Yup, I partly agree with you Matthew about Labour’s TPP positioning.
Labour missed the chance to stand firmly against the TPP.
Chris Trotter nailed it.
‘Why has Andrew Little rejected a winning TPPA strategy for a guaranteed loser?’
Trotter suggests that Labour may no longer be “committed to meaningful social and economic change”.
He could have kicked for touch (waited for text), opposed TPP or declared victory and supported TPP. Any of these would have had internal integrity and been politically ok. He managed to find the one form of words certain to fuck off both pros and antis and make him and his party look ridiculous. Quite an achievement in its own way!
Andrew Little did “kick for touch”, Matthew Hooton, and he’s been descried for doing so ! He’s said he didn’t know all the details, what’s fully in the text, and he’s opposed parts he does know about, and what’s more – he’s also said that if necessary a Labour government would breach parts of the agreement it doesn’t approve of. What more do you all want ?
1. Labour opposes the TPP on principle unless it meets these 5 bottoms lines (list them again).
2. At this stage Labour has no control over whether NZ is part of the TPP, only National does and its allied parties.
3. Labour will not pull out of the TPP when it is government, because we feel that is not in NZ’s best interests (provide an explanation of why this is so).
4. Instead Labour will endeavour to address each of our 5 bottoms lines one by one eg Labour will still pass legislation restricting overseas land ownership.
5. We will then fight any disputes process that happens as a result. (here Labour needs to provide a very clear explanation of what that actually means, including how it will deal with being sued by corporations).
That’s the gist of what they’ve done, but the issues in brackets in 3. and 5. haven’t been explained and sorry, but I don’t trust Labour on those things.
Little and Labour stuffed up its position on the TPP in exactly the same way it did on the flag change fiasco and three bloody peaks or whatever it’s called. It’s either because the people in there have such opposing views on everything that any attempt at a compromise will always fail or they’re just very very stupid when it comes to strategy. Suspect it’s way more than a bit of both.
Clearly the voters don’t give a shit about integrity Matthew or National wouldn’t be in a third term. They forgive lying and misleading regularly if they believe the nonsense about them getting a better life. I mean even you were prepared to dance around the law and its intent for your ideological beliefs and career progression?
You might want to think about the shit show the country has to vote for as an alternative. But hey.. keep saying the public is stupid. Seems to be working.
In April 2002, when the New Zealand Herald cartoonist Malcolm Evans dared to criticize the Holy State for its depradations in the Occupied West Bank (this was just after the Jenin massacre) the Israeli consulate, in concert with influential supporters including David Nathan, Dame Lesley Max and David Zwarz, mounted a sustained campaign of character assassination and vilification against Evans, combined with snarling threats against the Herald‘s editor, Gavin Ellis, a weak character who needed little more than a few swear words down the telephone to frighten him. He sacked Evans eventually, replacing him with the pisspoor Rod Emmerson.
Sterling work, joe! I know how you feel about Max’s comments having disappeared into the ether. That’s the problem with leaving it to the unreliable archivists at Radio New Zealand.
It’s for that reason that I spend so much time committing the words of people like Lesley Max to paper. That way we can confront them with evidence of their villainy whenever we want….
I’ve found Littles views on the tpp easy to understand anyone who is struggling is either listening to the people that have set out to deflect trouble away from the nats pathetic bargaining in the negotiations of the tpp or is one of the shit stirrers
Yep you would think Labour could be bothered clearing up the variation between Littles statements and their TPPA position on their website or FB page at least.
Little’s statements don’t seem in line with their ‘official’ TPPA position which has more holes in it anyway than swiss cheese, and doesn’t even seem to be able to stick with that either.
And b wag horn you can dismiss all the ex Labour supporters as
set out to deflect trouble away from the nats pathetic bargaining in the negotiations of the tpp or is one of the shit stirrers
which maybe Labours official position on anyone who is confused (they are just shit stirrers) but again that 15% of votes they lost last election should be a ring-a-ding moment for understanding that those angry ex supporting ‘shit stirrers’ are voters who are sending them a message that after 7 years you would think they might concede they need to address.
I think Labour’s problem is that had convinced themselves the TPP would be diabolical. When they learned on Monday all five of their bottom lines had been met, they experienced cognitive dissonance that they need to work through. In the meantime, they are stuck in that awful place where ten facts are not the ones you want to believe.
He is probably referring to Little’s briefing from Groser and all the inside information he doesn’t have on TPP which would mean someone is breaching the crucial secrecy which denied the rest of us access to same.
My observation of Matthew is unless he is getting hot under the colour and going all screamy and ad hominem he only pushes hard (and repeatedly) on things he is SURE about (apologies for the mental image that may have produced, not intended). he may not have seen stuff but somebody/s have told him enough for him to feel he is on sure ground… which would also be a breach of the secrecy
I never said they opposed it, my take on it is ;
In the lead up to signing they applied as much pressure on national as they could to get them to not sell us out .
After the signing they have gone for a sensible amount of caution on what they say so as not to be tricked into tight corner by key and co .
While also making it clear they will find away to legislate for protecting nz residents chances of owning there own home.
People need to learn to keep an eye on what the main players are saying and not getting sidetracked by all the chatter coming from likes of hooton .
to Paul @ 1.3.1. on Stuff, 11 October 2015 – at end of story re “bigger gains for dairy from India, Indonesia” –
Andrew Little is quoted as saying ” If it came to walking away from the TPPA to get a better deal elsewhere, Little said a Labour government reserved that right”.
Hi Jenny – reserving your right is not really saying NO to TPP.
I think that is what Labour don’t get. People don’t want to support a party that does not give a clear message on TPP, which is going to affect all part of Kiwi’s lives, heath, housing, law, copywrite, justice, security, transparancy, sovereignty and trade.
The fact it was pushed through so that Obama can have some sort of legacy (after the trillions in US debt and an un win able occupation) is even worse. Obama has hardly left the US or the planet in better shape after his presidency. A last ditch attempt to put US and other countries jobs at risk and the reduction in environmental sovereignty into corporate control under TPP seems to be more of the same.
People have a right to know concrete policy before they support a party. Labour can ‘reserve’ their right to walk away on TPP even the Natz can, but we all know they will not.
“Reserving the right to withdraw” utterly meaningless. All 12 TPP countries “reserve the right to withdraw”. That is why they put the withdrawal provisions in the deal.
Andrew Little is quoted as saying ”If it came to walking away from the TPPA to get a better deal elsewhere, Little said a Labour government reserved that right”.
Yep, better deal elsewhere. Labour don’t have a problem with free market neoliberalism. I don’t think they have any intention of moving left, they’re just going to tinker with the edges a bit. Think Clark government lite.
They are worse than Clark because she at least had the balls to complain about international stuff that was wrong (like Israeli agents stealing disabled NZ identities and be caught) and do something about it. I think both Key and Little would just let any similar incident ride rather than cause an international incident. Key would probably be keen to make money out of passports anyway (finally a return on investment from the disabled – fake international passports).
As for Labour being briefed on the document – it is massive – so as with any agreement the devil is in the detail. I’m sure it all looks rosy in the briefing papers but try to get the whole agreement to see if it is true. No can do as Prof Kelsey has found. And apparently noone can find out for 7 years.
It’s the last few days of the Canadian federal election campaign.
The central issue of the longest campaign in Canadian history has been how to get rid of Stephen Harper.
It looks increasingly likely that Canadians have decided Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party are the means by which that will be achieved.
The Grits have established a 4 to 7% lead over the Tories nationally but more importantly they’re leading by 10 to 13% in Ontario (which accounts for over a third of all the federal ridings). http://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/poll-tracker/2015/index.html
I hope today that when John Key meets with Australian PM, he advocates on behalf of law abiding Kiwis living in Australia getting a better deal rather than the sc*m who assulted, robbed, raped and burgled law abiding people and now are claiming they have been discriminated against as they are being deported from a country that opened its door to them.
Tories are, inevitably, ignorant on pretty much everything. It’s that lack of knowledge combined with their inability to think that allows the psychopaths running National to lead them around by the nose.
Take this comment for example. Classic flamebait, calling people “scum”, wishing human rights abuse upon them, and then paying lip service to personal responsibility makes Tory a dull hypocrite.
For his next trick, Tory will vote for the party that always generates more unemployment – yes it does, that’s a fact – and then start hating on poor people.
Lying about your own beliefs and mine. If you had an inkling of personal responsibility you’d know how to form an argument that doesn’t rely on Mr. Strawman.
” I support personal responsibility rather than reliance on the State as a surrogate wet nurse that you and the confused from the left advocate”
Like SCF bailout by the state of business and right wing investors
Like government handouts to farmers for irrigation. Why can’t they stand on their own two feet like grown-ups? If their business cannot attract attention from private investment, then rather than by subsidised by the taxpayer it should be allowed to fail.
Like Rio Tinto getting state welfare in Invercargill.
Like the stock exchange even. That great bastion of personal responsibility – ha ha ha ha. Recall one of the reasons for floating SOE’s was to support the failing private stock exchange. Fucking useless pricks.
Like welfare support for Hollywood and Peter Jackson. Unable to stand on their own two feet either.
Like farmers penchant for all structures socialist – heard of Fonterra? or Ravensdown? Two of NZ’s largest cooperatives – know what cooperation means fulla?
Doesn’t leave much in the world of private personally responsible right wing tory business does it.
you undersdtand that those people you dont like are being sent back here, to live next door to you or your friends… just so long as you are clear.
Oh and the children who have not committed offences and never lived in NZ?
You support personal responsibility from the position of someone who has deluded themselves that everything they have today was down tot heir own hard graft and sheer brilliance…
So you support Hide taking responsibility for the disaster that is the Auckland amalgamation, Bradford for our runaway power bills, Douglas for the increase in working poor since 1984, Key for the loss of nearly 900 million in dividends from power companies, Don Elder and the National party for Solid Energy etc, etc.
“During October support for National rose 5.5% to 50% well ahead of a potential Labour/Greens alliance 40.5% (down 5.5%) according to the latest Roy Morgan New Zealand Poll. If a NZ Election were held now the latest NZ Roy Morgan Poll shows National would be easily re-elected.”
Up and down like a …..’s trousers, but not surprising given Labour’s recent performance.
Yep, is the word NO to TPP is too hard for Labour to comprehend. Also Helen Clarks position beside Key cementing the NatLite relationship will be costing the votes.
So our ‘Tory’ troll does not believe in state education, our state health system or people being free and moving on with their lives once they have done their time and paid for their crimes ……………….
He’s probably all for rich tax cheats though …………………….
So true:
“I think the general consensus is that it’s ironic that we have been able to vote on a flag change which is…”
Trivial.
“Well surface-level stuff, while something like this that’s really representing our country overseas has been kept secret for a long time. Do you think this sets a precedent for the way the New Zealand government will interact with the public in the future?”
The Key Team have found many ways to mislead and distort Demoracy.
But Canadian Harper is even better/worse at it than Key!
As Harper tries for a fourth term in office at the Canadian federal election next week, he is trailed by an extraordinarily long list of allegations. ……
….Some of these allegations have been proved. In the 11 years since he became leader of the country’s Conservatives, the party has been fined for breaking electoral rules, and various members of Team Harper have been caught misleading parliament, gagging civil servants, subverting parliamentary committees, gagging scientists, harassing the supreme court, gagging diplomats, lying to the public, concealing evidence of potential crime, spying on opponents, bullying and smearing. Harper personally has earned himself the rare rebuke of being found to be in contempt of his parliament…..
… the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), which has been described eloquently by the Globe and Mail as “a 90-person juggernaut of political strategists, ‘issues managers’ and party enforcers who exercise strict control over cabinet, the houses of parliament and the bureaucracy….”
Sound familiar? http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/15/stephen-harper-master-manipulator
But what about their opposition – do they stand by and wave the corruption through in Canada – while ineffectually complaining about it- and then agreeing with much of what the conservatives are doing anyway?
That is the true trick of the right. To noble your competition by trickery and they don’t even comprehend you are doing it and then start to join in too (unsuccessfully).
Trickery and getting away with it.
“….a bus full of aboriginal voters, who were very unlikely to vote Conservative, and who were misdirected by calls and ended up not voting at all. That riding – Nipissing-Timiskaming – went to the Conservatives with a majority of only 18.”
And the source of the calls could not be found.
I personally know many Harper supporters.
He has fostered an air of fear in Canada for both financial and personal security. As many western governments do.
It’s a disgrace.
The Liberals are no better….another ultra “centrist” establishment party which these days signifies fear and violence.
…”The site, operated by Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres, MSF), was attacked five times in the span of an hour by a C-130 gunship, despite repeated pleas by the MSF to US forces. MSF officials described repeated strafing runs against the main hospital building, which housed the emergency room and the intensive care unit. No surrounding buildings were hit, they say.”
( a question many have been asking themselves)
‘Did Obama Bomb Doctors Without Borders for Opposing TPP?’
…”Had the President of Nobel Peace Prize-winning Doctors Without Borders not warned us of the “imminent threat to global health” posed by the TPP, would these 22 doctors and patients have lost their lives early Saturday?…
Doctors Without Borders Calls Airstrike a War Crime
I don’t think it is to do with TPP, more that Obama has lost control of the military in Iraq, and the US military and private contractors and overseas troops are doing whatever they like, and Obama is reluctant to try to bring his own military and private contractors to account.
Good dose of reality for the anti-TPPA activists here, and results I commented on and fully expected.
National have recovered in October after Labour did them like a dinner in September.
Labour need to forget TPPA entirely, get back to attacking weak Ministers, and back to issues that are both media-positive and resonant with actual citizens’ direct interests.
Portfolios like:
– Social Welfare
– Employment
– Corrections
– Housing
– Economic Development
– Education
And if the existing Labour shadow portfolios aren’t up to making good hits, then either support them with more staff, or reshuffle them.
which is why the Right are keen to promote him to Mayor of Auckland. You understand that when National (and its supporters) are praising Clark and Goff……
sanity is not defined by who agrees with you Matthew.
I agree with what Phil said:
“He denied Labour was “stuck in the dark ages” regarding the TPPA, and said the party had not yet decided whether it would support or oppose the deal.
“I think the party is doing the right thing at the moment – until you read the fine print, you don’t sign the document.
“We’ve had a briefing from Tim Groser and that was really helpful, but there are things that he couldn’t answer…and we’ve got to see the detail of it.”
Once in a blue moon I am moved to comment on one or other of the MSM news sites. The last time was a TV3 news/opinion piece about the axing of Campbell Live. My comment contained critical language concerning Julie Christie and Mark Weldon whom I saw as the principle protagonists in the demise of the show. Ever since I appear to have been barred from the TV3 comments section. I can’t even read them to see what other readers have to say. No problem reading comments elsewhere.
What a pair of lily livered, pouting pratts. I’m happy to see TV3 is going down the gurgler with that pair in charge. Sometimes people do get what they deserve.
actually, depending on power efficiencies it might be good in dedicated areas like warehouses. Ignoring the vertical storage issues, of course.
Theme parks… maybe. Or they could just upscale an air hockey table, for less.
But the thing about skate parks is that they’re largely created to try to get skateboarders out of public spaces, particularly because of the damage they can cause to benches etc. But skateboards are a valid (if dickish, and not just because one almost hit me today) form of transport outside of parks. And boards are relatively cheap, not requiring batteries or liquid nitrogen.
So yeah, might be a fad for rich kids, but not for long and not widespread.
Very disappointing from Little.
Labour members and supporters, as well as progressive voters, should take a leaf from the approach of Little and his entourage by flouting requests for donations and help.
We’re in 2015, and the Labour Party is not ever reverting to some prelapsarian Socialist form. (That question was asked in 2014, and the answer was resoundingly: NO).
US invaded Afghanistan and Iraq to bring in democracy, freedom of speech, human rights and because of 9/11. (Yeah right).
Why are they attacking the wrong countries then?
Mother of Saudi Teen Sentenced to Crucifixion Urges Obama: ‘Rescue My Son’
Ali Mohammed al-Nimr was sentenced to death at the age of 17 after taking part in a rally for equal Shia rights in Saudi Arabia
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Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob HensonIn this aerial view, fingers of meltwater flow from the melting Isunnguata Sermia glacier descending from the Greenland Ice Sheet on July 11, 2024, near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. According to the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE), the ...
In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...
Willis is expected to have to reveal the bitter fiscal fruits of her austerity strategy in the HYEFU later today. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/TheKakaMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, December 17 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast ...
On Friday the government announced it would double the number of toll roads in New Zealand as well as make a few other changes to how toll roads are used in the country. The real issue though is not that tolling is being used but the suggestion it will make ...
The Prime Minister yesterday engaged in what looked like a pre-emptive strike designed to counter what is likely to be a series of depressing economic statistics expected before the end of the week. He opened his weekly post-Cabinet press conference with a recitation of the Government’s achievements. “It certainly has ...
This whooping cough story from south Auckland is a good example of the coalition government’s approach to social need – spend money on urging people to get vaccinated but only after you’ve cut the funding to where they could get vaccinated. This has been the case all year with public ...
And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...
Here’s a quick round up of today’s political news:1. MORE FOOD BANKS, CHARITIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS AND YOUTH SOCIAL SERVICES SET TO CLOSE OR SCALE BACK AROUND THE COUNTRY AS GOVT CUTS FUNDINGSome of Auckland's largest foodbanks are warning they may need to close or significantly reduce food parcels after ...
Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...
This is a guest post by Tim Adriaansen, a community, climate, and accessibility advocate.I won’t shut up about climate breakdown, and whenever possible I try to shift the focus of a climate conversation towards solutions. But you’ll almost never hear me give more than a passing nod to ...
A grassroots backlash has forced a backdown from Brown, but he is still eyeing up plenty of tolls for other new roads. And the pressure is on Willis to ramp up the Government’s austerity strategy. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 8, 2024 thru Sat, December 14, 2024. Listing by Category Like last week's summary this one contains the list of articles twice: based on categories and based on ...
I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...
Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...
The collective right have a problem.The entire foundation for their world view is antiscientific. Their preferred economic strategies have been disproven. Their whole neoliberal model faces accusations of corporate corruption and worsening inequality. Climate change not only definitely exists, its rapid progression demands an immediate and expensive response in order ...
Just ten days ago, South Korea's president attempted a self-coup, declaring martial law and attempting to have opposition MPs murdered or arrested in an effort to seize unconstrained power. The attempt was rapidly defeated by the national assembly voting it down and the people flooding the streets to defend democracy. ...
Hi,“What I love about New Zealanders is that sometimes you use these expressions that as Americans we have no idea what those things mean!"I am watching a 30-something year old American ramble on about how different New Zealanders are to Americans. It’s his podcast, and this man is doing a ...
What Chris Penk has granted holocaust-denier and equal-opportunity-bigot Candace Owens is not “freedom of speech”. It’s not even really freedom of movement, though that technically is the right she has been granted. What he has given her is permission to perform. Freedom of SpeechIn New Zealand, the right to freedom ...
All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...
National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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 ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
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. ...
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...
Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...
Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...
The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...
Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...
State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...
The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...
The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...
Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...
Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...
The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed further progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS), with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board approving funding for the detailed design of Stage 1, paving the way for main works construction to begin in late 2025.“The Government is moving at ...
The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...
Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...
A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...
The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...
It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...
“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...
More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “In the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...
New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...
The Government welcomes the Commerce Commission’s plan to reduce card fees for Kiwis by an estimated $260 million a year, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.“The Government is relentlessly focused on reducing the cost of living, so Kiwis can keep more of their hard-earned income and live a ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour has welcomed the Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory review report, the first major report from the Ministry for Regulation. The report makes 15 recommendations to modernise and simplify regulations across ECE so services can get on with what they do best – providing safe, high-quality care ...
The Government‘s Offshore Renewable Energy Bill to create a new regulatory regime that will enable firms to construct offshore wind generation has passed its first reading in Parliament, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand currently does not have a regulatory regime for offshore renewable energy as the previous government failed ...
Legislation to enable new water service delivery models that will drive critical investment in infrastructure has passed its first reading in Parliament, marking a significant step towards the delivery of Local Water Done Well, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly say.“Councils and voters ...
New Zealand is one step closer to reaping the benefits of gene technology with the passing of the first reading of the Gene Technology Bill, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins says. "This legislation will end New Zealand's near 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab and is ...
ByKoroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor New Zealand’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) says impending bad weather for Port Vila is now the most significant post-quake hazard. A tropical low in the Coral Sea is expected to move into Vanuatu waters, bringing heavy rainfall. Authorities have issued warnings to people ...
Cosmic CatastropheThe year draws to a close.King Luxon has grown tired of the long eveningsListening to the dreary squabbling of his Triumvirate.He strolls up to the top floor of the PalaceTo consult with his Astronomer Royal.The Royal Telescope scans the skies,And King Luxon stares up into the heavensFrom the terrestrial ...
Spinoff editor Mad Chapman and books editor Claire Mabey debate Carl Shuker’s new novel about… an editor. Claire: Hello Mad, you just finished The Royal Free – overall impressions? Mad: Hi Claire, I literally just put the book down and I would have to say my immediate impression is ...
Christmas and its buildup are often lonely, hard and full of unreasonable expectations. Here’s how to make it to Jesus’s birthday and find the little bit of joy we all deserve. Have you found this year relentless? Has the latest Apple update “fucked up your life”? Have you lost two ...
Despite overwhelming public and corporate support, the government has stalled progress on a modern day slavery law. That puts us behind other countries – and makes Christmas a time of tragedy rather than joy, argues Shanti Mathias. Picture the scene on Christmas Day. Everyone replete with nice things to eat, ...
Asia Pacific Report “It looks like Hiroshima. It looks like Germany at the end of World War Two,” says an Israeli-American historian and professor of holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University about the horrifying reality of Gaza. Professor Omer Bartov, has described Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza as an ...
The New Zealand government coalition is tweaking university regulations to curb what it says is an increasingly “risk-averse approach” to free speech. The proposed changes will set clear expectations on how universities should approach freedom of speech issues. Each university will then have to adopt a “freedom of speech statement” ...
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone New York prosecutors have charged Luigi Mangione with “murder as an act of terrorism” in his alleged shooting of health insurance CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month. This news comes out at the same time as ...
Pacific Media Watch The union for Australian journalists has welcomed the delivery by the federal government of more than $150 million to support the sustainability of public interest journalism over the next four years. Combined with the announcement of the revamped News Bargaining Initiative, this could result in up to ...
MONDAY“Merry Xmas, and praise the Lord,” said Sheriff Luxon, and smiled for the camera. There was a flash of smoke when the shutter pressed down on the magnesium powder. The sheriff had arranged for a photographer from the Dodge Gazette to attend a ceremony where he handed out food parcels to ...
It’s a little under two months since the White Ferns shocked the cricketing world, deservedly taking home the T20 World Cup. Since then the trophy has had a tour around the country, five of the squad have played in the WBBL in Australia while most others have returned to domestic ...
Comment: If we say the word ‘dementia’, many will picture an older person struggling to remember the names of their loved ones, maybe a grandparent living out their final years in an aged care facility. Dementia can also occur in people younger than 65, but it can take time before ...
Piracy is a reality of modern life – but copyright law has struggled to play catch-up for as long as the entertainment industry has existed. As far back as 1988, the House of Lords criticised copyright law’s conflict with the reality of human behaviour in the context of burning cassette ...
As he makes a surprise return to Shortland Street, actor Craig Parker takes us through his life in television. Craig Parker has been a fixture on television in Aotearoa for nearly four decades. He had starring roles in iconic local series like Gloss, Mercy Peak and Diplomatic Immunity, featured in ...
The Ōtautahi musician shares the 10 tracks he loves to spin, including the folk classic that cured him of a ‘case of the give-ups’. When singer-songwriter Adam McGrath returns to Kumeu’s Auckland Folk Festival from January 24-27, he’s not planning on simply idling his way through – he wants the late ...
Alex Casey spends an afternoon on the job with River, the rescue dog on a mission to spread joy to Ōtautahi rest homes.Almost everyone says it is never enough time. But River the rescue dog, a jet black huntaway border collie cross, has to keep a tight pace to ...
Asia Pacific Report Fiji activists have recreated the nativity scene at a solidarity for Palestine gathering in Fiji’s capital Suva just days before Christmas. The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and Fijians for Palestine Solidarity Network recreated the scene at the FWCC compound — a baby Jesus figurine lies amidst the ...
By 1News Pacific correspondent Barbara Dreaver and 1News reporters A number of Kiwis have been successfully evacuated from Vanuatu after a devastating earthquake shook the Pacific island nation earlier this week. The death toll was still unclear, though at least 14 people were killed according to an earlier statement from ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Scully, Professor in Modern History, University of New England Bunker.Image courtesy of Michael Leunig, CC BY-NC-SA Michael Leunig – who died in the early hours of Thursday December 19, surrounded by “his children, loved ones, and sunflowers” – was the ...
The House - On Parliament's last day of the year, there was the rare occurrence of a personal (conscience) vote on selling booze over the Easter weekend. While it didn't have the numbers to pass, it was a chance to get a rare glimpse of the fact ...
A new poem by Holly Fletcher. bejeweled log i was dreaming about wasps / wee darlings that followed me / ducking under objects / that i was fated to pickup / my fingers seeking / and meeting with tiny proboscis’s / but instead / i wake up / roll sideways ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Flora Hui, Research Fellow, Centre for Eye Research Australia and Honorary Fellow, Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), The University of Melbourne Versta/Shutterstock Australians are exposed to some of the highest levels of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the world. While we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Terry, Professor of Business Regulation, University of Sydney Michael von Aichberger/Shutterstock Even if you’ve no idea how the business model underpinning franchises works, there’s a good chance you’ve spent money at one. Franchising is essentially a strategy for cloning ...
If something big is going to happen in Ferndale, it’s going to happen at Christmas. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If there’s one episode of Shortland Street you should watch each year, it’s the annual Christmas cliffhanger. The final episode of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William A. Stoltz, Lecturer and expert Associate, National Security College, Australian National University US President-elect Donald Trump has named most of the members of his proposed cabinet. However, he’s yet to reveal key appointees to America’s powerful cyber warfare and intelligence institutions. ...
Announcing the top 10 books of the the year at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Intermezzo by Sally Rooney (Faber & Faber, $37) The phenomenal Irish writer is the unsurprising chart topper for 2024 with her fourth novel that, much like her first ...
Clever cartoon in Herald today by Rod Emmerson on Labour’s current leader. Little is right up there (down there?) with Bill English in 2002/3.
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11529860
Yup, I partly agree with you Matthew about Labour’s TPP positioning.
Labour missed the chance to stand firmly against the TPP.
Chris Trotter nailed it.
‘Why has Andrew Little rejected a winning TPPA strategy for a guaranteed loser?’
Trotter suggests that Labour may no longer be “committed to meaningful social and economic change”.
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/10/14/flouting-the-rules-why-has-andrew-little-rejected-a-winning-tppa-strategy-for-a-guaranteed-loser/
He could have kicked for touch (waited for text), opposed TPP or declared victory and supported TPP. Any of these would have had internal integrity and been politically ok. He managed to find the one form of words certain to fuck off both pros and antis and make him and his party look ridiculous. Quite an achievement in its own way!
Andrew Little did “kick for touch”, Matthew Hooton, and he’s been descried for doing so ! He’s said he didn’t know all the details, what’s fully in the text, and he’s opposed parts he does know about, and what’s more – he’s also said that if necessary a Labour government would breach parts of the agreement it doesn’t approve of. What more do you all want ?
1. Labour opposes the TPP on principle unless it meets these 5 bottoms lines (list them again).
2. At this stage Labour has no control over whether NZ is part of the TPP, only National does and its allied parties.
3. Labour will not pull out of the TPP when it is government, because we feel that is not in NZ’s best interests (provide an explanation of why this is so).
4. Instead Labour will endeavour to address each of our 5 bottoms lines one by one eg Labour will still pass legislation restricting overseas land ownership.
5. We will then fight any disputes process that happens as a result. (here Labour needs to provide a very clear explanation of what that actually means, including how it will deal with being sued by corporations).
That’s the gist of what they’ve done, but the issues in brackets in 3. and 5. haven’t been explained and sorry, but I don’t trust Labour on those things.
Little and Labour stuffed up its position on the TPP in exactly the same way it did on the flag change fiasco and three bloody peaks or whatever it’s called. It’s either because the people in there have such opposing views on everything that any attempt at a compromise will always fail or they’re just very very stupid when it comes to strategy. Suspect it’s way more than a bit of both.
…and that’s why Labour’s fucked.
Clearly the voters don’t give a shit about integrity Matthew or National wouldn’t be in a third term. They forgive lying and misleading regularly if they believe the nonsense about them getting a better life. I mean even you were prepared to dance around the law and its intent for your ideological beliefs and career progression?
You might want to think about the shit show the country has to vote for as an alternative. But hey.. keep saying the public is stupid. Seems to be working.
Emmerson?!!??!??
In April 2002, when the New Zealand Herald cartoonist Malcolm Evans dared to criticize the Holy State for its depradations in the Occupied West Bank (this was just after the Jenin massacre) the Israeli consulate, in concert with influential supporters including David Nathan, Dame Lesley Max and David Zwarz, mounted a sustained campaign of character assassination and vilification against Evans, combined with snarling threats against the Herald‘s editor, Gavin Ellis, a weak character who needed little more than a few swear words down the telephone to frighten him. He sacked Evans eventually, replacing him with the pisspoor Rod Emmerson.
http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/protest-against-former-herald-editor/5/141168
Your mentioning Dame Lesley Max had me search TS to find this and sure enough, her dreadful comments have disappeared into the ether.
Sterling work, joe! I know how you feel about Max’s comments having disappeared into the ether. That’s the problem with leaving it to the unreliable archivists at Radio New Zealand.
It’s for that reason that I spend so much time committing the words of people like Lesley Max to paper. That way we can confront them with evidence of their villainy whenever we want….
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-17082011/#comment-365445
I’ve found Littles views on the tpp easy to understand anyone who is struggling is either listening to the people that have set out to deflect trouble away from the nats pathetic bargaining in the negotiations of the tpp or is one of the shit stirrers
Can you point me to a link showing his unqualified opposition to TPP?
I really want to see the Labour Party standing against it.
Yep you would think Labour could be bothered clearing up the variation between Littles statements and their TPPA position on their website or FB page at least.
Little’s statements don’t seem in line with their ‘official’ TPPA position which has more holes in it anyway than swiss cheese, and doesn’t even seem to be able to stick with that either.
And b wag horn you can dismiss all the ex Labour supporters as
set out to deflect trouble away from the nats pathetic bargaining in the negotiations of the tpp or is one of the shit stirrers
which maybe Labours official position on anyone who is confused (they are just shit stirrers) but again that 15% of votes they lost last election should be a ring-a-ding moment for understanding that those angry ex supporting ‘shit stirrers’ are voters who are sending them a message that after 7 years you would think they might concede they need to address.
And like me, are still giving Labour their electorate vote so stop National getting it.
It can still get a lot worse for Labour – they are antagonising their voters who still give their electoral vote to them.
I think Labour’s problem is that had convinced themselves the TPP would be diabolical. When they learned on Monday all five of their bottom lines had been met, they experienced cognitive dissonance that they need to work through. In the meantime, they are stuck in that awful place where ten facts are not the ones you want to believe.
“all five of their bottom lines had been met”
how do you know that?
He is probably referring to Little’s briefing from Groser and all the inside information he doesn’t have on TPP which would mean someone is breaching the crucial secrecy which denied the rest of us access to same.
heh, I was wondering if Hooton was a fly on the wall, or simply spinning.
My observation of Matthew is unless he is getting hot under the colour and going all screamy and ad hominem he only pushes hard (and repeatedly) on things he is SURE about (apologies for the mental image that may have produced, not intended). he may not have seen stuff but somebody/s have told him enough for him to feel he is on sure ground… which would also be a breach of the secrecy
I guess some here need to decide what’s more important getting a new government or killing labour and hoping something better rises from the ruins.
I never said they opposed it, my take on it is ;
In the lead up to signing they applied as much pressure on national as they could to get them to not sell us out .
After the signing they have gone for a sensible amount of caution on what they say so as not to be tricked into tight corner by key and co .
While also making it clear they will find away to legislate for protecting nz residents chances of owning there own home.
People need to learn to keep an eye on what the main players are saying and not getting sidetracked by all the chatter coming from likes of hooton .
to Paul @ 1.3.1. on Stuff, 11 October 2015 – at end of story re “bigger gains for dairy from India, Indonesia” –
Andrew Little is quoted as saying ” If it came to walking away from the TPPA to get a better deal elsewhere, Little said a Labour government reserved that right”.
Hi Jenny – reserving your right is not really saying NO to TPP.
I think that is what Labour don’t get. People don’t want to support a party that does not give a clear message on TPP, which is going to affect all part of Kiwi’s lives, heath, housing, law, copywrite, justice, security, transparancy, sovereignty and trade.
The fact it was pushed through so that Obama can have some sort of legacy (after the trillions in US debt and an un win able occupation) is even worse. Obama has hardly left the US or the planet in better shape after his presidency. A last ditch attempt to put US and other countries jobs at risk and the reduction in environmental sovereignty into corporate control under TPP seems to be more of the same.
People have a right to know concrete policy before they support a party. Labour can ‘reserve’ their right to walk away on TPP even the Natz can, but we all know they will not.
“Reserving the right to withdraw” utterly meaningless. All 12 TPP countries “reserve the right to withdraw”. That is why they put the withdrawal provisions in the deal.
“get a better deal ”
Does that mean more money? Cos I don’t see any major party judging this on anything other than $$$$. Not on erosion of rights or sovereignty etc.
Also, has he laid out which law changes Labour would oppose, he clearly has some in mind?
Andrew Little is quoted as saying ”If it came to walking away from the TPPA to get a better deal elsewhere, Little said a Labour government reserved that right”.
Yep, better deal elsewhere. Labour don’t have a problem with free market neoliberalism. I don’t think they have any intention of moving left, they’re just going to tinker with the edges a bit. Think Clark government lite.
They are worse than Clark because she at least had the balls to complain about international stuff that was wrong (like Israeli agents stealing disabled NZ identities and be caught) and do something about it. I think both Key and Little would just let any similar incident ride rather than cause an international incident. Key would probably be keen to make money out of passports anyway (finally a return on investment from the disabled – fake international passports).
As for Labour being briefed on the document – it is massive – so as with any agreement the devil is in the detail. I’m sure it all looks rosy in the briefing papers but try to get the whole agreement to see if it is true. No can do as Prof Kelsey has found. And apparently noone can find out for 7 years.
Sounds transparent and fair – NOT.
It’s the last few days of the Canadian federal election campaign.
The central issue of the longest campaign in Canadian history has been how to get rid of Stephen Harper.
It looks increasingly likely that Canadians have decided Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party are the means by which that will be achieved.
The Grits have established a 4 to 7% lead over the Tories nationally but more importantly they’re leading by 10 to 13% in Ontario (which accounts for over a third of all the federal ridings).
http://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/poll-tracker/2015/index.html
I hope today that when John Key meets with Australian PM, he advocates on behalf of law abiding Kiwis living in Australia getting a better deal rather than the sc*m who assulted, robbed, raped and burgled law abiding people and now are claiming they have been discriminated against as they are being deported from a country that opened its door to them.
No you don’t. You don’t care a damn about anyone other than yourself.
You’re ignorant on this issue too aren’t you… keep that talkback radio turned up
+ 1 VTO
Tories are, inevitably, ignorant on pretty much everything. It’s that lack of knowledge combined with their inability to think that allows the psychopaths running National to lead them around by the nose.
No. Just the left being incoherent dumb asses who think they know better than everyone else.
Why do you hangout with so called dumb asses so often then and complain about the site being full of whingers when you’re whinging most of the time?
I thought you had turned a corner and right now I feel a bit let down.
Take this comment for example. Classic flamebait, calling people “scum”, wishing human rights abuse upon them, and then paying lip service to personal responsibility makes Tory a dull hypocrite.
For his next trick, Tory will vote for the party that always generates more unemployment – yes it does, that’s a fact – and then start hating on poor people.
Go smash a ten-year-old rugby player, trash.
+111
Describing tour comments to a t.
OAB, no I support personal responsibility rather than reliance on the State as a surrogate wet nurse that you and the confused from the left advocate
So you would reject the SFC bail out, the 30mill to comalco etc
Tory will pretend to yes.
Lying about your own beliefs and mine. If you had an inkling of personal responsibility you’d know how to form an argument that doesn’t rely on Mr. Strawman.
And somewhat hypocritically “tory” will refuse to take personal responsibility for being such a fucking moron.
Tory will just blame us for failing to pretend they made the insightful coup de gras that, as the smartest guy in the room, they must have made…
” I support personal responsibility rather than reliance on the State as a surrogate wet nurse that you and the confused from the left advocate”
Like SCF bailout by the state of business and right wing investors
Like government handouts to farmers for irrigation. Why can’t they stand on their own two feet like grown-ups? If their business cannot attract attention from private investment, then rather than by subsidised by the taxpayer it should be allowed to fail.
Like Rio Tinto getting state welfare in Invercargill.
Like the stock exchange even. That great bastion of personal responsibility – ha ha ha ha. Recall one of the reasons for floating SOE’s was to support the failing private stock exchange. Fucking useless pricks.
Like welfare support for Hollywood and Peter Jackson. Unable to stand on their own two feet either.
Like farmers penchant for all structures socialist – heard of Fonterra? or Ravensdown? Two of NZ’s largest cooperatives – know what cooperation means fulla?
Doesn’t leave much in the world of private personally responsible right wing tory business does it.
Wake up idiot.
you undersdtand that those people you dont like are being sent back here, to live next door to you or your friends… just so long as you are clear.
Oh and the children who have not committed offences and never lived in NZ?
You support personal responsibility from the position of someone who has deluded themselves that everything they have today was down tot heir own hard graft and sheer brilliance…
Tory doesn’t support personal responsibility: all you have to do is read the lying comments he sprays around the place.
Of course, even if he weren’t lying, right wing personal responsibility doesn’t exist. So that would make him a dupe.
Which is it? Who cares?
So you support Hide taking responsibility for the disaster that is the Auckland amalgamation, Bradford for our runaway power bills, Douglas for the increase in working poor since 1984, Key for the loss of nearly 900 million in dividends from power companies, Don Elder and the National party for Solid Energy etc, etc.
Personal responsibility. LOL.
Latest Roy Morgan is out.
“During October support for National rose 5.5% to 50% well ahead of a potential Labour/Greens alliance 40.5% (down 5.5%) according to the latest Roy Morgan New Zealand Poll. If a NZ Election were held now the latest NZ Roy Morgan Poll shows National would be easily re-elected.”
Up and down like a …..’s trousers, but not surprising given Labour’s recent performance.
Up and down like…a Roy Morgan poll. “Bouncy” is the term usually employed.
Yep, is the word NO to TPP is too hard for Labour to comprehend. Also Helen Clarks position beside Key cementing the NatLite relationship will be costing the votes.
+1
So our ‘Tory’ troll does not believe in state education, our state health system or people being free and moving on with their lives once they have done their time and paid for their crimes ……………….
He’s probably all for rich tax cheats though …………………….
The worst kind of bludger, when’s he going to pay back his education, health and policing costs.
-maui
He had an education?
No wonder why he rejects socialism.
His Teachers failed him!
What happened to “personal responsibility”.
EXCLUSIVE: Kelsey response to the Official Information Act win against the TPPA
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2015/10/16/exclusive-my-response-to-the-official-information-act-win-against-the-tppa/#comment-308300
An interesting opinion piece by Bryan Gould
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11529757
http://www.vice.com/read/we-asked-nicky-hager-what-the-tpp-means-for-new-zealand-democracy
So true:
“I think the general consensus is that it’s ironic that we have been able to vote on a flag change which is…”
Trivial.
“Well surface-level stuff, while something like this that’s really representing our country overseas has been kept secret for a long time. Do you think this sets a precedent for the way the New Zealand government will interact with the public in the future?”
smoke and mirrors. Let the population feel like they’ve been consulted. Meanwhile, over here, do evil as you can.
The Key Team have found many ways to mislead and distort Demoracy.
But Canadian Harper is even better/worse at it than Key!
As Harper tries for a fourth term in office at the Canadian federal election next week, he is trailed by an extraordinarily long list of allegations. ……
….Some of these allegations have been proved. In the 11 years since he became leader of the country’s Conservatives, the party has been fined for breaking electoral rules, and various members of Team Harper have been caught misleading parliament, gagging civil servants, subverting parliamentary committees, gagging scientists, harassing the supreme court, gagging diplomats, lying to the public, concealing evidence of potential crime, spying on opponents, bullying and smearing. Harper personally has earned himself the rare rebuke of being found to be in contempt of his parliament…..
… the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), which has been described eloquently by the Globe and Mail as “a 90-person juggernaut of political strategists, ‘issues managers’ and party enforcers who exercise strict control over cabinet, the houses of parliament and the bureaucracy….”
Sound familiar?
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/15/stephen-harper-master-manipulator
But what about their opposition – do they stand by and wave the corruption through in Canada – while ineffectually complaining about it- and then agreeing with much of what the conservatives are doing anyway?
That is the true trick of the right. To noble your competition by trickery and they don’t even comprehend you are doing it and then start to join in too (unsuccessfully).
Trickery and getting away with it.
“….a bus full of aboriginal voters, who were very unlikely to vote Conservative, and who were misdirected by calls and ended up not voting at all. That riding – Nipissing-Timiskaming – went to the Conservatives with a majority of only 18.”
And the source of the calls could not be found.
At least some, of the Canadian media, appear to have their critical faculties intact, unlike their NZ counterparts.
I personally know many Harper supporters.
He has fostered an air of fear in Canada for both financial and personal security. As many western governments do.
It’s a disgrace.
The Liberals are no better….another ultra “centrist” establishment party which these days signifies fear and violence.
and booom
https://theintercept.com/drone-papers
so 90% who where killed by drone bombings were not target? Say it ain’t so.
One can’t just make that shit up.
Why did this happen?…was it an accident?…the other side of the story:
‘US forces in Afghanistan knew Kunduz site was hospital – report’
https://www.rt.com/usa/318786-us-analysts-kunduz-hospital/
…”The site, operated by Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres, MSF), was attacked five times in the span of an hour by a C-130 gunship, despite repeated pleas by the MSF to US forces. MSF officials described repeated strafing runs against the main hospital building, which housed the emergency room and the intensive care unit. No surrounding buildings were hit, they say.”
( a question many have been asking themselves)
‘Did Obama Bomb Doctors Without Borders for Opposing TPP?’
http://theantimedia.org/doctors-without-borders-bombing-tpp/
…”Had the President of Nobel Peace Prize-winning Doctors Without Borders not warned us of the “imminent threat to global health” posed by the TPP, would these 22 doctors and patients have lost their lives early Saturday?…
Doctors Without Borders Calls Airstrike a War Crime
I don’t think it is to do with TPP, more that Obama has lost control of the military in Iraq, and the US military and private contractors and overseas troops are doing whatever they like, and Obama is reluctant to try to bring his own military and private contractors to account.
http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/6506-roy-morgan-new-zealand-voting-intention-october-2015-201510150600
D’oh!
Ouch! Not to worry: Jacinda to the rescue.
That made me literally lol
Wow….what the hell.
Good dose of reality for the anti-TPPA activists here, and results I commented on and fully expected.
National have recovered in October after Labour did them like a dinner in September.
Labour need to forget TPPA entirely, get back to attacking weak Ministers, and back to issues that are both media-positive and resonant with actual citizens’ direct interests.
Portfolios like:
– Social Welfare
– Employment
– Corrections
– Housing
– Economic Development
– Education
And if the existing Labour shadow portfolios aren’t up to making good hits, then either support them with more staff, or reshuffle them.
Great comments by Phil Goff on TPP. Some sanity seems to be returning within Labour.http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/73073182/labour-unlikely-to-breach-tppa-over-concerns–phil-goff
which is why the Right are keen to promote him to Mayor of Auckland. You understand that when National (and its supporters) are praising Clark and Goff……
sanity is not defined by who agrees with you Matthew.
I agree with what Phil said:
“He denied Labour was “stuck in the dark ages” regarding the TPPA, and said the party had not yet decided whether it would support or oppose the deal.
“I think the party is doing the right thing at the moment – until you read the fine print, you don’t sign the document.
“We’ve had a briefing from Tim Groser and that was really helpful, but there are things that he couldn’t answer…and we’ve got to see the detail of it.”
Once in a blue moon I am moved to comment on one or other of the MSM news sites. The last time was a TV3 news/opinion piece about the axing of Campbell Live. My comment contained critical language concerning Julie Christie and Mark Weldon whom I saw as the principle protagonists in the demise of the show. Ever since I appear to have been barred from the TV3 comments section. I can’t even read them to see what other readers have to say. No problem reading comments elsewhere.
What a pair of lily livered, pouting pratts. I’m happy to see TV3 is going down the gurgler with that pair in charge. Sometimes people do get what they deserve.
Oh my God oh my God!! Finally.
http://au.pcmag.com/consumer-electronics-reviews-ratings/39134/news/hendo-20-hoverboard-goes-back-to-the-future-on-oct
wake me when they don’t need a track
Skate parks are going to be developed and some theme are jumping aboard also.
actually, depending on power efficiencies it might be good in dedicated areas like warehouses. Ignoring the vertical storage issues, of course.
Theme parks… maybe. Or they could just upscale an air hockey table, for less.
But the thing about skate parks is that they’re largely created to try to get skateboarders out of public spaces, particularly because of the damage they can cause to benches etc. But skateboards are a valid (if dickish, and not just because one almost hit me today) form of transport outside of parks. And boards are relatively cheap, not requiring batteries or liquid nitrogen.
So yeah, might be a fad for rich kids, but not for long and not widespread.
Tough article from Trotter on Little.
http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2015/10/with-friends-like-these.html
Very disappointing from Little.
Labour members and supporters, as well as progressive voters, should take a leaf from the approach of Little and his entourage by flouting requests for donations and help.
Trotter is such a Splitter.
He’s stuck in 1984.
We’re in 2015, and the Labour Party is not ever reverting to some prelapsarian Socialist form. (That question was asked in 2014, and the answer was resoundingly: NO).
Well John Key he wanted to close the gap with Australia
http://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/australias-middle-class-no-longer-the-worlds-wealthiest-20151013-gk7pwa.html
Another reason it’ll be three more years for John Key
We’re not as selfish as we think we are. Here’s the proof
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/oct/14/selfish-proof-ego-humans-inherently-good
US invaded Afghanistan and Iraq to bring in democracy, freedom of speech, human rights and because of 9/11. (Yeah right).
Why are they attacking the wrong countries then?
Mother of Saudi Teen Sentenced to Crucifixion Urges Obama: ‘Rescue My Son’
Ali Mohammed al-Nimr was sentenced to death at the age of 17 after taking part in a rally for equal Shia rights in Saudi Arabia
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/10/14/mother-saudi-teen-sentenced-crucifixion-urges-obama-rescue-my-son?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=socialnetwork
Does Ad support privatisation or is it just me?