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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On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
What is it with the mining industry? Its not enough for them to pillage the earth - they apparently can't even be bothered getting resource consent to do so: The proponent behind a major mine near the Clutha River had already been undertaking activity in the area without a ...
Photo # 1 I am a huge fan of Singapore’s approach to housing, as described here two years ago by copying and pasting from The ConversationWhat Singapore has that Australia does not is a public housing developer, the Housing Development Board, which puts new dwellings on public and reclaimed land, ...
Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
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Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
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The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
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Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 26 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
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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