Open mike 15/08/2016
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6:00 am, August 15th, 2016 - 32 comments
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Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...3 days ago
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The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...4 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...4 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...5 days ago
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The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...5 days ago
- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
- Green Government will revoke dodgy fast-track projects
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...5 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...6 days ago
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The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...6 days ago
- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willis’ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Government’s books to surplus. ...6 days ago
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Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...6 days ago
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For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...6 days ago
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The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...6 days ago
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All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
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The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...6 days ago
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The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...7 days ago
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The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...7 days ago
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The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
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The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
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New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
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The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
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Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
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Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
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Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
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The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
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Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
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Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
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The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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- New Zealand to assist Vanuatu on earthquake response
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Your link didn’t work, E Pineapples, but this link gives info re Tamaki Re-Dev. Ltd.
http://www.treasury.govt.nz/publications/briefings/2013-housing/11.htm
a case of slimey patronising smooth talking bastard ignoring the elderly and terminally ill people’s pain? …and using the State obsolete immoral laws as a means for illegitimate power and control and surveillance in order to threaten and persecute New Zealanders?
‘Is there appetite for change on legalising cannabis?’
“John Key says despite the poll, he’s not a personal fan of changing the cannabis law. He says if Parliament were to decriminalise cannabis use, that would appear to condone increased drug use.”
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201812142/is-there-appetite-for-change-on-legalising-cannabis
‘Helen Kelly pushes for an overhaul of cannabis legal status’
“A new poll shows more than eighty per cent of people want cannabis legalised or decriminalised for terminal pain relief.”
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201812145/helen-kelly-pushes-for-an-overhaul-of-cannabis-legal-status
‘Legalise Cannabis party says poll backs their stance’
“Legalise Cannabis party leader Michael Appleby delighted at latest poll showing two thirds of New Zealand want personal use of cannabis legalised or decriminalised.”
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201812146/legalise-cannabis-party-says-poll-backs-their-stance
(an excellent discussion on Morning Report !)
So, when’s he going to ban alcohol so that he doesn’t look like he condones increased drug use?
Have you checked the influence of the alcohol lobby on “national” party policy recently ?
You’re on to it Contrarain, national lowered the drinking age to 18 and also put booze in supermarkets. Then the dirty politics flashbacks, dang.
HPA (Health Promotion Agency – what a name lolz) is a Crown entity established under the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Amendment Act 2000 through the merger of the Alcohol Advisory Council (ALAC) and Health Sponsorship Council (HSC). Basically it’s the booze panel, they work on hoodwinking the public into believing alcohol is safe by promoting ‘safe’ drinking. In a nutshell they are responsible for ensuring the profits of alcohol companies.
HPA’s alcohol-related work is funded from a levy on alcohol produced or imported for sale in New Zealand, I wonder how much the board members are paid? These fellas will be working overtime to try and convince the public that pot is bad, alcohol profit protection is their objective.
HPA has an interesting board..
http://www.hpa.org.nz/who-we-are/hpa-board
Dr Lee Mathias, Chairman (Dr Mathias was also electoral chair for National MP Sam Lotu-Iiga)
Jamie Simpson (Was electoral chair for Cabinet Minister Gerry Brownlee)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10815974
Tony O’Brien (Murray McCullys mate from Sky TV http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=50847)
Those are the more interesting ones on the board.
If any on the HPA board are asked to give advice on cannabis, and they give negative advice, i’d be raising an eyebrow at the least.
Thrilled the cannabis debate is gathering momentum.
Guyon should have asked Key ‘Have you smoked cannabis?”.
Bearded Git .
Guyon should have asked Key about his drinking problem.
Just observe how much he drinks and how he drinks. All point to him liking alcohol to much,The occasional slurry speech and the way he quickly finishes his drink are all signs that he likes to drink too much/
So, after extensive polling and focus grouping around various approaches to the issue, the Nats have discovered that they are going to loose more votes to NZ First, and /or have faithful stay at home, than they will gain from proposing any sort of reform.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11693988
People can do what they like with their money I reckon but I’m also sure there other, more deserving, organisations that could do with some money, like these guys:
http://www.dogwatch.co.nz/how-to-help-us/donations
Have to laugh Hooton is mocking National mercilessly over ridiculous time wasting private members bill.
Looks like the slide in popularity has well and truly began. Devoid of ideas is a sure sign of a regime on it’s way out.
Keep it coming cobbah Hooton, very entertaining.
yes Hooton is a sharp one at his best, when he is not just being a PR twister merchant for the right wing…I enjoyed that one too!
‘Political commentators Mike Williams and Matthew Hooton’
“Politics from the left and right, with Mike Williams and Matthew Hooton: the latest polls, lost luggage legislation, local body elections – Auckland messes and Wellington scraps and Cannabis reform.”
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201812167/political-commentators-mike-williams-and-matthew-hooton
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11693717
Governments gaming the oia , surely not
The government plans to allow the GCSB to spy on us.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/310979/new-spy-laws-considered-by-cabinet
I presume that will mean they can hop into our PCs and have a look at what we’re up to. Personally, I don’t give a damm. As they say: nothing to hide, nothing to fear?
We could have some fun on TS mercilessly razzing them by using ‘key words’ at every available opportunity. 😈
…yes and jonkey nactional wants support from all other political parties , as wide a support as possible…especially Labour! ( he gave almost a warning there)
….but does the Labour Party have the guts to stand up to him and stop overseas spying on New Zealanders?
( because if they don’t we have right wing collusion of the worst sort…and a potential South American banana republic scenario…where New Zealanders will not be safe to dissent from USA foreign policy and where our sovereignty and democratic rights to speak out will be severely undermined and potentially violated)
…no self respecting Labour Party supporter should support Jonkey Nactional on this absolutely disgraceful Bill !
Have to agree with PR below Chooky. Let’s see exactly what the NActs are planning.
Btw, my comment was a bit tongue in cheek…
Its always hard the first time but after that it gets easier 🙂
Screw this, where is the terrorism? JK is the terrorist. Makes no difference how he tries to sell his law change, it’s not needed here in NZ at the present time, Jihad brides spring to mind, take your deception and shove it JK
Or you could wait to see what the changes are I suppose
which direction do you think the changes will go?
I don’t know, I’ll wait to see what comes out.
“nothing to hide, nothing to fear? ” Really?
So tell us your bank account number and password
See my comment @ 6.1.1. The evil face should give it away.
I don’t do – and never have done – online banking for precisely that reason.
So that wasn’t you buying that item off trademe for $26.50 the other day? Sorry, my bad 😉
Evil face acknowledged and accepted.
The thing is that it’s just very bad for our psyche to know we have no privacy.
…bad for our psyche to know we have no privacy.
Good point there Brigid. Being serious now. I went through a horrible experience 25 odd years ago and it was a very scary time.
This assumes the powers will be used honestly.
It’s not very hard to put things on computers, if you know what you’re about – not a power I want accessible to a moral vaccuum like this government.
Great comments from Cornel West!
The sooner the so-called left in New Zealand realise the exact same sentiment applies in here too the better.
no, No, NO, NO!!!
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/82559158/former-private-sector-agedcare-boss-grainne-moss-to-head-new-state-carer
I’m confused by that appointment, why hire a known ideology? HR and a member of the managerial class?
And why is it someone who is not known to Māori? Who has never dealt with Māori?
It seems national party can never do anything without overtly putting their take on politics in it.
Well on brightside Rosemary McDonald, we now know – without doubt, it was never about the kids, and always about privatisation.
I believe, quite strongly, that this must be prevented.
There must be some way of stopping what is obviously going to be the corporatisation of Child Welfare…where is the Opposition on this?
Having said that, Labour was more than happy to have the exact same thing happen to Ministry of Health: Disability Support Services…with, for some people, disastrous consequences.
Perhaps, as with MOH:DSS, the plan is to have ‘care’ through Contracted Providers be of such inconsistent quality that it will be a lottery…to the point that many families are scared shitless to hand the care of disabled loved ones over to these agencies and provide the care themselves.
Two results here…1) reduction in expenditure as families now doing for nothing what providers get paid to do.
2) Families that relinquish the care of loved ones to the State, knowing that often this ‘care’ is really shit….have only themselves to blame.