There’s comfort in the fact that some of us, arguably those most desperate for a change of government in 2017, have been constrained in our celebrations over the Coalition.
I guess wherever one finds politicians one can expect a certain percentage of rampant egomaniacs. A pity the loudest limelighters are in the same minor party.
Why oh why can’t they just say their piece then STFU? But no, they have to bang on and on and call in the reinforcements and give the single digit salute to their political leader from the major Coalition party.
In the meantime…the other minor party in the Coalition seems more than content to set aside their basic policies and confirm and cooperate when I suspect a large percentage of the population would be supportive of a revolt over increased water bottling.
Politics.
How cynical have I become that I recognise your acronym within seconds of encountering it.
(same smiles different dials)
Have we all lost the ability to work with one another? The left and right should be keeping each other honest, actually supporting each others graduation toward maturity in this regard. This childish bickering 24/7 and gleeful propagation of sound bites where politicians ‘own’ each other…
MSM, amateur media (you, me, we), all doing it. Divide divide divide.
As for Greens having to be seen to be different – just why? Be seen to be doing things – not wearing a different shirt. Children. This ‘dealing with reality’ is a good look. It is apt to note the system is broken from within and learn as you go just what is broken where and how we might find better alternatives. In the meantime the world turns.
Western society and business is (was) based on basic trust. Seems we were sadly mistaken in giving business the rope in order to hang us all. But I prefer to have some sense of trust in the decency of people. When the shit hits the fan real people are all over it. It’s just this political/business class who seem incapable of rejoining society preferring the divide and pillage technique. The fact they pull the strings is the real reason everything’s seemingly turned to shit.
It’s a fine mess. I got a Laurel and Hardy framed picture yesterday. Sitting in one of their atypically destroyed hotel rooms “Another Fine Mess”.
Western society and business is (was) based on basic trust.
That’s what we like to tell ourselves despite all the evidence that it’s actually based upon a few people ripping everyone else off. Another example from the Western Leader:
New Zealand based water bottlers are cashing in on picturesque Southern Alps landscapes, even if they’re based nowhere near them, the Beverage Council says.
Basically, they’re putting a picture of the Southern Alps on the merchandise and thus implying that it comes from that area when it isn’t.
Basically, the normal deception that business has been engaging in since forever.
What ever happened to farmers being salt of the earth community minded? The turkey from Cheviot was whingeing that a govt dept didn’t break the privacy act to tell him about his neighbors possible (later proved positive) infection. Why didn’t his neighbor call him directly (and others around him) to advise there was some concern and to take appropriate precautions???
Bad enough the previous government let this pot boil over, now the farmers are refusing to tell where the off button is!
Maybe those that refuse to co-operate should lose the support of the community/country and have compensation declined if found to have lied/withheld evidence, especially those that have purchased animals from the ground zero farm and will not contact MPI of the fact.
This behavior is can only increase the cost of eradication or end with the disease becoming entrenched, with a large part of the cost being foist upon the public purse.
Can’t say that I’m surprised. All farmers in this country seem to be greedy, ignorant schmucks who think far too much of themselves.
Farmer Lloyd Downing told our reporter Kate Gudsell that there were issues with Fonterra, but it’s was the farmers’ business, not Shane Jones’.
When Fonterra exists due to specific legislation then it is actually everyone’s business. We need to be sure that the legislation is working and it obviously isn’t and thus needs changing. Repealing it and thus eliminating Fonterra may be the best option.
Ae. Apparently representatives of an elected government have no right to comment on how companies or ‘bizzniss’ should operate.
Rules and regulations must be applied selectively.
Bad enough those elected representatives already have an out when it suits (i.e. “I can’t comment on operational matter” – though what the definition of ‘operational’ is can be as fluid as they like)
NZH… “Health Minister David Clark has tried to gag public servants, appearing to offer them jobs in return for their silence, National’s MP for Botany Jami-Lee Ross said”……. As soon as I read Jamie Lee Ross, I realized I was suckered by the headline.
Thats dissapointing sacha! You rush to comment before you listen to the evidence, perhaps you confuse opinion with fact. The message was complete including voicemail head and tail prompts.
Please link to a story including the full voicemail so we can all hear it. The version of one clip on Newshub was shorter than the same section on RNZ (allowing a quite different impression) but neither story included the full message.
Ok so trying to keep my own personal opinions it is, at first viewing, not a good look so it’ll be interesting to see how Winston and the media play this but maybe there’ll be more information that can shed some light on this
There are only two options that I think are possible.
The most likely one is that Winston will simply announce something like
“Listen sunshine. Nothing to see here. Time to move on”. The media will then obey him. I didn’t hear a single word on Morning Report about the matter.
The other would be something that will only occur in the unlikely event that Winston wanted Minister of Health for one of his own MPs. In that case Clark will be gone by lunchtime.
The Guillotine would already have been installed in the forecourt of Parliament.
The tumbril would be moving toward it with the victim in the back.
All the female Labour and Green MPs would be sitting there with their knitting needles, (and their teeth), clacking.
David Clark, putting on his most stony Presbyterian glare would be condemning the prisoner.
The execution would be carried out at midday.
Amazing that a man of the cloth like David could be guilty of such mortal sins isn’t it? I see why he was defrocked.
Exactly, there’d be calls for resignations at the very least however while I think it sounds extremely dodgy I’m still wanting to not rush to judgement just yet
But and its a very big but I think its more proof, if proof was needed, just how unprepared the COL is for being in charge
My biggest hope is that the COL don’t do too much permanent damage before they’re replaced
Just to indicate what waffle you two are writing, I distinctly recall a nice, easy interview of Lee Ross by Guyon E on RNZ between 8.30 and 9.00am.
But none so deaf as those who do not wish to hear, huh?
Isn’t anyone from the left just the slightest bit concerned about just how incompetent some of the COLs ministers appear to be
It seems like everyone in the COL is in a race to see how much incompetence the NZ public will endure…as an example no ones mentioned Clare Curren for days because of so many new entrants
Hell at this point I’d agree to Helen Clark and Michael Cullen returning to take over
Clare Curren
Phil Twyford
Andrew Little
Megan Woods
Chris Hipkins
Kelvin Davis
David Clark
Stuart Nash
Thats a lot of Labour ministers that recently have been made to look arrogant, incompetent or both…and I’ve probably missed some
“RNZ between 8.30 and 9.00am”.
It must be nice to have that much time free.
I listened from 6:00am until about 8:20am.
Then I had to start work. I hate having to have to work out our Income tax but the IRD insist on it. I wish I was like you and had time enough to be able to listen to the radio as late as 9:00 am.
I presume, from the indentation numbering you are trying to address me.
If so can I refer you to the conversation between Vivien and Edward Lewis in the film Pretty Woman?
“Can I call you Eddy?”
“Not if you expect me to answer”
You might also do well to spell your name correctly.
Your character requires you to spell it “Gobby”.
That is used in phrases like “You are a gobby Glaswegian” https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/gobby
Alternatively you would also fit the Australian definition. https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Gobby
No doubt it amuses you, of course. What is that phrase?
“Small things amuse small minds”.
I must say I’m disappointed in NZF. Why did they have to start their shenanigans right before Jacinda goes on maternity leave? Could it not have waited six weeks. If I were Jacinda I wouldn’t be relaxing at all.Not with the opposing snake pit ready to strike at everything that will give them positive paragraphs from the pandering press. Even the minor Hosking, Hawkesby is chewing on the end of her pen and has entered the fray. Not good.
The’re only interested in themselves and much of what we’ve seen over this last week is designed to re energise the NZF support base.
The Mystery Creek Field Days gave Jones a perfect platform to advance this cause by attacking Fonterra. The fact it coincides with Ardern’s maternity leave is of no concern to NZF. The fact that she is perceived as weak and having little or no influence over NZF cabinet ministers is also of no concern to NZF.
In the end NZF are not team players.
In the end they may seriously undermine Ardern as leader of the coalition as well as the coalition itself.
But, from NZF’s point of view, no matter, so long as it increases their support base.
If you have access to the DomPost have a look at the Sharon Murdoch cartoon this morning. I think it displays accurately how Ardern will be feeling.
I can’t find it online so I can’t provide a link I’m afraid.
A stupid tourist tax has been announced by the government today. A complicated process to pay the $30 before you come to NZ; talk about getting up peoples noses.
This is in the week where a Price Waterhouse report has shown that the government already benefits by $2.5 billion annually from tourism. This means if the new tax puts 2% of people off coming here it will raise no income at all.
The tourism guy on RNZ said this week that the government should simply reallocate some of the massive cash it already receives from tourism rather than charge a new tax.
How many visitors would really avoid coming to NZ over a $30 fee when their average spend here is about $3,000 per trip (not including the costs of getting here)?
It isn’t just foreigners coming here. It will probably be mirrored for New Zealand citizens going through other countries.
For example
Traditionally the US will charge travellers from other countries going there anything that that country charges US citizens.
I can remember when a New Zealand citizen got a free US visa while Australians were charged quite a high fee for their visa. That was because the US citizens had to pay to get an Australian visa but New Zealand didn’t charge them anything. Drove my Australian friends nuts.
If that hasn’t changed New Zealand citizens going through Los Angeles to London will probably have to pay the same amount to US authorities just to pass through the Airport at LA.
Poor old Air NZ. People will take SIA or Emirates and fly to Europe via Singapore or Dubai.
NZ citizens pay US$14.00 for the two year ESTA as part of the visa waiver program – same as Aussie and other eligible nations. My wife used her Kiwi passport to enter the US last month and will do so again next month. She’s good to go until March 2019.
Sounds about right.
While I was in Australia they dropped the ridiculous fee that were charging US citizens for an Australian visa. A couple of months later the USA did the same for Ockers. The price for Australian and New Zealand citizens then became the same.
You will note that I said the IF New Zealand started charging the extra fee for a Visa AND the US still used the old “charge others as they charge us” system we could expect the fee for a US Visa to rise.
I never said it applied now or would apply before we cranked up the fee did I?
I haven’t entered the US through LA since before 2001. I refuse to put up with the way I am told they treat visitors there. Europe via the East for me.
Should be much higher plus an extra $30 if they arrive in Auckland and are expected to use the train/tram that has not been built yet and the current ratepayers are expected to finance.
As for PWC, 1 million for their report on the stadium that the ratepayers and councillors are not allowed to read in it’s entirety, but Phil Goff.
I think Mr Goff should be able to keep the report to himself and the $936,000 invoice re-directed to his residence for his personal attention.
I would of been happy to prepare a report and arrive at the same conclusion as PWC for much less money
Essentially: ‘We could expand Eden Park, do something massive on the Albany stadium site, free range at 1 of three outer suburban sites or build something spectacular downtown.’
In the eyes of Aucklanders, anything other than downtown with bars and restaurants overlooking the Hauraki Gulf will be 2nd best. A stadium built anywhere other than there will live forever beneath the shadow of ‘Could of had a City of Sails view.’ So there are no options. Find the money.’
A visit to a stadium is an experience beyond the game or concert. I think Auckland should play her ace card. She needs the dosh. Watching the sun set over the Hauraki Gulf while meeting friends or queuing to get to your seat would be a special experience, more than a footy game.
I think an architect would love a brief that instructs them to make the most of primary views inside and also those outside the stadium.
Every toilet in every stadium in the world is buried beneath the seating. Walking into a men’s room to see a big pane of glass at the end and a mega view of the harbour would prompt me to think ‘this place is special.’
Goff hasn’t shared his report with me. I’m speculating, I think Aucklanders might of paid a million dollars to hear: ‘It needs to be downtown, anything else is a compromise’.
Elsewhere, I’d drive there, bitch about the lack of parking, not drink much and drive home after the game.
Downtown, bugger the parking thing. I’d use public transport, meet for drinks and somewhere to eat before the game/concert and could be talked into a dodgy street vendor kebab and a visit to the casino post game.
“Isn’t the view in a stadium mostly facing inwards davy? That’s the whole goddam raison d’etre isn’t it?”
Well Gabby, we’re not really sure about that. As a sub-contracting consultant to David Mac, my team of experts (me and my Schnauzer) will put considerable effort into finding that information and presenting it in a colourful graph form…………… for another $200k, a steal even!!
Look how much money we could have saved the Auckland rate payer!!!!!
“The tourism guy on RNZ said this week that the government should simply reallocate some of the massive cash it already receives from tourism rather than charge a new tax.”
So hes advocating for an increase in company tax then ….sounds fair enough.
and theres the problem….if you accept that additional funds are required then it has to come from somewhere….that precludes EXISTING revenue (unless you advocate reducing funding to something else)….so do you cross subsidise one sector by general taxation or do you have a targeted tax/levy?…which is fairer?….which is politically rational?….which impacts economic activity the least?
The same old BS arguments from vested interests….its all good until it impacts me
The tourism industry is NOT being subsidised at all. It is paying its way magnificently but noisy ill-informed idiots are out there in the media saying the opposite.
if it was paying its way there would be sufficient revenue in the current tax take to fund the required…..obviously it isnt, hence the calls from the regional authorities for additional funding…unless you consider they are crying wolf?
The underfunding problem is caused by central government not allocating enough of the $2.5 billion it gets from tourism to the regions and local council’s being afraid to levy enough rates from powerful developers and other business interests that make squillions from tourism.
(I live under the Queenstown Lakes District Council junta and can attest to this.)
That explains the lack of pressure on ratepayers in low population high visitor areas I guess beardy. The magnificent paytheirownway tourism wealth creators howling for workers to come live in their unaffordable houses and work for peanuts.
Time to stop using ordinary Kiwis as money machines, our taxes should be spent on our own health and education not subsiding the multinational tourist industries.
Time, user pays, applies to everyone not just the powerless!
Clearly the 2.5 billion is not being distributed very evenly in NZ as we have rising poverty of both the poor and the working and the middle class!
Why should a businessman (or woman) who comes to Auckland for a couple of days have to pay a tourist levy? They will arrive, take a taxi to their hotel or office they are visiting, carry out their business activities for a couple of days and then go back to the airport and depart. They aren’t going to go anywhere near a tourist activity.
This is just another tax. Labour and the Greens have never seen a tax they didn’t love.
So much for pre-election promises.
Why…firstly its deductable as a business expense and it isnt applying to PI or Aussie travellers (CER is my guess though I think it should) so Id suggest anyone travelling from further afield is going to incorporate some leisure activity in their tax deductable trip even if here for a short period…certainly every business trip I can think of to any distant destination is treated thus.
In any case , if you accept additional funding is required (do you?) it must come from somewhere
“certainly every business trip I can think of to any distant destination is treated thus”.
I wish my employer, in the days when I had such things, had been as generous. I generally had to back as soon as work was over. Mind you I wasn’t as hard done by as some people at one place I worked. There were people there who kept packed bags at home at all times. They also had foreign currency around. It was quite common for some of them to be told, on a Saturday perhaps, that they had to go to Singapore for 3 days and they had to get there on Sunday. They would go, travel back on Thursday and be in the office again on Friday.
Do we want some more money? Well yes, and I think we should follow what is the West Australian approach. It is, roughly, this. I am giving, from memory, the amounts charged for a car. They apply to everyone, visitor or State resident.
Payments are required to visit all National and State Parks. A single visit costs $12 for a car and its passengers. For $44 you can visit all the parks in the State for 28 days. For $88 you can visit all the parks in the State for a year. For $44 you can visit all the parks in a geographic region for a year. These are quite big regions. From memory it would be something like all the North Island up to a line across at the Manawatu Gorge. I do not guarantee that estimate. I always use the 28 day option for the whole state when I go there these days.
The last two fees are obviously of interest to people who live in WA. The first two are of interest to tourists. Everyone who uses the parks pays although the billing system does favour the locals.
Seems to work pretty well to me. The facilities are good and they are paid for by the people who use them.
Correction. The fees are $13, $46 and $92 for the first three. The last is $23 but is only available for the group of parks in the area where you reside. They must have changed since last year.
your business trip reminiscences would appear to apply to employees…the tax will be of no concern to them …nor will it be to their companies which pay it i suggest.
There are additional charges for various facilities as well (DOC huts e.g.) unfortunately that revenue will not assist the TAs in the main as it will be utilised within the businesses/organisations that have the ability to generate it.
The call has gone to central gov to assist in funding this so the gov has the options outlined in 8.1.1……..questions conveniently ignored.
What better way to raise additional funds than a levy from without the economy….and still there’s clowns who wish to decry the assistance…go figure.
Excellent analogy Alwyn. Well the tourists use our roads for that taxi and clog it up. The diesel will go into our water systems. The current residents are expected to pay for that usage by a petrol tax and rates which if renting will increase the rents.
The hotel will probably be owned by a multination corporation that may or not be paying tax here (not even sure if OZ companies for example have to). The businesses get to deduct their rates, petrol and GST as an expense that ordinary people are unable to do.
Increasingly the hotels employ people at close to the minimum wages and often under the living wages therefore they are either sponsoring someone to work here from overseas or the NZ taxpayer will have to subsidise their wages with AS and WFF and community services card.
They will use NZ water, NZ waste water, NZ sewerage, NZ infrastructure. Sadly the way the Auckland council runs their businesses, they expect the rate payers to ‘chip in’ to this tourist process and the ratepayer costs keep rising and pollution keeps increasing as the numbers keep arriving.
The tourists are likely to eat out where the premise and business are both overseas owned and increasingly our restaurants are also poor quality and the staff are new migrants of under 10 years in the country, who have very little idea of the style of food or service, because there is not much emphasis on quality or training anymore in NZ. This is very apparent in Auckland where eating out now is very hit and miss and you will pay a fortune for a very average meal of often horrible quality.
So I think your example is perfect of why the government should be collecting a tax from overseas tourists and I think the current climate of bad quality in that sector wherever you go now, is going to have a horrible toll on that tourist industry.
If you only have 3 days in NZ and get horrible food, horrible congestion and horrible service and probably are unlikely to encounter a resident to talk to who was born in NZ, then what sort of NZ experience is that?
Of course if your visit to NZ is just to buy a house, land or business then I guess you don’t care.
There is a great difference between a dynamic multicultural city and one that has tired exploited people from other countries working there cheaply. I think in NZ, we are going towards the latter, because the tourism and hospitality industry has been allowed to cost cut to an extent that will eventually end the tourist industry as we know it.
Lets face it, we have human trafficking in NZ to keep our low wage industry going because many industries and businesses do not want to have to employ people at living wage rates or even the minimum wages.
Every time there is a ‘block’ recruit of low wage workers chances are – this is what is happening and NZ immigration is completely compliant in the process and supporting the people traffickers. The use of slavery and modern day overseers aka ‘foremen running gangs of cheap workers’ on construction sites and in the horticultural and fishing sector is alive and well.
It’s already happening with the fake degrees where students are lured in after paying big bucks while finding out their degree is useless and they are expected to then pay more money to pay for the ‘residency’ job and then work for next to nothing. There should be much great checks by both the immigration and the NZ course provider that the students understand that residency is not coming with the crappy course they are recruited for and spend a lot of money coming to NZ.
Even if they are found out, the employers/courses seem to get a tiny fine and it’s business as usual. They only reason they are going after this alleged trafficker is that he is Fijian and so politically safer than going after Chinese, Indian or Korean traffickers and employers willing to capitalise on the exploitation.
Time to clean up our act NZ, like with prostitution, you don’t prosecute the prostitutes you go after the clients and so in my view there should be heavy penalties aka Jail, $100,000 fine and being banned from running a business, to not only the subcontractor who runs the trafficked workers, but also the farms and businesses where they are caught working and the employment lawyers and middle men doing the paperwork. There should also be warrants issued for the middle men in the country of origin so they can be stopped and prosecuted there.
Even the factories in China seem to have better protection for the above aka they are checked for employment conditions, than our laws that are encouraging employers to turn a blind eye or actively recruit slave workers who after paying accomodation and food are then left with nothing but debts, aka just like NZ workers.
Equal up the playing field for employment in NZ by banning slavery and human trafficking!
And of course banning slavery and human trafficking is also evening up the playing field for the honest employers in this country who are being undercut!
All of the above should also be forced to pay damages to their victims and not be allowed to just file for bankruptcy with zero penalties. If they file for bankruptcy then they should go to jail.
There should also be a tenancy tribunal type process for small disputes under $12,000 over employment which bans lawyers and will therefore deliver much swifter justice at much cheaper costs and take away the power from the big players.
The employment court is broken, delivering very little at great cost and over great periods. Everybody I know fears it, as it is a waste of time.
After a very short time a new swift employment tribunal for the cases under $12k, will change the workforce, take away little cases so the employment court can concentrate on the bigger cases and I am sure that not only will it change the workforce it will also remove a lot of the cash industry and the day to day exploitation of workers, causing employers to clean up their acts.
Good, and valid points @ saveNZ at 9.
Not only have Immigration been ‘compliant’ as you say, I’d say complicit.
They’re complicit because they target the victims (probably because they have found it easier in the past) rather than the perpetrators. When they do manage to charge a few of the exploiters/trafiickers/arseholes, there is very very little sanction and they’re left to be able to go another round.
I’ll give you one example in soon (because I happen to be familiar with it, and can’t understand why ‘authorities’ – what the politicians now call ‘their officials’ could’t have seen the bleeding bloody obvious sooner.)
Before I do though, the immigration policy and the administrative structure that has been set up to support it has been designed to allow all this to happen.
You mention the fake degree stuff where students are made false promises and utterly fleeced. Bear in mind that government agencies have supposed to have been monitoring all this and ensuring the integrity of the system
NZQA re educational standards. The Immigration Advisor’s Authority making sure consultants weren’t complete bullshit artists ( until recently, the Immig NZ/MoBIE website was STILL encouraging people to become immigration consultants/advisors, and there are now literally hundreds operating, and they give genuine immigration specialists a bad name. ) The Labour Inspectorate who have had to admit they’ve been close to useless – that is even though we had one manager assuring us we had sufficient numbers just prior to the election. AND even now, who seem have very weird priorities, such as investing in stab proof vests. It’s NO BLOODY WONDER those who are brave enough to want to report extreme levels of exploitation would rather steer clear.
These (NZQA/IAA/LI) are just 3 of the entities who should have been keeping an eye on it all, but for reasons such as being completely under-resourced for the job, or because of shear muppetry, or prejudice or the wrong focus have not just been complicit, but they have encouraged it.
You can probably recall the case of the students deported last year after being given haven in a church in Auckland. They were deported because Steven Joyce (who by the way, was a big part of the problem in designing the system) had said (to paraphrase “because they’d signed the application, they were responsible” and it was therefore all their own fault.) Nothing to do with having paid for so called ‘immigration experts’ and shoddy PTEs and labour companies). A classic case of penalising and blaming the victims whilst allowing the exploiters and perpetrators to carry on and target another round of suckers – because you know…. we have a 4 billion dollar education export industry to protect.
So here’s an example of something I’m fairly closely familiar with: https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/06/06/113305/kiwi-reveals-firms-treatment-of-migrant-workers
It’s not as bad as others I know of, but there goes 2 guys who’ve exploited quite a number of people. I can’t for the life of me, understand how this did not come to the attention of various entities under MoBIE sooner. Bear in mind, LI and INZ work together, AND they’re in charge of things like the companies register.
If the cable jointer working down the street on copper cabling (who had nothing to do with 3ML) knew about it months and months ago, how is it that it was beyond the capability of a juggernaut Ministry to know. But you know what – it’s actually been easier to just get the victims of immigrant exploitation out of the country as soon as possible (and enable another round to replace them on short term visas).
And let’s not for one moment think that it is corrupt immigrants who’ve managed to get PR alone. Rest assured there are paid up 2nd, 3rd, 4th generation NZ Citizens milking it for all they’re worth.
I’m assured that coalition government ministers know about it (if only because one confided in my sister at the Labour party’s little post-election getaway in Martinborough), although I’m not sure they know the extent of it all, and whether they’ve cottoned tothe extent of some of their ‘officials’ spinning.
Things are happening though – probably not as fast as we (and the exploited) would wish
I’m sniffing some PR spin when it comes to how the PM is dealing with her NZ First MP’s.
First up, we have Winston Peters, deputy PM and acting PM shortly, suing the government. When asked about how appropriate or otherwise this is, the Prime Minister’s response was that he was doing it in a personal capacity.
“The man of many hats is back,” Megan Woods proclaimed in 2016.
The Labour MP wasn’t reciting a Dr Seuss book, but excoriating John Key for using the question of ministerial responsibility to dodge questions about his connection to foreign trusts.
Key’s choice of different “hats” during his time in power – prime minister, Helensville MP, husband putting out the cat – was a subject of frequent irritation for Opposition politicians seeking to hold him to account.
Heres the thing though, for 9 years the posters on here gleefully pointed out every real and imagined error the National made all in the guise of holding the government to account
Those posters set the standard of behaviour and Ardern then doubled down on the standards she expected so now the only thing the opposition has is the ability to point out whenever the government puts a foot wrong and this government is doing so much wrong
Yet not a peep from the posters on here when the government displays the same, and worse, behaviour the last government did
I don’t expect this govt no to make mistakes and I don’t expect them to not do anything that doesn’t fall in with my values and their professed values e.g the Eugenie Sage bottled water thing. I understand they may be in positions where they need to compromise.
I do look at the big picture and what they are trying to achieve. Under Labour its improving minimum wage, not building mega prisons, fixing the Middlemore mess and properly funding infrastructure and attempting to solve the housing crisis (and actually naming it as a crisis that needs solving).
From my point of view that have been working very hard from day one to address these issues (and many more) that are important to me. Mostly National either did nothing about the problems eg Middlemore or had a hand in creating them.
From that point of view, I am very happy with the Coalition and I am forgiving of mistakes (up to a point). After all we all make them.
Re the list of labour incompetents…………Well Nationals are:
N Smith,
G Brownlee
H Parata
Anne Tolley
Jamie Lee Ross
The new guy in Northcote (if the Wilson interview is anything to go by
J Coleman
P Bennett ……………………………………………..etc etc
Interesting pr. What did national raise minimum wage by? Notice all govt employees to get a living wage…..
I do think arrogance and incompetence are something else. I have to say plenty of that in National, possibly labour.
But it’s what hey achieve that matters most. An organisation can have bits of incompetence but still get good outcomes……I am looking at the outcomes btw think it is ridiculous to judge col success on the housing crisis yet. It took some years to develop under national. You don’t turn that around in 8 months.
And I do blame Nat for the housing crisis. Owned a house in am that I rented between 2004 2014 cause I moved out of Auckland for work. The first four years mostly got tennants ok but around 2006 had to drop the rent cause I couldn’t get a tenant. After 2008 whole thing became crazy
Shes easily as good as John Key was at manipulating the media, you know the whole transparent government thing then putting Curran in charge
Shes as good as Key was at saying a lot, and sounding authoritative, without saying anything at all, relentlessly positive thing and don’t have to lie to be in politics
Shes also as good as Key at mangling the language but still sounding like “one of us”
Shes a very good communicator and a very good politician
Shes not the leader John Key was though, everyone knew John Key was the boss however she may grow to equal or even surpass John in that are as well though I doubt it
(No there’s no damning with faint praise going on)
I’m not disagreeing with you but i was more referring to the age and experience difference in that John Key is older and has held more leadership positions so its only natural that Key is the more experienced/better leader
Jacinda may well become as good (effective) leader as John in the future but at the moment she isn’t
Again , subjective. The leadership styles are merely different.
Also , Adern has held leadership positions at a very young age when overseas. While Key spent much of time as a younger man literally working for the ‘ Man’.
Recall Key working in with Andrew Kreiger to pull off one of the biggest Forex Heists in history against the NZ economy.
And that’s not leadership , – that’s being a boy taking orders.
And doesn’t particularly show any sense of operating in his country of births best interests, … does it.
“Also , Adern has held leadership positions at a very young age when overseas.”
– like what exactly?
“While Key spent much of time as a younger man literally working for the ‘ Man’.”
– Wow, thats wow. Like did Key ever become “the man” or just work for “the man”, who is “the man” anyway, is there a female counterpart like “the woman”?
Hang on I party voted for National which means that John Key did work for me and since John Key worked for “the man” that must mean I am “the man”
President of the International Union of Socialist Youth.
So , one involved in the financial sector as a junior at first , the other in the political area as a leader. So it pretty much pans out . And we are back to square one. Different leadership styles.
“Shes not the leader John Key was though, everyone knew John Key was the boss”
That kinda paints you as a unreconstructed authoritarian there, Pucky.
Leaders don’t have to be “the boss”; there are more elegant ways to lead. In many ways, your thinking seems pre-Arthurian where Might was regarded as Right. We’ve come a long way since then, Pucky. Well, some of us have 🙂
You cant have dodgy characters in official govt position’s in dept’s and elected officials carrying on and leaking private financial details to the public. That’s an illegal breach of privacy and breach of protocol for a start.
Its also political bias from govt dept heads working in collusion to smear a political figure deemed as opposed to their political masters. When they should by job description be impartial and simply executors of the incumbent govts policy’s.
And the fact no one had seemed to have the gonads to own up shows they knew what they were doing was wrong.
Hey I agree, send it to the courts to decide and see what happens and thats all good but to suggest the acting PM is doing it in a personal capacity and announcing it while he takes the reigns is a couple steps to far
… ” to suggest the acting PM is doing it in a personal capacity and announcing it while he takes the reigns is a couple steps to far ” …
Not at all.
That’s a matter of personal opinion and interpretation. And as for it being in a personal capacity well its correct on at least one count…
As it was it was directed solely at Peters ,- not his party.
The fact that no one – after all this time elapsing ,- has come forward and admitted it is also indicative of knowledge of wrongdoing . W e are dealing with dept’s that know the law about public disclosures and what is illegal.
And we are also dealing with elected officials who know those laws. One of which , – has a past track record of releasing personal details to the public on at least two occasions against those least able to defend themselves – beneficiaries.
This event occurred just prior to a general election ,- was that a couple of steps too far to try and smear a leader of a political party that was deemed a threat , – until the incumbent govt realized they might need them to form a govt ???
I would say it is indeed very ‘personal’.
And political, – on the defendants side.
Which begs the question : do we really want future politics to be conducted in this manner with this sort of Dirty Politicking ??? Is this what we are paying elected officials and heads of govt depts to act like?
So what better time as Peters becomes Prime Minister to make an example of this sort of stonewalling of democracy by using underhanded ( and illegal ) means ?
If anything I would say Winston Peters is doing the country a big favour by putting the boot squarely on the neck of these sorts of activity’s. And highlighting this sort of skulduggery when hes Prime Minister is in fact, perfect timing.
Liar.
Richard Prebble had, I think, the first definition.
I’m sure that Puckish Rogue would never be so disrespectful as to use it about the stars of stage, screen and vaudeville who rule us.
I personally can’t think of a better definition than Richard’s but perhaps that is simply my problem in trying to move away from its accuracy.
Pucky is trying not to disillusion you I would say, Sacha. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11935125
I get tribalism, I get that people are happy “their side” won, I understand the vitriol against National I really do (I did read the posts after all) but, six months in, are the posters on the left here happy with how the present government is performing, are they performing up to the standard you expect or were led to believe they’d act
Personally, Pucky, I’m delighted with the COL (in preference to the CON). I couldn’t know what they could do, given the state of the nation at takeover, or how the Opposition (CON) might behave, or how the MSM might conduct itself, nor how the coalition partners would gel (sorry Simon), so given those factors, yes, I reckon the Jacinda-led Government is doing very well indeed and I’m very happy with their direction, pace and approach. There are glitches (the CON’s were hidden from us by a slippery leader and a team of deceitful strategists and assorted flunkies) so I’m not at all rattled by those things you are attempting to wave in front of us every day.
K?
And the fact that you are commenting on and assuming tanker-loads in comparing a 6 month old govt against another ( CON ) that was in power for 9 years !
There’s a very very long bow in attempting to do that.
Not really, some of the Labour ministers seem to be as arrogant as the National ministers were except that Labours only been in power for six months as opposed to Nationals arrogance being born from terms in power
OK , but it does seem your original statement was more to do with ‘performance’ than ‘arrogance’.
And if ‘arrogance’ is an allusion to say Phil Twyfords retorts back to Judith Collins on housing , for example ,… when a govt is only 6 months in and attempting to fix the negligence of a former govt that was in for 9 long years and that did nothing…
I would say even that is a little premature to accuse them of being ‘arrogant’… but point taken … there is arrogance on all sides of the political spectrum.
Well In regards to performance I could mention Claire Curren or Jenny Marcroft or David Clarks interesting strategy or Kelvin Nash being well Kelvin Nash
“there is arrogance on all sides of the political spectrum.”
On this I think we, and everyone here, can all agree that is the case so its nice we can reach consensus on somethings 🙂
Please Puckish Rogue. How good a lunch, and how many glasses of wine, did you have?
It is Clare Curran, not Claire Curren
It is Kelvin Davis, not Kelvin Nash.
Alternatively it is Stuart Nash, not Kelvin Nash
They may be pretty useless but they deserve to be given their proper names.
On 6 October 2009, Field was jailed for six years on corruption charges, with the sentencing judge saying his offending threatened the foundation of democracy and justice.
He’s more the exception than the rule only in getting prosecuted. Given more vigorous pursuit of MP crime the majority of the previous government would be incarcerated. It’s one of the things a halfway decent government would prioritize.
They’re a very corrupt lot, the present day Gnats – it is not supposed to be fear of prosecution that keeps an MP straight, but a genuine concern for the country they are paid and sworn to represent.
Minor shit. Not too sure about the first one, but Gnat sources whining impropriety are going to meet skepticism until some of their larger rorts are dealt with.
Clark is my electorate MP and has long since destroyed any vestiges of credibility the party aegis might have lent him had he not been such a turd. That said, a politicized board member is nothing to boast of either – and Clark’s response may have been merely to circumvent possible legal action around dismissal.
The analogy you’re looking for is older than Star Chamber of course.
The hot and cold running corruption that typifies present day National is viewed by them as seigneurage – the price we pay for the distinctly dubious pleasure of their presence.
Which is no pleasure at all, and the costs are better recovered and spent appropriately, if only to keep useless oiks like Brownlee from misappropriating the money that was supposed to keep roofs over peoples’ heads.
I do not think Stuart Munro literally means the majority but rather figuratively , in as much as if the inner core have been involved in spurious activity’s , it behooves the wider party to do something about it. They did not.
Putting aside some of the serious allegations mentioned in Dirty Politics , there seems to be a very real reticence to charge and prosecute those in govt in this country. Whats needed is an equivalent to the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission in this country.
We have Bill English shielding Todd Barclay from Police inquiry’s , we have John Key and common assault , signing off on a possible military operation that led to possible war crimes, then there was the tax haven fiasco and the Panama Papers , then we have Judith Collins and conflicts of interest to name a few…
And over 9 years they racked up a pretty impressive list that , although covered in layers of deflections and plausible deniability, had their origins from somewhere. And that’s circumstantial evidence that is never proven because there seems to be a protective hedge around those who work in the interests of the moneyed people that is effective in preventing justice from taking its natural course.
And its at this point they cease from being elected officials to being in a derogatory sense , mere ‘politicians’.
There’s a good deal of strong feeling around the issue of corrupt National Party MPs, isn’t there! Much of that seems to stem from the frustration resulting from the techniques and strategies that appeared to shield those Ministers from natural justice. Much of the positive political “atmosphere” around the country now comes, not from the expected baby, but from the relief felt from National Party MPs being in Opposition and less able to behave as it was believed they did.
Hey Pucky- and pretty sure I’m speaking speaking for most beneficiaries, the living in total and constant fear of the State vanished the moment Peters announced his decision. There were a lot of people who had exit plans ready had the other crowd got back in, not kidding, it was that bad.
It’s still not great for us and I have no confidence at all in Sepaloni and there’s actions she could’ve taken immediately but hasn’t because she has a track record of hating beneficiaries, but I’m not living in constant fear, at least not for the next 2 years.
Kay, I understand what you’re saying here. I have a family member who is a sickness beneficiary. I don’t think many people realise how vindictive and nasty MSD became from around 2011 onwards. I do think things will improve over the next year or two.
As hard as it is to do, everyone needs to hope things will improve and stay strong for others who need our support
So the taxpayer will find a new $10 million high speed gondola for the Whakapapa Skifield. Another subsidy for private businesses. Ordinary wage earners foot the bill.
I see burger king are up to their usual BS in industrial relations in Christchurch.
Trespassing union organisers, so childish.
Here their 0800 number, call them and tell them to grow up. Remember all conversations are recorded. So be polite. This is the name of all the company directors you should mention who need to lift their game.
I’d say that if your personal financial affairs turned up being sensationalised, and incorrectly at that, in the media you’d be in your lawyer’s office pretty smartly seeking redress.
The unfortunate aspect of this sorry affair is that those responsible will hide behind executive privilege and pass the responsibility for their actions onto the taxpayer. Just like the past government’s ministers are doing with the meth testing debacle.
Might be time for politicians to be personally responsible for their actions.
Good morning Q$A ECO MAORI been done over by the justice system and is still been done over by this justice system how can they still find – – – reasons to carry on this farce. Another reason I don’t trust petri dish meat is that we don’t no what’s in it and big businesses will take total control of this new industry we can still farm traditions style and environment friendly ways.
Renewable energy is the way to go our new coalition government will change our energy supply to more renewables all in good time Ka pai Corin Ka kite ano
trump trade war is just the a way for him to portray that he is a strong person.
His trade war will effect the poor people the most as inflation spikes.
Eco Maori music for the minute shonky cause the houseing crisis so his 1 million dollar house will sell for 4.
His national party supporters would have made heaps $$$$$$. Who cares about those mostly brown broken people under the bridge that’s their mind set link below. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=L3wKzyIN1yk
P.S what over reason is there for denieing that there is a houseing crisis when that crisis is fulling your hip pocket with $$$$$$$
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The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The 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. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Asia Pacific Report From France to Australia, university pro-Palestine protests in the United States have now spread to several countries with students pitching on-campus camps. And students at Columbia and other US universities remain defiant as campuses have witnessed the biggest protests since the anti-Vietnam war and anti-apartheid eras in ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)New Zealand Government’s Fast Track legislation. Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government ...
Tara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...
Scout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...
Megan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
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)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, 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 ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of something you use breaking and being difficult or expensive to fix. Proposed legislation could change that. It’s been raining on and off all Sunday afternoon but people are lining up outside a building in a corner of Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, Auckland. In ...
What does a forever relationship look like when you don’t believe in marriage? And how do you celebrate it? This essay is part of our Sunday Essay series, made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.I’m going to do it, right now. I’m going to say ...
It’s not that long ago Eliza McCartney was seriously wondering if the Paris Olympics would be her pole vaulting swansong. After years of being hounded by injury after injury, the Rio Olympics bronze medallist was still confident she would compete at her second Olympics in Paris in July, unless something ...
FICTION 1 Take Two by Danielle Hawkins (Allen & Unwin, $36.99) There’s commercial fiction, like this book, and then there’s quality fiction, quality writers, quality literature; the forthcoming Auckland Writers Festival is full of quality, and ReadingRoom has two tickets to give away to the following events: Paul Lynch (Dublin ...
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You can’t have missed the Gallipoli story as the movies, documentaries, essays and books capture what it was like for New Zealand troops in their eight-month campaign on the Peninsula. But this Anzac Day the Auckland War Memorial Museum has published a book that sheds light on a little-known aspect of the ...
The Prime Minister has committed to resuming direct flights to Thailand. But it’s not a promise he will be able to deliver on anytime soon. The post Prime Minister jumps the gun in Thailand appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In the free-for-all between the Australian government and Big Tech boss Elon Musk this week, the government had to be on a winner. Most people would have little sympathy with Musk’s vociferous opposition to ...
Baby coming this weekend?
There is nothing that comes close to a new born baby. I think they are intelligent and so entertaining.
And time intensive.
And constantly present, in the now.
That is why they light up a room.
Truly universal beings, about to be impacted by the development of an ego.
Ha! Yes, discovering our sense of self starts with amazement at how our fingers wiggle.
It really starts to go downhill when the concept of ‘mine’ occurs.
So are puppies.
A baby is nice
There’s comfort in the fact that some of us, arguably those most desperate for a change of government in 2017, have been constrained in our celebrations over the Coalition.
I guess wherever one finds politicians one can expect a certain percentage of rampant egomaniacs. A pity the loudest limelighters are in the same minor party.
Why oh why can’t they just say their piece then STFU? But no, they have to bang on and on and call in the reinforcements and give the single digit salute to their political leader from the major Coalition party.
In the meantime…the other minor party in the Coalition seems more than content to set aside their basic policies and confirm and cooperate when I suspect a large percentage of the population would be supportive of a revolt over increased water bottling.
Politics.
SSDD
How cynical have I become that I recognise your acronym within seconds of encountering it.
(same smiles different dials)
Have we all lost the ability to work with one another? The left and right should be keeping each other honest, actually supporting each others graduation toward maturity in this regard. This childish bickering 24/7 and gleeful propagation of sound bites where politicians ‘own’ each other…
MSM, amateur media (you, me, we), all doing it. Divide divide divide.
As for Greens having to be seen to be different – just why? Be seen to be doing things – not wearing a different shirt. Children. This ‘dealing with reality’ is a good look. It is apt to note the system is broken from within and learn as you go just what is broken where and how we might find better alternatives. In the meantime the world turns.
Western society and business is (was) based on basic trust. Seems we were sadly mistaken in giving business the rope in order to hang us all. But I prefer to have some sense of trust in the decency of people. When the shit hits the fan real people are all over it. It’s just this political/business class who seem incapable of rejoining society preferring the divide and pillage technique. The fact they pull the strings is the real reason everything’s seemingly turned to shit.
It’s a fine mess. I got a Laurel and Hardy framed picture yesterday. Sitting in one of their atypically destroyed hotel rooms “Another Fine Mess”.
Yes, yes it is.
She means same shit different day, surely
That’s what we like to tell ourselves despite all the evidence that it’s actually based upon a few people ripping everyone else off. Another example from the Western Leader:
Basically, they’re putting a picture of the Southern Alps on the merchandise and thus implying that it comes from that area when it isn’t.
Basically, the normal deception that business has been engaging in since forever.
Farmers: “Fuck you I won’t do what you tell me.”
Also farmers: “Why are you being so mean?!”
Strange the lack of personal responsibility in the rural conservative vote considering what they bang on about half the time.
Lloyd Downing was the organiser of that rally under the Mega Cow in Morrinsville in September. Pops up again in that RNZ interview.
From you view of the “farmers” attitude
RATM has the same attitude BUT from the opposite perspective
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWXazVhlyxQ
The kids are just discovering it 😈
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3MaBTVmcsE
Also seen on Tom Morello’s Twitter feed.
My first impression “fucken farmers”
What ever happened to farmers being salt of the earth community minded? The turkey from Cheviot was whingeing that a govt dept didn’t break the privacy act to tell him about his neighbors possible (later proved positive) infection. Why didn’t his neighbor call him directly (and others around him) to advise there was some concern and to take appropriate precautions???
Bad enough the previous government let this pot boil over, now the farmers are refusing to tell where the off button is!
Maybe those that refuse to co-operate should lose the support of the community/country and have compensation declined if found to have lied/withheld evidence, especially those that have purchased animals from the ground zero farm and will not contact MPI of the fact.
This behavior is can only increase the cost of eradication or end with the disease becoming entrenched, with a large part of the cost being foist upon the public purse.
Can’t say that I’m surprised. All farmers in this country seem to be greedy, ignorant schmucks who think far too much of themselves.
When Fonterra exists due to specific legislation then it is actually everyone’s business. We need to be sure that the legislation is working and it obviously isn’t and thus needs changing. Repealing it and thus eliminating Fonterra may be the best option.
Ae. Apparently representatives of an elected government have no right to comment on how companies or ‘bizzniss’ should operate.
Rules and regulations must be applied selectively.
Bad enough those elected representatives already have an out when it suits (i.e. “I can’t comment on operational matter” – though what the definition of ‘operational’ is can be as fluid as they like)
NZH… “Health Minister David Clark has tried to gag public servants, appearing to offer them jobs in return for their silence, National’s MP for Botany Jami-Lee Ross said”……. As soon as I read Jamie Lee Ross, I realized I was suckered by the headline.
Perhaps listen to the voicemail. He most certainly sounds like that was exactly what he was doing.
Eeeeeeek i find myself agreeing with james here. That voice message was waaay out of line IMHO
Have we heard the entire message yet? Or just the sections that suit those who released it.
Just the corrupt bit
Thats dissapointing sacha! You rush to comment before you listen to the evidence, perhaps you confuse opinion with fact. The message was complete including voicemail head and tail prompts.
Please link to a story including the full voicemail so we can all hear it. The version of one clip on Newshub was shorter than the same section on RNZ (allowing a quite different impression) but neither story included the full message.
Damn you sacha you have exposed my guilty secret! Yes i have lapsed and have been visiting the herald again from time to time
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12070966
And here:
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/not-helpful-minister-accused-of-gagging-public-servants/.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12070966
Ok so trying to keep my own personal opinions it is, at first viewing, not a good look so it’ll be interesting to see how Winston and the media play this but maybe there’ll be more information that can shed some light on this
There are only two options that I think are possible.
The most likely one is that Winston will simply announce something like
“Listen sunshine. Nothing to see here. Time to move on”. The media will then obey him. I didn’t hear a single word on Morning Report about the matter.
The other would be something that will only occur in the unlikely event that Winston wanted Minister of Health for one of his own MPs. In that case Clark will be gone by lunchtime.
I’d put my money on the first option.
Would be interesting to see what the reaction would be if it was a National minister instead
The Guillotine would already have been installed in the forecourt of Parliament.
The tumbril would be moving toward it with the victim in the back.
All the female Labour and Green MPs would be sitting there with their knitting needles, (and their teeth), clacking.
David Clark, putting on his most stony Presbyterian glare would be condemning the prisoner.
The execution would be carried out at midday.
Amazing that a man of the cloth like David could be guilty of such mortal sins isn’t it? I see why he was defrocked.
Exactly, there’d be calls for resignations at the very least however while I think it sounds extremely dodgy I’m still wanting to not rush to judgement just yet
But and its a very big but I think its more proof, if proof was needed, just how unprepared the COL is for being in charge
My biggest hope is that the COL don’t do too much permanent damage before they’re replaced
Just to indicate what waffle you two are writing, I distinctly recall a nice, easy interview of Lee Ross by Guyon E on RNZ between 8.30 and 9.00am.
But none so deaf as those who do not wish to hear, huh?
Isn’t anyone from the left just the slightest bit concerned about just how incompetent some of the COLs ministers appear to be
It seems like everyone in the COL is in a race to see how much incompetence the NZ public will endure…as an example no ones mentioned Clare Curren for days because of so many new entrants
Hell at this point I’d agree to Helen Clark and Michael Cullen returning to take over
Clare Curren
Phil Twyford
Andrew Little
Megan Woods
Chris Hipkins
Kelvin Davis
David Clark
Stuart Nash
Thats a lot of Labour ministers that recently have been made to look arrogant, incompetent or both…and I’ve probably missed some
Competent members in opposition. Zero.Nil.Nada.one minus one.
“RNZ between 8.30 and 9.00am”.
It must be nice to have that much time free.
I listened from 6:00am until about 8:20am.
Then I had to start work. I hate having to have to work out our Income tax but the IRD insist on it. I wish I was like you and had time enough to be able to listen to the radio as late as 9:00 am.
From 8.38am: http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018649420/national-claims-health-minister-silencing-staff-on-middlemore
how bizarre the actual voicemail is 2.11 long, and self explanatory
RNZ takes 4.16 to play a excerpt and then obfuscate the meaning.
?
Organise your time better wally, or avail yourself of the listen again facility.
I presume, from the indentation numbering you are trying to address me.
If so can I refer you to the conversation between Vivien and Edward Lewis in the film Pretty Woman?
“Can I call you Eddy?”
“Not if you expect me to answer”
You might also do well to spell your name correctly.
Your character requires you to spell it “Gobby”.
That is used in phrases like “You are a gobby Glaswegian”
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/gobby
Alternatively you would also fit the Australian definition.
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Gobby
No doubt it amuses you, of course. What is that phrase?
“Small things amuse small minds”.
Why would Clark be trying to gag DHB officials from talking about Nationals mess, not in his best interest.
Can you be a man of the cloth and defrocked wally? One or t’other surely.
I hope you don’t often find yourself struggling to recall common phrases wally.
He certainly does seem to be teetering on the brink of pricksmithery.
I wondered where todays “Hate In” was going to be.
It’s the usual.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A0bhAsAyGY&ab_channel=JohnOgbourne
I must say I’m disappointed in NZF. Why did they have to start their shenanigans right before Jacinda goes on maternity leave? Could it not have waited six weeks. If I were Jacinda I wouldn’t be relaxing at all.Not with the opposing snake pit ready to strike at everything that will give them positive paragraphs from the pandering press. Even the minor Hosking, Hawkesby is chewing on the end of her pen and has entered the fray. Not good.
I am about to see how the PMs maternity leave is going to be handled by every political party.
The PM could turn up with a hungry, tired, screaming baby at queston time and hand the baby to Mallard. Now that would be something.
Or Winston could have wonderful fun chewing up nat party idiots and making them look like the ignorant shills they are
Winston is a fun guy. I’d like to see him takedown Judith.
I wonder if he is going to get a new suit for the occasion or a tie with a message on it…
Winston’s in charge.
Ffloyd
This is normal NZF behaviour.
The’re only interested in themselves and much of what we’ve seen over this last week is designed to re energise the NZF support base.
The Mystery Creek Field Days gave Jones a perfect platform to advance this cause by attacking Fonterra. The fact it coincides with Ardern’s maternity leave is of no concern to NZF. The fact that she is perceived as weak and having little or no influence over NZF cabinet ministers is also of no concern to NZF.
In the end NZF are not team players.
In the end they may seriously undermine Ardern as leader of the coalition as well as the coalition itself.
But, from NZF’s point of view, no matter, so long as it increases their support base.
If you have access to the DomPost have a look at the Sharon Murdoch cartoon this morning. I think it displays accurately how Ardern will be feeling.
I can’t find it online so I can’t provide a link I’m afraid.
I’m sure she is elated, a little nervous about her first birth and over the moon it’s happening.
I’m sure you are right. The cartoon is funny though.
A stupid tourist tax has been announced by the government today. A complicated process to pay the $30 before you come to NZ; talk about getting up peoples noses.
This is in the week where a Price Waterhouse report has shown that the government already benefits by $2.5 billion annually from tourism. This means if the new tax puts 2% of people off coming here it will raise no income at all.
The tourism guy on RNZ said this week that the government should simply reallocate some of the massive cash it already receives from tourism rather than charge a new tax.
How many visitors would really avoid coming to NZ over a $30 fee when their average spend here is about $3,000 per trip (not including the costs of getting here)?
It isn’t just foreigners coming here. It will probably be mirrored for New Zealand citizens going through other countries.
For example
Traditionally the US will charge travellers from other countries going there anything that that country charges US citizens.
I can remember when a New Zealand citizen got a free US visa while Australians were charged quite a high fee for their visa. That was because the US citizens had to pay to get an Australian visa but New Zealand didn’t charge them anything. Drove my Australian friends nuts.
If that hasn’t changed New Zealand citizens going through Los Angeles to London will probably have to pay the same amount to US authorities just to pass through the Airport at LA.
Poor old Air NZ. People will take SIA or Emirates and fly to Europe via Singapore or Dubai.
NZ citizens pay US$14.00 for the two year ESTA as part of the visa waiver program – same as Aussie and other eligible nations. My wife used her Kiwi passport to enter the US last month and will do so again next month. She’s good to go until March 2019.
Sounds about right.
While I was in Australia they dropped the ridiculous fee that were charging US citizens for an Australian visa. A couple of months later the USA did the same for Ockers. The price for Australian and New Zealand citizens then became the same.
You will note that I said the IF New Zealand started charging the extra fee for a Visa AND the US still used the old “charge others as they charge us” system we could expect the fee for a US Visa to rise.
I never said it applied now or would apply before we cranked up the fee did I?
I haven’t entered the US through LA since before 2001. I refuse to put up with the way I am told they treat visitors there. Europe via the East for me.
So happynz………… are you saying alwyn is full of shit??
Well I never…………..
It already is.
Tourist taxes aren’t a new thing and the reality is that we’re having to subsidise tourist operators in this country in many ways. Aren’t capitalists all about not having subsidies?
@Bearded Git. Great news, good on the government.
Should be much higher plus an extra $30 if they arrive in Auckland and are expected to use the train/tram that has not been built yet and the current ratepayers are expected to finance.
As for PWC, 1 million for their report on the stadium that the ratepayers and councillors are not allowed to read in it’s entirety, but Phil Goff.
Who trusts the trougher’s with fees like those!
Reminds me of firms like Anderson Consulting, they get out of touch and then, poof one day they are gone. Although apparently Anderson Consulting are back! Under a new name of course.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/11069713/Arthur-Andersen-returns-12-years-after-Enron-scandal.html
I think Mr Goff should be able to keep the report to himself and the $936,000 invoice re-directed to his residence for his personal attention.
I would of been happy to prepare a report and arrive at the same conclusion as PWC for much less money
Essentially: ‘We could expand Eden Park, do something massive on the Albany stadium site, free range at 1 of three outer suburban sites or build something spectacular downtown.’
In the eyes of Aucklanders, anything other than downtown with bars and restaurants overlooking the Hauraki Gulf will be 2nd best. A stadium built anywhere other than there will live forever beneath the shadow of ‘Could of had a City of Sails view.’ So there are no options. Find the money.’
“That’ll be $500,000 thanks.”
Isn’t the view in a stadium mostly facing inwards davy? That’s the whole goddam raison d’etre isn’t it?
A visit to a stadium is an experience beyond the game or concert. I think Auckland should play her ace card. She needs the dosh. Watching the sun set over the Hauraki Gulf while meeting friends or queuing to get to your seat would be a special experience, more than a footy game.
I think an architect would love a brief that instructs them to make the most of primary views inside and also those outside the stadium.
Every toilet in every stadium in the world is buried beneath the seating. Walking into a men’s room to see a big pane of glass at the end and a mega view of the harbour would prompt me to think ‘this place is special.’
Goff hasn’t shared his report with me. I’m speculating, I think Aucklanders might of paid a million dollars to hear: ‘It needs to be downtown, anything else is a compromise’.
A downtown location will be good for commerce.
Elsewhere, I’d drive there, bitch about the lack of parking, not drink much and drive home after the game.
Downtown, bugger the parking thing. I’d use public transport, meet for drinks and somewhere to eat before the game/concert and could be talked into a dodgy street vendor kebab and a visit to the casino post game.
“Isn’t the view in a stadium mostly facing inwards davy? That’s the whole goddam raison d’etre isn’t it?”
Well Gabby, we’re not really sure about that. As a sub-contracting consultant to David Mac, my team of experts (me and my Schnauzer) will put considerable effort into finding that information and presenting it in a colourful graph form…………… for another $200k, a steal even!!
Look how much money we could have saved the Auckland rate payer!!!!!
I wonder if Leaky McLeakerson was the fine fellow on morning report yesterday .
“The tourism guy on RNZ said this week that the government should simply reallocate some of the massive cash it already receives from tourism rather than charge a new tax.”
So hes advocating for an increase in company tax then ….sounds fair enough.
No he’s not-he is simply asking for the government to reallocate the taxes it already receives from tourism.
and theres the problem….if you accept that additional funds are required then it has to come from somewhere….that precludes EXISTING revenue (unless you advocate reducing funding to something else)….so do you cross subsidise one sector by general taxation or do you have a targeted tax/levy?…which is fairer?….which is politically rational?….which impacts economic activity the least?
The same old BS arguments from vested interests….its all good until it impacts me
The tourism industry is NOT being subsidised at all. It is paying its way magnificently but noisy ill-informed idiots are out there in the media saying the opposite.
if it was paying its way there would be sufficient revenue in the current tax take to fund the required…..obviously it isnt, hence the calls from the regional authorities for additional funding…unless you consider they are crying wolf?
The underfunding problem is caused by central government not allocating enough of the $2.5 billion it gets from tourism to the regions and local council’s being afraid to levy enough rates from powerful developers and other business interests that make squillions from tourism.
(I live under the Queenstown Lakes District Council junta and can attest to this.)
That explains the lack of pressure on ratepayers in low population high visitor areas I guess beardy. The magnificent paytheirownway tourism wealth creators howling for workers to come live in their unaffordable houses and work for peanuts.
Yes it is. By several million dollars per year per region.
Time to stop using ordinary Kiwis as money machines, our taxes should be spent on our own health and education not subsiding the multinational tourist industries.
Time, user pays, applies to everyone not just the powerless!
Clearly the 2.5 billion is not being distributed very evenly in NZ as we have rising poverty of both the poor and the working and the middle class!
If you can afford to travel, pay up!
Why should a businessman (or woman) who comes to Auckland for a couple of days have to pay a tourist levy? They will arrive, take a taxi to their hotel or office they are visiting, carry out their business activities for a couple of days and then go back to the airport and depart. They aren’t going to go anywhere near a tourist activity.
This is just another tax. Labour and the Greens have never seen a tax they didn’t love.
So much for pre-election promises.
Why…firstly its deductable as a business expense and it isnt applying to PI or Aussie travellers (CER is my guess though I think it should) so Id suggest anyone travelling from further afield is going to incorporate some leisure activity in their tax deductable trip even if here for a short period…certainly every business trip I can think of to any distant destination is treated thus.
In any case , if you accept additional funding is required (do you?) it must come from somewhere
Additionally this is external to the econmy
“certainly every business trip I can think of to any distant destination is treated thus”.
I wish my employer, in the days when I had such things, had been as generous. I generally had to back as soon as work was over. Mind you I wasn’t as hard done by as some people at one place I worked. There were people there who kept packed bags at home at all times. They also had foreign currency around. It was quite common for some of them to be told, on a Saturday perhaps, that they had to go to Singapore for 3 days and they had to get there on Sunday. They would go, travel back on Thursday and be in the office again on Friday.
Do we want some more money? Well yes, and I think we should follow what is the West Australian approach. It is, roughly, this. I am giving, from memory, the amounts charged for a car. They apply to everyone, visitor or State resident.
Payments are required to visit all National and State Parks. A single visit costs $12 for a car and its passengers. For $44 you can visit all the parks in the State for 28 days. For $88 you can visit all the parks in the State for a year. For $44 you can visit all the parks in a geographic region for a year. These are quite big regions. From memory it would be something like all the North Island up to a line across at the Manawatu Gorge. I do not guarantee that estimate. I always use the 28 day option for the whole state when I go there these days.
The last two fees are obviously of interest to people who live in WA. The first two are of interest to tourists. Everyone who uses the parks pays although the billing system does favour the locals.
Seems to work pretty well to me. The facilities are good and they are paid for by the people who use them.
Correction. The fees are $13, $46 and $92 for the first three. The last is $23 but is only available for the group of parks in the area where you reside. They must have changed since last year.
your business trip reminiscences would appear to apply to employees…the tax will be of no concern to them …nor will it be to their companies which pay it i suggest.
There are additional charges for various facilities as well (DOC huts e.g.) unfortunately that revenue will not assist the TAs in the main as it will be utilised within the businesses/organisations that have the ability to generate it.
The call has gone to central gov to assist in funding this so the gov has the options outlined in 8.1.1……..questions conveniently ignored.
What better way to raise additional funds than a levy from without the economy….and still there’s clowns who wish to decry the assistance…go figure.
Agreed Alwyn…this is a very dumb tax.
are there any taxes you dont consider dumb?
@BG So do you think Soimun will scrub this tax if he gets in?
Excellent analogy Alwyn. Well the tourists use our roads for that taxi and clog it up. The diesel will go into our water systems. The current residents are expected to pay for that usage by a petrol tax and rates which if renting will increase the rents.
The hotel will probably be owned by a multination corporation that may or not be paying tax here (not even sure if OZ companies for example have to). The businesses get to deduct their rates, petrol and GST as an expense that ordinary people are unable to do.
Increasingly the hotels employ people at close to the minimum wages and often under the living wages therefore they are either sponsoring someone to work here from overseas or the NZ taxpayer will have to subsidise their wages with AS and WFF and community services card.
They will use NZ water, NZ waste water, NZ sewerage, NZ infrastructure. Sadly the way the Auckland council runs their businesses, they expect the rate payers to ‘chip in’ to this tourist process and the ratepayer costs keep rising and pollution keeps increasing as the numbers keep arriving.
The tourists are likely to eat out where the premise and business are both overseas owned and increasingly our restaurants are also poor quality and the staff are new migrants of under 10 years in the country, who have very little idea of the style of food or service, because there is not much emphasis on quality or training anymore in NZ. This is very apparent in Auckland where eating out now is very hit and miss and you will pay a fortune for a very average meal of often horrible quality.
So I think your example is perfect of why the government should be collecting a tax from overseas tourists and I think the current climate of bad quality in that sector wherever you go now, is going to have a horrible toll on that tourist industry.
If you only have 3 days in NZ and get horrible food, horrible congestion and horrible service and probably are unlikely to encounter a resident to talk to who was born in NZ, then what sort of NZ experience is that?
Of course if your visit to NZ is just to buy a house, land or business then I guess you don’t care.
There is a great difference between a dynamic multicultural city and one that has tired exploited people from other countries working there cheaply. I think in NZ, we are going towards the latter, because the tourism and hospitality industry has been allowed to cost cut to an extent that will eventually end the tourist industry as we know it.
You mentioned three tourist activities wally.
@save NZ see my comment above.
Lets face it, we have human trafficking in NZ to keep our low wage industry going because many industries and businesses do not want to have to employ people at living wage rates or even the minimum wages.
Every time there is a ‘block’ recruit of low wage workers chances are – this is what is happening and NZ immigration is completely compliant in the process and supporting the people traffickers. The use of slavery and modern day overseers aka ‘foremen running gangs of cheap workers’ on construction sites and in the horticultural and fishing sector is alive and well.
New Zealand’s first human trafficking convictions
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2016/09/new-zealands-first-human-trafficking-conviction.html
Human trafficking in NZ likely thanks to Chinese immigrants – expert
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/06/human-trafficking-in-nz-likely-thanks-to-chinese-immigrants-expert.html
It’s already happening with the fake degrees where students are lured in after paying big bucks while finding out their degree is useless and they are expected to then pay more money to pay for the ‘residency’ job and then work for next to nothing. There should be much great checks by both the immigration and the NZ course provider that the students understand that residency is not coming with the crappy course they are recruited for and spend a lot of money coming to NZ.
Even if they are found out, the employers/courses seem to get a tiny fine and it’s business as usual. They only reason they are going after this alleged trafficker is that he is Fijian and so politically safer than going after Chinese, Indian or Korean traffickers and employers willing to capitalise on the exploitation.
Time to clean up our act NZ, like with prostitution, you don’t prosecute the prostitutes you go after the clients and so in my view there should be heavy penalties aka Jail, $100,000 fine and being banned from running a business, to not only the subcontractor who runs the trafficked workers, but also the farms and businesses where they are caught working and the employment lawyers and middle men doing the paperwork. There should also be warrants issued for the middle men in the country of origin so they can be stopped and prosecuted there.
Even the factories in China seem to have better protection for the above aka they are checked for employment conditions, than our laws that are encouraging employers to turn a blind eye or actively recruit slave workers who after paying accomodation and food are then left with nothing but debts, aka just like NZ workers.
Equal up the playing field for employment in NZ by banning slavery and human trafficking!
And of course banning slavery and human trafficking is also evening up the playing field for the honest employers in this country who are being undercut!
All of the above should also be forced to pay damages to their victims and not be allowed to just file for bankruptcy with zero penalties. If they file for bankruptcy then they should go to jail.
There should also be a tenancy tribunal type process for small disputes under $12,000 over employment which bans lawyers and will therefore deliver much swifter justice at much cheaper costs and take away the power from the big players.
The employment court is broken, delivering very little at great cost and over great periods. Everybody I know fears it, as it is a waste of time.
After a very short time a new swift employment tribunal for the cases under $12k, will change the workforce, take away little cases so the employment court can concentrate on the bigger cases and I am sure that not only will it change the workforce it will also remove a lot of the cash industry and the day to day exploitation of workers, causing employers to clean up their acts.
Good, and valid points @ saveNZ at 9.
Not only have Immigration been ‘compliant’ as you say, I’d say complicit.
They’re complicit because they target the victims (probably because they have found it easier in the past) rather than the perpetrators. When they do manage to charge a few of the exploiters/trafiickers/arseholes, there is very very little sanction and they’re left to be able to go another round.
I’ll give you one example in soon (because I happen to be familiar with it, and can’t understand why ‘authorities’ – what the politicians now call ‘their officials’ could’t have seen the bleeding bloody obvious sooner.)
Before I do though, the immigration policy and the administrative structure that has been set up to support it has been designed to allow all this to happen.
You mention the fake degree stuff where students are made false promises and utterly fleeced. Bear in mind that government agencies have supposed to have been monitoring all this and ensuring the integrity of the system
NZQA re educational standards. The Immigration Advisor’s Authority making sure consultants weren’t complete bullshit artists ( until recently, the Immig NZ/MoBIE website was STILL encouraging people to become immigration consultants/advisors, and there are now literally hundreds operating, and they give genuine immigration specialists a bad name. ) The Labour Inspectorate who have had to admit they’ve been close to useless – that is even though we had one manager assuring us we had sufficient numbers just prior to the election. AND even now, who seem have very weird priorities, such as investing in stab proof vests. It’s NO BLOODY WONDER those who are brave enough to want to report extreme levels of exploitation would rather steer clear.
These (NZQA/IAA/LI) are just 3 of the entities who should have been keeping an eye on it all, but for reasons such as being completely under-resourced for the job, or because of shear muppetry, or prejudice or the wrong focus have not just been complicit, but they have encouraged it.
You can probably recall the case of the students deported last year after being given haven in a church in Auckland. They were deported because Steven Joyce (who by the way, was a big part of the problem in designing the system) had said (to paraphrase “because they’d signed the application, they were responsible” and it was therefore all their own fault.) Nothing to do with having paid for so called ‘immigration experts’ and shoddy PTEs and labour companies). A classic case of penalising and blaming the victims whilst allowing the exploiters and perpetrators to carry on and target another round of suckers – because you know…. we have a 4 billion dollar education export industry to protect.
So here’s an example of something I’m fairly closely familiar with:
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/06/06/113305/kiwi-reveals-firms-treatment-of-migrant-workers
It’s not as bad as others I know of, but there goes 2 guys who’ve exploited quite a number of people. I can’t for the life of me, understand how this did not come to the attention of various entities under MoBIE sooner. Bear in mind, LI and INZ work together, AND they’re in charge of things like the companies register.
If the cable jointer working down the street on copper cabling (who had nothing to do with 3ML) knew about it months and months ago, how is it that it was beyond the capability of a juggernaut Ministry to know. But you know what – it’s actually been easier to just get the victims of immigrant exploitation out of the country as soon as possible (and enable another round to replace them on short term visas).
And let’s not for one moment think that it is corrupt immigrants who’ve managed to get PR alone. Rest assured there are paid up 2nd, 3rd, 4th generation NZ Citizens milking it for all they’re worth.
You might be interested in this also – if you haven’t already seen it:
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/06/12/judith-collins-wins-a-hypocrisy-award/
including my comment.
I’m assured that coalition government ministers know about it (if only because one confided in my sister at the Labour party’s little post-election getaway in Martinborough), although I’m not sure they know the extent of it all, and whether they’ve cottoned tothe extent of some of their ‘officials’ spinning.
Things are happening though – probably not as fast as we (and the exploited) would wish
Do the COL think the people of NZ have such short memories that we recall stuff like this?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12071217
I’m sniffing some PR spin when it comes to how the PM is dealing with her NZ First MP’s.
First up, we have Winston Peters, deputy PM and acting PM shortly, suing the government. When asked about how appropriate or otherwise this is, the Prime Minister’s response was that he was doing it in a personal capacity.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/06/14/122988/sam-sachdeva-hat-switching-a-worrying-sign
“The man of many hats is back,” Megan Woods proclaimed in 2016.
The Labour MP wasn’t reciting a Dr Seuss book, but excoriating John Key for using the question of ministerial responsibility to dodge questions about his connection to foreign trusts.
Key’s choice of different “hats” during his time in power – prime minister, Helensville MP, husband putting out the cat – was a subject of frequent irritation for Opposition politicians seeking to hold him to account.
Lol thanks pucky for that.
I’m enjoying how the jacinda replies make the keyster attempts seem even more shallow in retrospect.
But hey at least the bridge is a keyclone so no surprises for the gnats.
So no issues with Ardern saying pretty much what Key said even though she promised how much better Labour was going to be?
Sure, a teeny issue soon reconciled, just seems you’re trying to froth the milk a bit much.
Heres the thing though, for 9 years the posters on here gleefully pointed out every real and imagined error the National made all in the guise of holding the government to account
Those posters set the standard of behaviour and Ardern then doubled down on the standards she expected so now the only thing the opposition has is the ability to point out whenever the government puts a foot wrong and this government is doing so much wrong
Yet not a peep from the posters on here when the government displays the same, and worse, behaviour the last government did
A sad tale of woe indeed and somehow it makes me smile – my bad.
If nothing else you can believe me on this when I say I totally get it and understand
Hey Pukish and other posters.
I don’t expect this govt no to make mistakes and I don’t expect them to not do anything that doesn’t fall in with my values and their professed values e.g the Eugenie Sage bottled water thing. I understand they may be in positions where they need to compromise.
I do look at the big picture and what they are trying to achieve. Under Labour its improving minimum wage, not building mega prisons, fixing the Middlemore mess and properly funding infrastructure and attempting to solve the housing crisis (and actually naming it as a crisis that needs solving).
From my point of view that have been working very hard from day one to address these issues (and many more) that are important to me. Mostly National either did nothing about the problems eg Middlemore or had a hand in creating them.
From that point of view, I am very happy with the Coalition and I am forgiving of mistakes (up to a point). After all we all make them.
Re the list of labour incompetents…………Well Nationals are:
N Smith,
G Brownlee
H Parata
Anne Tolley
Jamie Lee Ross
The new guy in Northcote (if the Wilson interview is anything to go by
J Coleman
P Bennett ……………………………………………..etc etc
Ok so
“Under Labour its improving minimum wage”
– as did National
“Fixing the Middlemore mess”
– That is indeed a mess
attempting to solve the housing crisis
– Its not looking good at the moment unless you’re a housing developer
“I am forgiving of mistakes (up to a point). After all we all make them.”
– Mistakes yes but arrogance and incompetence is something else entirely don’t you think?
Interesting pr. What did national raise minimum wage by? Notice all govt employees to get a living wage…..
I do think arrogance and incompetence are something else. I have to say plenty of that in National, possibly labour.
But it’s what hey achieve that matters most. An organisation can have bits of incompetence but still get good outcomes……I am looking at the outcomes btw think it is ridiculous to judge col success on the housing crisis yet. It took some years to develop under national. You don’t turn that around in 8 months.
And I do blame Nat for the housing crisis. Owned a house in am that I rented between 2004 2014 cause I moved out of Auckland for work. The first four years mostly got tennants ok but around 2006 had to drop the rent cause I couldn’t get a tenant. After 2008 whole thing became crazy
Puckish Rogue is trying to point out that he misses John but Jacinda is just as good.
Most MP’s have several hats, although Simon appears to only have one hat which doesn’t fit properly.
Jacinda is very good at what she does, she’s easily the equal of John Key in certain respects
“easily the equal”
If she matches him “easily”, that implied besting him would only take a little more effort from Jacinda. I believe that’s the case.
Shes easily as good as John Key was at manipulating the media, you know the whole transparent government thing then putting Curran in charge
Shes as good as Key was at saying a lot, and sounding authoritative, without saying anything at all, relentlessly positive thing and don’t have to lie to be in politics
Shes also as good as Key at mangling the language but still sounding like “one of us”
Shes a very good communicator and a very good politician
Shes not the leader John Key was though, everyone knew John Key was the boss however she may grow to equal or even surpass John in that are as well though I doubt it
(No there’s no damning with faint praise going on)
Or one could say Key was a passive autocrat in style whereas Adern is a facilitative / consensus style leader.
Irrespective of what language style they use.
I’m not disagreeing with you but i was more referring to the age and experience difference in that John Key is older and has held more leadership positions so its only natural that Key is the more experienced/better leader
Jacinda may well become as good (effective) leader as John in the future but at the moment she isn’t
Again , subjective. The leadership styles are merely different.
Also , Adern has held leadership positions at a very young age when overseas. While Key spent much of time as a younger man literally working for the ‘ Man’.
Recall Key working in with Andrew Kreiger to pull off one of the biggest Forex Heists in history against the NZ economy.
And that’s not leadership , – that’s being a boy taking orders.
And doesn’t particularly show any sense of operating in his country of births best interests, … does it.
“Also , Adern has held leadership positions at a very young age when overseas.”
– like what exactly?
“While Key spent much of time as a younger man literally working for the ‘ Man’.”
– Wow, thats wow. Like did Key ever become “the man” or just work for “the man”, who is “the man” anyway, is there a female counterpart like “the woman”?
Hang on I party voted for National which means that John Key did work for me and since John Key worked for “the man” that must mean I am “the man”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A15_toteGag
As for John Key ?
Merril Lynch.
As for Jacinda Adern ?
President of the International Union of Socialist Youth.
So , one involved in the financial sector as a junior at first , the other in the political area as a leader. So it pretty much pans out . And we are back to square one. Different leadership styles.
“Shes not the leader John Key was though, everyone knew John Key was the boss”
That kinda paints you as a unreconstructed authoritarian there, Pucky.
Leaders don’t have to be “the boss”; there are more elegant ways to lead. In many ways, your thinking seems pre-Arthurian where Might was regarded as Right. We’ve come a long way since then, Pucky. Well, some of us have 🙂
Well I could have thrown Helen Clark in there as well as a good leader 🙂
You cant have dodgy characters in official govt position’s in dept’s and elected officials carrying on and leaking private financial details to the public. That’s an illegal breach of privacy and breach of protocol for a start.
Its also political bias from govt dept heads working in collusion to smear a political figure deemed as opposed to their political masters. When they should by job description be impartial and simply executors of the incumbent govts policy’s.
And the fact no one had seemed to have the gonads to own up shows they knew what they were doing was wrong.
Peters has every right and all power to him.
Slap on the wrist Meaning – YouTube
Video for slap on the wrist you tube▶ 0:20
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvghQSUS2Xs
Hey I agree, send it to the courts to decide and see what happens and thats all good but to suggest the acting PM is doing it in a personal capacity and announcing it while he takes the reigns is a couple steps to far
… ” to suggest the acting PM is doing it in a personal capacity and announcing it while he takes the reigns is a couple steps to far ” …
Not at all.
That’s a matter of personal opinion and interpretation. And as for it being in a personal capacity well its correct on at least one count…
As it was it was directed solely at Peters ,- not his party.
The fact that no one – after all this time elapsing ,- has come forward and admitted it is also indicative of knowledge of wrongdoing . W e are dealing with dept’s that know the law about public disclosures and what is illegal.
And we are also dealing with elected officials who know those laws. One of which , – has a past track record of releasing personal details to the public on at least two occasions against those least able to defend themselves – beneficiaries.
This event occurred just prior to a general election ,- was that a couple of steps too far to try and smear a leader of a political party that was deemed a threat , – until the incumbent govt realized they might need them to form a govt ???
I would say it is indeed very ‘personal’.
And political, – on the defendants side.
Which begs the question : do we really want future politics to be conducted in this manner with this sort of Dirty Politicking ??? Is this what we are paying elected officials and heads of govt depts to act like?
So what better time as Peters becomes Prime Minister to make an example of this sort of stonewalling of democracy by using underhanded ( and illegal ) means ?
If anything I would say Winston Peters is doing the country a big favour by putting the boot squarely on the neck of these sorts of activity’s. And highlighting this sort of skulduggery when hes Prime Minister is in fact, perfect timing.
All power to him.
What do you mean by “COL”?
Coalition of Labour
Not a useful term, surely. Labour-led, if you must.
Remember the John Key-led Government? Natty MPs used the phrase ad nauseum .
I doubt even piss-weak Act would have let them call it the ‘Coalition of National’.
CON, for “Coalition of National”?
Seems about right.
.. though it does fit, as you note. 🙂
Liar.
Richard Prebble had, I think, the first definition.
I’m sure that Puckish Rogue would never be so disrespectful as to use it about the stars of stage, screen and vaudeville who rule us.
I personally can’t think of a better definition than Richard’s but perhaps that is simply my problem in trying to move away from its accuracy.
Pucky is trying not to disillusion you I would say, Sacha.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11935125
I don’t think so – losers not labour is the phase used by, without apparent irony, the losers of the last election ha ha.
It’s kind of a shame it worked so well isn’t it puckers.
I get tribalism, I get that people are happy “their side” won, I understand the vitriol against National I really do (I did read the posts after all) but, six months in, are the posters on the left here happy with how the present government is performing, are they performing up to the standard you expect or were led to believe they’d act
Is this really how you thought it’d be?
Personally, Pucky, I’m delighted with the COL (in preference to the CON). I couldn’t know what they could do, given the state of the nation at takeover, or how the Opposition (CON) might behave, or how the MSM might conduct itself, nor how the coalition partners would gel (sorry Simon), so given those factors, yes, I reckon the Jacinda-led Government is doing very well indeed and I’m very happy with their direction, pace and approach. There are glitches (the CON’s were hidden from us by a slippery leader and a team of deceitful strategists and assorted flunkies) so I’m not at all rattled by those things you are attempting to wave in front of us every day.
K?
Ok fair enough
And the fact that you are commenting on and assuming tanker-loads in comparing a 6 month old govt against another ( CON ) that was in power for 9 years !
There’s a very very long bow in attempting to do that.
Not really, some of the Labour ministers seem to be as arrogant as the National ministers were except that Labours only been in power for six months as opposed to Nationals arrogance being born from terms in power
OK , but it does seem your original statement was more to do with ‘performance’ than ‘arrogance’.
And if ‘arrogance’ is an allusion to say Phil Twyfords retorts back to Judith Collins on housing , for example ,… when a govt is only 6 months in and attempting to fix the negligence of a former govt that was in for 9 long years and that did nothing…
I would say even that is a little premature to accuse them of being ‘arrogant’… but point taken … there is arrogance on all sides of the political spectrum.
Well In regards to performance I could mention Claire Curren or Jenny Marcroft or David Clarks interesting strategy or Kelvin Nash being well Kelvin Nash
“there is arrogance on all sides of the political spectrum.”
On this I think we, and everyone here, can all agree that is the case so its nice we can reach consensus on somethings 🙂
Please Puckish Rogue. How good a lunch, and how many glasses of wine, did you have?
It is Clare Curran, not Claire Curren
It is Kelvin Davis, not Kelvin Nash.
Alternatively it is Stuart Nash, not Kelvin Nash
They may be pretty useless but they deserve to be given their proper names.
!!!
Go alwyn !!!
They are infinitely better than the Gnats.
They’ve moved from criminal to pedestrian.
I want enlightened.
Just letting you know Labour aren’t squeaky clean in this area, in case you’d forgotten
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taito_Phillip_Field
On 6 October 2009, Field was jailed for six years on corruption charges, with the sentencing judge saying his offending threatened the foundation of democracy and justice.
He’s more the exception than the rule only in getting prosecuted. Given more vigorous pursuit of MP crime the majority of the previous government would be incarcerated. It’s one of the things a halfway decent government would prioritize.
They’re a very corrupt lot, the present day Gnats – it is not supposed to be fear of prosecution that keeps an MP straight, but a genuine concern for the country they are paid and sworn to represent.
They disgust me.
So no issues here then?
https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/353436/nz-first-mp-instructed-to-apologise-to-national-party
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/06/david-clark-accused-of-silencing-dhb-staff-over-middlemore.html
Minor shit. Not too sure about the first one, but Gnat sources whining impropriety are going to meet skepticism until some of their larger rorts are dealt with.
Clark is my electorate MP and has long since destroyed any vestiges of credibility the party aegis might have lent him had he not been such a turd. That said, a politicized board member is nothing to boast of either – and Clark’s response may have been merely to circumvent possible legal action around dismissal.
Ok fair enough
Stuart Munro
Why do you keep saying such ridiculous things like the majority of the former govt should be in jail. It is hardly conducive to reasoned debate.
How is anyone going to take anything you say seriously when you go on like that?
Presumably some of what you say is intended to be serious, as opposed to just being polemic.
Explain the public interest in the sweetheart loans to Mediaworks Wayne.
Explain to Christchurch residents Brownlee’s collusion with insurers and fake repairers.
Explain the looting of Housing Corp by Gnat supporters employing spurious P tests to alienate public property at a massive discount.
And don’t explain it to me – tell it to a panel of judges tasked to clean up the woeful record of corruption you and your disgusting mates created.
Which Panel of Judges is this?
Are these the handpicked Star Chamber Judges that you hope the government will establish?
You defend the mendacity of your colleagues as usual. No surprise. But plenty of shame.
The analogy you’re looking for is older than Star Chamber of course.
The hot and cold running corruption that typifies present day National is viewed by them as seigneurage – the price we pay for the distinctly dubious pleasure of their presence.
Which is no pleasure at all, and the costs are better recovered and spent appropriately, if only to keep useless oiks like Brownlee from misappropriating the money that was supposed to keep roofs over peoples’ heads.
Why do you need a panel of judges? Perjury and graft can be tried perfectly well by a regular court.
Well I’m not a lawyer – but most of these miscreants are.
They need the full Dies Eyre.
I do not think Stuart Munro literally means the majority but rather figuratively , in as much as if the inner core have been involved in spurious activity’s , it behooves the wider party to do something about it. They did not.
Putting aside some of the serious allegations mentioned in Dirty Politics , there seems to be a very real reticence to charge and prosecute those in govt in this country. Whats needed is an equivalent to the Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission in this country.
We have Bill English shielding Todd Barclay from Police inquiry’s , we have John Key and common assault , signing off on a possible military operation that led to possible war crimes, then there was the tax haven fiasco and the Panama Papers , then we have Judith Collins and conflicts of interest to name a few…
And over 9 years they racked up a pretty impressive list that , although covered in layers of deflections and plausible deniability, had their origins from somewhere. And that’s circumstantial evidence that is never proven because there seems to be a protective hedge around those who work in the interests of the moneyed people that is effective in preventing justice from taking its natural course.
And its at this point they cease from being elected officials to being in a derogatory sense , mere ‘politicians’.
There’s a good deal of strong feeling around the issue of corrupt National Party MPs, isn’t there! Much of that seems to stem from the frustration resulting from the techniques and strategies that appeared to shield those Ministers from natural justice. Much of the positive political “atmosphere” around the country now comes, not from the expected baby, but from the relief felt from National Party MPs being in Opposition and less able to behave as it was believed they did.
Hey Pucky- and pretty sure I’m speaking speaking for most beneficiaries, the living in total and constant fear of the State vanished the moment Peters announced his decision. There were a lot of people who had exit plans ready had the other crowd got back in, not kidding, it was that bad.
It’s still not great for us and I have no confidence at all in Sepaloni and there’s actions she could’ve taken immediately but hasn’t because she has a track record of hating beneficiaries, but I’m not living in constant fear, at least not for the next 2 years.
… ” There were a lot of people who had exit plans ready had the other crowd got back in, not kidding, it was that bad ” …
That ,…. is incredibly chilling.
Kay, I understand what you’re saying here. I have a family member who is a sickness beneficiary. I don’t think many people realise how vindictive and nasty MSD became from around 2011 onwards. I do think things will improve over the next year or two.
As hard as it is to do, everyone needs to hope things will improve and stay strong for others who need our support
So the taxpayer will find a new $10 million high speed gondola for the Whakapapa Skifield. Another subsidy for private businesses. Ordinary wage earners foot the bill.
I see burger king are up to their usual BS in industrial relations in Christchurch.
Trespassing union organisers, so childish.
Here their 0800 number, call them and tell them to grow up. Remember all conversations are recorded. So be polite. This is the name of all the company directors you should mention who need to lift their game.
Michelle Tracy Alexander
John Christopher Hunter
Jan Thorsgaard Nielsen
James Douglas Carnegie
0800 425 464
http://www.burgerking.co.nz/contact-us
https://www.businesscheck.co.nz/ltd/9429038757549/
And remind em the Coalitions just passed the LIVING WAGE for all govt employees.
And it will be their turn next .
Might be bad for business if they don’t.
The party’s over.
A salary package of nearly $400k plus super just isnt enough for some. Why not try to take the tax payers for another $1.8 million.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/06/12/118327/deputy-pm-seeks-million-plus-from-state#
I’d say that if your personal financial affairs turned up being sensationalised, and incorrectly at that, in the media you’d be in your lawyer’s office pretty smartly seeking redress.
The unfortunate aspect of this sorry affair is that those responsible will hide behind executive privilege and pass the responsibility for their actions onto the taxpayer. Just like the past government’s ministers are doing with the meth testing debacle.
Might be time for politicians to be personally responsible for their actions.
Making man you guys on the right are usually for law and order. If a judge find the defendants guilty in this case then that’s the law.
Your not suggesting people shouldn’t execercse their legal rights are you?
Test
“Might be time for politicians to be personally responsible for their actions.’
So are you saying David Parker should pay $450k out of his own pocket.
I hope Peters loses and the government sue him for the costs.
Good morning Q$A ECO MAORI been done over by the justice system and is still been done over by this justice system how can they still find – – – reasons to carry on this farce. Another reason I don’t trust petri dish meat is that we don’t no what’s in it and big businesses will take total control of this new industry we can still farm traditions style and environment friendly ways.
Renewable energy is the way to go our new coalition government will change our energy supply to more renewables all in good time Ka pai Corin Ka kite ano
trump trade war is just the a way for him to portray that he is a strong person.
His trade war will effect the poor people the most as inflation spikes.
Eco Maori music for the minute shonky cause the houseing crisis so his 1 million dollar house will sell for 4.
His national party supporters would have made heaps $$$$$$. Who cares about those mostly brown broken people under the bridge that’s their mind set link below.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=L3wKzyIN1yk
P.S what over reason is there for denieing that there is a houseing crisis when that crisis is fulling your hip pocket with $$$$$$$