promises or policy changes – because he knows they will be so unpalatable to the electorate he would lose. But he no doubt shared them with Banks
I think that it is likely that Key expressed contempt for the mugs in the press and the suckers in Epson.
You can fool some of the people some of the time…….
The free trade regime is deja vue. In British colonial days India grew cotton but was not allowed to process it. The country was forced to be a commodity producer but not allowed to do the added value work that would have provided much needed jobs. Those went to Britain, in factories owned by British who got much wealth. The workers however had ‘slappers’ employed to keep them awake during their long days. Teenagers died of overwork after having been employed since they were five rising at about 4 a.m. so they had time to walk miles to work. The workers need to be protected – children were preferred over parents because of their small quick fingers. A heart-wrenching societal practice.
The same thing here in NZ. The well off can get cheaper items by having advantage of overseas labour. This is while there are people unemployed who could be making the items just as well and be earning money and self-sufficient. They get a sop that keeps them quiet (and shopping if they have some spare cash) – they can get cheaper garments and other items, that seem good and well-priced but often break, tear, unravel in a very short time. That’s happened to all at the lower decile levels.
Who will be our Ghandi? He pushed a movement for Indian people to weave their own cotton at home. There are pockets of do-it-yourselfers for all skills here already but how wide is it? And buy New Zealand is still going, pushed by the Greens. But with TPP we will have less control over what’s imported, less local input, less information on country, whether it has GMO ingredients etc. And that’s just part of the swingeing changes. WHICH ARE SECRET BUT BINDING ON US ALL. It is like kings or dictators consulting not like a democracy where the people are informed and can pass judgment and make well-balanced decisions.. We are undermining and debasing the codes and practices of the past for servings of untreated sewage.
And TV3 are reporting the HoS editor’s blast at Key and Banks on National Radio:
“While Mr Key and Mr Banks say the conversation was banal, Mr Johns – who hasn’t listened to the recording, but has read a transcript – says it’s anything but. “What is said there is potentially game-changing, and the method used by the prime minister and the National Party over the last 24 hours to deflect attention from what’s said onto how it was gathered does make me think that this is even more serious than I thought it was. “It’s breathtaking in that they’ve got the audacity to say these things within a metre, literally a metre, of the media pack who are on the other side on a piece of glass.”
He’s clearly spitting tacks at Key’s accusations of ‘News of the World’ tactics.
However, the tape was not Watergate “by any stretch of the imagination”.
“It’s just some silly ‘this is how we are going to rule the world stuff’.
This guy doesn’t understand what Watergate was about does he?
It is illegal to tape a conversation if neither party knows they are being recorded.
That’s true in a phone conversation. I’m reasonably sure that it’s not true of a public space where, technically, anybody could overhear the conversation.
“Once you start with me, then it just goes to other well known New Zealanders.
“The British public saw what that was like and in the end it’s very distasteful.”
That may be true when the paparazzi start chasing movie stars but politicians who want to lead the country don’t get private conversations when they’re talking about their plans for the country.
“It’s in the public interest and we would love to publish it but ethically we are the ones that have made the right call here by not doing it.”
Wrong. You’re just protecting NAct from their own actions and words which the public have a right to know as it affects them.
It’s interesting the Joyce is weighing in on this issue. What’s it got to do with him? Why him and not McCully ot Wilkinson or Parata or Bennett.
Could it be that he is the campaign manager and as campaign manager he wants to shut this development down immediately?
All that points out is that NZ needs to start cutting ties with the globalised financial ponzi schemes. And start investing in itself – not selling ourselves off.
Does anyone here wear/use hemp fabric and what kind of wear does it display over it’s lifetime? What existing fabric (synthetic or not) would it be comparable to.
That’s what I was thinking during the first few weeks of the protests. But I’m beginning to see another angle. Occupy Wall Street was always about something much bigger than a movement against big banks and modern finance. It’s about providing a forum for people to show how tired they are not just of Wall Street, but everything. This is a visceral, impassioned, deep-seated rejection of the entire direction of our society, a refusal to take even one more step forward into the shallow commercial abyss of phoniness, short-term calculation, withered idealism and intellectual bankruptcy that American mass society has become. If there is such a thing as going on strike from one’s own culture, this is it. And by being so broad in scope and so elemental in its motivation, it’s flown over the heads of many on both the right and the left.
Are these the most patsy questions and answers ever?
11:13
nzherald.co.nz:
National’s law and order spokeswoman Judith Collins will be joining us for a live chat at 11.45 today. You can send us your questions now.
11:44
nzherald.co.nz:
Just about ready to kick off…
11:46
Comment From David
Is there any plan for police over the next 3 year?
11:49
nzherald.co.nz:
Just sorting through some technical issues
11:50
Judith Collins:
Hi David, We would like to see the Policing Excellence programme continued to be rolled out around the country. We’ve seen some great results of that including a 7 % reduction in crime around New Zealand. In addition, to continue with the 600 extra front line Police and supporting the Commissioner’s decision for better access to firearms and tasers for front-line Police.
11:50
Comment From Gillian
Have you ever been a victim of crime?
11:54
Judith Collins:
Yes Gillian, I have been a victim of burglaries and of someone trying to break into my home in the middle of the night when I was there with my then tiny baby. Some people might think that burglaries are minor but knowing that someone has tried to break into your home in the middle of the night has had a lasting impact.
11:54
Comment From Morgan
Hi Judith. Considering that the majority of youth offences are property related, and bearing in mind that as an offender gets younger the chances of them reoffending after prison increases exponentially (to even a huge 84% for under 20s!) does the National Party believe that there is a place for increased community sentencing for young offenders in the justice system? (not LSVs, MACS – they’re not community sentencing)
11:59
Judith Collins:
Morgan, when people break into other people’s homes, I don’t think it’s a minor offence. The Justice system is very much geared to keeping young offenders out of prison in the first place. By the time that offenders get sent to prison for property offences, they might well have racked up 10s of these and every other intervention tried. Prison is certainly not the first option for property offences but it must be available for recidivist offenders. In relation to community sentences, we already have around 45,000 of these managed by Corrections in its Community Probation Service.
11:59
Comment From Rach
Should all police officers be armed?
12:01
Judith Collins:
Hi Rach, No not all Police Officers in New Zealand should be armed. In my opinion, much of the incredible levels of respect shown to New Zealand Police is because they are not routinely armed. However, I fully support the Commissioner’s view that front-line Police must have very quick access to firearms and tasers.
12:01
Comment From Sandy
How effective do you consider the “crusher” policy (and will you permit a live broadcast of, or perhaps let a small audience attend, the first “crushing”?)
12:05
Judith Collins:
Hi Sandy, The car crushing policy has been incredibly successful. I always said that with the 3 strikes nature of the policy, it would be a success if the right deterrence meant that we didn’t have to crush any cars. So far, we haven’t. We’ve had 17 illegal street racers given their second warning and so far, not one has been foolish enough to rack up a third. Illegal street racing has declined to the extent that it is no longer the issue it was. As for live broadcasts, I’m fully confident that the media will do that!
12:05
Comment From Gareth
Hi Judith. do you have any plans to review the role and independence of the IPCA?
12:06
Comment From Joel
Good afternoon Mrs Collins. Compared to the rest of the prisons, how do privately run prisons stack up when it comes to reoffending (for similar crimes)? What trend do you anticipate?
12:06
Judith Collins:
Gareth, the IPCA comes under the responsibility of the Minister of Justice and not the Minister of Police.
12:08
Judith Collins:
Joel, it’s early days yet when looking at recidivism rates from the Mt Eden prison but improving recidivism rates is an important part of the contract with the company and we will be holding them to that.
12:08
Comment From Tara
Do you want to keep MMP?
12:12
Judith Collins:
Hi Tara, I think that Supplementary Member is a better system than MMP. One of the problems with MMP is that for electorate MPs, the electorates are often very large and it means that constituents don’t get the face to face time with their MPs that they should expect. SM would bring in more and smaller electorates while still retaining a party list.
12:12
Comment From Des
What did you think of David Cunliffe’s comments about you? Were you offended?
12:13
Judith Collins:
Hi Des, I thought his comments were sexist and frankly inappropriate for a Parliamentary colleague to say about another. However, to his credit, he phoned me the next day to apologise and I accepted the apology.
12:13
Comment From The Aucklander
Hundreds of National Party billboards were altered overnight. Does National know who is behind this and what action do you plan to take?
12:14
nzherald.co.nz:
Last couple of questions folks…
12:15
Judith Collins:
Hi the Aucklander, I’m not aware of what has occurred to the billboards. Every election, some of my billboards get stolen and I report them to the Police.
12:15
Comment From Derek
Do you want to replace Simon Power as Minister of Justice after the election?
12:16
Judith Collins:
Hi Derek, if we are fortunate enough to be returned to Government, then that is a decision entirely for the Prime Minister.
12:16
Comment From Des
If you believe that drinking and driving is a problem why do you not regulate to fit devices to car ignitions that can only be activated by alcohol free drivers?
12:17
Judith Collins:
Hi Des, Yes it is a problem and we have legislated to do that for repeat drink drivers.
12:17
Comment From Luke
Minister, what single issue do you feel you have helped promote or change in your local Papakura electorate and what do you see as being the biggest issue your electorate faces this election and over the next 3 years?
12:22
Judith Collins:
Hi Luke, the single biggest issue that I believe that I have been able to help my electorate with is the issue of crime. We campaigned on 300 extra Police for the Counties Manukau Policing District within 2 years and delivered on it. Crime has fallen dramatically. In the fiscal year ended 30 June 2011, crime in Counties Manukau South ( Papakura to Pukekohe) has fallen by 15 %. This is on the back of constant rises under the Labour Government. For this election, no law abiding resident wants to see a return to the soft of criminals approach from Labour. The economy is vitally important to Papakura residents and is this year’s number one issue. Thank you everybody for your questions!
12:23
nzherald.co.nz:
That’s all the time we have today folks, thanks Judith for joining in
One of the problems with MMP is that for electorate MPs, the electorates are often very large and it means that constituents don’t get the face to face time with their MPs that they should expect. SM would bring in more and smaller electorates while still retaining a party list.
We already have processes to increase electorates which is why we now have 69 rather than the 60 odd we had when MMP started. And there’s no way everyone’s going to get a face to face with the MP anyway unless she wants to increase the number of electorates to one every 5000 or so people.
This is on the back of constant rises under the Labour Government.
Counties Manukau Police District Commander Superintendent Steve Shortland says the results over the 2007 calendar year are encouraging and a credit to the hard working men and women of the District.
“We’ve made a conscious effort over the last few years to be innovative and forward thinking in our approach to tackling the challenges of policing a District of this size and demography – the resulting reduction in crime makes these efforts satisfying.”
Overall crime was down 3% and resolutions up from 38.7 to 41.8%.
Does anyone actually know how crushing a car is any different than just confiscating a car and selling it? In both cases the offender is deprived of a car, its just that it seems that the latter option is possibly the cheapest.
PROTEST: TO DELIVER FORMAL REQUEST FOR SFO TO APPLY SAME LAW TO DON BRASH AND JOHN BANKS AS FELLOW FORMER DIRECTORS OF HULJICH WEALTH MANAGEMENT (NZ) LTD:
The CEO of the Finance Markets Authority – Sean Hughes has stated in an email to myself dated 13 November 2011:
“FMA’s position is unchanged from that expressed in my email to you on 28 September 2011. I am satisfied that the position of both Mr Banks and Dr Brash was carefully considered by the Securities Commission and that competent advice was received in relation to the entities or persons against whom charges ought to be brought. Unless you have new information or evidence to bring to light which was not previously considered by the Securities Commission, FMA does not consider you have any basis on which to suggest it should bring proceedings against either Mr Banks or Dr Brash in relation to Huljich Wealth Management.”
How about ZERO TOLERANCE FOR ‘WHITE COLLAR’ CRIME?
How about the ‘ONE LAW FOR ALL’ that ACT Leader Don Brash trumpets so loudly to equally apply to himself, and the ACT candidate for Epsom John Banks?
I am looking forward to the SFO charging Don Brash and John Banks for the same offences for which former fellow Director of Huljich Wealth Management (NZ) Ltd, Peter Huljich was charged.
I am also looking forward to an investigation of the CEO of the Finance Markets Authority, Sean Hughes for arguably failing to do HIS job.
Is the failure of the CEO of the Finance Markets Authority, Sean Hughes to equally charge Don Brash and John Banks a form of CORRUPT PRACTICE?
Who appointed Sean Hughes as CEO of the FMA?
‘Hand-picked’ National Party political appointees to the FMA ‘Establishment Board’?
Is that why Sean Hughes isn’t exactly vigorous in applying the same ‘ONE LAW FOR ALL’ to the former LEADER of the National Party – Don Brash and former National Government Minister of POLICE (and Local Government) John Banks?
All this happening in NZ – ‘perceived’ to be the ‘least corrupt country in the world’ along with Denmark and Singapore according to the Transparency International 2010 ‘Corruption Perception Index’.
What an absolute travesty of ‘justice’.
What a disgrace.
Penny Bright
Independent Candidate for Epsom
Campaigning against ‘white collar’ CRIME, CORRUPTION (and its root cause – PRIVATISATION) and ‘CORPORATE WELFARE.
This is a trend world wide. We have former employees/CEOs etc from the finance sector being appointed to the regulating authorities. Henry Paulson, Larry Summers, Robert Rubin etc. Same with the appointment of Mr Hughes.
Foxes in charge of the hen house!
Now the money people are becoming the leaders of nations!
New Zealand, then Greece, now Italy.
The behaviour of the electorate manager was bad enough but…
Astoundingly, Sharples is standing by this behaviour from his staffer. He needs to pay the political price for that. An MP who allows his electorate staff to behave corruptly and extort bribes for doing their jobs is no different from Taito Philip Field.
…having the MP that he is the aide to backing him is actually worse, IMO. Our politicians should not be supporting what appears to be corruption.
I heard on ZB this morning, Phil lossing the backbone he is reported to have grown.
When asked the though questions, what does Phil do – sidestep, avoid, duck, weave anything to escape answering them !!
Point is case re Lady from a Proverty Action group questioning why Lab (when the govt) went to court to prohibite WFF being paid to beneficaries and now after fighting and winning the case (Even the UN commented against this exclusion) it has become Lab policy? Yet Phil did not get within cooeee of addressing the question. This is contained in the Mon 14th 8:00 am section http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/weekondemand.asp http://www.cpag.org.nz/infocus/cpags-case-in-the-human-rights-review-tribunal/
Next how to grow NZ economy (Was this not the 5th Lab govts priorities – progress up the OECD rankings into the top 1/2?? – until we started slipping backwards) the main basis that Lab is basing our growth is on “to increase savings”. Great especially with our wage rates, the lack of protection e.g. finance coys etc. And even if we could save where would our investments be? Overseas- That will help us.
Phl is becomming as elusive as Key, difference is that Key is far superior at being Key than his imitator is.
OK Randal so you have an issue with my composition. Did you listen to the link?
I get the impression that many here that they are unwilling to test the left on what they are saying, and question then on inconsistancies. So Lab govt were taken to court re WFF being paid to beneficaries, even the UN was againstthe exclusion. Now when questioned Phil now cannot answer why the about the flip flop. He cannot even address the question, and you think that is OK? You may be fooled by believing a politian I prefer to test comments and actions.
And you were unable to listen to the link and work out the jist my comments, or are you unwilling to test what you also hear?
I will ask in 1 sentence When did Phil address the question?
I will wait with baited breath – but expect nothing, because there is nothing to suppport Phil.
Just incase some thought I was being a troll- forgot to finish with
I will wait with baited breath – but expect nothing, because there is nothing to suppport Phil “IN THIS CASE”
I made an exception just for you and trawled through the recording. Are you referring to the question beginning at 18m30s? The two part one which was “whyy the turn-around and why the delay?”
Reason for implementation delay: answered first up – fiscal constraint
Reason for turnaround: answered more in depth – things are getting worse.
Seems pretty clear to me.
What a waste of my time.
Whereas Key said on prime last night that the income gap between NZ and Aus is closing because our after-tax income rose 10% and theirs only rose 6%. No mention of whether the absolute gap closed – if we earned $50 and they earned $100 in real terms, then a 6% increase for them vs a 10% increase for us means the gap is still widening. Love to know what data he was making up using.
Diane Roberson Why Lab has opposed WFF in regard to benefits thru court? No response
Re the implementation – Fiscal restraints as the reason- If (And many here would I take it) agree that eliminating poverty ishould be the major focus. It is about priorities and the delay inplies that this is not as high a priority as it should be. Otherwise he could borrow earlier for this- or bring forward things like CGT earlier.
Not worried about Key- he has been tested enough here and in other places for me.
Surprised at the lack on this site regarding commentary on the breakfast- Perhaps that says something in itself ?
Now I’m beginning to agree with Felix.
The ACTUAL QUESTION ASKED was
Look we welcome any policies that actually improve the lives of the 200,000 children living in poverty in NZ, but I am wondering we /um/ for the last five years your party actually has opposed the welfare/WFF package through court and now you’ve done a turnaround on that and you’re offering it to beneficiaries’ familes, so why the turnaround and why so long to implement the policy?
English101: the statement takes the form of a background description: “but I am wondering we /um/ for the last five years your party actually has opposed the welfare/WFF package through court and now you’ve done a turnaround on that and you’re offering it to beneficiaries’ familes,”
followed by the actual interrogative clauses: “why the turnaround”, “why so long to implement the policy”
Goff answered both, clearly, as I mentioned before.
Mind you, given that you’re not worried about “I had nothing to do with it, oh yeah I had a full briefing and signed the papers” Key’s honesty, you’re obviously a moron.
Should have lenghtened re Key- I am not worried re testing him as many here already done so – And I have some ability to decipher from info gathered re the many issues I have with Key and co. And are facing the issue of “Least damage to NZ” as my basis on voting
If you follow the time time re WFF, comments made by the likes of Cullen (That it was never intended to be made payable to beneficaries) and was to asist working families (Some believe that it was a backhanded means of tax cuts to the middle class) refer link as to court decision, and on what basis the crown based their arguements on
So why now make it available to beneficaries. I have commented previously that if benefits are inadequate that address the issue directly and increase them to an adequate level.-WFF requires knowledge as to what each family is eligible to and by visiting the IRD and having to complete the appropiate forms, that is if they even are aware that the family is entitled to this- this can be confusing and intimidating to many. By increasing the benefit then we are guaranteed that each family recieves what they are entitled to – and should the families financial position change (e.g. employment) they could be in a position of having to repay monies back, as the WFF is based on a annual income, if the actual income is higher then the amount of wff that they are entitled to, reduces. But you will not know your annual income and WFF entitlements until the financial year has past. http://www.cpag.org.nz/assets/CPAG%20v%20Attorney%20General/CPAGvAttorney-General.pdf
“They(The Crown) also argued, somewhat implausibly, that beneficiaries already get more in government assistance than everyone else so there can be no disadvantage.” As this decision was released in Dec 08.
And in final conclusion. So there was to me an acceptance that those families that were dependant upon benefits were still to remain below the poverty line. Goff still never addressed why Lab fought to keep WFF exempt from beneficaries?
“Whatever the stated purposes of the IWTC, the effect has been to substantially disadvantage children living in beneficiary households that did not receive it. In practice this means children live in households where food runs out; where children rely on luck or folk remedies to remain healthy, or live four or five to a bedroom to keep accommodation costs down. The fallacy that a monetary incentive alone would suffice to enable families to move off a benefit, and into work, is demonstrated by the government’s own figures suggesting that only about 2% of sole parent families would do so. Of those that did, figures show many had a pre-existing attachment to the workforce. Now that the so-called new economy has been unmasked as the old boom and bust economy, the fundamental injustice of the IWTC will become even more apparent. The justification for the discrimination found, namely that the outcomes for families in work are generally better than those for families on benefit income, depends for its success on an economy that creates jobs. In an economy losing jobs, it seems like a cruel joke.”
And as for the delay of implementation- yo are worried about me yet did not address the priorities of Lab in deferring this. If the removal of children out of proverty was SO important then I am sure they could find the money. As just one means instead of increasing age of entitlement re pension 2 months every year- Why not fast track it to increase the age by 3 months per year. There can be when motivated to reprioritise and find the $$
You seem to make a lot of irrelevant points, such as:” Goff still never addressed why Lab fought to keep WFF exempt from beneficaries?”
True, that (well, he did but only indirectly). The reason being that he was not asked that question. He was asked why the change from fighting it to making it policy, and why the delay in implementation.
He gave answers thusly, and I repeat:
Reason for implementation delay: fiscal constraint
Reason for turnaround: things are getting worse.
Or are you really truly annoyed that a politician had the sheer gall to answer the question that was actually asked?
Lastly, your comment: “And as for the delay of implementation- yo are worried about me yet did not address the priorities of Lab in deferring this. If the removal of children out of proverty was SO important then I am sure they could find the money.” is a bit naive – I know Key is happy to bankrupt the country (how many billions are we up to after only 3 years, after a zero deficit budget in 2008?), but that just helps the bastards force privatisation and kill more kids via overcrowding, access to water and lack of heating.
In the real world the govt has to work for everyone, so yeah, there are fiscal constraints because keeping elderly in poverty is as bad as keeping kids in poverty. I mean, I’d be in favour of introducing FTT alongside a CGT and a higher tax rate for the bigger companies and wealthier individuals so that the country can pay for both and free healthcare and education, but your man Key just wants to keep everyone in poverty.
You have no idea of key = less bad or Goff = less bad in my book. To help neither have an idea of a real solution, but how can they as they cannot or will not see the real issues.
How is it naive re finding the money, or is it that child poverty is less on an issue worth solving? National has allocated something like $9b over the next 3-7 years to be spend on roads, including 4 big spendups relating to 4 parts of the motorway SH1 Jafaland, Sh27 Ham to Tauranga, SH1 Chch, by deferring is one souce for an immediate source of funds, another spread out the $1k govt handout re Kiwiwsaver from 4 to 5 years. I gather you and I have come to a pt where we are arguing over the same position, just that we differ re if Goff addressed the issue of sidesteped it. If times have changed and benefits require readdress then why not readdress ? Try claiming as commented before it is not an automatic qualification, whereas the benefit is to recieve the max allowable amount. WFF is a clumsy manner to determine what is to be paid out, it is all on the in this case beneficary to claim noy automatic
So the state (Lab govt) argued ” that beneficiaries already get more in government assistance than everyone else so there can be no disadvantage.” Benefits have not lost that much ground compared to the rest in paid employment
Benefits have not lost that much ground compared to the rest in paid employment
So due to inflation, increased GST, increased energy prices etc the median worker has seen the water level lift a whole foot from chest height to neck height. Things are pretty uncomfortable I’ll give you that.
While beneficiaries have only seen the water level lift a couple of inches, from their chin height to just above eyelevel. Drowning in other words.
You appear to be a bit too stream-of-consciousness for me to follow with that typsetting, or I’m a bit too tired to be still at work. Look, in your previous post you put pensions against WFF. Now it’s roads. But then of course we still lose something like 30 kids a year to transport accidents, so roads aren’t such a bad idea either. I’m not going to go line by line through the budget talking about what should be cut to immediately extend WFF to beneficiaries, for two reasons:
A) I actually support the concept of increasing revenue to balance the budget, rather than decreasing expenditure; and
B) Goff wasn’t asked that question.
Maybe you should have been there to ask the questions you wanted asked, but don’t bitch that a politician for once actually answered the questions he was actually asked. That’s a rare and wonderful event.
MS – I wil try to say this simply for everyone
If benefits are inadequate increase them, is it that difficult to do?
WFF is an opt in = It is the manner that Lab are proposing to fund that I object to – it is more complicated than it needs to be and allows for families to miss out on funding that they would be entitled to if it was paid out as a simple benefit.
1. WFF was a really good idea because it improved the plight of working families and helped heaps of kids. It did not help beneficiaries.
2. It left a number of kids in poverty. Coincidentally all of the kids were the children of beneficiaries.
3. If you want to help poor kids then there is no way around it. You have to raise the income levels of houses that rely on benefits.
4. This is normally really stupid because ordinary people who are not beneficiaries hate them. They have been trained to do this through decades of beneficiary propaganda which paints them as the authors of their situation rather than the victims of a sick economic system.
5. If you help poor kids then this really upsets some people who get really upset even at the idea of funding school breakfast clubs where kids who otherwise will starve get a basic breakfast so that they will learn properly.
So go for it, tell us that six years ago Labour were not brave enough to fund the really poor but it is now prepared to advocate this. Then tell us that somehow it is wrong.
But I will tell you what it is, it is brave. If we win there will be a number of five year old kids lives whose lives will be better.
You are very good at taking pot shots at people yet when ask to substantiate your position, display the characteristics of a straw man. Not willing to support any position you supposedly stand for.
Being closed to any and all displays a total arragorance. Even those on opposing sides of the political spectrum have things to offer.
“You are very good at taking pot shots at people yet when ask to substantiate your position, display the characteristics of a straw man. Not willing to support any position you supposedly stand for.”
You’ve confused me now Hero. What position am I being asked to substantiate? What do I stand for in this instance in your mind and why?
“Being closed to any and all displays a total arragorance. Even those on opposing sides of the political spectrum have things to offer.”
“Any and all” means you, right? I have no idea where you sit on the political spectrum Hero, as I very rarely manage to make any sense of the gibberish you leave here.
How would I know what you stand for, I have yet to come across the 1st epistle of felix. For all I know you could be John Key or Sue Bradford or anyone in between.
So I will play your game- Where do you stand re WFF in regard to beneficaries? You know my position 😎
Four major U.S. cities that pay for the upkeep of foreclosed properties are trying to recoup the costs of services including lawn mowing, repairs and security by suing banks they claim contributed to their “urban blight.”
A federal judge in Memphis, Tennessee, on May 4 and another in Baltimore on April 22 denied Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC)’s request to dismiss the predatory-lending lawsuits brought against the bank. A lawsuit by the city of Cleveland against JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) and Ally Financial Inc. is also pending before an Ohio judge.
In one case, Deutsche Bank AG, described by Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich as one of the city’s “major slumlords,” may be found liable for hundreds of millions of dollars, including restitution for current and former tenants, according to a statement by the city.
Of all the places you’d expect to find Bill O’Reilly’s new history “Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination That Changed America Forever,” Ford’s Theatre — the site of the dreadful act — should rank right at the top. But you’d do better to search for the bestseller on Amazon because it has been banned from the theater’s store.
The crime? O’Reilly and his co-author Martin Dugard have displayed a serial disregard for historical fact.
For a purported history of the assassination — an “unsanitized and uncompromising … no spin American story,” as the authors put it, “Killing Lincoln” is sloppy with the facts and slim on documentation, according to a study conducted by Rae Emerson, the deputy superintendent of Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site, which is a unit of the National Park Service.
Other Lincoln experts also have sounded off. In a review published in the November issue of “North & South — The Official Magazine of the Civil War Society,” historian Edward Steers Jr. cites many instances where the book strays from documented history, then asks, “If the authors made mistakes in names, places, and events, what else did they get wrong? How can the reader rely on anything that appears in ‘Killing Lincoln’”?
This doesn’t surprise me. You cannot tell me that O’Reilly has time in his life to do any meaningful research – for anything.
Writing his many books, Appearing on shows like The View and the Daily Show, Filming shows, Books tours, Road shows, travel, private time, managing his business ventures, Photo-ops with troops in Afghanistan…..and on top of that he wants us to believe he does extensive research. He doesn’t have time for even sufficient research.
He fronts up to the studio, gets told what issues the researchers have come up with and they decide what to got to air with. He film the segments and goes home.
The same with his books. Someone else researches/writes and he puts his name to it. Very little hands on.
A bit like our Prime Minister, when does he have time to do an honest day’s work?
It’s a slow and expensive process to seek judicial redress against the finance/banking institutions. I guess the hope is that if we “the people” get sufficient findings for damages then the institutions will think twice next time.
Trouble is it won’t work. For two reasons…
1. Unless their is regulation by bodies not populated with financiers, compliance inspections and hard and fast lawsuits – then this will all happen again.
2. While the institution continues to exist it’s life is greater than that of it’s employees. The actual people have since moved on and taken their enormous wealth with them. The institution pays for the crimes of individuals.
A way needs to be found to go after the individuals and attack their wealth.
Wouldn’t it be nice if “the people” had sufficient resources to engage in guerilla action against this private wealth. One day Larry Summers is relaxing by the pool and he gets an sms from his accountant saying that the invisible hand of the market had totally destroyed his wealth……. 🙂
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Karl du Fresne writes – There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
David Farrar writes – The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time.A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Māori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
The Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
Changes to minimum wage and benefit indexation means many New Zealanders will get less this year, as the Government gives a big tax break to landlords instead. ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research. “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
Māori representation brings a perspective that encompasses not only the interests of Māori communities but also a broader, holistic approach to environmental stewardship and community well-being, principles deeply embedded in Te Ao Māori (the Māori ...
This week in Auckland, a group of young people took over the microphone at a ministerial press conference, to explain why they oppose the Fast-Track Approvals Bill. One young woman said, ‘We’re here because we love Aotearoa New Zealand. We want to raise our children in an environment that’s thriving, ...
The summer was wonderful. Evie was wonderful, too; finally a teenager, finally worthy of long, hot days. She shaved her legs for the first time and bought cut-off shorts from the op-shop that made them look long. She got a Warehouse singlet so tight on her new shape that her ...
When Thomas James was on his solo camp as part of Outward Bound, the keen outdoorsman didn’t find it too challenging, as others often do. In what might just be the perfect illustration of his character, he saw it as a great opportunity to solve a few problems. “I thought, ...
From the unstable and drippy to the hi-tech and pretty, here’s our ranking of all the tunnels you can drive through in this country. The first tunnel seems to have been built in 2200BC in Babylonia, kicking off a global phenomenon for digging holes in order to get places more ...
Lucinda Bennett on the art of being greedy but resourceful. This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. When I picture the market, it is always this time of year. Crisp air, dripping nose, counting coins with cold fingers. Sunlight pale, filtered through specks of dew still ...
Zoë Colling’s favourite piece in the ‘That’s So Last Century’ collection is a lubrication chart for a sewing machine from the ’60s. It’s about the size of a postcard, and carefully maintained. “I like it that this piece of ephemera highlights that manual and technical side of the skill involved ...
Kia Ora Gaza A passionate haka reverberated through Auckland International Airport as a medical team of three New Zealand doctors received an emotional farewell from a big crowd of supporters before flying to Turkey to join the international Freedom Flotilla to Gaza. The doctors, who left Auckland yesterday, hope to ...
With submissions closing today, Macassey-Pickard says groups around the country have been supporting a huge range of people to make their submissions. ...
Our response to the new legislation is informed by targeted conversations with practitioners working in the system and through an implementation lens. ...
The new ‘Fast-track Approvals Bill’ would give just three Ministers the power to approve or deny development projects. They would avoid the usual checks and balances that are in place to protect rivers, land, the ocean, and communities. ...
COMMENTARY:By Eugene Doyle Helen Clark, how I miss you. The former New Zealand Prime Minister — the safest pair of hands this country has had in living memory — gave a masterclass on the importance of maintaining an independent foreign policy when she spoke at an AUKUS symposium held ...
The government's released the list of organisations provided with information on how to apply - just hours before public submissions on the bill close. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milton Speer, Visiting Fellow, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Technology Sydney Before climate change really got going, eastern Australia’s flash floods tended to concentrate on our coastal regions, east of the Great Dividing Range. But that’s changing. Now ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elizabeth Finkel, Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, La Trobe University Sia Duff / South Australian Museum In February, the South Australian Museum “re-imagined” itself. In the face of rising costs and inadequate government funds, CEO David Gaimster, who took the reins last June, declared ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Pearce, Professor, School of Allied Heath, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University, La Trobe University This week, Collingwood AFL player Nathan Murphy announced his retirement, brought on by his concussion history and ongoing issues. The 24-year-old’s seemingly sudden retirement, ...
The Mental Health Foundation provides support and resources for those facing the loss of their job, so it’s wrong in the very week the Government adds another 1000 jobs to its tally of cuts, that this is happening. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney Daniel Boud/Sydney Theatre Company Decay, terror, revulsion. These are three of the central themes of Thomas Bernhard’s rarely performed play The President. The Austrian is one of the greatest ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says threats by ministers Shane Jones and David Seymour to reform or close down the Waitangi Tribunal were “ill-considered”, as legal experts say the ministers may have breached Cabinet Manual conventions. “I think those comments are ill-considered and we expect all ministers to actually exercise good ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ye In (Jane) Hwang, Postdoctoral Research Associate at School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney Shutterstock You’d be hard pressed to find any aspect of daily life that doesn’t require some form of digital literacy. We need only to look back ten ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Newton, Professor of Exercise Medicine, Edith Cowan University Pexels/RDNE stock project You’re not in your 20s or 30s anymore and you know regular health checks are important. So you go to your GP. During the appointment they measure your waist. ...
A new poem by Evangeline Riddiford Graham. Mitochondrial Problem I. It was long drive to Kansas for the man and his dog but you have to understand he said She doesn’t fly. Which calls to mind not carsick shitting barking or whining but a dog who chooses not to as ...
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 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)Hot off the press, this debut ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Laura Wajnryb McDonald, PhD candidate in Criminology, University of Sydney Less than 24 hours after Ashlee Good was murdered in Bondi Junction, her family released a statement requesting the media take down photographs they had reproduced of Ashlee and her family without ...
Chief executive Shaun Robinson said it has not had any government funding cut, but government-funded contracts have not kept pace with rising costs. ...
The Ministry of Health has delayed the release of its evidence brief on the safety, reversibility and mental health and wellbeing outcomes for puberty blockers. While we wait, Julia de Bres speaks to those with firsthand experience. Best practice gender-affirming healthcare is based on trans people’s self-determination and agency. The ...
Barcelona’s city streets have gone from traffic-clogged to pedestrian-friendly. How? Superblocks. Ellen Rykers explains. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week I read a great interview with renowned urbanist Janette Sadik-Khan by The Spinoff’s Wellington editor Joel MacManus: “You can reimagine streets, ...
Student groups ‘Climate Action VUW’, Schools Strike 4 Climate and VUWSA will be on the street in Wellington today, the last day for submissions on the Fast-track Approvals Bill, with a message that the fight against the Government’s ‘War on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sofia Ammassari, Research Fellow, Griffith University Since 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity has grown exponentially – and so has the formidable organisational machine of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). These two factors will be key to delivering the BJP a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendon Hyndman, Associate Professor of Education (Adjunct) & Senior Manager (BCE), Charles Sturt University During COVID almost all Australian students and their families experienced online learning. But while schools have long since gone back to in-person teaching, online learning has not gone ...
Yes, they’re better for the environment. No, that’s not a good enough reason for me to use them. Once every 26 days or so, my period arrives, and if struck by an act of God, I am caught red-crotched without products. How, after 17 years of this, do I still ...
“It will cause significant harm to our environment and communities. It is completely at odds with New Zealanders’ relationship with nature and our need for a low-carbon, sustainable economic future." ...
The Chair of the National Maori Authority, Matthew Tukaki, has warned a Parliamentary Select Committee that fast-tracking legislation is a perilous practice that undermines the core tenets of democracy, transparency, and accountability. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Tenbensel, Associate Professor, Health Policy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images Since coming into power, the coalition government has adopted a simple but shrewd see-how-fast-we-can-move political strategy. However, in the health sector this need for speed entails ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Hronis, Clinical Psychologist, University of Technology Sydney Darya Sannikova/Pexels Whether you’re watching TV, attending a footy game, or eating a meal at your local pub, gambling is hard to escape. Although the rise of gambling is not unique to Australia, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Wong, Forrest Fellow, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia Have you ever wondered if there are more insects out at night than during the day? We set out to answer this question by combing through the scientific ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carol T Kulik, Research Professor, University of South Australia IR Stone/Shutterstock In Australia, it’s not the done thing to know – let alone ask – what our colleagues are paid. Yet, it’s easy to see how pay transparency can make pay ...
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is sounding a warning to migrants, that running foul of the law may see them leaving the country prematurely. ...
The government’s plan to get 50,000 people off jobseeker support by 2030 has had a rocky start, 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. Beneficiary numbers are up – and so are ...
Raglan Roast is a staple of Wellington coffee culture. But with five branches across the capital, which one is the best? I am a die-hard Raglan Roast fan. It’s consistently the most affordable cafe in Wellington, and one of the only places you can get a coffee after 3pm. So, ...
Residents of University of Auckland halls are being urged to withhold their accommodation fees from May 1, in a bid to force the university to take student concerns over rent hikes seriously.The University of Auckland is facing a strike from students over the cost of on-campus accommodation. The Students ...
New Zealand and the Philippines have signed a new maritime security agreement and stated their concerns over activity in the South China Sea, as Chinese vessels continue to flout international law. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Philippines President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos committed to signing a Mutual Logistics Supporting Arrangement by ...
The thousands of government “back-office” job cuts are causing widespread pain in the capital city. In today’s episode of The Detail, we speak to three journalists and a think tank researcher, looking at the larger picture around the cuts and what effect it will have on Wellington, a city that’s ...
Opinion: The famed American architect and urban designer Daniel Burnham once said, “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood!” Burnham wouldn’t have been referring to the transport plans in Aotearoa New Zealand over the past five years; projects so big they hadn’t the credibility to ...
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Opinion: With maths understanding at 42 percent for Year 8 students, there’s no doubt something has to be done. But how? The post Financial literacy should be on all of us appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Hineaupounamu ‘Missy’ Nuku has been scaling mountains in Canada for her college basketball team, the Lakeland Rustlers. Alberta is currently home for the 20-year-old point guard, who is in her first year of a scholarship at Lakeland College, where she is studying for a business degree. She has certainly made ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra When ASIO boss Mike Burgess delivered his annual threat assessment earlier this year, he stressed the rising danger posed by espionage and foreign interference. “In 2024, threats to our way of life have surpassed ...
The Tribunal had called on Minister for Children Karen Chhour to provide evidence at an urgent inquiry into the repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By T.J. Thomson, Senior Lecturer in Visual Communication & Digital Media, RMIT University Midjourney image by T.J. Thomson As more than half of Australian office workers report using generative artificial intelligence (AI) for work, we’re starting to see this technology affect every ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa Nicole Sharwood, Injury epidemiologist | Expert Witness, UNSW Sydney Sergey Novikov/Shutterstock Injuries are the leading cause of disability and death among Australian children and adolescents. At least a quarter of all emergency department presentations during childhood are injury-related. Injuries can ...
Phill Goff visited Dunedin yesterday, plenty of support, but a theme of “doing it tough”.
“Doing it tough” is not new for families. Expectations of “getting it easy” seems to be a modern malaise.
“getting it easy” – like when National stands aside in an electorate and tries to get its voters to support a desperately unpopular party?
….something like Labour always did for the Alliance in Sydenham?
My recollection is that Labour always stood candidates in Sydenham/Wigram – but I may be wrong.
Yep Puddlegum, Labour did too and I doorknocked for them in the last election!
So think that having a decent wage to cover basic living expenses and ensure one has a decent standard of living as well as access to things such as healthcare and education is ‘getting it easy’?
Relatively (especially relative to history) – yes. We should certainly strive for everything decent, but shouldn’t expect it as “deserved”.
Achieving success through your own efforts is still a critical part of living.
So you would slash wages and conditions and privatise health care and force everyone to buy health insurance, because that is part of ‘achieving success through ones efforts’.
Oh thats right, UF’s policy is to privatise health care isnt it?
I wouldn’t do anything like that. I think individual effort is important. And don’t think people should be promised an easy life nirvana that can never be delivered. But that’s quite different to the extremes you try and smear with, it’s reality.
Socialism has proven to be a dismal failure, on a small scale and on a large scale.
Good social policies, social support and assistance, are essential in a decent society, but so is hard work, so is as much self sufficiency as possible, and so is self responsibility.
Petey is into banal trolling mode. Suggest we ignore him the same way the voting population is ignoring United Follicles.
Its what the rich want. That’s why Key gave himself a $1000/week tax cut for doing nothing different.
Except in the Christchurch earthquake of course, where the sharing of food, financial resources, and physical resources between neighbours, neighbourhoods and suburbs helped get everyone through.
As usual, you’re a short sighted idiot.
That wasn’t socialism in Christchurch, it was people supporting each other. But I doubt they will pool their property and close the income gap (same pay for differenrt effort) anytime soon.
Really, what else did you think socialism was?
And, no, we’re not after “same pay for different effort” but the same pay for the same effort.
You’re sounding like some J Edgar Hoover re-run who could not tell the difference between authoritarian Stalinist style communism and socialism.
Ackshully, most Americans can’t tell the difference either.
IMHO, socialists make the best capitalists.
No it hasn’t. If anything, it’s been the most successful political system yet. The failure has always been capitalism.
Wrong. Hard work is not essential. The only reason why we need hard work now is because the capitalists are taking all the benefits of increased productivity and then accusing those made worse off by their greed of being bludgers.
“Socialism has proven to be a dismal failure, on a small scale and on a large scale.”
I’m not necessarily endorsing Sociali
Per say, especially not in it’s authoritarian form, which is where it failed. I’d say though Pete, village life in many agrarian cultures through history would show your assertion that Socialism fails on a small and large scale false.
More interestingly though, we are now witnessing that not only Communisim, at it’s extreme, but Capitalisim, at it’s unfettered crony extreme has also failed. And tho is where you cold war thinkers fail. Both systems have failed, history didn’t end in 1989, it’s time to stop worrying only about the reds under your beds! It’s time for new thinking which relates and reacts to this moment!
I am going to break my own rule about your drivel. Because I saw this…
Peter Dunne says on Radio Live: “We are not a right-wing party,” he said, “We can work with either side.”
Yep Peter Dunne is a vote Whore, who will do anything to get his nose in the Trough..
Now back to my No drivel rule.
I think all politicians should work with most sides as much as possible. Surely they are there to do what’s best for the people, not have political hissy fits if they are on the wrong side of the spectrum of the day.
United Future aren’t the only ones who will work with any reasonable party, Greens do it too – well, they would if Labour didn’t shut them out. Same for Maori Party.
Greens shut out? An interesting rewrite of history. The greens in 2005 were short of seats. United Future and NZ First stated to Labour that they would not go into coalition with the Greens, but were happy to go into coalition with each other and Labour.
That meant Labour could form a government with a majority without the Greens which lasted through to the election, or a minority government with the Greens which was likely to be unstable.
The Maori party were brand new in parliament, asking for too much, and looked as unstable as they have proved to be this term…
United Future, the party that Pete George is standing for, helped to lock the Greens out of their first realistic chance of government in 2005. Now he prefers to lie about it for political point scoring. You really do look like a kiwiblog candidate….
Pure Guile Singapore China growing centrally planned economies Laissez fair is the failure,No laissez fair economy is growing.
In the US a economic survey carried out by the BBC economics reporter show high taxed more socialist states are actually growing the low taxed laissez fair sates are depressed or in recession not one laissez fair state is growing Follicle F/wit
PG Why Don’t you ask the 100,000 that left for Aus
Every body I know with a family is feed up with the continual loss of spending power
lower incomes
These people work harder than you
They have suffered under you greasy leaders watch
Pathetic
Git
Out in Waitakere things are heating up. Bene basher bully Bennett’s helpers have been playing silly buggers with Labour billboards. Paula’s campaign manager Mark Brickell was seen taking down some labour signs from fences. When asked what he thought he was doing he said the people who owned the Fences had said Labour was not given permission to put the signs up and that they had wanted them down.
There is a truth and reality problem with this explanation though. Carmel’s crew were told at one house that Bennett had shown up wanting to know why they had let Labour put a sign up and at at no point did they ask her or her team to take it down. The sign is back up now.
It is poor form for a Cabinet Minister to terrorise Waitakere constituents for putting up a Labour billboard. There again when you think of the appalling way she treated Natasha Fuller this behavior is not surprising.
National Ltd™ are playing silly buggers over in Maungakiekie too. Poor sod at the Council has nearly had enough. Mind you, some of the “rules” have arbitrarily changed: it seems, a double-sided billboard with the same image on both sides is now considered one sign. Silly little things like that which make more work for everyone with nothing in return – welcome to the Super Shitty. One moment of light entertainment – a complaint about a Labour sign being too close to the fence resulted in the Council finding that so too was National Ltd’s. There’s also a couple of National Ltd signs under the “drip line” of trees – just waiting for a couple of rainy days before reporting those. Oh, what fun.
On the subject of billboards, (700 of them).
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10765970
Nothing like the truth, eh!.
One local Nat hoarding has had John Key drawn on with a black eye patch and moustache.
Long John Shonkey is my name for him. He walks the plank on November 26. Ahaaarhh!
Democracy Under Attack Shock!
Secret tape reveals that the PM is an “arse”, “the worst PM since Gladstone” and a “despicable creature without any redeeming features”.
True, as far as Cameron goes, however in NZ, we have a PM who is rising in the polls, as is his party. In fact, he is now our most popular PM ever!
Er, no, grumpy. Key still hasn’t reached the heights of popularity reached by either Clark or Lange and the most recent polls have him, and his party, dropping in popularity. But other those points, you’re 100% right.
Its amazing what kicking public servants, and poor and low income workers can do, isnt it?
FIFY
and “goober” is a technical term used in the field of international relations to denote a diplomatically incompetent social tourist masquerading as the leader or representative of an insignificant pimple on the geopolitical atlas. It’s needed, because after the official visit of a goober you need to schedule at least two days before the next diplomatic engagement simply so you can clean the *** stains out of the red carpet.
Popular for a brief moment maybe, but of he wins and dolls out Austerity during the coming depression, he’ll soon be able to add most hated to most loved.
Nice one Voice, he’ll get his. Back to local recordings…
Part of Key’s defence line on the “Teapot Tapes” yesterday was “the public don’t like this covert snooping”. Rich, given the Nats Search and Surveillence Bill extension of powers to every copper and tin pot beauracrat. Today on TVNZ the line was protecting us all from News of the World tactics, and nothing to ‘see’ in the soundtrack anyway. “I’m not going to reward the Herald on Sunday for News of the World tactics”.
Yep, Key must also be livid at Paula Bennett’s releasing of the personal information of beneficiaries in a News of the World style breach of privacy. Isn’t he?
And if he’s right that the public don’t like this kind of snooping, how does he explain the sales of womens’ magazines, which rely almost exclusively on actual or thinly veiled snooping on the lives of celebrities?
This is a National beatup to obliterate media coverage for a while. Expect this to be spun out for as long as possible.
The last pollie who sought an injunction to prevent publication of damaging media was coincidentally Don Brash who attempted to inject the publication of the Hollow Men.
I agree MS. Natrad has headlined it all morning – a nice distraction from anything Goff might do. What a clever set up – got him on the news to not say anything apart from News of the World tactics.
How does Labour, and those that vote Labour, feel facing oblivion?
How does it feel knowing that your dream of single mother and their children living on the street, and people dying because they have no health insurance is going to become a reality.
Youre a real nasty fuck, you know that?
‘……and people dying because they have no health insurance is going to become a reality.”
You must have had a bad experience in the health system at some stage Millsy. Nevertheless, you should stop spouting this rubbish, NZ’s health system is and will remain primarily tax payer funded for the foreseeable future. The only things people may benefit from in relation to health insurance is faster surgery for non-urgent procedures.
Guess what happens when those insurance funded private procedures go wrong? As they do in up to 10% of cases?
That’s right, those private patients get shipped over to the public hospitals to get their postsurgical infection or whatever sorted out.
Private company keeps the profit, socialises the losses on the rest of us.
Colonial, a couple of questions about this statement
(1) whats your source for 10%?
(2) what percentage of public hospital procedures go wrong?
(3) “Private company keeps the profit, socialises the losses on the rest of us”. Surely the loss is less than if would have been had the patient gone to the public hospital in the first place?(given that there must be a percentage of public hospital procedures fail and this particular one could have been one of them)
(4) where’s your source that says that the private hospitals don’t patch up their screwups?
Hi CV
Yes as I stated above private hospitals/insurers are there to primarily provide non-urgent surgery and are set up to provide that service to private. This takes some pressure off the public waiting times for orthopaedic, cardiovascular and ophthalmologic surgery in particular, as you know they are also contracted to provide extra capacity for the various surgery where publicly funded operations are performed at the private hospitals.
In the rare instances that procedures go seriously wrong the patient may be transferred to a specialist critical care/intensive care provider at one of the large DHB hospitals.
I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make ?
CV is right private hospitals in New Zealand rely on back up from the public system they don,t have a great depth in their facilities like the public system has!
The only things people may benefit from in relation to health insurance is faster surgery for non-urgent procedures.
No it’s not. Try having a chronic long-term condition. See your specialist in the private system every 3 months, or see the very same specialist for the very same condition in the public system every 6 months (planned), however due to long waiting lists that 6 months stretches out to 9 months. All the while, for optimal health the meds need prescribing and adjusting every 3 months (and can’t be adjusted by a GP).
The meds cost nothing to get from the specialist, but cost to get from the GP when then need to be prescribed between specialist visits. It’s almost a false economy to stay in the public system.
Time for resources to be diverted back to public IMO.
Actually infused, extremely concerned and deeply disappointed that fellow New Zealanders will possibly be so self-centred and short-sighted. And I say ”possibly” because I still hold hope that compassion and caring for the less fortunate and simple common sense that selling our assets is such a ridiculous thing to do, New Zealanders will rally and make the right choice at the time. Call me an eternal optimist but clambering over others, pulling the ladder up and rewarding greedy behaviour to get to the ‘top’ just doesn’t seem to fit with the average Kiwi I know. Nov 26th will be a defining moment in our history and I still hold hope for a fairer NZ.
Well said LynW, my sentiments exactly. I am appalled that Key even has a chance of being re-elected. He is a liar and he wants to sell off our country to the detriment of all except a few.
+1 – people need to actually wake up to the current situation across the whole of the country, not just their local suburb.
And the whole of the world and the lessons out Antipodian hindsight allows us. We – like it or not – are a globalised world, and what is being rolled out in British Universities and Hospitals and Prisons should be a warning to all Kiwi’s, and what’s happening in the Global economy should be a lessonn in the failings of NACT inc’s Ideology.
But we’re caught in our parochial bubble, while the corporations rub their hands in glee at the opportunity in our ignorance.
Maybe Labour should be doing more then eh?
If Labour is STILL losing votes, obviously NZ is reject labour and their policies. It’s not about greed. It’s about how poor Labours policies actually are.
Even though I support National, I don’t believe everyone is voting National because National have great policies. I think most people see this as the better of two evils. Just look at the asset selling policy, yet people are still sticking to National.
Labour need to dump Goff, stop hating on the rich, and actually bring some fair balanced policy. Not just spending more on useless shit, which seems about as much as Labour can think up.
“I think most people see this as the better of two evils.”
I think that’s overstating it. From my own observations I’d say most people aren’t paying attention.
“Labour need to dump Goff, stop hating on the rich, and actually bring some fair balanced policy. ”
Actually, the voters of NZ need to stop falling for such simple mythologies distributed by toryboys – Labour policies are still tory-lite compared with MJS, most of the labour leadership are pretty well off (their only weakness is a tendency to sympathise with people other than themselves), and Goff is actually a better leader than “dodge the bad news, coast from one lie to the next, whatever it takes [to win]” Key.
I don’t believe that for a second.
Everyone has an opinion on this years election and I think a lot of people do care.
No one wants Goff. Look at preferred prime minister. I won’t if Labours vote would go up with him gone.
Another example of ‘the people’ rejecting Labour is the Greens gaining their vote.
“I don’t believe that for a second.”
Which bit? There were multiple assertions. Savage would have just nationalised all major infrastructure including banks, compulsory unionism, and so on – Labour have moved away from asset sales, but they haven’t quite seen the light yet.
“Everyone has an opinion on this years election and I think a lot of people do care.”
But do they care enough to research the topic and see Key lie, or do they just passively accept the perceived truth from TV3? And if a lot of people do care, why are the “undecided/did not respond” counts at anywhere between 20 and 40%?
“No one wants Goff. Look at preferred prime minister. I won’t if Labours vote would go up with him gone.”
Look at Helen’s before she became PM.
“Another example of ‘the people’ rejecting Labour is the Greens gaining their vote.”
Actually I think the Greens might be poaching a bit from the nats. And don’t forget the “undecided/dnr”!
Ah the brighter future…..the roar of a drilling rig all weekend on west coast Waikato farmland. Aparrently the permit expired late October and noise control have no idea what to do as the complaints pile up……snapper spawning grounds are immediately offshore and they’re due to offshore drill as well.
Residents feel powerless and angry……acshully it’s a dinimic situation. Sinosteel and a very large local land owner with limited friends in the community due to his priors.
Drilling for oil?
According to the permit it’s rare earths, tin, magnesium, silver gold blah blah etc etc with iron sands, iron and titanium expected to be the focus.
Hmmm.
There are also reserves in Piha and Muriwai and the worry that there may be an attempt to mine the sands. Did you know that the chap in charge of working through legal issues for super city was also a director of a Rio Tinto subsidiary?
And of course Mr. Rio Tinto was appointed by ? Hide? Joyce? Key?
There’s always the old, lie in front of the diggers tactic, rather than fuming from
behind our computer screens.
My take on “PM blocks release of chat tape”
-the PM is hiding the instructions he gave Banks to roll Brash if they get in
-the PM is hiding the the info he gave Banks on the full Asset sales programme
-the PM is hiding the the info on changes to welfare not yet revealed in policy
-the PM is hiding further changes to tax
-the PM is hiding further borrowing he intends
–
–
–
You can add to the list
The PM has not made and specific promises or policy changes – because he knows they will be so unpalatable to the electorate he would lose. But he no doubt shared them with Banks
.
Maybe telling/or asking Banks what dirt is he currently hiding, so that teflon Key can go into denial mode at a later date.
maybe dates when Banks can borrow the Key holiday home in Hawaii?
While we are about it we will scupper Len Brown aye shonkey the smiling assassin said
I think that it is likely that Key expressed contempt for the mugs in the press and the suckers in Epson.
You can fool some of the people some of the time…….
Dontcha worry about Epsom, son; they’ll do whatever I say.
If Key or Banks said anything at all in front of all those cameras that wasn’t “hows the kids,shitty weather eh, etc etc”, they are complete fuckwits.
Key : How are ya Banksy?
Banks : I’m in a word of pain. I have a prostrate the size of a grapefruit. I’ve called it Don.
Key : Why don’t you have it cut out?
Banks : I’d like to but it’s too close to the election.
And if you think that they have not been talking privately already, you’re a fuckwit.
Seems like we’re surrounded by them lately 😎
Here an effwit, there an effwit, there a “complete effwit”-
’tis the season for a banning…troll-la la…
The free trade regime is deja vue. In British colonial days India grew cotton but was not allowed to process it. The country was forced to be a commodity producer but not allowed to do the added value work that would have provided much needed jobs. Those went to Britain, in factories owned by British who got much wealth. The workers however had ‘slappers’ employed to keep them awake during their long days. Teenagers died of overwork after having been employed since they were five rising at about 4 a.m. so they had time to walk miles to work. The workers need to be protected – children were preferred over parents because of their small quick fingers. A heart-wrenching societal practice.
The same thing here in NZ. The well off can get cheaper items by having advantage of overseas labour. This is while there are people unemployed who could be making the items just as well and be earning money and self-sufficient. They get a sop that keeps them quiet (and shopping if they have some spare cash) – they can get cheaper garments and other items, that seem good and well-priced but often break, tear, unravel in a very short time. That’s happened to all at the lower decile levels.
Who will be our Ghandi? He pushed a movement for Indian people to weave their own cotton at home. There are pockets of do-it-yourselfers for all skills here already but how wide is it? And buy New Zealand is still going, pushed by the Greens. But with TPP we will have less control over what’s imported, less local input, less information on country, whether it has GMO ingredients etc. And that’s just part of the swingeing changes. WHICH ARE SECRET BUT BINDING ON US ALL. It is like kings or dictators consulting not like a democracy where the people are informed and can pass judgment and make well-balanced decisions.. We are undermining and debasing the codes and practices of the past for servings of untreated sewage.
I hope that this will be a focus of protest. NZ being asked to ratify an agreement that is secret.
Note that the Dom is running a poll over who do you think would tell the truth.
Key 638
Goff 808
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/election-2011/5958940/Cuppa-recording-tabloid-tactics?comment_msg=posted#post_comment
er someone might want to fix that link, it’s from after a comment has been posted. Could get weird.
Sorry two polls. Release the tape and Truthfulness
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/election-2011/5958940/Greens-Release-the-secret-tape
HoS editor (few min ago on ‘Fear Facts’ online)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5960522/Tea-tape-embarrassing-for-PM
And TV3 are reporting the HoS editor’s blast at Key and Banks on National Radio:
“While Mr Key and Mr Banks say the conversation was banal, Mr Johns – who hasn’t listened to the recording, but has read a transcript – says it’s anything but.
“What is said there is potentially game-changing, and the method used by the prime minister and the National Party over the last 24 hours to deflect attention from what’s said onto how it was gathered does make me think that this is even more serious than I thought it was.
“It’s breathtaking in that they’ve got the audacity to say these things within a metre, literally a metre, of the media pack who are on the other side on a piece of glass.”
He’s clearly spitting tacks at Key’s accusations of ‘News of the World’ tactics.
Here’s the TV3 link.
And yet he still won’t publish. What an idiot. I think there needs to be HOS boycott until they either publish it or give it to someone who will.
Oh the stew is simmering, be patient 🙂
This guy doesn’t understand what Watergate was about does he?
That’s true in a phone conversation. I’m reasonably sure that it’s not true of a public space where, technically, anybody could overhear the conversation.
That may be true when the paparazzi start chasing movie stars but politicians who want to lead the country don’t get private conversations when they’re talking about their plans for the country.
Wrong. You’re just protecting NAct from their own actions and words which the public have a right to know as it affects them.
“politicians who want to lead the country”
Worse than that Draco, it’s the leaders* of the two** parties who are now governing the country.
*Yes he is.
**Sorry Pete, it’s true – Hairpiece and those pesky brownies count for zip.
Unless it’s something derogatory about the people from Epsom being sheep like, and obedient.
It’s interesting the Joyce is weighing in on this issue. What’s it got to do with him? Why him and not McCully ot Wilkinson or Parata or Bennett.
Could it be that he is the campaign manager and as campaign manager he wants to shut this development down immediately?
So, why did Labour get us into such a a shitty investment?
All that points out is that NZ needs to start cutting ties with the globalised financial ponzi schemes. And start investing in itself – not selling ourselves off.
Further to the durable clothing question earlier:
Does anyone here wear/use hemp fabric and what kind of wear does it display over it’s lifetime? What existing fabric (synthetic or not) would it be comparable to.
sounds like paula beenit is about to spit the dummy.
she knows she is gone burger.
Matt Taibbi: How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the OWS Protests.
That’s what I was thinking during the first few weeks of the protests. But I’m beginning to see another angle. Occupy Wall Street was always about something much bigger than a movement against big banks and modern finance. It’s about providing a forum for people to show how tired they are not just of Wall Street, but everything. This is a visceral, impassioned, deep-seated rejection of the entire direction of our society, a refusal to take even one more step forward into the shallow commercial abyss of phoniness, short-term calculation, withered idealism and intellectual bankruptcy that American mass society has become. If there is such a thing as going on strike from one’s own culture, this is it. And by being so broad in scope and so elemental in its motivation, it’s flown over the heads of many on both the right and the left.
And the 400,000th comment goes to millsy in Open Mike 13/11/2011:
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-13112011/#comment-400000
Time for a 100,000 comment milestone retrospective, Lynn?
weary weary
not contrary
how does your townhouse shake
with spilling shelves
and no more elves
just awaiting the next big quake
Crusher Collins on the Herald live chat now – I suspect none of my pointy questions will be answered http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10765894
Are these the most patsy questions and answers ever?
We already have processes to increase electorates which is why we now have 69 rather than the 60 odd we had when MMP started. And there’s no way everyone’s going to get a face to face with the MP anyway unless she wants to increase the number of electorates to one every 5000 or so people.
And that is an outright lie.
Does anyone actually know how crushing a car is any different than just confiscating a car and selling it? In both cases the offender is deprived of a car, its just that it seems that the latter option is possibly the cheapest.
Oh, this is good!
There is still room for political activism in the form of pisstaking, no matter what the electoral laws say.
I can buyz stickers plox?
😆
Oh shit you mean I’ve been wrong all this time? Well I guess I stand corrected.
I blogged about a couple of billboards out west – with photos …
Subtle, nicely implemented, more effective than graffiti or leaning on property owners.
PROTEST: TO DELIVER FORMAL REQUEST FOR SFO TO APPLY SAME LAW TO DON BRASH AND JOHN BANKS AS FELLOW FORMER DIRECTORS OF HULJICH WEALTH MANAGEMENT (NZ) LTD:
TODAY: MONDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2011
LEAVING AOTEA SQUARE 2.30PM
ARRIVING OUTSIDE SERIOUS FRAUD OFFICE 3PM
ADDRESS: SERIOUS FRAUD OFFICE, LEVEL 6, 21 QUEEN ST, AUCKLAND CITY.
‘ONE LAW FOR ALL’?
Let’s see it.
The CEO of the Finance Markets Authority – Sean Hughes has stated in an email to myself dated 13 November 2011:
“FMA’s position is unchanged from that expressed in my email to you on 28 September 2011. I am satisfied that the position of both Mr Banks and Dr Brash was carefully considered by the Securities Commission and that competent advice was received in relation to the entities or persons against whom charges ought to be brought. Unless you have new information or evidence to bring to light which was not previously considered by the Securities Commission, FMA does not consider you have any basis on which to suggest it should bring proceedings against either Mr Banks or Dr Brash in relation to Huljich Wealth Management.”
How about ZERO TOLERANCE FOR ‘WHITE COLLAR’ CRIME?
How about the ‘ONE LAW FOR ALL’ that ACT Leader Don Brash trumpets so loudly to equally apply to himself, and the ACT candidate for Epsom John Banks?
I am looking forward to the SFO charging Don Brash and John Banks for the same offences for which former fellow Director of Huljich Wealth Management (NZ) Ltd, Peter Huljich was charged.
I am also looking forward to an investigation of the CEO of the Finance Markets Authority, Sean Hughes for arguably failing to do HIS job.
Is the failure of the CEO of the Finance Markets Authority, Sean Hughes to equally charge Don Brash and John Banks a form of CORRUPT PRACTICE?
Who appointed Sean Hughes as CEO of the FMA?
‘Hand-picked’ National Party political appointees to the FMA ‘Establishment Board’?
Is that why Sean Hughes isn’t exactly vigorous in applying the same ‘ONE LAW FOR ALL’ to the former LEADER of the National Party – Don Brash and former National Government Minister of POLICE (and Local Government) John Banks?
All this happening in NZ – ‘perceived’ to be the ‘least corrupt country in the world’ along with Denmark and Singapore according to the Transparency International 2010 ‘Corruption Perception Index’.
What an absolute travesty of ‘justice’.
What a disgrace.
Penny Bright
Independent Candidate for Epsom
Campaigning against ‘white collar’ CRIME, CORRUPTION (and its root cause – PRIVATISATION) and ‘CORPORATE WELFARE.
This is a trend world wide. We have former employees/CEOs etc from the finance sector being appointed to the regulating authorities. Henry Paulson, Larry Summers, Robert Rubin etc. Same with the appointment of Mr Hughes.
Foxes in charge of the hen house!
Now the money people are becoming the leaders of nations!
New Zealand, then Greece, now Italy.
Fuck this: http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2011/11/this-stinks.htm
My god, what an outrage, who would have thought etc etc.
The link goes to a ‘page not found’ (for me).
But the original post is on NRT’s homepage.
From the post, and prima facie, it certainly seems like political corruption and, hence, grounds for an investigation.
Edit: This was a reply to felix at comment 23
Felix missed the l at the end.
http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2011/11/this-stinks.html
The behaviour of the electorate manager was bad enough but…
…having the MP that he is the aide to backing him is actually worse, IMO. Our politicians should not be supporting what appears to be corruption.
Oops sorry Puddleglum, thanks Draco 🙂
A couple of pics you can send to friends and foes
Politicaldumpground.com has a post today pointing out a new ‘for sale’ on Trade Me – Karapiro Dam! hope this link to the TM sale works.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RgiNXi8QMGg/TsBMJBd93BI/AAAAAAAAAjE/wEIpiAcoNJ0/s1600/karapiro+-+Copy.png
Nice work!
Your link didn’t felix but http://norightturn.blogspot.com/ has the “This Stinks” corruption alleged in Peta Sharples’ office.
I heard on ZB this morning, Phil lossing the backbone he is reported to have grown.
When asked the though questions, what does Phil do – sidestep, avoid, duck, weave anything to escape answering them !!
Point is case re Lady from a Proverty Action group questioning why Lab (when the govt) went to court to prohibite WFF being paid to beneficaries and now after fighting and winning the case (Even the UN commented against this exclusion) it has become Lab policy? Yet Phil did not get within cooeee of addressing the question. This is contained in the Mon 14th 8:00 am section
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/weekondemand.asp
http://www.cpag.org.nz/infocus/cpags-case-in-the-human-rights-review-tribunal/
Next how to grow NZ economy (Was this not the 5th Lab govts priorities – progress up the OECD rankings into the top 1/2?? – until we started slipping backwards) the main basis that Lab is basing our growth is on “to increase savings”. Great especially with our wage rates, the lack of protection e.g. finance coys etc. And even if we could save where would our investments be? Overseas- That will help us.
Phl is becomming as elusive as Key, difference is that Key is far superior at being Key than his imitator is.
herod is a nitwit and expert at producing so much vierbiage that no one can understand him.
kweewee is gone and so is government and good riddance.
OK Randal so you have an issue with my composition. Did you listen to the link?
I get the impression that many here that they are unwilling to test the left on what they are saying, and question then on inconsistancies. So Lab govt were taken to court re WFF being paid to beneficaries, even the UN was againstthe exclusion. Now when questioned Phil now cannot answer why the about the flip flop. He cannot even address the question, and you think that is OK? You may be fooled by believing a politian I prefer to test comments and actions.
No-one noticed your link as it was buried in a solid block of indecipherable gibberish.
And you were unable to listen to the link and work out the jist my comments, or are you unwilling to test what you also hear?
I will ask in 1 sentence When did Phil address the question?
I will wait with baited breath – but expect nothing, because there is nothing to suppport Phil.
Just incase some thought I was being a troll- forgot to finish with
I will wait with baited breath – but expect nothing, because there is nothing to suppport Phil “IN THIS CASE”
lolz.
I made an exception just for you and trawled through the recording. Are you referring to the question beginning at 18m30s? The two part one which was “whyy the turn-around and why the delay?”
Reason for implementation delay: answered first up – fiscal constraint
Reason for turnaround: answered more in depth – things are getting worse.
Seems pretty clear to me.
What a waste of my time.
Whereas Key said on prime last night that the income gap between NZ and Aus is closing because our after-tax income rose 10% and theirs only rose 6%. No mention of whether the absolute gap closed – if we earned $50 and they earned $100 in real terms, then a 6% increase for them vs a 10% increase for us means the gap is still widening. Love to know what data he was
making upusing.Diane Roberson Why Lab has opposed WFF in regard to benefits thru court? No response
Re the implementation – Fiscal restraints as the reason- If (And many here would I take it) agree that eliminating poverty ishould be the major focus. It is about priorities and the delay inplies that this is not as high a priority as it should be. Otherwise he could borrow earlier for this- or bring forward things like CGT earlier.
Not worried about Key- he has been tested enough here and in other places for me.
Surprised at the lack on this site regarding commentary on the breakfast- Perhaps that says something in itself ?
Now I’m beginning to agree with Felix.
The ACTUAL QUESTION ASKED was
English101: the statement takes the form of a background description:
“but I am wondering we /um/ for the last five years your party actually has opposed the welfare/WFF package through court and now you’ve done a turnaround on that and you’re offering it to beneficiaries’ familes,”
followed by the actual interrogative clauses:
“why the turnaround”, “why so long to implement the policy”
Goff answered both, clearly, as I mentioned before.
Mind you, given that you’re not worried about “I had nothing to do with it, oh yeah I had a full briefing and signed the papers” Key’s honesty, you’re obviously a moron.
Should have lenghtened re Key- I am not worried re testing him as many here already done so – And I have some ability to decipher from info gathered re the many issues I have with Key and co. And are facing the issue of “Least damage to NZ” as my basis on voting
If you follow the time time re WFF, comments made by the likes of Cullen (That it was never intended to be made payable to beneficaries) and was to asist working families (Some believe that it was a backhanded means of tax cuts to the middle class) refer link as to court decision, and on what basis the crown based their arguements on
So why now make it available to beneficaries. I have commented previously that if benefits are inadequate that address the issue directly and increase them to an adequate level.-WFF requires knowledge as to what each family is eligible to and by visiting the IRD and having to complete the appropiate forms, that is if they even are aware that the family is entitled to this- this can be confusing and intimidating to many. By increasing the benefit then we are guaranteed that each family recieves what they are entitled to – and should the families financial position change (e.g. employment) they could be in a position of having to repay monies back, as the WFF is based on a annual income, if the actual income is higher then the amount of wff that they are entitled to, reduces. But you will not know your annual income and WFF entitlements until the financial year has past.
http://www.cpag.org.nz/assets/CPAG%20v%20Attorney%20General/CPAGvAttorney-General.pdf
“They(The Crown) also argued, somewhat implausibly, that beneficiaries already get more in government assistance than everyone else so there can be no disadvantage.” As this decision was released in Dec 08.
And in final conclusion. So there was to me an acceptance that those families that were dependant upon benefits were still to remain below the poverty line. Goff still never addressed why Lab fought to keep WFF exempt from beneficaries?
“Whatever the stated purposes of the IWTC, the effect has been to substantially disadvantage children living in beneficiary households that did not receive it. In practice this means children live in households where food runs out; where children rely on luck or folk remedies to remain healthy, or live four or five to a bedroom to keep accommodation costs down. The fallacy that a monetary incentive alone would suffice to enable families to move off a benefit, and into work, is demonstrated by the government’s own figures suggesting that only about 2% of sole parent families would do so. Of those that did, figures show many had a pre-existing attachment to the workforce. Now that the so-called new economy has been unmasked as the old boom and bust economy, the fundamental injustice of the IWTC will become even more apparent. The justification for the discrimination found, namely that the outcomes for families in work are generally better than those for families on benefit income, depends for its success on an economy that creates jobs. In an economy losing jobs, it seems like a cruel joke.”
And as for the delay of implementation- yo are worried about me yet did not address the priorities of Lab in deferring this. If the removal of children out of proverty was SO important then I am sure they could find the money. As just one means instead of increasing age of entitlement re pension 2 months every year- Why not fast track it to increase the age by 3 months per year. There can be when motivated to reprioritise and find the $$
Riiiiighht.
Key = less bad. Got that, disagree.
You seem to make a lot of irrelevant points, such as:” Goff still never addressed why Lab fought to keep WFF exempt from beneficaries?”
True, that (well, he did but only indirectly). The reason being that he was not asked that question. He was asked why the change from fighting it to making it policy, and why the delay in implementation.
He gave answers thusly, and I repeat:
Reason for implementation delay: fiscal constraint
Reason for turnaround: things are getting worse.
Or are you really truly annoyed that a politician had the sheer gall to answer the question that was actually asked?
Lastly, your comment: “And as for the delay of implementation- yo are worried about me yet did not address the priorities of Lab in deferring this. If the removal of children out of proverty was SO important then I am sure they could find the money.” is a bit naive – I know Key is happy to bankrupt the country (how many billions are we up to after only 3 years, after a zero deficit budget in 2008?), but that just helps the bastards force privatisation and kill more kids via overcrowding, access to water and lack of heating.
In the real world the govt has to work for everyone, so yeah, there are fiscal constraints because keeping elderly in poverty is as bad as keeping kids in poverty. I mean, I’d be in favour of introducing FTT alongside a CGT and a higher tax rate for the bigger companies and wealthier individuals so that the country can pay for both and free healthcare and education, but your man Key just wants to keep everyone in poverty.
You have no idea of key = less bad or Goff = less bad in my book. To help neither have an idea of a real solution, but how can they as they cannot or will not see the real issues.
How is it naive re finding the money, or is it that child poverty is less on an issue worth solving? National has allocated something like $9b over the next 3-7 years to be spend on roads, including 4 big spendups relating to 4 parts of the motorway SH1 Jafaland, Sh27 Ham to Tauranga, SH1 Chch, by deferring is one souce for an immediate source of funds, another spread out the $1k govt handout re Kiwiwsaver from 4 to 5 years. I gather you and I have come to a pt where we are arguing over the same position, just that we differ re if Goff addressed the issue of sidesteped it. If times have changed and benefits require readdress then why not readdress ? Try claiming as commented before it is not an automatic qualification, whereas the benefit is to recieve the max allowable amount. WFF is a clumsy manner to determine what is to be paid out, it is all on the in this case beneficary to claim noy automatic
So the state (Lab govt) argued ” that beneficiaries already get more in government assistance than everyone else so there can be no disadvantage.” Benefits have not lost that much ground compared to the rest in paid employment
So due to inflation, increased GST, increased energy prices etc the median worker has seen the water level lift a whole foot from chest height to neck height. Things are pretty uncomfortable I’ll give you that.
While beneficiaries have only seen the water level lift a couple of inches, from their chin height to just above eyelevel. Drowning in other words.
Now who are you saying is better off again?
You appear to be a bit too stream-of-consciousness for me to follow with that typsetting, or I’m a bit too tired to be still at work. Look, in your previous post you put pensions against WFF. Now it’s roads. But then of course we still lose something like 30 kids a year to transport accidents, so roads aren’t such a bad idea either. I’m not going to go line by line through the budget talking about what should be cut to immediately extend WFF to beneficiaries, for two reasons:
A) I actually support the concept of increasing revenue to balance the budget, rather than decreasing expenditure; and
B) Goff wasn’t asked that question.
Maybe you should have been there to ask the questions you wanted asked, but don’t bitch that a politician for once actually answered the questions he was actually asked. That’s a rare and wonderful event.
MS – I wil try to say this simply for everyone
If benefits are inadequate increase them, is it that difficult to do?
WFF is an opt in = It is the manner that Lab are proposing to fund that I object to – it is more complicated than it needs to be and allows for families to miss out on funding that they would be entitled to if it was paid out as a simple benefit.
H
As a partisan Labour hack let me spell this out.
1. WFF was a really good idea because it improved the plight of working families and helped heaps of kids. It did not help beneficiaries.
2. It left a number of kids in poverty. Coincidentally all of the kids were the children of beneficiaries.
3. If you want to help poor kids then there is no way around it. You have to raise the income levels of houses that rely on benefits.
4. This is normally really stupid because ordinary people who are not beneficiaries hate them. They have been trained to do this through decades of beneficiary propaganda which paints them as the authors of their situation rather than the victims of a sick economic system.
5. If you help poor kids then this really upsets some people who get really upset even at the idea of funding school breakfast clubs where kids who otherwise will starve get a basic breakfast so that they will learn properly.
So go for it, tell us that six years ago Labour were not brave enough to fund the really poor but it is now prepared to advocate this. Then tell us that somehow it is wrong.
But I will tell you what it is, it is brave. If we win there will be a number of five year old kids lives whose lives will be better.
“And you were unable to listen to the link and work out the jist my comments, or are you unwilling to test what you also hear?”
I’m not the slightest bit interested in anything you say to be honest Hero.
You are very good at taking pot shots at people yet when ask to substantiate your position, display the characteristics of a straw man. Not willing to support any position you supposedly stand for.
Being closed to any and all displays a total arragorance. Even those on opposing sides of the political spectrum have things to offer.
“You are very good at taking pot shots at people yet when ask to substantiate your position, display the characteristics of a straw man. Not willing to support any position you supposedly stand for.”
You’ve confused me now Hero. What position am I being asked to substantiate? What do I stand for in this instance in your mind and why?
“Being closed to any and all displays a total arragorance. Even those on opposing sides of the political spectrum have things to offer.”
“Any and all” means you, right? I have no idea where you sit on the political spectrum Hero, as I very rarely manage to make any sense of the gibberish you leave here.
How would I know what you stand for, I have yet to come across the 1st epistle of felix. For all I know you could be John Key or Sue Bradford or anyone in between.
So I will play your game- Where do you stand re WFF in regard to beneficaries? You know my position 😎
WTF are you on about?
You’re the one who says I’m refusing to support the position I “supposedly stand for”.
So what position do I supposedly stand for, Hero?
~snort~
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-12/foreclosures-prompt-four-u-s-cities-to-sue-banks-for-mowing-home-repairs.html
Four major U.S. cities that pay for the upkeep of foreclosed properties are trying to recoup the costs of services including lawn mowing, repairs and security by suing banks they claim contributed to their “urban blight.”
A federal judge in Memphis, Tennessee, on May 4 and another in Baltimore on April 22 denied Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC)’s request to dismiss the predatory-lending lawsuits brought against the bank. A lawsuit by the city of Cleveland against JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) and Ally Financial Inc. is also pending before an Ohio judge.
In one case, Deutsche Bank AG, described by Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich as one of the city’s “major slumlords,” may be found liable for hundreds of millions of dollars, including restitution for current and former tenants, according to a statement by the city.
More laughs.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/bill-oreillys-lincoln-book-banned-from-fords-theatre-because-of-mistakes/2011/11/11/gIQAhJpyFN_story.html
Of all the places you’d expect to find Bill O’Reilly’s new history “Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination That Changed America Forever,” Ford’s Theatre — the site of the dreadful act — should rank right at the top. But you’d do better to search for the bestseller on Amazon because it has been banned from the theater’s store.
The crime? O’Reilly and his co-author Martin Dugard have displayed a serial disregard for historical fact.
For a purported history of the assassination — an “unsanitized and uncompromising … no spin American story,” as the authors put it, “Killing Lincoln” is sloppy with the facts and slim on documentation, according to a study conducted by Rae Emerson, the deputy superintendent of Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site, which is a unit of the National Park Service.
Other Lincoln experts also have sounded off. In a review published in the November issue of “North & South — The Official Magazine of the Civil War Society,” historian Edward Steers Jr. cites many instances where the book strays from documented history, then asks, “If the authors made mistakes in names, places, and events, what else did they get wrong? How can the reader rely on anything that appears in ‘Killing Lincoln’”?
This doesn’t surprise me. You cannot tell me that O’Reilly has time in his life to do any meaningful research – for anything.
Writing his many books, Appearing on shows like The View and the Daily Show, Filming shows, Books tours, Road shows, travel, private time, managing his business ventures, Photo-ops with troops in Afghanistan…..and on top of that he wants us to believe he does extensive research. He doesn’t have time for even sufficient research.
He fronts up to the studio, gets told what issues the researchers have come up with and they decide what to got to air with. He film the segments and goes home.
The same with his books. Someone else researches/writes and he puts his name to it. Very little hands on.
A bit like our Prime Minister, when does he have time to do an honest day’s work?
It’s a slow and expensive process to seek judicial redress against the finance/banking institutions. I guess the hope is that if we “the people” get sufficient findings for damages then the institutions will think twice next time.
Trouble is it won’t work. For two reasons…
1. Unless their is regulation by bodies not populated with financiers, compliance inspections and hard and fast lawsuits – then this will all happen again.
2. While the institution continues to exist it’s life is greater than that of it’s employees. The actual people have since moved on and taken their enormous wealth with them. The institution pays for the crimes of individuals.
A way needs to be found to go after the individuals and attack their wealth.
Wouldn’t it be nice if “the people” had sufficient resources to engage in guerilla action against this private wealth. One day Larry Summers is relaxing by the pool and he gets an sms from his accountant saying that the invisible hand of the market had totally destroyed his wealth……. 🙂
We are still building leaky developments, even after all the compliance requirements that councils are requesting to recitify this problem.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/eastern-courier/5943425/New-centre-leaking
Don’t fuss mate the repair work is adding to GDP growth its all good.
Just heard on the news that Apec are pushing for those high stream shower heads that Nat were crying about in 2008 – Shane Jones visionary
KC No doubt national will insist that they be golden ones so we can feel the effects of trickle down poliicies