Employers will no longer have to reach a collective agreement during collective bargaining, under changes made to industrial relations laws, approved by Cabinet on Monday.
Perhaps John Key will tell employers the cost of abolishing good faith.
Perhaps employers want subversion from free-acting, non unionised, employees within their businesses?
Employers, do you want the guerrilla war National are forcing you into? Are you aware it has already begun?
Even though employers can immediately remove threats, not just within 90 days, it can only happen after the fact. One person can inflict serious damage overnight, without warning. Employers, you are sitting ducks. It’s always been that way and you know it. You need co-operation from your work force. The more you support an ideology that pushes you into positions that are strategically impossible to hold, the more it will cost you.
You know how it works, an organisation takes on the personality of its leader. Do you support John Key’s outlook? Are you planning to take all you can, then retire overseas? Is that your model, your ambition?
So you buy advertisements telling people not to donate to union members you are trying to starve into submission. What next? Will you close your business? Up and shift to another location hoping that the population do not care you’ll try the same trick on them? Do you think the towns you descend on next won’t be warned? Will you pay to shift whole swathes of people from one town to another to staff your operations? No? You expect the poor to come on their own at their own cost? They can barely eat right now, where will they get money to move? How much do you reckon it will cost to move your operations, re-route resources, reskill a workforce?
So you want tent cities all over NZ, like those in living in American tent cities now: in Portland, California, Washington and Seattle; or those under bridges in Las Vegas? Is this the model of your knowledge economy? What kind of knowledge, exactly?
When you sneer back, saying the people will do as their bellies dictate, do you think no one notices? Do you think humanity hasn’t been here before? Do you think your psychosis is not on display? Who exactly, do you think envies you, who wants to be a soulless parasite on society? And who would want to follow the advice of universities and tertiary education providers and “take their place” in such a society, climbing towards an imitation of your psychosis? Who would sign up for a Bachelor of Business Psychosis?
When you sneer back with your pathology, when you say any job is a good job, that work shall set you free – that slow deprivation and starvation should be met with gratitude, since it is not death – you contradict everything you say you want: Educated, intelligent, innovative, productive, people.
Will you be the one who says: “I do not need to follow minimum wage rates, I always pay more, but another employer can chose as they please.”. Do you honestly believe condoning the immoral actions of your peers; voting for governments that consistently debase industrial and social relations; do you think that makes you innocent?
Eager to sell news to a population that knows the reality, not even the media will support you. Do you honestly believe people will bother to differentiate between the good and the bad and the many shades of grey? Average people will see the insanity of bad employers and turn against all of you. There will be no clean green image, no “creators of wealth and jobs”, just opportunists, cheats and the untrustworthy.
Good faith is not an option. It is an integral part of the social agreement that holds any society together. When your sole trick is intimidation, control and threat of starvation, you rob people of self respect and when they cannot afford to live; when they are discouraged from seeing a doctor by needing to jump through hoops to prove they are sick; discouraged from treating trivial diseases that none-the-less reduce productivity; trivial diseases left unattended that turn into more serious conditions; when they cannot afford to see a doctor or buy medicines; when they are treated as potential malcontents by default; and are restricted from all other options but to work under conditions that rob them of more resources than they can replace – they will have nothing to lose. Will you support an ideology and party that legislates the demise of the workforce that supports your business and future? Are you content to undermine your own interests?
Employers, talk to your peers. Make them see reason, otherwise you silently condone an immediate future for NZ that is going to be far from bright and cost you more than it’s worth. You can wrestle control of sustainable business practices back from the government, wrestle your public image back from organisations like the EMA, or you can attempt to balance the books by 2017 – shortly before they are closed, entirely.
John Key says the worst slump in retail sales in 17 years is not a sign the economy is heading toward another recession..
What is it about implausible denial this scheister wants us to believe? Back into recesssion? Did we ever come out of it? Cant the lying prick use the proper term “Depression”?
Notice he spent years saying the area we barely trade with (Europe) was the reason for our bad economy and is now saying we’re not going into recession because the countries we trade with (Australia, and also Asia) are booming. Can’t have it both ways John – nothing has significantly changed in the economic fortunes of both regions since 2008.
Yes and how come we are putting forward our millions for the world fund to prop up the European economy. We are so wealthy ahem! Well some of us are, but then they don’t pay in tax as much of a percentage of their Discretionary money as the poorer do. Funny that. Seems wrong somehow.
And what about the United States – they are trying to be part of Asia, while still in a power competition with it. Are we looking to the USA too for trade Jokey Hen? Is it tied up with being dragged into their war machine which we hope will not cost us all the return we get from our exports to the USA.
Retail spending is a contradictory dilemma. One of our economy’s biggest problems was too much private debt caused by too much spending. Much of the tax changes have been used to reduce debt – a good thing – but at the expense of spending, which we want to grow to get the economy moving, but somehow without returning to excessive borrowing.
The reasons for current economic lethargy are threefold – of course the GFC is a major factor. Secondly there are inherited debt and property value escalation problems.
National, like Labour, was fooled into believing the pre-2008 budget surpluses were real and not castles in the air, puffed up by a massive household debt binge.
That was the time to invest. Labour did set up the Cullen fund and did expand investment in roads. But it skimped on science and innovation. Mostly it spent the surpluses in redistribution through handouts and public services — spectacularly so in making student loans interest-free, which, curiously for Labour, favoured better-off families whose offspring are more likely to go into the expensive forms of tertiary education.
And National’s efforts, while arguably may have prevented things from being worse, they haven’t got the economy going again either.
English has de-emphasised redistribution and lifted investment in roads and broadband and, he would say, has improved conditions for business investment through tax and regulatory changes (though business’s response has been less than stunning).
Pete, feel free to keep ignoring me if you like (lots do – guess my wording is a bit rough at times), but you continue to display a mindset that simply accepts what is placed in front of you with no consideration of any possible flaws. Here is an example …” One of our economy’s biggest problems was too much private debt caused by too much spending.”
Has it occurred to you that the problem may have been the lender in lending too much, rather than the borrower in borrowing too much? …
Also, has it occurred to you, given that the shortcomings of debt are now apparent to the entire world, that perhaps it is the nature of current debt production that is flawed and not the user? ….
Have a wee think on just those two things Pete and imagine how things may be improved by attending to them rather than the man on the clapham omnibus who has to bend and scrape to the bank manager….
… .or that wages have not been increasing with prices and the difference has been made up with debt?
…. or that the interest being charged on the debt is out of all proportion to the risk for ‘too big to fail’ banks and that finance companies can have pretty much unregulated interest of short-term loans and unregulated lending ruining people’s savings. E.g. in Britain they now have payday loans that even small businesses are taking out because banks won’t lend out the money the taxpayer gave them to make the money-go-round kickstart.
And still the media, and many pollies and activists, are promoting the housing market, looking everywhere for signs that house prices are rising, and that more people are or will be taking out mortgages…. and that will add to the country’s private debt.
The focus should be on affordable housing for all, and an alternative basis for the country’s economy, rather than being focused on housing as a “market”.
Pete, private sector debt was NZs biggest economic woe until National with the connivance of Peter Dunne allowed the government books to slide badly to pay for tax cuts in favour of the rich (thereby materially adding to our woes). Whilst all this has been going on Dunne and the Nats have this public pretense going on that the economy is sort of OK, recessionary but nothing serious. Which is why I raised the point that we are not in a recession, it is a DEPRESSION.
My prediction: Dunne and NACT will soon admit there actually is a depression for which the only cure will be “asset sales”……
I’d like to know why the recession ins’t called a depression? Is the term “recession” for real or is using this term just a way of global govts pretending they didn’t F up by masking the truth of a depression? I’ve never understood this.
I think you have tumbled it, the words are pregnant with imagery and connotations. Recessions never “cut” so deep do they? And you can be responsible for a “recession” without blame, but a depression, well that is another thing entirely.
Still now they only exist in cautionary tales mothers tell their children at bed time, everybody knows there is no such thing as a depression.
A recession is merely part of the business cycle (no responsibility) but a depression is a failure of the economic model which the politicians and economists can’t admit to because it means that they were wrong.
From my memory of 1st year/2nd year economics recession and depression are defined terms for a certain number of quarters in which GDP (? – may not be GDP but I think it is) decreases.
For example a recession is 4 quarters in a row and a depression is 8 in a row (I just completely made those numbers up).
Edit: Just checked Wikipedia and a recession is either 2 quarters of decreasing GDP or a 1.5% rise in unemployment in 12 months whereas a depression is a recession that lasts 2 or more years or a 10% decrease in GDP.
So the current situation doesn’t fit the economic definition of a depression as there has been a couple of quarters with GDP growth in the last couple of years
First it was the bennies: it’s OK to pressure them to use long term contraception, because they are a minority of voters (if they haven’t already given up on voting.
Then it was Labour laws because the right have had a long term successful PR campaign that convinces the majority of voters (or at least of swing voters) unions don’t act in their interests:
Prime Minister John Key says changes to industrial relations laws being considered by the Government are minor and won’t affect the vast bulk of New Zealanders.
And this morning I heard Jonkey on TV3 say the rise in prescription charges won’t affect the majority of Kiwis. He said, …it’s a trade-off in the right direction for the bulk of New Zealanders.
And in the TV One link above, TV One reports the first part of Key’s “trade-of” statement, and censors the last part:
Key says it is a trade-off. “We could have chosen to leave prescription charges at $3 and had less money to spend on health or said to New Zealanders ‘look, we think you paying a small increase more will give you much more peace of mind.'”
Oh that double talk from Key just is so funny – cynical laughter, the best medicine. Keep laughing you poor people you might be able to cure yourselves.
Actually you might find it does effect everybody because these collective agreements were benchmarks for the rest of the country. What will happen is more downward spiral as the economy taks and employers will push for lower wages just to try to keep up with the global collapsing economy caused by money printing and resources getting more expensive.
The IMF is being warned by an internal report that there could be a permanent doubling of oil prices in the coming decade with profound implications for global trade.
“This is uncharted territory for the world economy, which has never experienced such prices for more than a few months,” the report warns.
In further bad news for the world the IEA believe that a period of declining demand triggered by the global economy’s slowdown is over and the upward trajectory in prices has resumed.
The world is no longer going to grow itself out of the economic problems it faces.
Folks assume we will come out “business as usual” from the 2008 global financial crisis just like, hey hey hey, the world did after the 1973 oil-shock-cum 1973/74 stock market crash, and again after Black Monday 1987, and then again after the 1997 crash.
Well, there may be unpleasant surprises coming up (although the major players should be clued up and are, using an expression Colonial Viper has used, playing a game of “pretend and extend” … or ahem, ?brighter future around the corner). Things may well be different this time with the protracted difficulty in trying to extricate from the debt crisis, and an energy crisis looming on the heels of that.
Almost halfway into 2012 now, and the much awaited rebound of post-2008 is not quite in sight. If anything, some economies are slowing down or sputtering (again).
There could be….how about will be a doubling of oil price?
Reading the business pages is quite interesting as there seem to be enough commentaries pointing out future supply deficiencies in a lot of areas, but the mainstream commentary is all about business as usual. There is a strange attachment to metaphysics. It is probably the most cogent example I have seen of cargo cult mentality. Some call it techno narcissism, “they” (whoever “they” are) will magically “invent” something, break the laws of thermodynamics and, voila, nirvana…we will all be saved from the limits of our physical world.
Funny question about the UK as well, if they had cheap energy into the future would they “grow”? I suspect not, they would send the production to some slave labour economy in Asia or similar, whilst factories and workers would stand idle in Manchester. That’s rational neo lib economics. What a joke.
While you might get distracted by all the hideous but ultimately small fry measures John Key’s administration takes to squeeze the lifeblood out of the poor and the middle class here is the real big Whopper they are going to hit us with:
Derivatives are quite obviously a fraud, as is gold (too many promisary notes and not enough kgs of gold to back them up, only 100 to 1 but hey whats that between friendly investors and their banker mates)?
PS Why dont we use a real hard currency, a tangible that has real value and can provide feed on the table? Sheep come to mind, we have lots of them.
Sheep? I guess then money wouldn’t grow on trees it would grow on grass…
Gold is fine, just make sure you physically hold onto it and don’t trust a banker to hold it – you know they just mortgage it up for their benefit, not yours, and without your knowledge. Same with existing cash. This is the way the system works. Scary if you think about it properly. Such a system never lasts – as this one isn’t.
Brings a whole new meaning to “grass mining” as our primary industry…watch the wealth grow, and the money breed….
I have some gold, I reckon on the day the gold is requested en-masse from couponed deposit holders mine will soar 100 times in value…then to the shop immediately to buy ….a sheep!
TV3 is still running the story they started on Saturday about David Cunliffe not being interviewed. It continued with an interview with Chris Trotter on Firstline this morning (ironically because Key cancelled a planned interview).
Cunliffe being “muzzled” and a leadership “row” has been emphasised. One puzzling aspect was clarified a little on the news last night – apparently David Parker was proposed as an alternative interviewee.
The invite wasn’t for David Parker – it was for Cunliffe. Parker is coming on next week’s 3 News Budget Special and also on The Nation’s Budget Special two days later. That’s why we invited Cunliffe on. Parker is already booked to come in. Twice. In the end Tony Ryall was on our show and Peters and Norman on Q n A. Where was the Labour representative? They need to do better than this. In my view Cunliffe wanted to come on. He was gagged.
Cheers
Duncan
That clarifies it quite a bit.
But the answer to “Where was the Labour representative?” was still a dual responsibility, Labour chose not to put Cunliffe there, and TV3 chose not to put anyone else from Labour there.
oooh that stinky weasel, thanks for the heads up. I had not followed the link in his 9.3, seems i gave him credit for honest presentation of a dialogue. (I should know better by now)
one more reason to distrust anything Petey dribbles into his begging bowl.
Garner may have just thought of answering that unprompted. But I was the only one (that I’m aware of) asking that question – at Edwards blog, here, at YourNZ, Kiwiblog, on TV3’s news site and on Twitter.
Not that that should matter – there’s an explanation. It’s a credible reasonthat TV3 already had Parker scheduled so didn’t want him again sooner, they don’t want the same faces too often (apart from their own). They obviously didn’t see a need to explain when doing their stories, but it clarifies things for me.
Labour’s “Top Team” would have known of Parkers scheduled appearances, so this shifts the glare back to them, why they didn’t want additional exposure from another of their economic spokespeople.
The non-appearance will be soon forgotten. The only thing that will matter in the longer term is the effect of this wee episode on the power battle that is obviously going on.
Cunliffe (and supporters) needs to either accept that Shearer is leader and do everything he can to work with and support that, or he can contribute to another wasted year of non-rebuilding.
New political TV comedy;
I’m guessing most of the people on here enjoy the British political comedy ‘The Thick of it’.
It has been redone as a US version called ‘Veep’, which is based on a fictional US vice president, has received little to no attention.
Although it still suffers from many of the problems in translating high paced British wit to a US audience (‘The Office’)…this one is much better. A strong UK link remains…the genius creator of ‘The Thick of it’ (and Time Trumpet, etc, etc) Armando Iannucci, is heavily involved, as is Simon Blackwell from ‘Peep Show’ / ‘Four Lions’ fame.
They are up to episode four in series one. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veep_(TV_series)
I’m guessing most of the people on here enjoy the British political comedy ‘The Thick of it’
I would have, but afaik it’s never been on free to air TV. (85-95% of free to air TV is American, including ‘re-makes’ of British shows. I see heaps of stuff listed in the pay TV schedules, that I would love to see but can’t afford.)
I will never watch an American remake of a British show. Ever.
In fact, I watch almost no TV as a result of trying to avoid reality sh*te, cop shows and American ‘comedy’. It all promotes violence and war!
“I would have, but afaik it’s never been on free to air TV”
Try your local DVD store…free to air TV sucks, its a waste of time and braincells. I got rid of my TV cause its a waste of space. There are only 2-3 programmes worth watching, they are on TV7 and can be streamed on the net. NZ TV news is a sham and will lower your intelligence…avoid it.
“I will never watch an American remake of a British show. Ever. In fact, I watch almost no TV as a result of trying to avoid reality sh*te, cop shows and American ‘comedy’. It all promotes violence and war!”
A sad (colonial?) perspective…your loss. The US Office is OK, not great. But then I think the UK Office was way over-hyped, little more than an annoying boss & an office full of dorks…and they only did 2 six episode seasons.
At the moment US comedy is more creative than the British…comedies from the BBC have been average for the past 5 years or so…TV4 and ITV are sloppy. BBC needs to learn from HBO.
Louie, Curb Your Enthusiasm & Portlandia seem to me to be far more progressive than the current British offerings. Those 3 US programmes reflect and then critique society at a far deeper level than the UK Office ever did.
“In a new move, Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson wants employers to be able to set the agenda for collective contract negotiations, raising concerns they will be able to walk away from bargaining if unions reject unreasonable demands”
— KW is simply just another empty vessel being used as a way to push unwanted policy on unwitting NZ’ers. Makes me wonder what they get promised in return for being traitorous!
Woe diddums, diddums, diddums…. poor poor poor little Shonkers, boo hoo!!!!!!!! Dont be fooled.
Meanwhile the psychopathic misanthrope is quietly smiling behind the scenes plotting another rip off…assets, tax etc etc, anything to enslave and enfeeble the people.
If you get past the headline it’s not a whinge, just a statement of reality.
He did not worry about the media “despite what they think”.
“I am not that bent out of shape about that – I expected it,” he said. Former prime minister Helen Clark had warned him it would happen after the first term in office.
He said he was not moaning about it – it was a matter of fact.
Look Pete, it is obvious to me that in Johnnygrad there are a whole pile of homosexual grey-suit cabinet ministers (who is that one with the bright shirts and ties? Not to mention Lockie in his speedos)… then there is some fierce blonde lessie who looks like a dominatrix following him everywhere telling him what to do. I have seen it on the tellie and its all true (my mates confirmed it down the pub over a beer or three).
Key’s sense of indignant resentment of criticism is palpable. It will not go down well. You can sense years of high paid Crosby Textor advice constructing old smile and wave going down the gurgler.
It looks like National will smash through what they can this year and resign themselves to losing next time.
He’d have a big ol whiney baby whinge if the media actually printed the whole truth about him: His dodgy dealings, his past as a trader and the effects of that. If they really wanted to they could end his PM joy ride, and put us all out of our misery.
Its really funny how the massive media love fest with shonkey is now showing some signs of the honey moon after party blues. Its funny how shonkey is now snivelling like a spurned lover. “You don’t love me anymore, whhhaaaa!”
PS: PG (Personal Grievance) He’s just pretending to not be hurt when he says “I’m not being bent out of shape…etc” He’s just like a silly school girl. No offence meant towards school girls. I can say that because I’ve been there.
The original headline was “Key takes aim at media: Herald in gun”.
Then with a sprinkle of Crosby Textor pixie dist it becomes “John Key denies slamming NZ Media”. This is despite earlier “accusing it of becoming more aggressive, hostile, and antagonistic towards his Government”.
It seems that whenever Johnny says something it actually does not mean what you think it means …
If anyone can bear listening to the original interview with Leighton Smith it is here but not recommended for anyone except those with the strongest of constitutions.
You know, approx. once every 2 months I inadvertently tune in to 1ZB in the mornings. I can say without a shadow of exaggeration, that within minutes I hear him having yet another hate-rave against Climate Change proponents. Not only is he wrong, he is clearly a dangerous and obsessed man and is not fit to be on the radio station end of a microphone.
I just heard Garner explaining that the poor dear is under stress and that he didn’t really mean it… Arse licking with a soupcon of masochism, well done Dunc!
Applause for Helen Kelly, Laurie Nankivell and Martyn Bradbury on last night’s show. Excellent material, competent representations, skilled discussions.
For those who want to know where and how the people are “fighting back”, you can meet some of them on Monday nights at 8pm on Triangle TV: The Union Report.
(I am not paid to say this or associated with them in any way.)
What a nasty disgusting way to announce the prescription charge rise by using a cancer ward to say that the extra charge would go o help cancer patients.This must surely be the most underhanded way to announce
a rise in health costs. It stinks of Crosby Textor does it not?
Kaitaia GP Lance O’Sullivan is a godsend. Not only did he speak out earlier in the week about the kids drinking from medicine bottles, and eating from pig buckets, but this morning on Nat Rad he spoke out against the prescription charges. He’s intelligent, articulate, compassionate, and obviously has a sophisticated analysis of the issues involved. Why can’t we have more comment in the media from people like him?
The other man that Kathryn Ryan interviewed was also interesting. An academic willing to directly criticise govt policy, point out its stupidity, and back up his criticism with research.
The thing I don’t understand about the Nats doing this is that it’s obviously not going to save any money (poor people will end up in A and E instead, which will cost more). They must know this, so why do it? Are they so desperate for cash in the short term?
I’m also not clear about how WINZ factors into this – people are saying that prescription costs can be covered by Disability Allowance, but DA is only for long term conditions (over 6 months) and for costs that are ongoing. The Child DA criteria is harder (12 months and serious disability).
You’re right to feel confused, Weka. Even for a whole lot of people with drug-controlled chronic conditions WINZ doesn’t factor into it at all. That’s just spin – trying to say there is something around that will lessen the impact. For many people it’s not true.
Already 6 percent don’t fill prescriptions because they can’t afford it.
Banks, the bastions of Capitalism.
Capitalism, supposed to benefit the masses through competition.
How is it then that the banks serving NZ have made record profits in the last two years?
Statistics NZ has revised the GDP figures for 2011.the revision is a decrease in the dismal figure of 1.4% by 21% down to 1.1%.
Interesting in table 20 of the excel spread tables is the setting of real gdp per capita in fixed prices (95/96) This gives the absolute value, eg 2006- 31644 2011-31169.
Oh dear.
It is time that the “opposition parties” started to question the Govt,rather then be distracted by obvious smokescreens or advice by media advisors.
June 2007 is around the focal point of the GFC eg the bear sterns funds.From this point instability (fluctuations) occurred both in currency flows ,and the ocr It is the underlying values that need to be analyzed
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Buzz from the Beehive China has loomed large in Beehive considerations over the past 24 hours, largely because of that country’s mischief-making in the cyber espionage department. Two media statements emerged on that subject hard on the heels of the PM baulking at questions put to him on RNZ’s Morning ...
Chris Trotter writes – WHY IS THE NATIONAL PARTY doing so much for landlords, property developers, trucking, and construction companies, and so little for everybody who isn’t already pretty well-off? It’s as if protecting landlords’ investments and building apartments and roads now constitute the whole of National’s ...
Bryce Edwards writes – When she was campaigning to be Minister of Finance last year, Nicola Willis pledged that she would resign from the job if she failed to deliver tax cuts in her first Budget. Now, it’s that pledge, along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s ...
Robert MacCulloch writes – The Reserve Bank has doubled staff numbers in five years to 510, with personnel costs rising to $80 million in 2023 from $32 million in 2018 – up by a whopping 150%. I guess when you print $50 billion and flood markets with liquidity, ...
The furore. In case you didn’t notice there was a controversy in the weekend involving dolphins in a little town off the South Island. Don’t panic, they haven’t declared independence and resumed whaling, this was simply a sailing event.The problem began when racing was cancelled on the opening day of ...
For 20 years or more, the case for a meaningful capital tax gains has been mulled over and analysed to death, including by the tax working group chaired by Sir Michael Cullen. More than once, the International Monetary Fund has said a CGT would be a good idea for New ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: The Public Health Communications Centre (PHCC) call for urgent preventive action and a risk assessment survey of long covid in this briefing noteLocal scoop: NZ road deaths surpass OECD rates, so why is the govt reversing safety plans? ...
This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. This story is part of a collaboration with Grist and WABE to demystify the Georgia Public Service Commission, the small but powerful state-elected board that makes critical decisions about everything from raising ...
This is a guest post from Robert McLachlan Global warming is accelerating; 2023 was off the charts. We need to stop burning fossil fuels. In New Zealand, transport accounts for half of all fossil fuels burnt. In the Emissions Reduction Plan, transport emissions fall 41% by 2035. As the ...
Labour productivity has been receding rapidly over the past two years, reversing a post-lockdown rise. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy as at 6:26am on Tuesday, March 26 include:Workers have been treading water in output per hour worked for 12 years, ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 2 include:Today, Parliament resumes sitting at 2pm for the second week of a two-week session. Officials for SIS and GCSB report their annual reviews in public to the Intelligence and Security Select Committee from 5.10pm.Tomorrow, ...
Faced with a barrage of criticism over the promised tax cuts from usually supportive commentators, Finance Minister Nicola Willis yesterday reaffirmed her intention to include them in this year’s Budget. The Government is up against it over the cuts just about every way it turns. Commentators like Fran O’Sullivan, Matthew ...
Here’s my pick of today’s substack posts as of 6:26pm on Monday, March 25: writes via his substack that Market-rate housing will make your city cheaper writes via his substack about the problems talking to double-cab ute (truck) drivers about their vehicles. today about moments of radicalisation in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Just before Christmas, Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered something that was pitched as a mini-budget and brayed about the decisive action being taken to repair the Government books and support income tax relief in Budget 2024. In a statement headed Fiscal repair job underway. she introduced ...
My sister Belinda asked Dad yesterday what one word would describe Mum best. He said: vivacious.If you only knew her from the photos on the slideshow we've made for today,you might wonder about that, because the camera tended to lie with Mum.If ever she saw a camera pointed at her, she ...
There are two major public consultations closing in the next week, Auckland Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP), and the draft Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS). Closing dates and times: LTP closes Thursday 28 February, at 11.59pm – a minute to midnight! GPS closes Tuesday 2 April, at 12pm noon – note that’s ...
From Kiwiblog’s David Farrar – Bryce Wilkinson writes: Senior Fellow Bryce Wilkinson’s analysis reveals that since March 2009, New Zealand has spent $158 billion more overseas than it has earned, but its NIIP has only fallen by $32 billion.Statistics New Zealand shows that receipts from overseas reinsurers have ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition? Brian Easton writes – The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could ...
Dear Nicola Willis,Right now you’ve probably got lots of competing demands coming at you. Ministers who’ve inherited quite a mess, or so you’ve told us, looking for money in the budget to improve things. I imagine that’s why they came to parliament - to make things better.You’ll have to make ...
The Local Government, Transport and Auckland Minister hasthreatened councils with intervention if they don’t merge water assets to take them off balance sheet, just as the now-repealed Three Waters plan directed. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things of note this morning for Monday, March 25 include:Simeon ...
A listing of 36 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 17, 2024 thru Sat, March 23, 2024. Story of the week Thanks to John Mason having the stamina to sit down to watch "Climate - the Movie" ...
This morning the Q&A programme had Simeon Brown on to talk about National’s replacement for Three Waters. In case anyone’s forgotten the three are - drinking water, waste water, and sewerage. It’s quite important not to get them mixed up. In much the same way that you wouldn’t want to ...
Today’s newsletter comes with a mini-podcast conversation between me and my buddy Liv Tennet, talking about her time as a child actor in Lord of the Rings. It’s a conversation with a lot of giggles as she talks about falling off a horse, and becoming a meme. Read ...
The Desmog Climate Disinformation Database documents, "individuals and organisations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming." It's a who's who of the organised climate change denial movement, in other words. In ...
Bob Edlin writes – A High Court judge has decided miscreants who have mana – or who claim to have mana – should be treated differently from miscreants who have none. It’s a ruling that suggests indigenous law-breakers have a better chance of securing a discharge without conviction ...
Welcome to the first, and possibly last, edition of Brickbats, Bouquets and Bull’s Wool. In which I’ll take a look at the events of the last week or so, and rate them.In such ratings the numbers usually have more to do with the opinions of the reviewer, than the actual ...
Roger Partridge writes – My earlier column this month, New Zealand’s highest court could be facing a turning point, prompted a flood of feedback from business readers and lawyers alike. A common query was what Parliament can do to restrain an overreaching judiciary. This week I discuss two steps Parliament ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.16pm on Friday, March 22: writes about New Zealand's Building Boom—And What the World Must Learn From It over at his substack. challenges the Auckland Council’s use of a 3.8 degrees of warming forecast to oppose a wave-park and data centre project ...
Is she hinting that the Coalition Government will have to back down on key promises it made in Opposition?The Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is telling an evolving story about her fiscal challenges. In Opposition she was confident that she could deliver her promised income tax cuts. Appointed minister, she ...
Buzz from the Beehive Ministers of the Crown have drawn attention to one sector of the science sector which is unlikely to be subjected to heavy spending cuts, a state-funded broadcaster which is doing nicely, thank you, and a sporting event that had $5.4 million from the public purse puffed ...
Abbott’s Freestyle Libre sensors allow continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The sensor is applied to the back of the patient’s arm, with a thin filament under the skin measuring glucose levels constantly. But it costs around $100 per sensor and must be replaced once every 14 days. Photo by BSIP/Universal Images ...
The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) recently released a report in which he exposes the existence of a foreign intelligence partner-controlled technological “capability” inside the headquarters of the GCSB, NZ’s 5 Eyes-affiliated signals intelligence collection and analysis agency. … Continue reading → ...
Peter Dunne writes – Nearly three decades after the introduction of MMP and multiparty governments there should be a greater level of understanding about their finer points than often appears to be the case. The reaction to the despicable outburst from the Deputy Prime Minister at the weekend highlights ...
The sweet kisses from fruit of summerHave slowly been turning dullerYou say, "those times"And "remember the daysWhen we went outside and there still was the shade?"Taking no reason into play…Autumn. Clear, blue days shortening to longer nights, growing colder. Aotearoa.That’s us. The temperature dropping, the looming car crash - so ...
Bryce Edwards writes – “It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April ...
David Farrar writes – The Electoral Commission has published the expense returns for political parties for the 2023 election. I’ve put them in a table with how many votes a party got so we can see the spend per vote. National only spent $3.34 for every vote they got, almost ...
Winston Peters’ headline-making actions over the past week may have been a show of political power intended to strengthen his hand in Budget negotiations. It was no accident that his State of the Nation speech was as it was. He made it as New Zealand First Leader, not as Deputy ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson bowed out of politics this week, giving a series of exit ...
Graham Adams writes — If you love the law or sausages, as the saying goes, best not to look too closely at how they are made. And after watching the orgy of self-pity when Newshub’s closure was announced on February 28, television journalism should definitely be added to the list of those ...
Venerable New Zealand political commentator, Chris Trotter (https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/), is a sad creature these days. Once one of the most reliable Leftist writers out there – Economic Left at that – Trotter seems to have absorbed the worldview of Auckland culture-war obsessives. It is not for me to categorise what he ...
The cruelty of short-term memory loss is that each time you ask where she is, you get the fresh shock and grief of the news. That was Dad's day yesterday.Comfortingly, it seems to be less so today. Last night he looked crumpled, today he seems more settled. There's a card ...
Photo by Alvan Nee 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 One minister is talking tough while a colleague – whose ministry had acted tough and drawn a barrage of flak – has shown an official softening. Some ministers are doing what Labour was good at, which is distributing public funds to causes regarded as worthy or ...
A ballot for 4 Member's Bills was held today, and the following bills were drawn: Insurance Contracts Bill (Duncan Webb) Income Tax (Clean Transport FBT Exclusion) Amendment Bill (Julie Anne Genter) Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill (Greg Fleming) Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) ...
One of the strongest narratives about "our" spy agencies is that they are basically institutional traitors, working for foreign powers (or just themselves), without any control or oversight by the elected government. And today, we have yet another report from the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security which explicitly confirms this. ...
“It is often said that behind every great man is a great woman”. This is the pitch by the National Party Botany electorate branch to attend their “Ladies Afternoon Tea with Amanda Luxon”. For $110 including GST, you can turn up on Saturday 20 April to meet the Prime Minister’s ...
The Coalition Government’s plan to ‘get Auckland moving’ is a cuts cover-up that will ultimately cost Aucklanders more to move around the city, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Slashing the Ministry of Pacific Peoples by 40% will have a devastating impact on pacific communities and further highlights how little this government cares about anything other than cutting taxes for the wealthiest few. ...
Labour has proposed an urgent inquiry to investigate the ever-increasing profits of supermarkets, aiming to lower costs for shoppers and food producers alike, says Labour Spokesperson for Commerce and Consumer Affairs Arena Williams and Primary Production Spokesperson Cushla Tangaere-Manuel. ...
With 14% of jobs on the line at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities, the responsible Minister Melissa Lee is failing to stand up for the very communities she’s meant to be representing. ...
COURT OF APPEAL: TRIFECTA OF VICTORY FOR NZ FIRST, TRIFECTA OF FAILURE FOR OPPONENTS For the third time since April 2020, New Zealand First has defeated the Serious Fraud Office and all those complicit in a malicious attack against a political party going about its lawful business in a lawful ...
The Green Party stands with people who live in public housing, people in dire housing need, experts and advocates in demanding better than the Government’s archaic approach to housing those who need our support the most. ...
New Zealand has recently lost the hosting rights of some major international sporting events including the America’s Cup, the Rugby Championship, Netball World Cup, and the Wellington Sevens. We are now at a huge risk of losing SailGP as well. And it won’t stop there. The recent issues with SailGP ...
A Member’s Bill drawn this week would modernise insurance law and make things fairer and more transparent for consumers, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb said. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues has confirmed she was aware of funding issues in mid-December and did nothing to stop it. On 14 March, she signed off on changes that were announced and implemented on 18 March without any consultation with disability communities. ...
Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter says her members' bill is an opportunity for the coalition government to plug the gap in electric vehicle incentives. ...
The National Government continues to talk about irresponsible tax cuts that will only drive up inflation, despite the country entering a technical recession. ...
The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
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Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University It’s Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether you’re a boomer, or an ‘80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arosha Weerakoon, Senior Lecturer and General Dentist, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland Casezy idea/Shutterstock How does toothpaste work? What did people use before toothpaste was invented? – Amelia, age 7, Meanjin (Brisbane) Thanks for your ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Hallam, Associate professor, UNSW Sydney IM Imagery/Shutterstock Solar SunShot is well named. The Australian government announced today it would plough A$1 billion into bringing back solar manufacturing to Australia, boosting energy security, swapping coal and gas jobs for those ...
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The government abolishes good faith.
Defenders of this law will say, “This law doesn’t make mala fides compulsory.”
Perhaps John Key will tell employers the cost of abolishing good faith.
Perhaps employers want subversion from free-acting, non unionised, employees within their businesses?
Employers, do you want the guerrilla war National are forcing you into? Are you aware it has already begun?
Even though employers can immediately remove threats, not just within 90 days, it can only happen after the fact. One person can inflict serious damage overnight, without warning. Employers, you are sitting ducks. It’s always been that way and you know it. You need co-operation from your work force. The more you support an ideology that pushes you into positions that are strategically impossible to hold, the more it will cost you.
You know how it works, an organisation takes on the personality of its leader. Do you support John Key’s outlook? Are you planning to take all you can, then retire overseas? Is that your model, your ambition?
So you buy advertisements telling people not to donate to union members you are trying to starve into submission. What next? Will you close your business? Up and shift to another location hoping that the population do not care you’ll try the same trick on them? Do you think the towns you descend on next won’t be warned? Will you pay to shift whole swathes of people from one town to another to staff your operations? No? You expect the poor to come on their own at their own cost? They can barely eat right now, where will they get money to move? How much do you reckon it will cost to move your operations, re-route resources, reskill a workforce?
So you want tent cities all over NZ, like those in living in American tent cities now: in Portland, California, Washington and Seattle; or those under bridges in Las Vegas? Is this the model of your knowledge economy? What kind of knowledge, exactly?
When you sneer back, saying the people will do as their bellies dictate, do you think no one notices? Do you think humanity hasn’t been here before? Do you think your psychosis is not on display? Who exactly, do you think envies you, who wants to be a soulless parasite on society? And who would want to follow the advice of universities and tertiary education providers and “take their place” in such a society, climbing towards an imitation of your psychosis? Who would sign up for a Bachelor of Business Psychosis?
When you sneer back with your pathology, when you say any job is a good job, that work shall set you free – that slow deprivation and starvation should be met with gratitude, since it is not death – you contradict everything you say you want: Educated, intelligent, innovative, productive, people.
Will you be the one who says: “I do not need to follow minimum wage rates, I always pay more, but another employer can chose as they please.”. Do you honestly believe condoning the immoral actions of your peers; voting for governments that consistently debase industrial and social relations; do you think that makes you innocent?
Eager to sell news to a population that knows the reality, not even the media will support you. Do you honestly believe people will bother to differentiate between the good and the bad and the many shades of grey? Average people will see the insanity of bad employers and turn against all of you. There will be no clean green image, no “creators of wealth and jobs”, just opportunists, cheats and the untrustworthy.
Good faith is not an option. It is an integral part of the social agreement that holds any society together. When your sole trick is intimidation, control and threat of starvation, you rob people of self respect and when they cannot afford to live; when they are discouraged from seeing a doctor by needing to jump through hoops to prove they are sick; discouraged from treating trivial diseases that none-the-less reduce productivity; trivial diseases left unattended that turn into more serious conditions; when they cannot afford to see a doctor or buy medicines; when they are treated as potential malcontents by default; and are restricted from all other options but to work under conditions that rob them of more resources than they can replace – they will have nothing to lose. Will you support an ideology and party that legislates the demise of the workforce that supports your business and future? Are you content to undermine your own interests?
Employers, talk to your peers. Make them see reason, otherwise you silently condone an immediate future for NZ that is going to be far from bright and cost you more than it’s worth. You can wrestle control of sustainable business practices back from the government, wrestle your public image back from organisations like the EMA, or you can attempt to balance the books by 2017 – shortly before they are closed, entirely.
A Little boy waits:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/6920708/Collins-legal-suit-set-to-fail-Little
John Key says the worst slump in retail sales in 17 years is not a sign the economy is heading toward another recession..
What is it about implausible denial this scheister wants us to believe? Back into recesssion? Did we ever come out of it? Cant the lying prick use the proper term “Depression”?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/6920472/Key-banks-on-forecasts-despite-slump
Notice he spent years saying the area we barely trade with (Europe) was the reason for our bad economy and is now saying we’re not going into recession because the countries we trade with (Australia, and also Asia) are booming. Can’t have it both ways John – nothing has significantly changed in the economic fortunes of both regions since 2008.
Yes and how come we are putting forward our millions for the world fund to prop up the European economy. We are so wealthy ahem! Well some of us are, but then they don’t pay in tax as much of a percentage of their Discretionary money as the poorer do. Funny that. Seems wrong somehow.
And what about the United States – they are trying to be part of Asia, while still in a power competition with it. Are we looking to the USA too for trade Jokey Hen? Is it tied up with being dragged into their war machine which we hope will not cost us all the return we get from our exports to the USA.
Retail spending is a contradictory dilemma. One of our economy’s biggest problems was too much private debt caused by too much spending. Much of the tax changes have been used to reduce debt – a good thing – but at the expense of spending, which we want to grow to get the economy moving, but somehow without returning to excessive borrowing.
The reasons for current economic lethargy are threefold – of course the GFC is a major factor. Secondly there are inherited debt and property value escalation problems.
And National’s efforts, while arguably may have prevented things from being worse, they haven’t got the economy going again either.
We will hve to wait and see whether the upcoming budget manages to prompt the economy to finally pick up, or if we keep borrowing to tread water.
How’s the weather down south Petey…..a bit shilly I see.
A shilly (southerly chill) is due this afternoon. Been a great autumn generally though.
Pete, feel free to keep ignoring me if you like (lots do – guess my wording is a bit rough at times), but you continue to display a mindset that simply accepts what is placed in front of you with no consideration of any possible flaws. Here is an example …” One of our economy’s biggest problems was too much private debt caused by too much spending.”
Has it occurred to you that the problem may have been the lender in lending too much, rather than the borrower in borrowing too much? …
Also, has it occurred to you, given that the shortcomings of debt are now apparent to the entire world, that perhaps it is the nature of current debt production that is flawed and not the user? ….
Have a wee think on just those two things Pete and imagine how things may be improved by attending to them rather than the man on the clapham omnibus who has to bend and scrape to the bank manager….
… .or that wages have not been increasing with prices and the difference has been made up with debt?
…. or that the interest being charged on the debt is out of all proportion to the risk for ‘too big to fail’ banks and that finance companies can have pretty much unregulated interest of short-term loans and unregulated lending ruining people’s savings. E.g. in Britain they now have payday loans that even small businesses are taking out because banks won’t lend out the money the taxpayer gave them to make the money-go-round kickstart.
And still the media, and many pollies and activists, are promoting the housing market, looking everywhere for signs that house prices are rising, and that more people are or will be taking out mortgages…. and that will add to the country’s private debt.
The focus should be on affordable housing for all, and an alternative basis for the country’s economy, rather than being focused on housing as a “market”.
Pete, private sector debt was NZs biggest economic woe until National with the connivance of Peter Dunne allowed the government books to slide badly to pay for tax cuts in favour of the rich (thereby materially adding to our woes). Whilst all this has been going on Dunne and the Nats have this public pretense going on that the economy is sort of OK, recessionary but nothing serious. Which is why I raised the point that we are not in a recession, it is a DEPRESSION.
My prediction: Dunne and NACT will soon admit there actually is a depression for which the only cure will be “asset sales”……
I’d like to know why the recession ins’t called a depression? Is the term “recession” for real or is using this term just a way of global govts pretending they didn’t F up by masking the truth of a depression? I’ve never understood this.
I think you have tumbled it, the words are pregnant with imagery and connotations. Recessions never “cut” so deep do they? And you can be responsible for a “recession” without blame, but a depression, well that is another thing entirely.
Still now they only exist in cautionary tales mothers tell their children at bed time, everybody knows there is no such thing as a depression.
A recession is merely part of the business cycle (no responsibility) but a depression is a failure of the economic model which the politicians and economists can’t admit to because it means that they were wrong.
We are in a depression.
Absolutely true!
From my memory of 1st year/2nd year economics recession and depression are defined terms for a certain number of quarters in which GDP (? – may not be GDP but I think it is) decreases.
For example a recession is 4 quarters in a row and a depression is 8 in a row (I just completely made those numbers up).
Edit: Just checked Wikipedia and a recession is either 2 quarters of decreasing GDP or a 1.5% rise in unemployment in 12 months whereas a depression is a recession that lasts 2 or more years or a 10% decrease in GDP.
So the current situation doesn’t fit the economic definition of a depression as there has been a couple of quarters with GDP growth in the last couple of years
First it was the bennies: it’s OK to pressure them to use long term contraception, because they are a minority of voters (if they haven’t already given up on voting.
Then it was Labour laws because the right have had a long term successful PR campaign that convinces the majority of voters (or at least of swing voters) unions don’t act in their interests:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6913814/Secret-changes-to-labour-rules
And this morning I heard Jonkey on TV3 say the rise in prescription charges won’t affect the majority of Kiwis. He said, …it’s a trade-off in the right direction for the bulk of New Zealanders.
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/rise-in-prescription-charges-not-fair-labour-4887239
How cynical is this? Will the REAL nasty party please stand up?
RE: The meds charges.
Gotta keep that top tax rate down somehow I suppose. And If that means people getting sicker, then so be it.
And in the TV One link above, TV One reports the first part of Key’s “trade-of” statement, and censors the last part:
Oh that double talk from Key just is so funny – cynical laughter, the best medicine. Keep laughing you poor people you might be able to cure yourselves.
The guy is full of shyte.
Of course changing collective agreement laws will not affect the vast bulk of New Zealanders. Most kiwis are not parties to a collective agreement.
It is like saying (sorry Goodwin) that killing jews will not affect the vast bulk of New Zealanders. Of course it won’t.
But it is still appalling.
Actually you might find it does effect everybody because these collective agreements were benchmarks for the rest of the country. What will happen is more downward spiral as the economy taks and employers will push for lower wages just to try to keep up with the global collapsing economy caused by money printing and resources getting more expensive.
Rough calculation via http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/statistics/0135595.html the $3 prescription charge when introduced 20 years ago was $4.71 in today’s money.
Big deal – how much were they thirty years ago? And how high were benefits?
Just another assault on the working poor and beneficiaries of this country.
Look on the bright side – they only need to cut back smoking by a maximum of one ciggie a week to break even…………
riiiiiiiiiiiiiiigggghhhhhtttttttttt.
And what about the majority of working poor and beneficiaries?
Ah screw it – I’m on holiday for a week or two, so will be intermittent web access. Feel free to be as fucking moronic and bigoted as you want.
The IMF is being warned by an internal report that there could be a permanent doubling of oil prices in the coming decade with profound implications for global trade.
“This is uncharted territory for the world economy, which has never experienced such prices for more than a few months,” the report warns.
In further bad news for the world the IEA believe that a period of declining demand triggered by the global economy’s slowdown is over and the upward trajectory in prices has resumed.
The world is no longer going to grow itself out of the economic problems it faces.
More details are at http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/may/13/oil-price-doubling-decade-imf
I’m curious mr micky, who directs / controls / runs the IMF?
Just looking for conflicts ….
IIRC, it works on a share basis, the more shares the more influence, the US holds the most shares.
“Uncharted territory” indeed.
Folks assume we will come out “business as usual” from the 2008 global financial crisis just like, hey hey hey, the world did after the 1973 oil-shock-cum 1973/74 stock market crash, and again after Black Monday 1987, and then again after the 1997 crash.
Well, there may be unpleasant surprises coming up (although the major players should be clued up and are, using an expression Colonial Viper has used, playing a game of “pretend and extend” … or ahem, ?brighter future around the corner). Things may well be different this time with the protracted difficulty in trying to extricate from the debt crisis, and an energy crisis looming on the heels of that.
Almost halfway into 2012 now, and the much awaited rebound of post-2008 is not quite in sight. If anything, some economies are slowing down or sputtering (again).
There could be….how about will be a doubling of oil price?
Reading the business pages is quite interesting as there seem to be enough commentaries pointing out future supply deficiencies in a lot of areas, but the mainstream commentary is all about business as usual. There is a strange attachment to metaphysics. It is probably the most cogent example I have seen of cargo cult mentality. Some call it techno narcissism, “they” (whoever “they” are) will magically “invent” something, break the laws of thermodynamics and, voila, nirvana…we will all be saved from the limits of our physical world.
Funny question about the UK as well, if they had cheap energy into the future would they “grow”? I suspect not, they would send the production to some slave labour economy in Asia or similar, whilst factories and workers would stand idle in Manchester. That’s rational neo lib economics. What a joke.
My The Standard screen no longer shows the list of comments on the right hand side.
Just me?
It has been coming and going for me this morning.
While you might get distracted by all the hideous but ultimately small fry measures John Key’s administration takes to squeeze the lifeblood out of the poor and the middle class here is the real big Whopper they are going to hit us with:
On Greece’s bancrupcy, JP Morgan’s loss and those pesky Derivatives Johnny “Derivatives” Key and Bill “Double Dipton” English invested in.
Derivatives are quite obviously a fraud, as is gold (too many promisary notes and not enough kgs of gold to back them up, only 100 to 1 but hey whats that between friendly investors and their banker mates)?
PS Why dont we use a real hard currency, a tangible that has real value and can provide feed on the table? Sheep come to mind, we have lots of them.
Sheep? I guess then money wouldn’t grow on trees it would grow on grass…
Gold is fine, just make sure you physically hold onto it and don’t trust a banker to hold it – you know they just mortgage it up for their benefit, not yours, and without your knowledge. Same with existing cash. This is the way the system works. Scary if you think about it properly. Such a system never lasts – as this one isn’t.
Brings a whole new meaning to “grass mining” as our primary industry…watch the wealth grow, and the money breed….
I have some gold, I reckon on the day the gold is requested en-masse from couponed deposit holders mine will soar 100 times in value…then to the shop immediately to buy ….a sheep!
yep they all smartasses and big noters when they playing with the taxpayers money.
TV3 is still running the story they started on Saturday about David Cunliffe not being interviewed. It continued with an interview with Chris Trotter on Firstline this morning (ironically because Key cancelled a planned interview).
Cunliffe being “muzzled” and a leadership “row” has been emphasised. One puzzling aspect was clarified a little on the news last night – apparently David Parker was proposed as an alternative interviewee.
But for some reason TV3 chose to run the Cunliffe no show story. Why didn’t TV3 interview David Parker?
Gosh we’ve no idea why garner would do such a story so Petey oh please tell us, we await your sage counsel.
“Why didn’t TV3 interview David Parker?”
i have a suggestion Petey McBleaty
Keep asking TV3 and if you do ever get a response that is when there is something to share.
Duncan Garner has clarified.
That clarifies it quite a bit.
But the answer to “Where was the Labour representative?” was still a dual responsibility, Labour chose not to put Cunliffe there, and TV3 chose not to put anyone else from Labour there.
so TV3/Garner had replied to your question before you even posted here!
big thumbs up there Pete, love your work
No, Freedom, Garner did not reply to PG as I mistakenly assumed from the way he creatively worded his 9.3 above.
The response by Garner PG quoted is actually Garner’s comment on Brian Edwards’ blogsite to a post by Edwards.
Olwyn posted the link to Edwards’ site and Garner’s comment at 20.1 on the Warming to Shearer page.
http://brianedwardsmedia.co.nz/2012/05/on-david-cunliffe-the-political-divide-and-why-im-still-wondering/#comments
oooh that stinky weasel, thanks for the heads up. I had not followed the link in his 9.3, seems i gave him credit for honest presentation of a dialogue. (I should know better by now)
one more reason to distrust anything Petey dribbles into his begging bowl.
Exactly. I too was surprised and thought that PG was actually being straight up for once and gave him the benefit of the doubt. But, no………
Garner may have just thought of answering that unprompted. But I was the only one (that I’m aware of) asking that question – at Edwards blog, here, at YourNZ, Kiwiblog, on TV3’s news site and on Twitter.
Not that that should matter – there’s an explanation. It’s a credible reasonthat TV3 already had Parker scheduled so didn’t want him again sooner, they don’t want the same faces too often (apart from their own). They obviously didn’t see a need to explain when doing their stories, but it clarifies things for me.
Labour’s “Top Team” would have known of Parkers scheduled appearances, so this shifts the glare back to them, why they didn’t want additional exposure from another of their economic spokespeople.
The non-appearance will be soon forgotten. The only thing that will matter in the longer term is the effect of this wee episode on the power battle that is obviously going on.
Cunliffe (and supporters) needs to either accept that Shearer is leader and do everything he can to work with and support that, or he can contribute to another wasted year of non-rebuilding.
Still clutching at straws there old Petey boy… boring!
New political TV comedy;
I’m guessing most of the people on here enjoy the British political comedy ‘The Thick of it’.
It has been redone as a US version called ‘Veep’, which is based on a fictional US vice president, has received little to no attention.
Although it still suffers from many of the problems in translating high paced British wit to a US audience (‘The Office’)…this one is much better. A strong UK link remains…the genius creator of ‘The Thick of it’ (and Time Trumpet, etc, etc) Armando Iannucci, is heavily involved, as is Simon Blackwell from ‘Peep Show’ / ‘Four Lions’ fame.
They are up to episode four in series one.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veep_(TV_series)
I would have, but afaik it’s never been on free to air TV. (85-95% of free to air TV is American, including ‘re-makes’ of British shows. I see heaps of stuff listed in the pay TV schedules, that I would love to see but can’t afford.)
I will never watch an American remake of a British show. Ever.
In fact, I watch almost no TV as a result of trying to avoid reality sh*te, cop shows and American ‘comedy’. It all promotes violence and war!
“I would have, but afaik it’s never been on free to air TV”
Try your local DVD store…free to air TV sucks, its a waste of time and braincells. I got rid of my TV cause its a waste of space. There are only 2-3 programmes worth watching, they are on TV7 and can be streamed on the net. NZ TV news is a sham and will lower your intelligence…avoid it.
“I will never watch an American remake of a British show. Ever. In fact, I watch almost no TV as a result of trying to avoid reality sh*te, cop shows and American ‘comedy’. It all promotes violence and war!”
A sad (colonial?) perspective…your loss. The US Office is OK, not great. But then I think the UK Office was way over-hyped, little more than an annoying boss & an office full of dorks…and they only did 2 six episode seasons.
At the moment US comedy is more creative than the British…comedies from the BBC have been average for the past 5 years or so…TV4 and ITV are sloppy. BBC needs to learn from HBO.
Louie, Curb Your Enthusiasm & Portlandia seem to me to be far more progressive than the current British offerings. Those 3 US programmes reflect and then critique society at a far deeper level than the UK Office ever did.
New banksy:
http://www.highsnobiety.com/news/2012/05/14/new-banksy-work-in-london-child-labour-in-the-uk/#Scene_1
very close to old epsom bansky’s vision for an ideal NZ
Lewis Hine: Child labour
it may be a day old, but Stuff has finally decided to publish the many comments that were submitted yesterday on the Wilkinson story. Only after it has been buried deep in the soft peat of the site of course.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6913814/Secret-changes-to-labour-rules
“In a new move, Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson wants employers to be able to set the agenda for collective contract negotiations, raising concerns they will be able to walk away from bargaining if unions reject unreasonable demands”
— KW is simply just another empty vessel being used as a way to push unwanted policy on unwitting NZ’ers. Makes me wonder what they get promised in return for being traitorous!
Key has another whinge:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10806048
Boo hoo, the media don’t like me anymore, waahhh.
There’s always Hawaii, John.
Woe diddums, diddums, diddums…. poor poor poor little Shonkers, boo hoo!!!!!!!! Dont be fooled.
Meanwhile the psychopathic misanthrope is quietly smiling behind the scenes plotting another rip off…assets, tax etc etc, anything to enslave and enfeeble the people.
leave John Key…..
http://t.co/byUBThOY
Truly beautiful….poor poor little Johnny!
Seconded, it’s awesome! 🙂
If you get past the headline it’s not a whinge, just a statement of reality.
Clark would know, she had plenty of experience.
Look Pete, it is obvious to me that in Johnnygrad there are a whole pile of homosexual grey-suit cabinet ministers (who is that one with the bright shirts and ties? Not to mention Lockie in his speedos)… then there is some fierce blonde lessie who looks like a dominatrix following him everywhere telling him what to do. I have seen it on the tellie and its all true (my mates confirmed it down the pub over a beer or three).
If he wasn’t worried Pete, why was he whinging?
Keys radio therapy
Today, the Prime Minister of New Zealand accused the media of becoming more aggressive, hostile, and antagonistic towards his Government…
This is one of the most stupid beatups I’ve seen. Desperate nonsense on a slow news day.
Pete you are just showing your prejudices.
Key’s sense of indignant resentment of criticism is palpable. It will not go down well. You can sense years of high paid Crosby Textor advice constructing old smile and wave going down the gurgler.
It looks like National will smash through what they can this year and resign themselves to losing next time.
He’d have a big ol whiney baby whinge if the media actually printed the whole truth about him: His dodgy dealings, his past as a trader and the effects of that. If they really wanted to they could end his PM joy ride, and put us all out of our misery.
Its really funny how the massive media love fest with shonkey is now showing some signs of the honey moon after party blues. Its funny how shonkey is now snivelling like a spurned lover. “You don’t love me anymore, whhhaaaa!”
PS: PG (Personal Grievance) He’s just pretending to not be hurt when he says “I’m not being bent out of shape…etc” He’s just like a silly school girl. No offence meant towards school girls. I can say that because I’ve been there.
At least he still has Franny.
The original headline was “Key takes aim at media: Herald in gun”.
Then with a sprinkle of Crosby Textor pixie dist it becomes “John Key denies slamming NZ Media”. This is despite earlier “accusing it of becoming more aggressive, hostile, and antagonistic towards his Government”.
It seems that whenever Johnny says something it actually does not mean what you think it means …
If anyone can bear listening to the original interview with Leighton Smith it is here but not recommended for anyone except those with the strongest of constitutions.
Key is now claiming that he didn’t slam the media. Maybe he’s developed some Banksian amnesia.
Nah ms. I want to keep my sanity in one piece.
You know, approx. once every 2 months I inadvertently tune in to 1ZB in the mornings. I can say without a shadow of exaggeration, that within minutes I hear him having yet another hate-rave against Climate Change proponents. Not only is he wrong, he is clearly a dangerous and obsessed man and is not fit to be on the radio station end of a microphone.
Aye Anne
Your and my constitutions are obviously not up to it!
Geeze, talk about biting the hand that feeds him.
I just heard Garner explaining that the poor dear is under stress and that he didn’t really mean it… Arse licking with a soupcon of masochism, well done Dunc!
A bit of lick-spittle from Garner… how surprising.
Applause for Helen Kelly, Laurie Nankivell and Martyn Bradbury on last night’s show. Excellent material, competent representations, skilled discussions.
For those who want to know where and how the people are “fighting back”, you can meet some of them on Monday nights at 8pm on Triangle TV: The Union Report.
(I am not paid to say this or associated with them in any way.)
What a nasty disgusting way to announce the prescription charge rise by using a cancer ward to say that the extra charge would go o help cancer patients.This must surely be the most underhanded way to announce
a rise in health costs. It stinks of Crosby Textor does it not?
Kaitaia GP Lance O’Sullivan is a godsend. Not only did he speak out earlier in the week about the kids drinking from medicine bottles, and eating from pig buckets, but this morning on Nat Rad he spoke out against the prescription charges. He’s intelligent, articulate, compassionate, and obviously has a sophisticated analysis of the issues involved. Why can’t we have more comment in the media from people like him?
The other man that Kathryn Ryan interviewed was also interesting. An academic willing to directly criticise govt policy, point out its stupidity, and back up his criticism with research.
The thing I don’t understand about the Nats doing this is that it’s obviously not going to save any money (poor people will end up in A and E instead, which will cost more). They must know this, so why do it? Are they so desperate for cash in the short term?
I’m also not clear about how WINZ factors into this – people are saying that prescription costs can be covered by Disability Allowance, but DA is only for long term conditions (over 6 months) and for costs that are ongoing. The Child DA criteria is harder (12 months and serious disability).
You’re right to feel confused, Weka. Even for a whole lot of people with drug-controlled chronic conditions WINZ doesn’t factor into it at all. That’s just spin – trying to say there is something around that will lessen the impact. For many people it’s not true.
Already 6 percent don’t fill prescriptions because they can’t afford it.
The BIPB has moved quickly in appointing BNZ investment banker Eddie Xie as their local representative. Xie, an ex-resident of Bejing who has lived in New Zealand for about ten years, said the BIPB was pleased to have cemented a strategic partnership between the two cities
Argh….
Banks, the bastions of Capitalism.
Capitalism, supposed to benefit the masses through competition.
How is it then that the banks serving NZ have made record profits in the last two years?
Great to be an Australian bank shareholder feeding off little kiwis.
Another problem for the economic whizz kid .
Statistics NZ has revised the GDP figures for 2011.the revision is a decrease in the dismal figure of 1.4% by 21% down to 1.1%.
Interesting in table 20 of the excel spread tables is the setting of real gdp per capita in fixed prices (95/96) This gives the absolute value, eg 2006- 31644 2011-31169.
Oh dear.
It is time that the “opposition parties” started to question the Govt,rather then be distracted by obvious smokescreens or advice by media advisors.
Sorry forgot link
http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/economic_indicators/GDP/GrossDomesticProduct_HOTPDec11qtrNIC.aspx
Out of interest why did you pick 2006 as your comparison?
June 2007 is around the focal point of the GFC eg the bear sterns funds.From this point instability (fluctuations) occurred both in currency flows ,and the ocr It is the underlying values that need to be analyzed
“It is time that the “opposition parties” started to question the Govt,rather then be distracted by obvious smokescreens or advice by media advisors”
—The point is that they are not there to ask tough quesions, its just theatre when they do…meaningless in reality