“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported earlier this month that New Zealand was unprepared for between 2C and 4C of warming this century. Climate Change Minister Tim Groser said New Zealand was doing its fair share to reduce emissions and that the onus was on local councils to respond to the effects of climate change such as sea level rise.
Mr Mills said: “For me that was the end. I thought ‘I’ve got to stand up and be counted now’.”
Good on Mr Mills.
Time for more New Zealanders to stand up and be counted on this vital issue.
Who are you voting for?
Your own greedy needs of those of your grandchildren?
Certainly putting His money where His mouth is,”tired of National Government inaction on climate change issues” the owner of the Les Mills fitness business donates $64,999 to Labour and 65,000 to the Green Party,
Suggests exactly what this businessman wants as the next Government…
The Pure Advantage website that is mentioned in the article is worth checking out. It’s been active for a year or two now – definitely not picking political sides, so this article from Phillip Mills is a bit of a step up in the campaign it seems.
Also positive to see Cunliffe making some right (uncosted, not sure of programme) noises about forming a mitigation package against climate change.
Groser was saying yesterday that there’s really no point doing anything unless the major country emitters agree to do it together. Because I am deeply pessimistic about climate change, I could understand that.
But when we choose to be New Zealand can lead globally. I want more for and from this country than that.
When even party political funding is becoming dependent on where you stand on climate change, you know the worm is turning.
To properly capitalise on this new political understanding David Cunliffe needs to announce that the law that prevents climate change being raised as an objection in consent hearings for new coal mines will be repealed on the return of a Labour Government.
It would also be good if Labour could announce that on regaining office they will impose a complete moratorium on new coal mines, in line with their coalition Partner the Green Party policy of No New Coal Mines.
A moratorium on deep sea oil drilling and fracking and on any other extreme non-traditional fossil fuel extraction methods, would be good too.
Lets not hear anymore sychophantic pedantic whining about ‘we must respect existing contracts’.
What’s more sacred, business contracts negotiated unfairly with no mandate, or the environment we all depend on to survive?
If we want to respect contracts how about this one?
Maybe instead of honouring deals done with Bathurst Resources we should first honour the contract we signed with our Pacific neighbors to endeavor to cut back our CO2 emissions? A contract to which we are a signatory, but which John Key had no problem tearing up to keep letting Solid Energy cook the climate.
Many of the islands look to New Zealand, their closest large land mass, to give financial and diplomatic leadership.
“New Zealand can and should do more. They are the fifth highest per capita emitters in the world and Kiwi emissions continue to climb.” President Loeak of the Marshall Islands
Honour the Majuro Declaration. Send Bathurst packing.
Jenny, Yesterday you wanted Cunliffe to announce the adoption of Greens policy of no deep see drilling. Today you want him to adopt their policy on mining AND announce the Greens as a Coalition Partner!
I wait with baited breath to hear what wonderful original thoughts you have tomorrow!
“Jenny, Yesterday you wanted Cunliffe to announce the adoption of Greens policy of no deep see drilling. Today you want him to adopt their policy on mining” Wyndham, George
So what?
Labour are demanding that the Greens adopt their policies of supporting deep sea oil drilling, and new coal mines.
I have argued for some time that it will be electoral suicide for the Greens to concede to Labour’s demands, and if they persist with these demands better to sit on the cross benches giving support only on budget and supply.
But apart from the Greens calling for Labour to change, physics demand it.
The coy Mr Key.
“Mr Key confirmed yesterday it was paid for by the taxpayer and when asked whether that meant it was not such a private dinner after all, he said “well, it kind of is and it isn’t”.
“This time round, it was the tight five – the royals, himself, his wife Bronagh and son Max, who met William during the Keys’ stay at Balmoral last year.” – and this –
“It has become a bit of a tradition for Mr Key and William to cook for each other: after Mr Key hosted the 2010 barbecue, William returned serve by helping out cooking a barbecue for the Key family at Balmoral.”
The wonderful work of Claire Arse-Licker Trevett !
Facts are, the majority of the sheeple are enjoying having the royals out here, the cute little baby, the glamorous duke/duchess.
It’s fun, it’s happy and people especially women want to hear all about it, which is why Cunnliffe came across as such an arse by politising the royal tour.
After the Campbell debacle last night one really has to wonder if the man has a political bone in his body, he really is doing a shit job.
The people giddiest about the royal tour are the trivia and celebrity obsessed media. Despite the efforts of the press to whip up a colonial cringeworthy royal hysteria the crowds are modest, at best. If you scratch the surface, most people think that they seem nice but the whole thing is a bit of a circus.
It’s not my cup of tea, but that doesn’t mean other people aren’t allowed to enjoy it.
Anyway, whats the harm the oldies get to relive the past, the woman get to oooh and ahhh over the cute baby and the young girls get to see a real life princess/duchess.
The Woyal Bludgers must be leaving soon, good riddance, there hasn’t been a scrap of blue sky here in Wellington since these sponges arrived for a break from sponging on the English to take a few big slurps at the trough here…
Oh I don’t know, I expect the advertising and exposure NZ has got in the commonwealth media (most particularly the UK) is more than worth the cost to the taxpayer of having the royals visit.
I must admit I’m a bit bemused as to why anyone gets so worked up one way or the other about the royals visiting.
BM, a ‘youtube video for simpletons!!!’ who would have thunk that You would use such a child’s view to explain the Woyal Family of Bludgers,
Basically a ‘Disneyland tourist attraction way over-paid for the role that lot have sponged off of the people of Britain for centuries, murder, standover, and direct taxation of the peasants was how the ‘Crown Estate’ came into being so it doesn’t matter an iota that a previous head of the Bludge Family gave up ownership in favor of a direct ‘suck’ on the revenue stream now managed by the democratically elected Government,
”The Crown Estate is NOT the private property of the Monarch. It cannot be owned by the Monarch in a private capacity”,
The royals are a tourist attraction they make the UK a truck load of money, far more than what they cost.
The UK has set it’s self up as a Victorian Disney land and the Royals are the centerpiece.
The Royal family generate close to £500 million every year for British tourism with The Tower of London, Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace the most popular Royal destinations.
More rubbish BM, the Woyals do not own the Tower of London, Windsor Castle or Buckingham Palace and as such are simply overpaid actors sucking at the public teat to the tune of millions of pounds a year,
A handful of actors could be hired to ‘play’ the role that these sponges are paid multi-millions of pounds a year to act out for a fraction of the cost,
That still doesn’t explain the fact that the Sponge family is over here bludging off of us at the moment…
I think you should pop down to Civic Square and see them tomorrow. You don’t need to wave a flag, but seeing them in person might change your mind about them, and you have nothing else to do.
Getting all bitter and twisted about Will, Kate and George seems a little sad.
Ha Ha SSLands, the last time i seen one of the plastic Lowness’es was years back when Dun Mihaka gave Her an entirely appropriate whakapahone as a greeting,
My presence so exercised the DPS prowling the side-show bob spectators that they saw reason to curtail my civil rights by bailing me up against a wall asking the same sort of stupid questions that you are famed for…
slylands this is one of your more vacuous efforts during worktime. you start work at 10am and at 10:10am here you are posting. the king of productivity preaches not practices.
It’s fun, it’s happy and people especially women want to hear all about it, which is why Cunnliffe came across as such an arse by politising the royal tour.
The entire tour is politicking – exactly as planned. You’re here adding more to it.
majority bm, you mean the fewthousand who turn out in the streets. by your logic the majority of kiwis are against the gcsb act, the tpp because a few thousands took to the streets.
I haven’t been looking at Royals visit news. I don’t click on the links on news websites. I switch on mute during the TV News, and attend to something else. Why encourage the media obssession – they measure success by the number of clicks on those links, not whether you are for or against the royals.
I have been enjoying a relatively royals free space on TS.
And all this on TV at dinner time, where we all eating ‘cheap’. If eating at all. But nice to see that our tax dollars are being used for something important …
We don’t need a monarchy anymore — anywhere, not just here. We are capable of choosing our own leaders, like religion, it is a hangover from more archaic times.
The Chinese managed to get rid of their monarchy after 3000 years, as did the Russians, the French, the Indians, and so on. We should be able to do the same.
Have just turned on and then turned off morning report. Radio New Zealand have employed one of the slimiest national party shills to front their flagship operation. What an awful mouthful of mangement speak but a slimy little toad is a slimy little toad whichever way you paint it.
I missed hearing Rod Oram because I forgot to turn the radio back on again after another (gag) news report with heartfelt sound of Piss story wringing out his tears. How long Oh Lord do we have to put up with this `news’ from South Africa? We have a good celebrity story incubating right here in River City, or NZ when we find our bearings.
It may be that there are some strange radio news agreements with countries such as South Africa also the USA, so that we take whatever because more volume (hah) costs less, and we then sound so linked in and international.
I haven’t bothered with the Royal visit. I wish them well and hope that they didn’t mind spending time watching children play rugby in Dunedin. How exciting. I can understand that the Dunedinites wanted to show off their wonderful stadium, but it wouldn’t please me as an event if I was on a Magical Mystery Tour.
Something else I missed on radio was Ellis at 11.45 discussing somebody interviewed by Campbell last night prevaricating. There that’s my big word for the day – hope it’s the right one.
Apparently whoever said whatever was not sure about whether he would do something or not. Might have been Cunliffe. Doesn’t sound like Winston who is always positive about things – even positive that he is negative on a policy. Same with Hone. Dunne’s been done. Russel is being spoken to tomorrow I think!
I did think that someone may have had some comment to make about last night’s pollies but you are all of on a royal tour around the beltway or somewhere. Perhaps someone can enlighten me on a) the person who was interviewed, and b) what it was he wasn’t sure about. (I understood it was a him.)
I remember Sharon Crosby leaving for (somewhere) and she made a departing statement, (something like) “there you all thought I was right wing didn’t you”
There is something positive about the interwebs at the moment… Almost as if a malevolent force has been removed. What might have excised the ugliness? What great change?
Ah yes, there it is!!!
DPF is in the Himalayas and can’t update his little National Party propaganda vehicle. Let’s hope he doesn’t stumble into the path of a grumpy Yak. That would be terrible. Yesssireeeee, ait would be absolutely terrible.
Prostituting the Office of the Prime Minister, fresh from being the ‘star’ attraction at the Northern Club said to be the most exclusive ‘Gentlmen’s club’ in Auckland,(funnily enough the Splash Club, a Brothel, advertises itself as an ‘exclusive Gentlemen’s Club here in Wellington),on sale for 5 grand a ‘client’ the ACT Party are now saying they have a far better deal ‘for sale’,
Is this the benefit of ‘competition’ or just the fact the Prime Minister has been well used by the ‘clients’ at previous 5 grander’s, ACT are selling Him to the ‘clients’ at $100 a time at an upcoming dinner,(pretty much ‘street prices’ for a ‘one on one’ with the PM),
Meanwhile Oravida having already ‘paid’ handsomely for the Prostitution of the Office of the Prime Minister are wringing as much use out of Him as possible, featured next to an Oravida ad in a magazine a large picture of Slippery the Prime Minister is said by His office not to breach any rules of propriety because He is not quoted as endorsing the Oravida products being advertised next to it,
What price will this Political prostitute be fetching next year???10 bucks for a quicky…
SSLands, as usual you use what you see as a cunning lie to advance whatever the point is you are attempting to advance,
Notice who Slippery the Prime Minister is Prostituting the Office of Prime Minister in aid of??? who would have thunk it, the Prime Minister is selling himself for 5 grand a time not in aid of any non-political ”good deed”, simply applying Political Prostitution to raise funds for the National Party, the ACT Party, and, the Maori Party,
Compare that with the fundraising of an auctioned dinner with ex-Prime Minister Helen Clark???the beneficiary of the Clark dinner, Team NZ,
If you cannot see the difference then your stupidity level is far greater than i have previously imagined…
Shane Jones drops the hyperbole and makes sense again, describing on Morning report this morning the Maori Party as hypocrites for their 5 grand a time dinner for Auckland’s pakeha elite while they at the same time ‘dissed’ the Mana Party for being in negotiations with the Internet Party,
Jones then went on to draw a thin line of split flax through the chances of the Maori parties Te Ururoa Flavell in the Waiariki electorate saying Annette Sykes will give Him what He has earned for 5 years spent as a lapdog of the National Government,(that don’t include another 3 years),
Jones’es prognosis for the future of the Maori Party, the same as mine, Haere ra…
so dpf is up a mountain. well whipty do for him. does he think he is Sir Ed or sumfing. why doesn’t he just look in a mirror and get some tools for looking into his black heart for the causes of his bile and pathology.
Another appalling example of Judith Collins’ arrogance.
But what can you expect from an admitted liar(re Oravita), who is also Minister of (choke) Justice?
This needs vigorous followup. What are the chances of a criminal prosecution of the ACC executives involved? After all, we have the good old standover tactics, coercion, fraudulent threats etc?
INTERNET FREEDOM is crucial to a DEMOCRACY…it is perhaps one of the most important issues of our time….especially on issues such as globalisation, monopoly capitalism, free debate
….just think what one can learn from the internet and how much authorities with a totalitarian bent would like to control, censor….. close down an open internet …or make it user pays ( to them) and so restrict full public access
…the free open internet fills in many of the gaps and omissions of the mainstream media
as just one example .. ..a free open internet provides people the ability to think critically about the pharmaceutical industry…and take charge of their own health decisions….(just think how much multi national multi billion dollar pharmaceutical companies would like to censor and close down open debate/ critiques and counter research , people sharing adverse effects / experiences etc which cut into their profits)
…in some ways the issues Dotcom and the Internet Party are promoting are the most important issues for all New Zealanders and their democracy , freedom of thought …regardless of what party they belong to
what did you make of the nine to noon discussion of the way winz is dealing with mental health “clients”. i was a little perturbed than they are expected to get into preparedness to return to work immediately, unless granted an exemption. surely complete rest and freedom from work stresses has merit.
i also note how quickly ryan changed 40% may remaon on a benefit for a long time to “most” will do do.
Her unwillingness to admit total numbers of people on any of the benefits was a really big tell. Exception being the 400 people she mentioned who had found work on the new trial, work she was quick to qualify by saying it included [mainly?] part time hours.
The references to the general Jobseeker benefit were particularly funny. Listening to her explain what the Jobseeker seminars are like and how hands on the staff are getting people into work was surreal. Is there a word for laughing out loud whilst internally cringing?
Mana seem to be making sincere overtures to The Greens
The comments come after Mana leaders said at the weekend they wanted to meet with like-minded parties including the Greens in order to try and flesh out a cooperative election strategy, including possible electorate deals.
The comments were Metiria’s comment that
Turei said she was always open to having such conversations with other parties but was yet to hear from Mana.
“It’s highly unlikely though that we would do deals in an electorate, we don’t favour that approach. We haven’t done any in the past and we’re highly unlikely to do any in the future.”
I don’t disagree with
“Voters want to have a genuine choice about the person who will represent them as well as the party that will and they’re entitled to that choice and that’s why we’ve done our best to stand in every electorate where we can.”
but i wonder if that will cut it in today’s political environment. Personally I’ve struggled with deals for the same reasons that Metiria says but times have changed and the way it is is the way it is even though we would wish it different. It is time for The Greens to get into power and enact some of their great policies, we can’t afford another 3 years of the gnats, we need The Greens in there. I don’t believe in any means being justifiable but working together with others is essential and it can be done with integrity and alignment with values imo.
I’m against deals and coat-tail type arrangements. I have been very critical of the way the right games the system. Ultimately, it undermines democracy.
I vote Green party, but understand that in my electorate voting for the Green candidate is a waste of a vote. I will vote for the most viable “left” electorate candidate. But the choice should be up to voters.
I think like-minded parties can have on-going talks on polices, without needing a formal “deal” for elections.
Generally, voters could be educated more about their choices. The media focuses too much on the horse race and “strategies” and deals. I think that tends to put off a lot of voters. It becomes more of a game between parties and pollies, and doesn’t directly address the needs and interests of the public.
but isn’t, in the example you give, that just being covert instead of overt? That those who understand the ramifications of tactical voting make their choice and those that don’t miss the choice or opportunity. So the choices are explained to people and they choose but really the choice explanation is guiding their choices anyway by showing the lie of the land from the choices made.
sorry about that paragraph but hopefully you’ll get my meaning 🙂
Yesterday John Key challenged Cunliffe to a live debate on TV One about housing affordability. It was reported on TV1 news at 6pm that Cunliffe accepted the challenge.
This is really win-win for Cunliffe. He’s now accepted the challenge, so will get air-time opposite Key, months ahead of the election, showing that he is a contender for the job, in the same way that Key getting up next to Clark for the S59 deal only helped him out.
If Key backs down on the challenge, Labour can trumpet from the ramparts that Key is a coward and all talk.
The only downside is if Cunliffe gets smacked around in the debate, but truthfully I don’t think that’s likely.
Is this perhaps the biggest strategic mis-step from smart-alec Key in this election campaign?
Keys dealt to: Cullen, Clark, Goff, Shearer (well ok he didn’t get the chance to deal to him but most likely he would have) and Campbell whereas Cunliffes dealt to Robertson, Jones and has ducked Campbell twice
Yeah it might possibly be a mis-step by Key but based on what Keys done to the best and brightest of the Left in the past its probably not
In the debates against Clark, Key was the real underdog. He ‘won’ the debates on the back of ‘doing better than everyone expected’. That’s not a ringing endorsement.
He beat Clark, he had her screeching about not shouting her down like he does to his wife at home (forgotten that?)
But the point being that Keys gone up against the best the left could muster whereas Cunliffe has gone up against the rest the left could muster so its a calculated decision by Key
Disagree.
Key can’t handle difficult interviews. Stephen Sackur on Hard Talk had him on the ropes.
Hence Key’s aversion to interviews on RNZ ; instead he has cosy chats with Mike, Rawdon and Marcus in the morning.
If ( and it’s a big if) a half decent and impartial interviewer is brought to the debate, Key is toast.
From what I’ve seen of Cunliffe unless the interview follows a set path he’s in trouble.
If Key asks him a question he hasn’t got a set answer to, he’ll fall apart.
It’s a valid question you can research if you like, but as I’m not a politician in the house where knowing the answer to a question before you ask it is a pre requisite, or blogger with credibility resting on the outcome, I’ll just quietly wait in the hope of an adequate response.
When Key was asked on his return from China on the level of discussion and representation re climate change, his eyes took that all too familiar fixed stare position and he fudged that “yeah we talked about it at dinner…” Key does not handle direct, unrehearsed questions well at all.
watch this … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrPgK3bf9_4
Many people who have only a passing interest in politics tend to not know who David Cunliffe is. So it will be of value for David to appear on national TV. Exposure is important.
the one saving grace from such a debate is that if its chaired by hoskings he wont be able to help himseld and his career and might just be even handed as a result.
Now how about Cunliffe and co. do some serious mocking of the coward on TV, radio and the newspapers – and in parliament. I’m sick of Labour letting Key and co. get away with murder without responding in kind.
If they think the general public are going to give them brownie points for behaving nicely then they are seriously deluded.
Probably Key made that challenge to Cunliffe off the cuff in a moment of bravado, then backed down when Cunliffe accepted it and Key(or his advisors) realised what it would involve.
key could just be feeling bullet proof with his second family currently touring… once off the podium he had to deal with the looks of horror in the corridor and the realisation he isnt actually a Windsor.
doesnt follow as such. look at his past popularity in polls compared to election day results.
all that aside, neither cunliffe nor key look good from this BUT cunliffe is moving to the position key had in 2008. low expectation in the debate and all the pressure on key to deliver up a storm.
Key definitely has a positive story to tell with the Reserve Bank moves cooling the lower end of the housing market effectively.
His HNZ recent reforms also seem to be going down pretty well as well among the NZ Housing NGOs.
The cooperation with Auckland Council, and the acceleration of Hobsonville and Tamaki Transformation, are also positive for the government.
Cunliffe however will be able to point to the Christchurch housing rebuild debacle, and the range of more structural responses that Labour has ready.
Cunliffe will not be caught short on briefing.
I would however further arm him with those tasty zingers that Peters is grand master of – because those are the lines that turn ito memes the day after.
Housing is certainly preferable ground for the Left to argue on than the economy.
Key’s “co-operation” with Auckland Council, involved threatening them if they did not comply with the addition of SHA’s, which effectively undermined the more sustainable compact city outcomes that the Unitary Plan was trying to achieve.
The debacle of the Hobsonville project, which was intended to provide 20%, or 500 affordable homes under Labour, but after National came in – only “achieved” 17 Gateway home purchases is not actually positive from my perspective. I’m guessing the Tamaki transformation will be similar.
Anyone familiar with my commenting will realist that I don’t approve National’s direction – just stating what the overwhelming majority of MSM say it is. Unfortunately that matters this year.
Yes Hobsonville is in small part a missed opportuity – but it is also a massive masterplanning, sustainability and commercial success. Started and imagined under Labour. Don’t believe me – go and have a drive through – or take the ferry up there.
Re last sentence: Labour has pretty much run out of the time to turn the MSM to believing that National aren’t doing a good job at economic growth, and that economic growth their way is a good thing. Fight other fights.
My personal approach is never to let the memes pass uncommented, but yes, I can understand where you are coming from.
To me, Hobsonville looks pretty and is pretty, but also pretty much missed the boat in terms of it’s intention of redevelopment of government owned land.
The first few pages of Adding it all Up by the Salvation Army in 2012, puts the success of Hobsonville in perspective.
Tamaki will be the same. And economic growth from where I (and many others) sit, just means our expenses have grown and nothing else!
cunliffe needs to talk about rising interest rates, likely to rise further, so the only thing national has done is prevent young and lower income getting a house, while landlords pass on interest hikes through increasing the same folks rent. thats not housing affordability its preserving home ownership for the wealthy and investors.
I’m agreeing with you, when Keys prepared he makes it look like hes not prepared similar to Churchill saying his best come-backs were thought of ahead of time
thats not even remotely what im saying or asking you
you claimed key is good off the cuff
i disagreed and asked you to further explain your opinion, specifically asking if there was anything you could bring to the discussion that showed how you formed this opinion
if pr can compare key to churchill, we must be able to compare his lying about ian fletcher, his use of the gcsb and his disdain for democracy with hitler.
Why did Cunnliffe cancel. Labour needs an effective leader. Shane Jones would be far more effective. Labour is no longer the opposition party. It is the Labour Greens and the greens don’t even have an elected representative. Come on the Unions get your party back up the polls. NZ needs a decent opposition and one that has the potential to govern NZ effectively.
The GP has 14 elected representatives. You may have noticed that change to our electoral system in the 1990s, whereby we moved to a more representative and fairer system.
Jones may or may not be more effective for Labour than DC, but he would be a disaster for the left and any hope of NZ shifting away from neoliberalism, relieving poverty, addressing AGW/PO/GFC etc, ie doing the things we desperately need to do. Jones = BAU.
State geologists in Ohio have for the first time linked earthquakes in a geologic formation deep under the Appalachians to gas drilling, leading the state to issue new permit conditions in certain areas that are among the nation’s strictest.
A state investigation of five small tremors in the Youngstown area, in the Appalachian foothills, last month has found the high-pressure injection of sand and water that accompanies hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in the Utica Shale may have increased pressure on a small, unknown fault, said State Oil & Gas Chief Rick Simmers. He called the link “probable.”
[…]
Under the new permit conditions, all new drilling sites in Ohio within 3 miles of a known fault or seismic activity of 2.0 magnitude or higher will be conditioned on the installation of sensitive seismic-monitoring equipment. Results will be directly available to regulators, Simmers said, so the state isn’t reliant on drilling operators providing the data voluntarily.
If seismic activity of 1.0 magnitude or greater is felt, drilling will be paused for evaluation. If a link is found, the operation will be halted
In 1991 the Club voted to admit women and today has a thriving membership of men and women. Membership of the Northern Club attracted many leaders of the Auckland community, and the Club has played an active and sometimes pivotal role in the history of New Zealand’s largest city.
In 2010, the Auckland Club[5] was absorbed by The Northern club, adding over $3,000,000 in assets to the club, and 250 members. Exclusively male in its membership for over 120 years, facilities for women were introduced only gradually. The first female member was admitted in 1990, shortly after the earliest woman after-dinner speaker, the Minister of Finance Ruth Richardson, who addressed the club in 1989.
The Northern Club Building is significant as the oldest surviving gentlemen’s club in Auckland, and one of the city’s oldest hotels. It has strong links to early colonial institutions, such as the provincial government and British army, as well as prominent individuals in New Zealand history.
It is representative of important aspects of colonial society, such as all-male associations and business networks. It demonstrates the implanting and nurturing of traditions introduced from Britain, particularly among the social elite. The building’s well-preserved interiors yield information about nineteenth- and twentieth-century life in New Zealand, from the use of decor to attitudes about gender and class. The building is particularly significant for its association with other early colonial structures in the area, such as the Albert Barracks Wall and former Government House.
Very interesting interview on RNZ, with Dr Michael Stevens on the historical importance of Bluff. Lots of good stuff on Kāi Tahu culture, southern Māori and a bit of myth busting too.
Dr. Michael Stevens, history lecturer at Otago University and a proud “Bluffie”, has received a Marsden Fund Fast-Start grant to research the history of Bluff between the years 1800 and 2000. He believes his historical case study of the port will re-shape thinking about New Zealand’s economic development and race relations. Of Kai Tahu descent, Dr. Stevens is descended from some of Bluff’s oldest Maori and Pakeha families and grew up in the port town.
Thanks, I missed that, it was good to listen to the interview. I’ve got multiple family connections with Bluff.
Dr Stevens’ research will be interesting. He advises:
I am in the process of developing a “blog” to help spread the word about this project and progressively disseminate some of its findings in advance of the book that will come out of it.
I really like Dame Anne Salmond and this article is awesome imo
Echoing the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Sir David argues that in choosing between intensive farming and dirty and degraded waterways, the country faces “a classic economy versus the environment dilemma”.
This kind of framing, which speaks as though the interests of the economy and the environment are at odds, is based on a logic that splits mind from matter, subject from object, and people from the world around them.
The difficulty with this logic is that it has been rendered obsolete by the findings of contemporary science – brain science, quantum physics and the social and environmental sciences, for example.
Economics, too, has moved on. To quote Herman Daly, a senior economist at the World Bank, “the economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment”.
As Daly points out, it is an oxymoron to separate people from the ecosystems that sustain us. This is certainly true in New Zealand, a country that derives so much of its wealth from the land, waterways and the sea.
Yep we really need to see with fresh eyes and be open to other options than the duopoly often presented as ‘the only options’ – there are infinite options if we allow our minds to consider and be open.
On polluted Seas and Land in Taranaki due to oil drilling and dairying …Film maker Eruera Ted Nia, a child of Parihaka and Taranaki, has produced documentaries.
In 1986 Eruera formed Rangiatea Films and Produced/Directed the 48 minute documentary ‘Te Atiawa o Runga te Rangi’ that was commissioned for TVNZ. A portrait of the remaining kuia and koro from Taranaki, they discuss in 100% Taranaki mita, their families, education and way of life.
On Tuesday 24 July 2013 Eruera traveled to Wellington thanks to NZ Film Archives and screened his films ‘Te Atiawa o Runga Te Rangi’ (1986) ‘ Huakina (1987) a look at the polluted seas and land in Taranaki due to oil drilling, ‘Nga Tai o Makiri’ (1987) a study of four Taranaki rivers, with three being almost destroyed due to dairy farming and oil drilling, ‘Te Ara Puoro o Aotearoa’ (1996) a portrait of long time colleague and fellow artist Hirini Melbourne to a largely Taranaki audience.
Just watched “How Wolves Change Rivers” narrated by George Monbiot. I had read of this effect, but 4 mins on Youtube provides a pretty effective summary.
You need to keep dairying in context. NZ has about 2% of the world’s dairy cows. If we reduce dairying the slack will just get taken up elsewhere. Brazil has FOUR TIMES our dairy cow numbers with poorer environmental standards. Do you want to see more pollution in Brazil? No of course you don’t.
Better have dairying in clean green New Zealand where we can keep an eye on it rather than send it off to Brazil and destroy more rainforest. PLUS Brazil is NEVER going to bring its agriculture sector into any future agreement on GHG reductions. Do you want to increase global greenhouse emissions? No of course you don’t.
So I encourage you to think globally. Get out on your next vacation and go and check out dairying in Brazil. It will allow you to keep perspective.
So unless you want to stuff our economy and stuff Brazil’s environment there is no alternative.
Dairy in New Zealand is a win win for the economy and the environment.
Actually, in an own goal sort of way, he has a point.
It’s the same with the big Greens push for solar – great for NZ, but ignores the strip mining of rare earths, inhuman working conditions, and coal-powered production in China which makes the pannels in the first place.
You need to keep dairying in context. NZ has about 2% of the world’s dairy cows. If we reduce dairying the slack will just get taken up elsewhere. Brazil has FOUR TIMES our dairy cow numbers with poorer environmental standards. Do you want to see more pollution in Brazil? No of course you don’t.
You know, there’s actually a better solution and it’s one that will probably work because, no matter what we do, chances are Brazil will end up having more cows than us anyway meaning that we will lose the income from all those dirty, filthy cows that are polluting our waterways. That better solution is tariffs specifically linked to environmental policy and enforcement. Basically, no country gets to export unless it meets minimum environmental standards. There, looking after the environment in a way that might actually work.
Of course, I don’t think international trade works so I’ll take that with a grain of salt.
Where should we go to check out dairying in Brazil, SSLands? How far is it from the rainforest that is being destroyed? Which states are involved? I’d love to hear your version. Who runs the largest grass fed dairy farm in Brazil?
Is Cunnliffe working for National.His transport policy has just been announced and ridiculed by MSM. IF Shane Jones is unpalatable try Robinson or Parker please.
[lprent: If you just want to be a fuckwit and just write trite trollisms, then just go elsewhere please.
Next time I see you utter one under any handle, you will get a permanent ban for basic stupidity.
To make sure you see this, I’m adding you to auto-moderation. ]
Trucks should not be in the fast lane in the first place.
All heavy traffic is meant to stick to 90km/hr or under when on the open road.
It is not just a rule it is actually a law.
” So why not police the current rule?”
please srylands, you want the rules enforced, an honest answer from you on this topic would be very interesting.
Why do the powers that be not actively police this consistently ignored law ?
Seriously? With the country facing unemployment, inequality, a housing crisis and climate change, and Labour is relentlessly talking about regulatory subsidies for the caravan-rental industry.
So much for “talking about the real issues”.
When we’ve got thousands of people without houses to live in to the point that people are buying caravans to park up on friends and neighbours lawns to live in then those people will probably find the extra few hundred a year to be a serious drain on their finances.
I think NRT is dead right. If Labour was concerned about the thousands of people living in caravans it would say so. This is what they did say to explain the policy:
“There’s nothing Kiwis like more than getting on the road and going on holiday. But on public holidays like Easter and Anzac Weekend fun can quickly turn to frustration when the family realises the rego for the caravan has expired or there’s a big truck hogging the fast lane,” he said.
Last week it was Kauri trees.
It’s just the same old crap from Labour. There is now a leader who is able to string a sentence together, but still the same refusal to stand up for anything substantial for fear of upsetting the well-to-do. It is beyond pathetic. Labour doesn’t desrve to continue to exist it has no reason to exist, National looks after the top 20 percent just fine.
There is some good stuff in there (including reversing the idiotic charges on motorhomes as if they were freight vehicles). But I tend to agree js. Labour should be fronting up with the big, important policies. That someone has spent time on that graphic so Cunliffee can tweet it makes me despair, as does the ignorance about the two kinds of people in NZ that have caravans – those that go on holidays, and those that don’t have anywhere else to live.
Weekend fun can quickly turn to frustration when the family realises the rego for the caravan has expired or there’s a big truck hogging the fast lane,” he said.
So they are going to ban trucks that have a speed limit of 90 kph from the fast lane so cars and caravans can go on holiday faster – with a speed limit of 90 kph.
theres an “or” in their pete – nearly gave you a “well spotted” myself there – but the “or” in cunliffes statement changes the meaning from what you (and i) first read it to mean
situation (A) can turn to frustration if (B) OR (C)
One anonymous bloke. Sorry about the mistake my P.A.is away. Also where is the reply button? Anyway you understood.What’s wrong with Robertson or Parker?
all the tory kiss arses are out in full strength today.
I guess they are taking their lead from guyon epsiner.
he wont last long though.
his arrogance and contempt for average kiwis is already showing through but I guess as long as he is there to help swing the election for national then he has a job.
this country gets creepier and crepier by the day.
Do you get that defensive yet quizzical look from people when you say that to them?
Like you have just offered to brush their hair with a fetid dingo tail 🙂
yes i know that look( fetid dingo tail)…so i never say it.( “turn it off”)…but i think to myself …”you dont know you are alive”…”you are already half an automated moron”….my daughters friend lost her cell phone in a pub for an hour and she just about had a nervous or mental breakdown..it was like she had lost a vital part of her Self…she was all at sea….she had lost her pilot and her pivot…WEIRD
It seems, according to exchanges in the House, that John Key has backed down on his challenge to have a specific debate with Cunliffe on TV on housing policy.
Do you think it was ‘incredible luck’, or it was your political connections that helped to ensure that ‘one law for all’ did not apply to yourself or John Banks as former fellow Directors of Huljich Wealth Management (NZ ) Ltd, and you were never charged or prosecuted for signing Registered Prospectuses which contained misleading information?
you believe key was going to debate cunliffe on housing affordability and a hundred other things… which turned out to be “mispoking” . you dont have any high ground here puck
FYI folks – this is rather politically significant given that the Committee for Auckland is like a HERD of mammoth elephants in the room, that apparently hardly anyone dare mention??
THE COMMITTEE FOR AUCKLAND HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED MY PRIVACY ACT REQUEST. THIS SHOULD NOW GET VERY INTERESTING ………..
9 April 2014
To whomever is responsible for handling PRIVACY ACT requests for the Committee for Auckland
On 20 February 2014, I made a copy of the membership list of the Committee for Auckland, which included Auckland Council CEO, Stephen Town.
The next day, the name of Auckland Council CEO Stephen Town, was removed from the Committee for Auckland membership list, which now still lists Auckland Council, and their website, but the name column is now blank:
Please provide all copies of information (including, but not limited to: emails, reports, letters, memos, diary notes, meeting minutes, text messages, telephone messages which contain my name, Penny Bright (Penelope Mary Bright), or make referral to me, in relation to the removal of Auckland Council CEO Stephen Town’s name from the Committee for Auckland membership list.
Please be reminded that the Committee for Auckland is covered by the Privacy Act.
I look forward to your prompt reply.
Kind regards,
Penny Bright
Attendee Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference 2009
Attendee Transparency International Anti-Corruption Conference 2010
Attendee Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference 2013
Auckland Mayoral candidate 2013 (polling 4th with 11,723 vote, campaigning against corrupt corporate control of the Auckland region)
11 April 2014
‘Admin’
Committee for Auckland
To whom it may concern
Please be reminded that it it is ‘good business practice’ to acknowledge correspondence?
I look forward to your prompt acknowledgement of this correspondence.
Kind regards,
Penny Bright
from: Committee for Auckland Administration admin@committeeforauckland.co.nz
to: Penny Bright
date: Tue, Apr 15, 2014 at 2:13 PM
subject: RE: ‘Open Letter / Privacy Act request’
– When and why was Auckland Council CEO Stephen Town removed from the Committee for Auckland membership list?
Dear Penny,
Thank you for your email. Receipt of your correspondence is acknowledged.
Craig’s speech theme – “five things we shouldn’t be afraid to say” – acted as a launching pad for his concerns about becoming a nanny state and his push to remove bureaucracy and legislation, such as the anti-smacking law.
[…]
The five things were:
1. Say no to drugs, special interest groups, and don’t give added significance to Maori spirituality.
2. Say yes to business opportunities, freeing up land particularly.
3. Take responsibility – make people work for the dole, make prisoners work.
4. Let people decide – more consultation with the public.
5. Don’t be afraid to be politically active.
Isn’t #1 actually 3 things? That makes 7 things.
And they are very spirashional – aiming for up to 10% of the vote. Reminds me of Don Brash’s ACT, aiming for 15% of the vote.
Well, the report was hidden in a local newspaper, so I don’t think it’s getting much traction – not worthy of a full post – just a passing reference on open mike to his punitive approach to the less well off – and as for lumping “drugs, special interest groups and Maori spirituality” into one “thing”… not a lot to recommend his 7 things and an empty aspiration.
Given that perception is almost everything in politics Cunnliffe has made so many mistakes that even if he comes up with decent policy it won’t be heard by the MSM let alone the swing voter that will decide the outcome of the election. Please fix him up.I am not a Labour supporter nor am I happy with National but the Greens and their Australian leader scare the hell out of me.
Prosper, you can’t even prosper as a concern tr*ll. If your PA ever realises what a failure you are, expect to be drinking a lot more sputum in your coffee.
Just heard Cunliffe on Radio live. He sounded good, quite natural and a reasonable explanation as to why he failed to front on TV. Keep it up. Much better.
In my considered opinion, as an ‘anti-corruption / anti-privatisation Public Watchdog’, Minister for Justice Judith Collins is CORRUPT and should be sacked FORTHWITH.
[Sitting date: 15 April 2014. Volume:698;Page:7. Text is subject to correction.]
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) to the Minister of Justice: Does she maintain that it is not in the public interest to answer all questions regarding Oravida?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Justice) :I have never made that statement.
Rt Hon Winston Peters: How can she give that answer, when it is crystal clear that her pre-arranged meeting with a senior Chinese customs official at the height of the botulism scare was not just dinner with close personal friends but a serious conflict of interest that she and the Prime Minister are trying to cover up?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS: I can make that statement because it is the truth.
Rt Hon Winston Peters: Well, if that is the case, why will she not give the name and position of the customs official, when she arranged to meet the customs official at the very time that her husband’s company was having huge issues getting its product through customs and had enlisted her willing intervention?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS: The member is quite wrong in his question. If he goes back and looks at previous questions he has asked of that nature, he will see that I have corrected him.
Rt Hon Winston Peters: Is it not the case that, when she was told that joining her and her close personal friends at the dinner was a senior customs official, it did not raise alarm bells, because meeting this customs official was the whole reason for the dinner in the first place?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS: The member is quite wrong. I have never said that there was any senior customs official, and he knows it.
Rt Hon Winston Peters: Why is the Minister now claiming that there is no connection with the senior customs official, and does she not understand that her arranged meeting with that official was a serious conflict of interest and a corrupt abuse of her Cabinet position?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS: No. The member is quite wrong again. He continues to state in his question matters that are incorrect. I would say to that member that if he is worrying about corruption, I think he should consider a member of Parliament who asks questions in this House and written questions to help his girlfriend in her position with a major global company.
Rt Hon Winston Peters: Does the Minister not understand that throwing out those sorts of allegations will not save her when she was moonlighting for her husband’s company, that her DNA is all over this issue, and that if she answers questions fully, she would no longer get the Prime Minister’s defence and would be sacked for corruption?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS: The only member of this House who should be sacked for corruption is that member who has asked the question.
Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. [Interruption]
Mr SPEAKER: Order! This is a point of order. It will be heard in silence.
Rt Hon Winston Peters: That Minister is not within the Standing Orders attempting to answer that question that way. She has been asked a serious question on a very serious matter—as serious as this House has ever seen—and she is seeking now to deflect it by attacking the questioner.
Mr SPEAKER: In my opinion, the Minister addressed the question.
Grant Robertson: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.
Mr SPEAKER: Before I hear any more, I just want to clarify the member is not in any way questioning the decision I have just made.
Grant Robertson: No, it is a different point of order. I am under the impression that in this House a member cannot accuse another member directly of being corrupt, and that is what the Minister just did.
Mr SPEAKER: No, I have already ruled that the answer was addressing the question and I think on this occasion, in light of the tone of the question, it adequately addressed it.
Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.
Mr SPEAKER: Again, before I hear the member, is he raising a fresh point of order?
Rt Hon Winston Peters: I am raising a fresh point of order. The Minister made an allegation for which she has no evidence whatsoever, and I want an apology.
Mr SPEAKER: If the member is now saying that he took offence, well, on that basis, if the member, the Rt Hon Winston Peters, was offended by that answer, I ask the honourable Minister to stand and withdraw.
Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Well, I withdraw—is it? I withdraw. But I am happy—
Mr SPEAKER: Order! It is not helpful to do that. The withdrawal does help the order of the House.
Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.
Mr SPEAKER: If the member is attempting to trifle with the Chair, I will take a very dim view of that.
Rt Hon Winston Peters: I am not trifling with the Chair, Mr Speaker. That Minister did not apologise as required under the Standing Orders—
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume his seat. [Interruption] The member will resume his seat. I did not ask the Minister to apologise; I asked her to withdraw the remark, and she did so.
just tried to read this through but all the tory twerps are basically illiterate and functionally imbecilic.
I really cant understand what they are trying to say except that they are all shifty key arse kissers and desperate to please their masters. all in all a thundering herd of lobotomised warthogs.
I can’t find anything that says James Dunne is “the Legal High Industry’s key advocate” or that shows Peter Dunne in a bad light? James Dunne deals with legal issues around such recreational drugs. Article that includes comments from James Dunne on legal highs.
”
Tonight … a Seven Sharp exclusive! … Revelations that a lawyer is acting on behalf of the legal high companies is none other than the son of Minister Peter Dunne.
What do you think about this? ”
ps correction on my post. “Labour’s”. I missed the apostrophe key in my excitement
Add to that Dunne’s very recent “economy of truth” about leaking some report and Dunne’s poor judgement in his behaviour towards some young journalist of the opposite gender.
The Legal Highs story is being pumped by the RadioLive/TV3 stable, under the Duncan Garner brand, on a daily basis. The problems arising from Dunne’s legislative approach is very hot in call-back land. TV3 will be pissed that TV One has trumped them with this explosive story. Each will now try to out-do the other on milking this story. Alfa-laval don’t make milking machines as effective as a miffed media outlet!
On top of that Ohariu is middle-class to the core. Even beggars in Ohariu are middle class! They will not like this narrative: Your local “independent” MP and serial government minister is failing to crack down on scummy legal-high peddlers. Co-incidentally that scummy industry is paying that Minister’s son a big wad of cash on a regular basis to negotiate with the Ministers civil servants….
Dunne’s other problem is that he is sanctimonious. Very very sanctimonious. Many many people love love seeing sanctimonious people fall.
2.89 When accepting an invitation, a Minister should inform the organisation that it may not:
use any photos taken of the Minister at the event; or
publicise the event,
in a way that could be perceived as an endorsement by the Minister of the organisation, or its products or services.
Seems fairly clear to me that our PMs pic is being used as an endorsement and so is a few other ministers.
The accusations that Judith Collins made about girlfriends and corruption, anyone have any idea what she was on about? Had a distinctly whaleoilish smell about it. What a dreadful old gossip she is. Parliament gets more like absurdist theatre and pantomime every day.
Jrobin, it was very specifically directed at her accuser, Winston. It has been reported elsewhere that Winston’s lady was a senior exec of a pharmaceuticals related business.
Perhaps Collins is suggesting that Winston asked loaded questions in Parliament?
James Dunne
SENIOR ASSOCIATE – LEADER PARLIAMENT TEAM
James has valuable inside knowledge of how Parliament works in New Zealand, and is New Zealand’s leading specialist in the regulation of new psychoactives under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013. He has an LLB and a BA (History) from Victoria University, and has worked at Chen Palmer since his admission to the bar in 2008. At Chen Palmer he specialises in policy and law reform, and has developed a wide range of expertise in a number of areas:
Policy and law reform: James has advised on a range of law reforms including liquor law reform, psychoactives law reform, real estate agents law reform, taxation law reform, and child support law reform;
Parliament: James advises on how Parliament works and on interacting with Parliamentary processes including the passage of legislation, Select Committees, financial reviews and issues of Parliamentary privilege; and
Regulatory affairs: James advises on the interface with a range of regulators including the Overseas Investment Off
hmmm, that’s tricky. Minimum house sizes set too high prevent people from building small, more energy efficient and cheaper houses for themselves. The problem with NACT setting policy is that it’s bound to be to the advantage of developers, not the community. Also smacks of squashing as many low paid workers into one block as possible. At the other end, people of means are building houses that are too big in terms of ecological footprinting. Lots of problems here, not too many easy solutions.
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Today is May the fourth. Which was just a regular day when my mother took me to see the newly released Star Wars at the Odeon in Rotorua. The queue was right around the corner. Some years later this day became known as Star Wars Day, the date being a ...
Buzz from the Beehive Much more media attention is being paid to something Winston Peters said about former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr than to a speech he delivered to the New Zealand China Council. One word is missing from the speech: AUKUS. But AUKUS loomed large in his considerations ...
Is the economy in another long stagnation? If so, why?This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be ...
The annual list of who's been bribing our politicians is out, and journalists will no doubt be poring over it to find the juiciest and dirtiest bribes. The government's fast-track invite list is likely to be a particular focus, and we already know of one company on the list which ...
In the weeks after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Southern Israel I wrote about the possible 2nd, 3rd and even 4th order effects of the conflict. These included new fronts being opened in the West Bank (with Hamas), Golan … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – It is one of the oldest truisms that there is never a good time for MPs to get a pay rise. This week’s announcement of pay raises of around 2.8% backdated to last October could hardly have come at a worse time, with the ...
David Farrar writes – Newshub reports: Newshub can reveal a fresh allegation of intimidation against Green MP Julie-Anne Genter. Genter is subject to a disciplinary process for aggressively waving a book in the face of National Minister Matt Doocey in the House – but it’s not the first time ...
The Treasury has published a paper today on the global productivity slowdown and how it is playing out in New Zealand: The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections. The Treasury Paper examines recent trends in productivity and the potential drivers of the slowdown. Productivity for the whole economy ...
Winston Peters’ comments about former Australian foreign minister look set to be an ongoing headache for both him and Luxon. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guests on Gaza and ...
These puppet strings don't pull themselvesYou're thinking thoughts from someone elseHow much time do you think you have?Are you prepared for what comes next?The debating chamber can be a trying place for an opposition MP. What with the person in charge, the speaker, typically being an MP from the governing ...
The land around Lyme Regis, where Meryl Streep once stood, in a hood, on the Cobb, is falling into the sea.MerylThe land around Lyme Regis, around the Cobb that made it rich, has always been falling slowly but surely into the sea. Read more ...
Photo by Jari Hytönen on UnsplashIt’s that new day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream for our chat about the week’s news ...
Buzz from the Beehive Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters was bound to win headlines when he set out his thinking about AUKUS in his speech to the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. The headlines became bigger when – during an interview on RNZ’s Morning Report today – he criticised ...
The Post reports on how the government is refusing to release its advice on its corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law, instead using the "soon to be publicly available" refusal ground to hide it until after select committee submissions on the bill have closed. Fast-track Minister Chris Bishop's excuse? “It's not ...
As pressure on it grows, the livestock industry’s approach to the transition to Net Zero is increasingly being compared to that of fossil fuel interests. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above ...
The New Zealand Herald reports – Stats NZ has offered a voluntary redundancy scheme to all of its workers as a way to give staff some control over their “future” amidst widespread job losses in the public sector. In an update to staff this morning, seen by the Herald, Statistics New Zealand ...
On Werewolf/Scoop, I usually do two long form political columns a week. From now on, there will be an extra column each week about music and movies. But first, some late-breaking political events:The rise in unemployment numbers for the March quarter was bigger than expected – and especially sharp ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: TVNZ says it is dealing with about 50 formal complaints over its coverage of the latest 1News-Verian political poll, with some viewers – as well as the Prime Minister and a former senior Labour MP – critical of the tone of the 6pm report. ...
Muriel Newman writes – When Meridian Energy was seeking resource consents for a West Coast hydro dam proposal in 2010, local Maori “strenuously” objected, claiming their mana was inextricably linked to ‘their’ river and could be damaged. After receiving a financial payment from the company, however, the Ngai Tahu ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Next week the government will again next try to get its legislation through to deal with non-citizens who won’t cooperate with efforts to deport them. The bill, which the opposition and crossbench refused to rush ...
A long-term project that will set out an alternative vision for Aotearoa that looks beyond the narrow confines of the policy straight jacket adopted by successive governments. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bree Hurst, Associate Professor, Faculty of Business and Law, QUT, Queensland University of Technology TK Kurikawa/Shutterstock A much-awaited report into Coles and Woolworths has found what many customers have long believed – Australia’s big supermarkets engage in price gouging. What started ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Ghezelbash, Associate Professor and Deputy Director, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Law & Justice, UNSW Sydney The Albanese government wanted to avoid an inquiry into its migration amendment bill. The report, handed down yesterday by a senate committee that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joo-Cheong Tham, Professor, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne Lobbying is at the heart of government. Who has access to and influence over key government officials shapes the decisions governments make – and how they make them. The ability to influence ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Myfany Turpin, Associate Professor, Ethnomusicology, Linguistics and Ethnobiology, University of Sydney The act representing Australia at this year’s Eurovision contest has sadly not qualified for the grand final. Yet for Zaachariaha Fielding and Michael Ross, the duo that makes up Electric Fields, ...
In announcing changes to the school lunches programme, David Seymour said kids would no longer be served ‘woke’ foods. To clear up any confusion, The Spinoff has compiled a guide to the wokeness levels of some common food items. Apple = NOT WOKE Avocado = WOKE Avocado, smashed = EVEN ...
The Minister Responsible for GCSB and the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security have been notified of this review, and have been provided a finalised Terms of Reference. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Minglu Chen, Senior Lecturer, Government and International Relations, University of Sydney Robert Way/Shutterstock As the past few years have illustrated so clearly, the Australia-China relationship is complicated. As such, it is crucial for Australians to develop a more nuanced understanding of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mariana Campbell, Research Lecturer, Conservation, Charles Darwin University Marilyn Connell Australian freshwater turtles are facing an alarming trend. Almost half of these species are listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered. The Mary River turtle (Elusor macrurus) is one of Australia’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Debbie Passey, Digital Health Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne Algorithms have become integral to our lives. From social media apps to Netflix, algorithms learn your preferences and prioritise the content you are shown. Google Maps and artificial intelligence are nothing without ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Josephine Barbaro, Associate Professor, Principal Research Fellow, Psychologist, La Trobe University Unsplash We’ve come a long way in terms of understanding that everyone thinks, interacts and experiences the world differently. In the past, autistic people, people with attention deficit hyperactive disorder ...
PNG Post-Courier Papua New Guinea’s deputy opposition leader James Nomane has accused the government of “reckless economic management” that has forced devaluation to manage loan repayments in foreign currency and placate the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Prime Minister James Marape “must stop lying to the people of Papua New Guinea”, ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Bookseller Confessional, in which we get to know Aotearoa’s booksellers. This week: Jane Arthur, author of Brown Bird, and former bookseller at Good Books.The book I wish I’d writtenI have been working on not comparing myself to others. On accepting that what I can ...
The final decision on the Wellington District Plan makes it official: High-density housing is legal across most of Wellington. Housing minister Chris Bishop has announced his decision on the Wellington District Plan, approving a series of amendments to radically upzone most of Wellington, allowing tens of thousands of new townhouses ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. “Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to ...
RNZ News As Israel presses ahead with strikes in Rafah and seizing the Rafah crossing from Egypt, aid agencies are sounding the alarm of a “catastrophic humanitarian situation”. Rafah was “significant” because it was the only part in Gaza that had not been terribly damaged by the conflict, United Nations ...
With funding set to be scrapped for the Hamilton-Auckland commuter train, Te Huia enthusiast Georgie Dansey argues for it to be thrown a lifeline. It’s 5.45am and the chain of my crappy old bike falls off slugging up the one hill in Hamilton. I contemplate yeeting the bike into the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Cooke, Honorary Fellow, School of the Environment, The University of Queensland We feel ecological grief when we lose places, species or ecosystems we value and love. These losses are a growing threat to mental health and wellbeing globally. We all see ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shauna Brail, Associate Professor, Institute for Management & Innovation, University of Toronto A shift to hybrid and remote work continues to affect worker presence in Toronto’s downtown.(Shutterstock) Downtown Toronto, the core of Canada’s largest city, continues to reel from the lingering ...
Responding to an Auditor-General's report slamming failures in the administration of the 2023 General Election, Taxpayers’ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said: ...
Productivity apps now make up a big chunk of the software market. But do they work? And why do they all have AI integrations?Despite being firmly on the record as a physical planner fan, I sometimes dream of something better than my pretty diary and its scrawled, ugly, interior ...
The Taxpayers’ Union says the Beehive need to lead by example, following reports of more than $50,000 spent upgrading video conferencing equipment and furniture in the Prime Minister’s office. Taxpayers’ Union Campaign Manager, Connor Molloy, ...
An objective list of the 50 most powerful people in New Zealand, as judged by the Spinoff Editorial Board. It’s power list season, baby, and we want in on the action. Sure, there’s the rich list and the powerful “c-suite” list and the young people with power (hmmm) but here, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thalia Anthony, Professor of Law, University of Technology Sydney ShutterstockThis article contains information on deaths in custody and the names of deceased people, and describes ongoing colonial violence towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. First Nations people in Australia ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Simpson, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Macquarie University Netflix Baby Reindeer’s phenomenal success has much to do with its writer and lead, Richard Gadd, who plays Donny in a tender semi-autobiographical account of sexual abuse, harassment and stalking. Gadd’s story has ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Collins, Laureate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Newcastle KarolinaGrabowska/Pexels If you didn’t have food allergies as a child, is it possible to develop them as an adult? The short answer is yes. But the reasons why are much ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul Moon, Professor of History, Auckland University of Technology Ans Westra, self-portrait, c. 1963. National Library ref AWM-0705-F They try but invariably fail – those writers who believe they are capable of encapsulating in prose or verse the essence of ...
Stewart Sowman-Lund looks at the growing concern around the world in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. What’s all this? When Covid-19 arrived on our shores in early 2020, some argued we were too slow, or crucially, ill-prepared for a pandemic. So ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Franco Montalto, Professor of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering and Director, Sustainable Water Resource Engineering Laboratory, Drexel University Water runs into a storm drain in a Los Angeles alley on Aug. 19, 2023, during Tropical Storm Hilary.Citizen of the Planet/Universal Images ...
The inquest into the death of Gore toddler Lachlan Jones has turned up a new witness who says he saw two teenagers and a small child in a high vis vest in the area where the boy’s body was found the day he died. Lachie’s body was discovered face up ...
Stories from the tenancy trenches, featuring spider infestations, cupboard rats and same-sex discrimination. Lucy’s brother was living in a damp 1930s building in Mt Eden where “he had to tie the cupboard doors closed so the rats didn’t get in”. Although he shared custody of his six-year-old son, his property ...
Simeon Brown, Chris Luxon, and Wayne Brown climbed into a hole and announced a plan to solve Auckland’s water woes. This is how it’ll work. New Zealand’s pipes are munted. They’re cracked and leaking, and struggling to handle all the extra poos excreted by our rising population. It’s a big, ...
Opinion: ‘Reference-class forecasting’ is at the heart of improving pricing a project and identifying the expected timeframe but it doesn’t appear to be in use here The post ‘Think fast and act slowly’ is failing big projects appeared first on Newsroom. ...
What do a sombrero in Argentina and cognitive driving tests have in common? Don’t worry, we’re not setting up a bad joke. Hinengaro Clinic dementia clinician Gregory Winkelman has the answer on today’s episode of The Detail. “We ask a patient’s spouse or son or daughter: If you went to ...
Wellington long jumper Phoebe Edwards is back and she’s having fun again. Until this year, Edwards, a top athlete in her teens, had never competed as a senior athlete in New Zealand. In March, the 26-year-old won a national long jump title in a lifetime best of 6.28m after ...
After replacing a fifth of their caucus in just four months, the Greens’ opportunity to reset, reshuffle and refocus on the Government is quickly slipping away The post Persistent Green Party scandals delay caucus reset appeared first on Newsroom. ...
I knew Taika Waititi quite well when he was a kid. His mother lived in a tall narrow house in Aro St, and my youngest sister had a similar house two doors along. They were both single mums, they each had a son aged seven. Taika and my nephew Stepan ...
Opinion: “As time passes, knowledge of the circumstances of the August 2016 outbreak will fade and its immediate impact will be lost.” This statement is from the 2017 report of the Official Inquiry into the Havelock North campylobacteriosis outbreak. The then National-led government established the inquiry after the outbreak left ...
Opinion: Nicholas Khoo looks at two key points in the high-stakes foreign policy pact debate – and asks if NZ can engage with as little drama as possible. The post Where to next for the Aukus ruckus? appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11238187
“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported earlier this month that New Zealand was unprepared for between 2C and 4C of warming this century. Climate Change Minister Tim Groser said New Zealand was doing its fair share to reduce emissions and that the onus was on local councils to respond to the effects of climate change such as sea level rise.
Mr Mills said: “For me that was the end. I thought ‘I’ve got to stand up and be counted now’.”
Good on Mr Mills.
Time for more New Zealanders to stand up and be counted on this vital issue.
Who are you voting for?
Your own greedy needs of those of your grandchildren?
Certainly putting His money where His mouth is,”tired of National Government inaction on climate change issues” the owner of the Les Mills fitness business donates $64,999 to Labour and 65,000 to the Green Party,
Suggests exactly what this businessman wants as the next Government…
+1.
The Pure Advantage website that is mentioned in the article is worth checking out. It’s been active for a year or two now – definitely not picking political sides, so this article from Phillip Mills is a bit of a step up in the campaign it seems.
http://www.pureadvantage.org/
Also positive to see Cunliffe making some right (uncosted, not sure of programme) noises about forming a mitigation package against climate change.
Groser was saying yesterday that there’s really no point doing anything unless the major country emitters agree to do it together. Because I am deeply pessimistic about climate change, I could understand that.
But when we choose to be New Zealand can lead globally. I want more for and from this country than that.
When even party political funding is becoming dependent on where you stand on climate change, you know the worm is turning.
To properly capitalise on this new political understanding David Cunliffe needs to announce that the law that prevents climate change being raised as an objection in consent hearings for new coal mines will be repealed on the return of a Labour Government.
It would also be good if Labour could announce that on regaining office they will impose a complete moratorium on new coal mines, in line with their coalition Partner the Green Party policy of No New Coal Mines.
A moratorium on deep sea oil drilling and fracking and on any other extreme non-traditional fossil fuel extraction methods, would be good too.
Lets not hear anymore sychophantic pedantic whining about ‘we must respect existing contracts’.
What’s more sacred, business contracts negotiated unfairly with no mandate, or the environment we all depend on to survive?
If we want to respect contracts how about this one?
Maybe instead of honouring deals done with Bathurst Resources we should first honour the contract we signed with our Pacific neighbors to endeavor to cut back our CO2 emissions? A contract to which we are a signatory, but which John Key had no problem tearing up to keep letting Solid Energy cook the climate.
The Majuro Declaration on Climate Change
Many of the islands look to New Zealand, their closest large land mass, to give financial and diplomatic leadership.
“New Zealand can and should do more. They are the fifth highest per capita emitters in the world and Kiwi emissions continue to climb.”
President Loeak of the Marshall Islands
Honour the Majuro Declaration. Send Bathurst packing.
Jenny, Yesterday you wanted Cunliffe to announce the adoption of Greens policy of no deep see drilling. Today you want him to adopt their policy on mining AND announce the Greens as a Coalition Partner!
I wait with baited breath to hear what wonderful original thoughts you have tomorrow!
Lolz, a million different people from one day to the next…
So what?
Labour are demanding that the Greens adopt their policies of supporting deep sea oil drilling, and new coal mines.
I have argued for some time that it will be electoral suicide for the Greens to concede to Labour’s demands, and if they persist with these demands better to sit on the cross benches giving support only on budget and supply.
But apart from the Greens calling for Labour to change, physics demand it.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11238219
Corrupt.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11238214
More diversionary trivia for NZers so they don’t pay attention to the important stuff.
The coy Mr Key.
“Mr Key confirmed yesterday it was paid for by the taxpayer and when asked whether that meant it was not such a private dinner after all, he said “well, it kind of is and it isn’t”.
Celebrity Grossed ?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/royal-tour/9940930/Wills-and-Kates-dinner-is-on-us
“My understanding is they were certainly keen to catch up, they were certainly keen to have something that was relaxed and in a fun environment.”
Imelda without the heels !
@north.
And the poor blighters ended up spending the evening with ‘thick as batshit’ key. Yawn.
FFS ! It gets worse – From the Herald this morning –
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11238214
“This time round, it was the tight five – the royals, himself, his wife Bronagh and son Max, who met William during the Keys’ stay at Balmoral last year.” – and this –
“It has become a bit of a tradition for Mr Key and William to cook for each other: after Mr Key hosted the 2010 barbecue, William returned serve by helping out cooking a barbecue for the Key family at Balmoral.”
The wonderful work of Claire Arse-Licker Trevett !
What an uplifting piece of journalism.
Makes you proud to be a New Zealander.
Who said ShonKey Python and his pet scribblers wouldn’t be working the guts out of it a few months out from a general election, then ?
Facts are, the majority of the sheeple are enjoying having the royals out here, the cute little baby, the glamorous duke/duchess.
It’s fun, it’s happy and people especially women want to hear all about it, which is why Cunnliffe came across as such an arse by politising the royal tour.
After the Campbell debacle last night one really has to wonder if the man has a political bone in his body, he really is doing a shit job.
The people giddiest about the royal tour are the trivia and celebrity obsessed media. Despite the efforts of the press to whip up a colonial cringeworthy royal hysteria the crowds are modest, at best. If you scratch the surface, most people think that they seem nice but the whole thing is a bit of a circus.
It’s not my cup of tea, but that doesn’t mean other people aren’t allowed to enjoy it.
Anyway, whats the harm the oldies get to relive the past, the woman get to oooh and ahhh over the cute baby and the young girls get to see a real life princess/duchess.
Good harmless family fun.
The Woyal Bludgers must be leaving soon, good riddance, there hasn’t been a scrap of blue sky here in Wellington since these sponges arrived for a break from sponging on the English to take a few big slurps at the trough here…
Have a look at this, you may learn something.
That may be a true picture for the UK. But none of that is valid for NZ is it BM?
Oh I don’t know, I expect the advertising and exposure NZ has got in the commonwealth media (most particularly the UK) is more than worth the cost to the taxpayer of having the royals visit.
I must admit I’m a bit bemused as to why anyone gets so worked up one way or the other about the royals visiting.
BM, a ‘youtube video for simpletons!!!’ who would have thunk that You would use such a child’s view to explain the Woyal Family of Bludgers,
Basically a ‘Disneyland tourist attraction way over-paid for the role that lot have sponged off of the people of Britain for centuries, murder, standover, and direct taxation of the peasants was how the ‘Crown Estate’ came into being so it doesn’t matter an iota that a previous head of the Bludge Family gave up ownership in favor of a direct ‘suck’ on the revenue stream now managed by the democratically elected Government,
”The Crown Estate is NOT the private property of the Monarch. It cannot be owned by the Monarch in a private capacity”,
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/finances_of_the_british_royal_family
The royals are a tourist attraction they make the UK a truck load of money, far more than what they cost.
The UK has set it’s self up as a Victorian Disney land and the Royals are the centerpiece.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/tourism/8587231/UK-Tourism-facts-and-figures.html
Try to think out side the square, chap.
More rubbish BM, the Woyals do not own the Tower of London, Windsor Castle or Buckingham Palace and as such are simply overpaid actors sucking at the public teat to the tune of millions of pounds a year,
A handful of actors could be hired to ‘play’ the role that these sponges are paid multi-millions of pounds a year to act out for a fraction of the cost,
That still doesn’t explain the fact that the Sponge family is over here bludging off of us at the moment…
I think you should pop down to Civic Square and see them tomorrow. You don’t need to wave a flag, but seeing them in person might change your mind about them, and you have nothing else to do.
Getting all bitter and twisted about Will, Kate and George seems a little sad.
And SSLands proves his complete and total shallowness. For him, looks and image are everything.
Ha Ha SSLands, the last time i seen one of the plastic Lowness’es was years back when Dun Mihaka gave Her an entirely appropriate whakapahone as a greeting,
My presence so exercised the DPS prowling the side-show bob spectators that they saw reason to curtail my civil rights by bailing me up against a wall asking the same sort of stupid questions that you are famed for…
“you have nothing else to do.”
mind your manners
classic transference by slylands
slylands this is one of your more vacuous efforts during worktime. you start work at 10am and at 10:10am here you are posting. the king of productivity preaches not practices.
good harmless costly to the taxpayer fun.perhaps the govt should pass buckets through the crowd seeking donations to pay for it all.
The entire tour is politicking – exactly as planned. You’re here adding more to it.
majority bm, you mean the fewthousand who turn out in the streets. by your logic the majority of kiwis are against the gcsb act, the tpp because a few thousands took to the streets.
Or about half the entire population according to the last poll
one fact at a time or bm’s head will explode
Makes you ill.
not a nzer bm, a colonial.
I haven’t been looking at Royals visit news. I don’t click on the links on news websites. I switch on mute during the TV News, and attend to something else. Why encourage the media obssession – they measure success by the number of clicks on those links, not whether you are for or against the royals.
I have been enjoying a relatively royals free space on TS.
Yeah, I’ve managed to bypass it so far as well.
Goebbels would be proud of the corporate media.
And all this on TV at dinner time, where we all eating ‘cheap’. If eating at all. But nice to see that our tax dollars are being used for something important …
Im over the Royal Family.
We don’t need a monarchy anymore — anywhere, not just here. We are capable of choosing our own leaders, like religion, it is a hangover from more archaic times.
The Chinese managed to get rid of their monarchy after 3000 years, as did the Russians, the French, the Indians, and so on. We should be able to do the same.
Claire “Key Cracks a Joke” Sycophantic Trevett. Time to start collecting her articles for systematic bias complaint.
She’s not a journalist’s backside.
Have just turned on and then turned off morning report. Radio New Zealand have employed one of the slimiest national party shills to front their flagship operation. What an awful mouthful of mangement speak but a slimy little toad is a slimy little toad whichever way you paint it.
Espiner?
I missed hearing Rod Oram because I forgot to turn the radio back on again after another (gag) news report with heartfelt sound of Piss story wringing out his tears. How long Oh Lord do we have to put up with this `news’ from South Africa? We have a good celebrity story incubating right here in River City, or NZ when we find our bearings.
It may be that there are some strange radio news agreements with countries such as South Africa also the USA, so that we take whatever because more volume (hah) costs less, and we then sound so linked in and international.
I haven’t bothered with the Royal visit. I wish them well and hope that they didn’t mind spending time watching children play rugby in Dunedin. How exciting. I can understand that the Dunedinites wanted to show off their wonderful stadium, but it wouldn’t please me as an event if I was on a Magical Mystery Tour.
Something else I missed on radio was Ellis at 11.45 discussing somebody interviewed by Campbell last night prevaricating. There that’s my big word for the day – hope it’s the right one.
Apparently whoever said whatever was not sure about whether he would do something or not. Might have been Cunliffe. Doesn’t sound like Winston who is always positive about things – even positive that he is negative on a policy. Same with Hone. Dunne’s been done. Russel is being spoken to tomorrow I think!
I did think that someone may have had some comment to make about last night’s pollies but you are all of on a royal tour around the beltway or somewhere. Perhaps someone can enlighten me on a) the person who was interviewed, and b) what it was he wasn’t sure about. (I understood it was a him.)
I remember Sharon Crosby leaving for (somewhere) and she made a departing statement, (something like) “there you all thought I was right wing didn’t you”
There is something positive about the interwebs at the moment… Almost as if a malevolent force has been removed. What might have excised the ugliness? What great change?
Ah yes, there it is!!!
DPF is in the Himalayas and can’t update his little National Party propaganda vehicle. Let’s hope he doesn’t stumble into the path of a grumpy Yak. That would be terrible. Yesssireeeee, ait would be absolutely terrible.
They have cyber cafes in Nepal….??
“they have McDonald’s in Tibet”
theological complexities aside – Amused to Death is still a great album and has one of those timeless message thingys to boot
Prostituting the Office of the Prime Minister, fresh from being the ‘star’ attraction at the Northern Club said to be the most exclusive ‘Gentlmen’s club’ in Auckland,(funnily enough the Splash Club, a Brothel, advertises itself as an ‘exclusive Gentlemen’s Club here in Wellington),on sale for 5 grand a ‘client’ the ACT Party are now saying they have a far better deal ‘for sale’,
Is this the benefit of ‘competition’ or just the fact the Prime Minister has been well used by the ‘clients’ at previous 5 grander’s, ACT are selling Him to the ‘clients’ at $100 a time at an upcoming dinner,(pretty much ‘street prices’ for a ‘one on one’ with the PM),
Meanwhile Oravida having already ‘paid’ handsomely for the Prostitution of the Office of the Prime Minister are wringing as much use out of Him as possible, featured next to an Oravida ad in a magazine a large picture of Slippery the Prime Minister is said by His office not to breach any rules of propriety because He is not quoted as endorsing the Oravida products being advertised next to it,
What price will this Political prostitute be fetching next year???10 bucks for a quicky…
You are making a big deal out of absolutely nothing. PMs have been involved in fundraising forever.
NZ PM on menu at auction
http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/sailing/10/17/tnz.auction.biz/
That doesn’t make it right. Specifically, a picture of our PM should not be part of a products promotion.
SSLands, as usual you use what you see as a cunning lie to advance whatever the point is you are attempting to advance,
Notice who Slippery the Prime Minister is Prostituting the Office of Prime Minister in aid of??? who would have thunk it, the Prime Minister is selling himself for 5 grand a time not in aid of any non-political ”good deed”, simply applying Political Prostitution to raise funds for the National Party, the ACT Party, and, the Maori Party,
Compare that with the fundraising of an auctioned dinner with ex-Prime Minister Helen Clark???the beneficiary of the Clark dinner, Team NZ,
If you cannot see the difference then your stupidity level is far greater than i have previously imagined…
These clowns are just bitter because no one would pay good money to talk to Clusterfuck Cunliffe
Shane Jones drops the hyperbole and makes sense again, describing on Morning report this morning the Maori Party as hypocrites for their 5 grand a time dinner for Auckland’s pakeha elite while they at the same time ‘dissed’ the Mana Party for being in negotiations with the Internet Party,
Jones then went on to draw a thin line of split flax through the chances of the Maori parties Te Ururoa Flavell in the Waiariki electorate saying Annette Sykes will give Him what He has earned for 5 years spent as a lapdog of the National Government,(that don’t include another 3 years),
Jones’es prognosis for the future of the Maori Party, the same as mine, Haere ra…
so dpf is up a mountain. well whipty do for him. does he think he is Sir Ed or sumfing. why doesn’t he just look in a mirror and get some tools for looking into his black heart for the causes of his bile and pathology.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/9941577/ACC-forms-ruled-to-be-unlawful
Another appalling example of Judith Collins’ arrogance.
But what can you expect from an admitted liar(re Oravita), who is also Minister of (choke) Justice?
This needs vigorous followup. What are the chances of a criminal prosecution of the ACC executives involved? After all, we have the good old standover tactics, coercion, fraudulent threats etc?
arrogance and bullying.
INTERNET FREEDOM is crucial to a DEMOCRACY…it is perhaps one of the most important issues of our time….especially on issues such as globalisation, monopoly capitalism, free debate
….just think what one can learn from the internet and how much authorities with a totalitarian bent would like to control, censor….. close down an open internet …or make it user pays ( to them) and so restrict full public access
…the free open internet fills in many of the gaps and omissions of the mainstream media
as just one example .. ..a free open internet provides people the ability to think critically about the pharmaceutical industry…and take charge of their own health decisions….(just think how much multi national multi billion dollar pharmaceutical companies would like to censor and close down open debate/ critiques and counter research , people sharing adverse effects / experiences etc which cut into their profits)
…in some ways the issues Dotcom and the Internet Party are promoting are the most important issues for all New Zealanders and their democracy , freedom of thought …regardless of what party they belong to
….So go Mana for Internet Freedom and Democracy!
I’m glad Mana is getting on board with what has long been Green Party Policies.
So Mana and The Greens should be able to work well together.
agree.
what did you make of the nine to noon discussion of the way winz is dealing with mental health “clients”. i was a little perturbed than they are expected to get into preparedness to return to work immediately, unless granted an exemption. surely complete rest and freedom from work stresses has merit.
i also note how quickly ryan changed 40% may remaon on a benefit for a long time to “most” will do do.
I didn’t hear it. I don’t listen to RNZ much these days – browse their website and selct an audio or 2.
Generally, I don’t support an approach that stresses work as a priority over mental health.
it all was said by a woman with such a reasonable tone and yet…
Her unwillingness to admit total numbers of people on any of the benefits was a really big tell. Exception being the 400 people she mentioned who had found work on the new trial, work she was quick to qualify by saying it included [mainly?] part time hours.
The references to the general Jobseeker benefit were particularly funny. Listening to her explain what the Jobseeker seminars are like and how hands on the staff are getting people into work was surreal. Is there a word for laughing out loud whilst internally cringing?
and her single example of a job well done…
Mana seem to be making sincere overtures to The Greens
The comments were Metiria’s comment that
I don’t disagree with
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9943442/Greens-open-to-talks-with-Mana
but i wonder if that will cut it in today’s political environment. Personally I’ve struggled with deals for the same reasons that Metiria says but times have changed and the way it is is the way it is even though we would wish it different. It is time for The Greens to get into power and enact some of their great policies, we can’t afford another 3 years of the gnats, we need The Greens in there. I don’t believe in any means being justifiable but working together with others is essential and it can be done with integrity and alignment with values imo.
I’m against deals and coat-tail type arrangements. I have been very critical of the way the right games the system. Ultimately, it undermines democracy.
I vote Green party, but understand that in my electorate voting for the Green candidate is a waste of a vote. I will vote for the most viable “left” electorate candidate. But the choice should be up to voters.
I think like-minded parties can have on-going talks on polices, without needing a formal “deal” for elections.
Generally, voters could be educated more about their choices. The media focuses too much on the horse race and “strategies” and deals. I think that tends to put off a lot of voters. It becomes more of a game between parties and pollies, and doesn’t directly address the needs and interests of the public.
“But the choice should be up to voters.”
but isn’t, in the example you give, that just being covert instead of overt? That those who understand the ramifications of tactical voting make their choice and those that don’t miss the choice or opportunity. So the choices are explained to people and they choose but really the choice explanation is guiding their choices anyway by showing the lie of the land from the choices made.
sorry about that paragraph but hopefully you’ll get my meaning 🙂
Yesterday John Key challenged Cunliffe to a live debate on TV One about housing affordability. It was reported on TV1 news at 6pm that Cunliffe accepted the challenge.
This is really win-win for Cunliffe. He’s now accepted the challenge, so will get air-time opposite Key, months ahead of the election, showing that he is a contender for the job, in the same way that Key getting up next to Clark for the S59 deal only helped him out.
If Key backs down on the challenge, Labour can trumpet from the ramparts that Key is a coward and all talk.
The only downside is if Cunliffe gets smacked around in the debate, but truthfully I don’t think that’s likely.
Is this perhaps the biggest strategic mis-step from smart-alec Key in this election campaign?
Depends on who is the m.c.
If it’s someone like Hosking, expect an ambush.
well, he can always quip to hosking that
” at least i know the difference between climate change and a weather forecast”
“Or I didn’t know Sky City sponsored this programme”
Cunliffe cancelled twice from appearing on cambell live – I’m guessing he wont turn up for this either.
He is re-scheduling for Campbell Live.
Why? So he can cancel a third time ?
so he can by an expensive bach to pretend its his “home”.
key backed off his challenged. opps, aye james?
Even if Cunliffe smacks around Key in the debate, it will be reported the other way around.
Worth bearing in mind, for anyone that can recall it, the result of that tv3 debate on housing.
Pundits were sure that Metiria Turei had stuffed everything up till the results came in.
http://www.3news.co.nz/How-do-we-fix-the-housing-crisis/tabid/1785/articleID/311238/Default.aspx
Keys dealt to: Cullen, Clark, Goff, Shearer (well ok he didn’t get the chance to deal to him but most likely he would have) and Campbell whereas Cunliffes dealt to Robertson, Jones and has ducked Campbell twice
Yeah it might possibly be a mis-step by Key but based on what Keys done to the best and brightest of the Left in the past its probably not
No, Key held his own against Clark.
In the debates against Clark, Key was the real underdog. He ‘won’ the debates on the back of ‘doing better than everyone expected’. That’s not a ringing endorsement.
dont confuse the right with facts
He beat Clark, he had her screeching about not shouting her down like he does to his wife at home (forgotten that?)
But the point being that Keys gone up against the best the left could muster whereas Cunliffe has gone up against the rest the left could muster so its a calculated decision by Key
on which he has reneged already
😕 just how drunk was he when he made the challenge?
Was at his weekly press briefing.
Cunliffe doesn’t do off the cuff, Key does and he’s very very good at it.
I’m get the feeling that this is Key going in for the kill.
Disagree.
Key can’t handle difficult interviews. Stephen Sackur on Hard Talk had him on the ropes.
Hence Key’s aversion to interviews on RNZ ; instead he has cosy chats with Mike, Rawdon and Marcus in the morning.
If ( and it’s a big if) a half decent and impartial interviewer is brought to the debate, Key is toast.
From what I’ve seen of Cunliffe unless the interview follows a set path he’s in trouble.
If Key asks him a question he hasn’t got a set answer to, he’ll fall apart.
And what happens when a good interviewer asks Key a difficult question on say child poverty?
Like how much have you done personally to ease child poverty having $50 mil sitting in the bank of Hawaii?
you need to know the answers before you ask the questions…
cunliffe can debate. i have no doubt and he will be uneditted, thats a plus
It’s a valid question you can research if you like, but as I’m not a politician in the house where knowing the answer to a question before you ask it is a pre requisite, or blogger with credibility resting on the outcome, I’ll just quietly wait in the hope of an adequate response.
When Key was asked on his return from China on the level of discussion and representation re climate change, his eyes took that all too familiar fixed stare position and he fudged that “yeah we talked about it at dinner…” Key does not handle direct, unrehearsed questions well at all.
watch this … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrPgK3bf9_4
Cunliffe is rescheduling the interview with Campbell Live.
They now have weekly interviews with both Key and Cunliffe on Morning Report.
Many people who have only a passing interest in politics tend to not know who David Cunliffe is. So it will be of value for David to appear on national TV. Exposure is important.
remember when key stormed off in a huff.
the one saving grace from such a debate is that if its chaired by hoskings he wont be able to help himseld and his career and might just be even handed as a result.
David Parker said in the House a few minutes ago that Key had backed down from doing a specific TV debate with Cunliffe on housing.
http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/pm-won-t-debate-cunliffe-over-housing-5931001
Now how about Cunliffe and co. do some serious mocking of the coward on TV, radio and the newspapers – and in parliament. I’m sick of Labour letting Key and co. get away with murder without responding in kind.
If they think the general public are going to give them brownie points for behaving nicely then they are seriously deluded.
pretty hard to do that when you just backed out of a tv appearance
Probably Key made that challenge to Cunliffe off the cuff in a moment of bravado, then backed down when Cunliffe accepted it and Key(or his advisors) realised what it would involve.
Lanthanide said it was announced at the PM’s press briefing, so it was surely not an off the cuff idea ?
key could just be feeling bullet proof with his second family currently touring… once off the podium he had to deal with the looks of horror in the corridor and the realisation he isnt actually a Windsor.
don’t the corgis carry the surname ?
Verily it was off the cuff. He was giving a smart-alec reply to a journalist’s question, grinning ear to ear and walked off the stage.
Good, starve Cunliffe of oxygen until you have to deal with him then smoke in the debate
yet your saying key can slay him any time, any where, with no prep
which is it?
its hard to support someone that just made him look so stupid. why do these folks keep sticking up for key, he just makes fools of them over and over.
wow, you need a panadol for that superfast flip flop sir??
“so its a calculated decision by Key” Puckish rogue only one hour ago folks
So …. what is the next step in this cunning plan we wonder ?
His next step is to continue to have an approval rating at least 5 times the size of Cunliffe
Which is going according to plan 🙂
his party poll is the relevant one. .. hence hes baking cakes for the maori party fair.
The more popular he is the better it is for National so expect to see Keys face on more womens magazines in the near future
doesnt follow as such. look at his past popularity in polls compared to election day results.
all that aside, neither cunliffe nor key look good from this BUT cunliffe is moving to the position key had in 2008. low expectation in the debate and all the pressure on key to deliver up a storm.
i see youve steered away from the issue of you contradicting yourself
Key definitely has a positive story to tell with the Reserve Bank moves cooling the lower end of the housing market effectively.
His HNZ recent reforms also seem to be going down pretty well as well among the NZ Housing NGOs.
The cooperation with Auckland Council, and the acceleration of Hobsonville and Tamaki Transformation, are also positive for the government.
Cunliffe however will be able to point to the Christchurch housing rebuild debacle, and the range of more structural responses that Labour has ready.
Cunliffe will not be caught short on briefing.
I would however further arm him with those tasty zingers that Peters is grand master of – because those are the lines that turn ito memes the day after.
Housing is certainly preferable ground for the Left to argue on than the economy.
Key’s “co-operation” with Auckland Council, involved threatening them if they did not comply with the addition of SHA’s, which effectively undermined the more sustainable compact city outcomes that the Unitary Plan was trying to achieve.
The debacle of the Hobsonville project, which was intended to provide 20%, or 500 affordable homes under Labour, but after National came in – only “achieved” 17 Gateway home purchases is not actually positive from my perspective. I’m guessing the Tamaki transformation will be similar.
As for your last sentence – satire?
Anyone familiar with my commenting will realist that I don’t approve National’s direction – just stating what the overwhelming majority of MSM say it is. Unfortunately that matters this year.
Yes Hobsonville is in small part a missed opportuity – but it is also a massive masterplanning, sustainability and commercial success. Started and imagined under Labour. Don’t believe me – go and have a drive through – or take the ferry up there.
Re last sentence: Labour has pretty much run out of the time to turn the MSM to believing that National aren’t doing a good job at economic growth, and that economic growth their way is a good thing. Fight other fights.
My personal approach is never to let the memes pass uncommented, but yes, I can understand where you are coming from.
To me, Hobsonville looks pretty and is pretty, but also pretty much missed the boat in terms of it’s intention of redevelopment of government owned land.
The first few pages of Adding it all Up by the Salvation Army in 2012, puts the success of Hobsonville in perspective.
Tamaki will be the same. And economic growth from where I (and many others) sit, just means our expenses have grown and nothing else!
cunliffe needs to talk about rising interest rates, likely to rise further, so the only thing national has done is prevent young and lower income getting a house, while landlords pass on interest hikes through increasing the same folks rent. thats not housing affordability its preserving home ownership for the wealthy and investors.
“Key does and he’s very very good at it.”
yeah – nah.
i dont know where you get that idea from – the same place as cunliffes faux bro accent perhaps?\
jesus wept – you seriously think that key does well when hes off script?
note – off script doesnt mean the appearance of making off the cuff remarks in an environment where you control or know the questions before hand
Worked for Winston Churchill and it works for John Key
no it doesnt
on what do you base this weird opinion? – when ever key is put on the spot in an unscripted or unprepared environment he makes an ass of himself
note – major point here – unscripted and unprepared, so dont bring up the campbell live thing because that was a planned prepared appearance
could you provide some examples?
I’m agreeing with you, when Keys prepared he makes it look like hes not prepared similar to Churchill saying his best come-backs were thought of ahead of time
thats not even remotely what im saying or asking you
you claimed key is good off the cuff
i disagreed and asked you to further explain your opinion, specifically asking if there was anything you could bring to the discussion that showed how you formed this opinion
and you came back with churchill
if pr can compare key to churchill, we must be able to compare his lying about ian fletcher, his use of the gcsb and his disdain for democracy with hitler.
id say its the opposite. key needs time to prepare and be prepared.
http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/pm-won-t-debate-cunliffe-over-housing-5931001
gutless wonder
“Yeah, we’ll call it the first debate, I’m looking forward to it.”
He says the Prime Minister does not start debating with the Leader of the Opposition prior to the debates.”
thats almost pythonesque
i think the team planned on four more months preparation…
what a lot of shit bm. wait a moment. thats what a bm is. a load of crap.
Why did Cunnliffe cancel. Labour needs an effective leader. Shane Jones would be far more effective. Labour is no longer the opposition party. It is the Labour Greens and the greens don’t even have an elected representative. Come on the Unions get your party back up the polls. NZ needs a decent opposition and one that has the potential to govern NZ effectively.
The GP has 14 elected representatives. You may have noticed that change to our electoral system in the 1990s, whereby we moved to a more representative and fairer system.
Jones may or may not be more effective for Labour than DC, but he would be a disaster for the left and any hope of NZ shifting away from neoliberalism, relieving poverty, addressing AGW/PO/GFC etc, ie doing the things we desperately need to do. Jones = BAU.
Shane Jones should probably shift to National. Not a great endorsement for a Labour Party leader.
F*ck the poor.
Keeping it that way.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2014/04/08/rich-people-rule/
The Taranaki regional council assurance does seem rather convenient.
http://www.trc.govt.nz/seismologists-find-nothing-to-fear/
.
State geologists in Ohio have for the first time linked earthquakes in a geologic formation deep under the Appalachians to gas drilling, leading the state to issue new permit conditions in certain areas that are among the nation’s strictest.
A state investigation of five small tremors in the Youngstown area, in the Appalachian foothills, last month has found the high-pressure injection of sand and water that accompanies hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in the Utica Shale may have increased pressure on a small, unknown fault, said State Oil & Gas Chief Rick Simmers. He called the link “probable.”
[…]
Under the new permit conditions, all new drilling sites in Ohio within 3 miles of a known fault or seismic activity of 2.0 magnitude or higher will be conditioned on the installation of sensitive seismic-monitoring equipment. Results will be directly available to regulators, Simmers said, so the state isn’t reliant on drilling operators providing the data voluntarily.
If seismic activity of 1.0 magnitude or greater is felt, drilling will be paused for evaluation. If a link is found, the operation will be halted
http://www.cnbc.com/id/101576489
im sure they are lying
On ‘Martin Bradbury’s New Zealand’ ( cf Alistair Cooke’s America):
Maori National Party vs Mana Socialist Party…and BIG Money connections
Q: who is the biggest hypocrite?…
A:.Maori National Party
‘Comparing Maori Party $5000 per ticket John Key Fundraiser at sexist Northern Club to MANA’s Internet Party alliance’ –
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/04/15/comparing-maori-party-5000-per-ticket-john-key-fundraiser-at-sexist-northern-club-to-manas-internet-party-alliance/
In 1991 the Club voted to admit women and today has a thriving membership of men and women. Membership of the Northern Club attracted many leaders of the Auckland community, and the Club has played an active and sometimes pivotal role in the history of New Zealand’s largest city.
In 2010, the Auckland Club[5] was absorbed by The Northern club, adding over $3,000,000 in assets to the club, and 250 members. Exclusively male in its membership for over 120 years, facilities for women were introduced only gradually. The first female member was admitted in 1990, shortly after the earliest woman after-dinner speaker, the Minister of Finance Ruth Richardson, who addressed the club in 1989.
The Northern Club Building is significant as the oldest surviving gentlemen’s club in Auckland, and one of the city’s oldest hotels. It has strong links to early colonial institutions, such as the provincial government and British army, as well as prominent individuals in New Zealand history.
It is representative of important aspects of colonial society, such as all-male associations and business networks. It demonstrates the implanting and nurturing of traditions introduced from Britain, particularly among the social elite. The building’s well-preserved interiors yield information about nineteenth- and twentieth-century life in New Zealand, from the use of decor to attitudes about gender and class. The building is particularly significant for its association with other early colonial structures in the area, such as the Albert Barracks Wall and former Government House.
Is that a cut and paste? Can you please attribute clearly, Tracey?
Very interesting interview on RNZ, with Dr Michael Stevens on the historical importance of Bluff. Lots of good stuff on Kāi Tahu culture, southern Māori and a bit of myth busting too.
Dr. Michael Stevens, history lecturer at Otago University and a proud “Bluffie”, has received a Marsden Fund Fast-Start grant to research the history of Bluff between the years 1800 and 2000. He believes his historical case study of the port will re-shape thinking about New Zealand’s economic development and race relations. Of Kai Tahu descent, Dr. Stevens is descended from some of Bluff’s oldest Maori and Pakeha families and grew up in the port town.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2592674/dr-michael-stevens-traces-the-history-of-bluff
Thanks weka – will listen to that later on. The deep south has much to teach us all about how to get on.
Thanks, I missed that, it was good to listen to the interview. I’ve got multiple family connections with Bluff.
Dr Stevens’ research will be interesting. He advises:
I really like Dame Anne Salmond and this article is awesome imo
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11238114
Yep we really need to see with fresh eyes and be open to other options than the duopoly often presented as ‘the only options’ – there are infinite options if we allow our minds to consider and be open.
On polluted Seas and Land in Taranaki due to oil drilling and dairying …Film maker Eruera Ted Nia, a child of Parihaka and Taranaki, has produced documentaries.
In 1986 Eruera formed Rangiatea Films and Produced/Directed the 48 minute documentary ‘Te Atiawa o Runga te Rangi’ that was commissioned for TVNZ. A portrait of the remaining kuia and koro from Taranaki, they discuss in 100% Taranaki mita, their families, education and way of life.
On Tuesday 24 July 2013 Eruera traveled to Wellington thanks to NZ Film Archives and screened his films ‘Te Atiawa o Runga Te Rangi’ (1986) ‘ Huakina (1987) a look at the polluted seas and land in Taranaki due to oil drilling, ‘Nga Tai o Makiri’ (1987) a study of four Taranaki rivers, with three being almost destroyed due to dairy farming and oil drilling, ‘Te Ara Puoro o Aotearoa’ (1996) a portrait of long time colleague and fellow artist Hirini Melbourne to a largely Taranaki audience.
http://falamedia.com/category/polynesian-screen-production/pasefika-filmmakers/
Excellent.
The connectedness of all things….
Just watched “How Wolves Change Rivers” narrated by George Monbiot. I had read of this effect, but 4 mins on Youtube provides a pretty effective summary.
thanks for that ‘How Wolves Change Rivers’ …it is lovely
You need to keep dairying in context. NZ has about 2% of the world’s dairy cows. If we reduce dairying the slack will just get taken up elsewhere. Brazil has FOUR TIMES our dairy cow numbers with poorer environmental standards. Do you want to see more pollution in Brazil? No of course you don’t.
Better have dairying in clean green New Zealand where we can keep an eye on it rather than send it off to Brazil and destroy more rainforest. PLUS Brazil is NEVER going to bring its agriculture sector into any future agreement on GHG reductions. Do you want to increase global greenhouse emissions? No of course you don’t.
So I encourage you to think globally. Get out on your next vacation and go and check out dairying in Brazil. It will allow you to keep perspective.
So unless you want to stuff our economy and stuff Brazil’s environment there is no alternative.
Dairy in New Zealand is a win win for the economy and the environment.
LOL that was awesome comedy slylands.
Actually, in an own goal sort of way, he has a point.
It’s the same with the big Greens push for solar – great for NZ, but ignores the strip mining of rare earths, inhuman working conditions, and coal-powered production in China which makes the pannels in the first place.
So make them here.
You know, there’s actually a better solution and it’s one that will probably work because, no matter what we do, chances are Brazil will end up having more cows than us anyway meaning that we will lose the income from all those dirty, filthy cows that are polluting our waterways. That better solution is tariffs specifically linked to environmental policy and enforcement. Basically, no country gets to export unless it meets minimum environmental standards. There, looking after the environment in a way that might actually work.
Of course, I don’t think international trade works so I’ll take that with a grain of salt.
Where should we go to check out dairying in Brazil, SSLands? How far is it from the rainforest that is being destroyed? Which states are involved? I’d love to hear your version. Who runs the largest grass fed dairy farm in Brazil?
slylands says its the only way to grow and make everyone better off…
egosystem versus ecosystem
Is Cunnliffe working for National.His transport policy has just been announced and ridiculed by MSM. IF Shane Jones is unpalatable try Robinson or Parker please.
[lprent: If you just want to be a fuckwit and just write trite trollisms, then just go elsewhere please.
Next time I see you utter one under any handle, you will get a permanent ban for basic stupidity.
To make sure you see this, I’m adding you to auto-moderation. ]
Today, on Irrelevant Trivia, we will explore why the Labour Party doesn’t take advice from pseudonymous right wing wankers.
common sense to get trucks out of the fast lane.. but seriously prosper did you read the policy or just the headline?
All slow moving vehicles are already required to keep left. So why not police the current rule?
As for the changes, they are stupid. They simply introduce cross subsidies.
Whatever.. both issues are so trivial why would they go there for an announcement? It is like someone was bored.
Trucks should not be in the fast lane in the first place.
All heavy traffic is meant to stick to 90km/hr or under when on the open road.
It is not just a rule it is actually a law.
” So why not police the current rule?”
please srylands, you want the rules enforced, an honest answer from you on this topic would be very interesting.
Why do the powers that be not actively police this consistently ignored law ?
Can someone please show me where in the road code and in legislation that it says that our highways have a fast lane.
A little bit presumptuous don’t you think? Is Cunnliffe taking advice from anybody?
A little out of your depth, aren’t you, dribbling drivel when you haven’t learnt to spell the subject?
Can you learn to use the reply button?
learn????
NRT is wrong on this one:
When we’ve got thousands of people without houses to live in to the point that people are buying caravans to park up on friends and neighbours lawns to live in then those people will probably find the extra few hundred a year to be a serious drain on their finances.
I think NRT is dead right. If Labour was concerned about the thousands of people living in caravans it would say so. This is what they did say to explain the policy:
“There’s nothing Kiwis like more than getting on the road and going on holiday. But on public holidays like Easter and Anzac Weekend fun can quickly turn to frustration when the family realises the rego for the caravan has expired or there’s a big truck hogging the fast lane,” he said.
Last week it was Kauri trees.
It’s just the same old crap from Labour. There is now a leader who is able to string a sentence together, but still the same refusal to stand up for anything substantial for fear of upsetting the well-to-do. It is beyond pathetic. Labour doesn’t desrve to continue to exist it has no reason to exist, National looks after the top 20 percent just fine.
Ok, then, Labour are still barking up the wrong tree.
More on the whole policy here http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11238595
There is some good stuff in there (including reversing the idiotic charges on motorhomes as if they were freight vehicles). But I tend to agree js. Labour should be fronting up with the big, important policies. That someone has spent time on that graphic so Cunliffee can tweet it makes me despair, as does the ignorance about the two kinds of people in NZ that have caravans – those that go on holidays, and those that don’t have anywhere else to live.
https://www.labour.org.nz/easierdriving
The RUC needs to be a logarithmic calculation based upon mass. Doubling the mass of the vehicle and load does 16 times more damage.
So they are going to ban trucks that have a speed limit of 90 kph from the fast lane so cars and caravans can go on holiday faster – with a speed limit of 90 kph.
theres an “or” in their pete – nearly gave you a “well spotted” myself there – but the “or” in cunliffes statement changes the meaning from what you (and i) first read it to mean
situation (A) can turn to frustration if (B) OR (C)
One anonymous bloke. Sorry about the mistake my P.A.is away. Also where is the reply button? Anyway you understood.What’s wrong with Robertson or Parker?
Are you on a mobile device? No reply button on the mobile version. It’s highly irritating.
Prosper, no-one said anything is wrong with Robertson or Parker. Like I said, you’re a miserable failure as a tr*ll.
you use your pa to help you post??
all the tory kiss arses are out in full strength today.
I guess they are taking their lead from guyon epsiner.
he wont last long though.
his arrogance and contempt for average kiwis is already showing through but I guess as long as he is there to help swing the election for national then he has a job.
this country gets creepier and crepier by the day.
Draco.That could be it. I am using a Kindle that runs on android.The auto correct drives me nuts. It keeps spelling your name as Drake.
turn it off then.
Do you get that defensive yet quizzical look from people when you say that to them?
Like you have just offered to brush their hair with a fetid dingo tail 🙂
yes i know that look( fetid dingo tail)…so i never say it.( “turn it off”)…but i think to myself …”you dont know you are alive”…”you are already half an automated moron”….my daughters friend lost her cell phone in a pub for an hour and she just about had a nervous or mental breakdown..it was like she had lost a vital part of her Self…she was all at sea….she had lost her pilot and her pivot…WEIRD
Now I’m imagining Game of Thrones with giant fire-breathing ducks…
😆
Unfortunately they cast John Key as Ramsay Snow and all the little wingnuts are fighting over who gets to play Reek.
sounds fun for you
It seems, according to exchanges in the House, that John Key has backed down on his challenge to have a specific debate with Cunliffe on TV on housing policy.
Reported by Pundit as “Wimp” 😀
do you have a link please? just went to pundit, couldn’t see anything. Maybe i’m looking in the wrong place?
http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/pm-won-t-debate-cunliffe-over-housing-5931001
Wonder why he won’t. Wriggles off by saying he meant for the official Election period.
thanks ianmac, I got that one but thought there was a Pundit post somewhere.
Sorry Freedom, my mistake: the “Wimp” post is on Polity not Pundit
http://www.nbr.co.nz/ask-don-brash
My question to Don Brash (not yet published).
Do you think it was ‘incredible luck’, or it was your political connections that helped to ensure that ‘one law for all’ did not apply to yourself or John Banks as former fellow Directors of Huljich Wealth Management (NZ ) Ltd, and you were never charged or prosecuted for signing Registered Prospectuses which contained misleading information?
https://docs.google.com/file/d/1OfbKNxoyZgDs1gZtA1zJLTYAl7sqjYDZgKrIXdUU21S2WRG2D7quY_VyXOKA/edit?pli=1
Penny Bright
nice question. could you ask them to disclose total director fees they took from hujlich
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11238656
Does anyone really believe he had a sitting MP?
Does anyone believe you have anything to contribute other than mockery and right-wing propaganda?
So you believed him then
you believe key was going to debate cunliffe on housing affordability and a hundred other things… which turned out to be “mispoking” . you dont have any high ground here puck
why so binary?
FYI folks – this is rather politically significant given that the Committee for Auckland is like a HERD of mammoth elephants in the room, that apparently hardly anyone dare mention??
THE COMMITTEE FOR AUCKLAND HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED MY PRIVACY ACT REQUEST. THIS SHOULD NOW GET VERY INTERESTING ………..
9 April 2014
To whomever is responsible for handling PRIVACY ACT requests for the Committee for Auckland
On 20 February 2014, I made a copy of the membership list of the Committee for Auckland, which included Auckland Council CEO, Stephen Town.
The next day, the name of Auckland Council CEO Stephen Town, was removed from the Committee for Auckland membership list, which now still lists Auckland Council, and their website, but the name column is now blank:
http://www.committeeforauckland.co.nz/membership/member-organisations
Auckland Council www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Please provide all copies of information (including, but not limited to: emails, reports, letters, memos, diary notes, meeting minutes, text messages, telephone messages which contain my name, Penny Bright (Penelope Mary Bright), or make referral to me, in relation to the removal of Auckland Council CEO Stephen Town’s name from the Committee for Auckland membership list.
Please be reminded that the Committee for Auckland is covered by the Privacy Act.
I look forward to your prompt reply.
Kind regards,
Penny Bright
Attendee Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference 2009
Attendee Transparency International Anti-Corruption Conference 2010
Attendee Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference 2013
Auckland Mayoral candidate 2013 (polling 4th with 11,723 vote, campaigning against corrupt corporate control of the Auckland region)
11 April 2014
‘Admin’
Committee for Auckland
To whom it may concern
Please be reminded that it it is ‘good business practice’ to acknowledge correspondence?
I look forward to your prompt acknowledgement of this correspondence.
Kind regards,
Penny Bright
from: Committee for Auckland Administration admin@committeeforauckland.co.nz
to: Penny Bright
date: Tue, Apr 15, 2014 at 2:13 PM
subject: RE: ‘Open Letter / Privacy Act request’
– When and why was Auckland Council CEO Stephen Town removed from the Committee for Auckland membership list?
Dear Penny,
Thank you for your email. Receipt of your correspondence is acknowledged.
Regards,
Committee for Auckland
T: + 64 9 300 1234 | E: admin@committeeforauckland.co.nz
Level 21, SAP Tower, 151 Queen Street, Auckland
PO Box 3403, Shortland Street, Auckland 1140
http://www.committeeforauckland.co.nz
For all the nut bars who think Cameron Slater had anything to do with the assult on Blomfield:
http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2014/04/press-release-regarding-certain-rumours-circulating-around-recent-assault/
Only a nut-bar would instantly conclude that a creep like Slater couldn’t possibly be involved.
Conservative Party’s 5 things:
Isn’t #1 actually 3 things? That makes 7 things.
And they are very spirashional – aiming for up to 10% of the vote. Reminds me of Don Brash’s ACT, aiming for 15% of the vote.
will he be mauled like the internet party for masquerading fluff as policy?
Well, the report was hidden in a local newspaper, so I don’t think it’s getting much traction – not worthy of a full post – just a passing reference on open mike to his punitive approach to the less well off – and as for lumping “drugs, special interest groups and Maori spirituality” into one “thing”… not a lot to recommend his 7 things and an empty aspiration.
yup, he would rather make us pray to his invisible friend… so much more rational than honouring nature
“1. Say no to drugs, special interest groups, and don’t give added significance to Maori spirituality.”
Oh dear – the heathens are at the gate.
“1. Say no to drugs, special interest groups, and don’t give added significance to Maori spirituality.”
like most religious tub thumpers he hasnt spotted the massive slippery slope hes just made with that comment – in fact hes made two
If we’re saying no to special interest groups, can we start with rich white fundementalist bigots?
plus 100
Given that perception is almost everything in politics Cunnliffe has made so many mistakes that even if he comes up with decent policy it won’t be heard by the MSM let alone the swing voter that will decide the outcome of the election. Please fix him up.I am not a Labour supporter nor am I happy with National but the Greens and their Australian leader scare the hell out of me.
Goodness – just as well you aren’t living in the 1930s – the Savage government would be one long horror show for you.
well for a start hes a co-leader
maybe you would be less afraid if you took the time to get to know them and their policies?
the greens are widely recognised across parliament for both their professional behaviour and the detail level of their policies
what does that make you, an ACT voter??? the greens are also led by a maori woman, i bet that bunches up your undies bigtime.
lol
Prosper, you can’t even prosper as a concern tr*ll. If your PA ever realises what a failure you are, expect to be drinking a lot more sputum in your coffee.
Just heard Cunliffe on Radio live. He sounded good, quite natural and a reasonable explanation as to why he failed to front on TV. Keep it up. Much better.
Loomio: 2 days to go on crowd funding
In my considered opinion, as an ‘anti-corruption / anti-privatisation Public Watchdog’, Minister for Justice Judith Collins is CORRUPT and should be sacked FORTHWITH.
http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/business/qoa/50HansQ_20140415_00000007/7-justice-minister%E2%80%94compliance-withcabinet-manual
Justice, Minister—Compliance withCabinet Manual
[Sitting date: 15 April 2014. Volume:698;Page:7. Text is subject to correction.]
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) to the Minister of Justice: Does she maintain that it is not in the public interest to answer all questions regarding Oravida?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Justice) :I have never made that statement.
Rt Hon Winston Peters: How can she give that answer, when it is crystal clear that her pre-arranged meeting with a senior Chinese customs official at the height of the botulism scare was not just dinner with close personal friends but a serious conflict of interest that she and the Prime Minister are trying to cover up?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS: I can make that statement because it is the truth.
Rt Hon Winston Peters: Well, if that is the case, why will she not give the name and position of the customs official, when she arranged to meet the customs official at the very time that her husband’s company was having huge issues getting its product through customs and had enlisted her willing intervention?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS: The member is quite wrong in his question. If he goes back and looks at previous questions he has asked of that nature, he will see that I have corrected him.
Rt Hon Winston Peters: Is it not the case that, when she was told that joining her and her close personal friends at the dinner was a senior customs official, it did not raise alarm bells, because meeting this customs official was the whole reason for the dinner in the first place?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS: The member is quite wrong. I have never said that there was any senior customs official, and he knows it.
Rt Hon Winston Peters: Why is the Minister now claiming that there is no connection with the senior customs official, and does she not understand that her arranged meeting with that official was a serious conflict of interest and a corrupt abuse of her Cabinet position?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS: No. The member is quite wrong again. He continues to state in his question matters that are incorrect. I would say to that member that if he is worrying about corruption, I think he should consider a member of Parliament who asks questions in this House and written questions to help his girlfriend in her position with a major global company.
Rt Hon Winston Peters: Does the Minister not understand that throwing out those sorts of allegations will not save her when she was moonlighting for her husband’s company, that her DNA is all over this issue, and that if she answers questions fully, she would no longer get the Prime Minister’s defence and would be sacked for corruption?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS: The only member of this House who should be sacked for corruption is that member who has asked the question.
Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. [Interruption]
Mr SPEAKER: Order! This is a point of order. It will be heard in silence.
Rt Hon Winston Peters: That Minister is not within the Standing Orders attempting to answer that question that way. She has been asked a serious question on a very serious matter—as serious as this House has ever seen—and she is seeking now to deflect it by attacking the questioner.
Mr SPEAKER: In my opinion, the Minister addressed the question.
Grant Robertson: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.
Mr SPEAKER: Before I hear any more, I just want to clarify the member is not in any way questioning the decision I have just made.
Grant Robertson: No, it is a different point of order. I am under the impression that in this House a member cannot accuse another member directly of being corrupt, and that is what the Minister just did.
Mr SPEAKER: No, I have already ruled that the answer was addressing the question and I think on this occasion, in light of the tone of the question, it adequately addressed it.
Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.
Mr SPEAKER: Again, before I hear the member, is he raising a fresh point of order?
Rt Hon Winston Peters: I am raising a fresh point of order. The Minister made an allegation for which she has no evidence whatsoever, and I want an apology.
Mr SPEAKER: If the member is now saying that he took offence, well, on that basis, if the member, the Rt Hon Winston Peters, was offended by that answer, I ask the honourable Minister to stand and withdraw.
Hon JUDITH COLLINS: Well, I withdraw—is it? I withdraw. But I am happy—
Mr SPEAKER: Order! It is not helpful to do that. The withdrawal does help the order of the House.
Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.
Mr SPEAKER: If the member is attempting to trifle with the Chair, I will take a very dim view of that.
Rt Hon Winston Peters: I am not trifling with the Chair, Mr Speaker. That Minister did not apologise as required under the Standing Orders—
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume his seat. [Interruption] The member will resume his seat. I did not ask the Minister to apologise; I asked her to withdraw the remark, and she did so.
Penny Bright
just tried to read this through but all the tory twerps are basically illiterate and functionally imbecilic.
I really cant understand what they are trying to say except that they are all shifty key arse kissers and desperate to please their masters. all in all a thundering herd of lobotomised warthogs.
Ohariu is Labours.
Peter Dunne is killed off politically by TV One 7oc show tonight.
The Legal High industry’s key advocate and government liaison person is none other that his son James Dunne!
http://www.chenpalmer.com/people/james-dunne/
http://tvnz.co.nz/seven-sharp
I can’t find anything that says James Dunne is “the Legal High Industry’s key advocate” or that shows Peter Dunne in a bad light? James Dunne deals with legal issues around such recreational drugs. Article that includes comments from James Dunne on legal highs.
The Seven Sharp site has a teaser on their site and on their Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/sevensharp?ref=stream&hc_location=stream
”
Tonight … a Seven Sharp exclusive! … Revelations that a lawyer is acting on behalf of the legal high companies is none other than the son of Minister Peter Dunne.
What do you think about this? ”
ps correction on my post. “Labour’s”. I missed the apostrophe key in my excitement
Hmmmm… I still need to see more information to show that this is a problem for Peter Dunne.
Perception is everything. No one is going to believe that father and son don’t talk and that daddy doesn’t listen to his son.
+1 DTB
Add to that Dunne’s very recent “economy of truth” about leaking some report and Dunne’s poor judgement in his behaviour towards some young journalist of the opposite gender.
The Legal Highs story is being pumped by the RadioLive/TV3 stable, under the Duncan Garner brand, on a daily basis. The problems arising from Dunne’s legislative approach is very hot in call-back land. TV3 will be pissed that TV One has trumped them with this explosive story. Each will now try to out-do the other on milking this story. Alfa-laval don’t make milking machines as effective as a miffed media outlet!
On top of that Ohariu is middle-class to the core. Even beggars in Ohariu are middle class! They will not like this narrative: Your local “independent” MP and serial government minister is failing to crack down on scummy legal-high peddlers. Co-incidentally that scummy industry is paying that Minister’s son a big wad of cash on a regular basis to negotiate with the Ministers civil servants….
Dunne’s other problem is that he is sanctimonious. Very very sanctimonious. Many many people love love seeing sanctimonious people fall.
that’s an optimistic scenario, i reckon
Even if the family relationship doubles as a backchannel, it’s not gonna go anywhere.
Oravida has more leg-power.
Oh dear, it appears that the Beehive hasn’t been reading the cabinet manual.
No of course not. You will know much more about the Cabinet Manual.
Cabinet Manual 2,89
Seems fairly clear to me that our PMs pic is being used as an endorsement and so is a few other ministers.
So what do you think 2.89 actually says, SSpylands?
Gonna try to tell us that ministers appearing in advertisements is cool?
[distantly, you can hear the screams of a troll being burned to the ground]
Gonna say sry now?
The accusations that Judith Collins made about girlfriends and corruption, anyone have any idea what she was on about? Had a distinctly whaleoilish smell about it. What a dreadful old gossip she is. Parliament gets more like absurdist theatre and pantomime every day.
Jrobin, it was very specifically directed at her accuser, Winston. It has been reported elsewhere that Winston’s lady was a senior exec of a pharmaceuticals related business.
Perhaps Collins is suggesting that Winston asked loaded questions in Parliament?
James Dunne
SENIOR ASSOCIATE – LEADER PARLIAMENT TEAM
James has valuable inside knowledge of how Parliament works in New Zealand, and is New Zealand’s leading specialist in the regulation of new psychoactives under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013. He has an LLB and a BA (History) from Victoria University, and has worked at Chen Palmer since his admission to the bar in 2008. At Chen Palmer he specialises in policy and law reform, and has developed a wide range of expertise in a number of areas:
Policy and law reform: James has advised on a range of law reforms including liquor law reform, psychoactives law reform, real estate agents law reform, taxation law reform, and child support law reform;
Parliament: James advises on how Parliament works and on interacting with Parliamentary processes including the passage of legislation, Select Committees, financial reviews and issues of Parliamentary privilege; and
Regulatory affairs: James advises on the interface with a range of regulators including the Overseas Investment Off
Bill English want us to live in cupboards
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11238867
Wanker!
hmmm, that’s tricky. Minimum house sizes set too high prevent people from building small, more energy efficient and cheaper houses for themselves. The problem with NACT setting policy is that it’s bound to be to the advantage of developers, not the community. Also smacks of squashing as many low paid workers into one block as possible. At the other end, people of means are building houses that are too big in terms of ecological footprinting. Lots of problems here, not too many easy solutions.