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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Radical As: Māori healers recall a time when “words had power”. The words that give substance to ideas, no matter how radical, still do. If our representatives rediscover the courage to speak them out loud.THERE ARE RULES for radicalism. Or, at least, there are rules for the presentation of radical ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters A brutal, record-intensity heat wave that has engulfed much of India and Pakistan since March eased somewhat this week, but is poised to roar back in the coming week with inferno-like temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius (122°F). The ...
The good people at the Reading Tolkien podcast have put out a new piece, which spends some time comparing the underlying moral positions of George R.R. Martin and J.R.R. Tolkien: (The relevant discussion starts about twenty-seven minutes in. It’s a long podcast). In the interests of fairness, ...
Crime is becoming a key debate between Labour and National. This week they are both keen to show that they are tough on law and order. It’s an issue that National has a traditional advantage on, and is one that they’re currently getting good traction from. In response, Labour is ...
So far, the excited media response to the spike in “ram-raid” incidents is being countered by evidence that in reality, youth crime is steeply in decline, and has been so for much of the past decade. Who knew? Perhaps that’s the real issue here. Why on earth wasn’t the latest ...
In the past 10 years or so – and that’s how quickly it has happened – all our comfortable convictions about the unassailability of free speech have been turned on their heads. Suddenly we find ourselves fighting again for rights we assumed were settled. Click here to watch the video ...
Enforced Fertility: The imminent overturning of Roe versus Wade by the US Supreme Court is certain to raise echoes here that are no less evocative of the dystopia envisioned by Margaret Atwood in The Handmaid’s Tale. Gilead can happen here.WITH THE UNITED STATES seemingly on the brink of becoming “Gilead”, ...
Not Wanted On Grounds Of Political Rejuvenation: Winston Peters did nothing more than visit the protest encampment erected by anti-vaxxers on the parliamentary lawn. A great many New Zealanders applauded him for meeting with the protesters and wondered why the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition could not do ...
May The Force Be With Us: With New Zealanders under 40, nostalgia for a time when politics worked gains little purchase. Politics hasn’t swerved to any noticeable degree since the 1980s, becoming in the Twenty-First Century a battle between marketing strategies, not ideologies. Young New Zealanders critique political advertisements in ...
Dane Giraud reflects on his working class upbringing and how campaigning for free speech radicalised him Evidence to support censorship as a tool for social cohesion is paltry. I Read the NZ Human Rights Commission website, and 99% of their ‘evidence’ is anecdotal. When asked why we need hate speech ...
As you may have noticed, I have been slowly working my way through the works of Agatha Christie. At the time of writing, I have read some thirty-eight of her books – less than half her total output, but arguably enough to get a reasonable handle on it. It ...
Population growth has some effect on economic growth, but it is complicated especially where infrastructure is involved. We need to think more about it. In an opinion piece in the New Zealand Herald, John Gascoigne claimed that New Zealand was a ‘tragic tale of economic decline’. He gave no evidence ...
The Greens have been almost invisible since the 2020 election. Despite massive crises impacting on people’s lives, such as climate change, housing, inequality, and the cost of living, they’ve had very little to say. On this week’s highly contentious issue of politicians being banned from Parliament by Trevor Mallard, the ...
The government has announced it will be replacing all coal boilers in schools by 2025: All remaining coal boilers in New Zealand schools will be replaced with cleaner wood burners or electric heating by 2025, at a cost of $10 million, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced. The coal ...
Israeli news media and politicians often complain about the activity of neo-Nazis in Ukraine. “Activists and supporters of Ukrainian nationalist parties hold torches as they take part in a rally to mark the 112th birth anniversary of Stepan Bandera, in Kyiv, Ukraine, January 1, 2021. Credit: Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters The recent ...
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Mr Speaker, It has taken four-and-a-half years to even start to turn the legacy of inaction and neglect from the last time they were in Government together. And we have a long journey in front of us! ...
Today Greens Te Mātāwaka Chair and Health Spokesperson, Dr Elizabeth Kerekere, said “The Greens have long campaigned for an independent Māori Health Authority and pathways for Takatāpui and Rainbow healthcare. “We welcome the substantial funding going into the new health system, Pae Ora, particularly for the Māori Health Authority, Iwi-Partnership ...
Budget 2022 shows progress on conservation commitments in the Green Party’s cooperation agreement Green Party achievements in the last Government continue to drive investment in nature protection Urgent action needed on nature-based solutions to climate change Future budget decisions must reflect the role nature plays in helping reduce emissions ...
Landmark week for climate action concludes with climate budget Largest ever investment in climate action one of many Green Party wins throughout Budget 2022 Budget 2022 delivers progress on every part of the cooperation agreement with Labour Budget 2022 is a climate budget that caps a landmark week ...
Green Party welcomes extension to half price fares Permanent half price fares for Community Services Card holders includes many students, which helps implement a Green Party policy Work to reduce public transport fares for Community Services Card holders started by Greens in the last Government Budget 2022 should be ...
New cost of living payment closely aligned to Green Party policy to expand the Winter Energy Payment Extension and improvement of Warmer Kiwi Homes builds on Green Party progress in Government Community energy fund welcomed The Green Party welcomes the investment in Budget 2022 to expand Warmer Kiwi ...
Budget 2022 support to reduce homelessness delivers on the Green Party’s cooperation agreement Bespoke support for rangatahi with higher, more complex needs The Green Party welcomes the additional investment in Budget 2022 for kaupapa Māori support services, homelessness outreach services, the expansion of transitional housing, and a new ...
Green Party reaffirms call for liveable incomes and wealth tax Calls on Government to cancel debt owed to MSD for hardship assistance such as benefit advances, and for over-payments The Green Party welcomes the support for people on low incomes Budget 2022 but says more must be done ...
Our Government has just released this year’s Budget, which sets out the next steps in our plan to build a high wage, low carbon economy that gives economic security in good times and in bad. It’s full of initiatives that speed up our economic recovery and ease cost pressures for ...
A stronger democracy is on the horizon, as Golriz Ghahraman’s Electoral (Strengthening Democracy) Amendment Bill was pulled from the biscuit tin today. ...
Tomorrow, the Government will release this year’s Budget, setting out the next steps in our plan to build a high wage, low carbon economy that gives economic security in good times and in bad. While the full details will be kept under wraps until Thursday afternoon, we’ve announced a few ...
As a Government, we made it clear to New Zealanders that we’d take meaningful action on climate change, and that’s exactly what we’ve done. Earlier today, we released our next steps with our Emissions Reduction Plan – which will meet the Climate Commission’s independent science-based emissions reduction targets, and new ...
Emissions Reduction Plan prepares New Zealand for the future, ensuring country is on track to meet first emissions budget, securing jobs, and unlocking new investment ...
The Greens are calling for the Government to reconsider the immigration reset so that it better reflects our relationship with our Pacific neighbours. ...
Hamilton City Council and Whanganui District Council have both joined a growing list of Local Authorities to pass a motion in support of Green Party Drug Reform Spokesperson Chlöe Swarbrick’s Members’ bill to minimise alcohol harm. ...
Today, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced a major package of reforms to address the immediate skill shortages in New Zealand and speed up our economic growth. These include an early reopening to the world, a major milestone for international education, and a simplification of immigration settings to ensure New Zealand ...
Proposed immigration changes by the Government fail to guarantee pathways to residency to workers in the types of jobs deemed essential throughout the pandemic, by prioritising high income earners - instead of focusing on the wellbeing of workers and enabling migrants to put down roots. ...
Ehara taku toa i te toa takatahi, engari taku toa he toa takimano – my strength is not mine alone but the strength of many (working together to ensure safe, caring respectful responses). We are striving for change. We want all people in Aotearoa New Zealand thriving; their wellbeing enhanced ...
The Green Party is throwing its support behind the 10,000 allied health workers taking work-to-rule industrial action today because of unfair pay and working conditions. ...
Since the day we came into Government, we’ve worked hard to lift wages and reduce cost pressures facing New Zealanders. But we know the rising cost of living, driven by worldwide inflation and the war in Ukraine, is making things particularly tough right now. That’s why we’ve stepped up our ...
An independent review of New Zealand’s detention regime for asylum seekers has found arbitrary and abusive practices in Aotearoa’s immigration law, policy, and practice. ...
Tiwhatiwha te pō, tiwhatiwha te ao. Tiwhatiwha te pō, tiwhatiwha te ao. Matariki Tapuapua, He roimata ua, he roimata tangata. He roimata e wairurutu nei, e wairurutu nei. Te Māreikura mārohirohi o Ihoa o ngā Mano, takoto Te ringa mākohakoha o Rongo, takoto. Te mātauranga o Tūāhuriri o Ngai Tahu ...
Three core networks within the tourism sector are receiving new investment to gear up for the return of international tourists and business travellers, as the country fully reconnects to the world. “Our wider tourism sector is on the way to recovery. As visitor numbers scale up, our established tourism networks ...
The Government is contributing $100,000 to a Mayoral Relief Fund to help the Levin community following this morning’s tornado, Minister for Emergency Management Kiri Allan says. “My thoughts are with everyone who has been impacted by severe weather events in Levin and across the country. “I know the tornado has ...
The Quintet of Attorneys General have issued the following statement of support for the Prosecutor General of Ukraine and investigations and prosecutions for crimes committed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine: “The Attorneys General of the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand join in ...
Morena tatou katoa. Kua tae mai i runga i te kaupapa o te rā. Thank you all for being here today. Yesterday my colleague, the Minister of Finance Grant Robertson, delivered the Wellbeing Budget 2022 – for a secure future for New Zealand. I’m the Minister of Health, and this was ...
Urgent Budget night legislation to stop major supermarkets blocking competitors from accessing land for new stores has been introduced today, Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Dr David Clark said. The Commerce (Grocery Sector Covenants) Amendment Bill amends the Commerce Act 1986, banning restrictive covenants on land, and exclusive covenants ...
It is a pleasure to speak to this Budget. The 5th we have had the privilege of delivering, and in no less extraordinary circumstances. Mr Speaker, the business and cycle of Government is, in some ways, no different to life itself. Navigating difficult times, while also making necessary progress. Dealing ...
Budget 2022 provides funding to implement the new resource management system, building on progress made since the reform was announced just over a year ago. The inadequate funding for the implementation of the Resource Management Act in 1992 almost guaranteed its failure. There was a lack of national direction about ...
The Government is substantially increasing the amount of funding for public media to ensure New Zealanders can continue to access quality local content and trusted news. “Our decision to create a new independent and future-focused public media entity is about achieving this objective, and we will support it with a ...
$662.5 million to maintain existing defence capabilities NZDF lower-paid staff will receive a salary increase to help meet cost-of living pressures. Budget 2022 sees significant resources made available for the Defence Force to maintain existing defence capabilities as it looks to the future delivery of these new investments. “Since ...
More than $185 million to help build a resilient cultural sector as it continues to adapt to the challenges coming out of COVID-19. Support cultural sector agencies to continue to offer their important services to New Zealanders. Strengthen support for Māori arts, culture and heritage. The Government is investing in a ...
It is my great pleasure to present New Zealand’s fourth Wellbeing Budget. In each of this Government’s three previous Wellbeing Budgets we have not only considered the performance of our economy and finances, but also the wellbeing of our people, the health of our environment and the strength of our communities. In Budget ...
It is my great pleasure to present New Zealand’s fourth Wellbeing Budget. In each of this Government’s three previous Wellbeing Budgets we have not only considered the performance of our economy and finances, but also the wellbeing of our people, the health of our environment and the strength of our communities. In Budget ...
Four new permanent Coroners to be appointed Seven Coronial Registrar roles and four Clinical Advisor roles are planned to ease workload pressures Budget 2022 delivers a package of investment to improve the coronial system and reduce delays for grieving families and whānau. “Operating funding of $28.5 million over four ...
Establishment of Ministry for Disabled People Progressing the rollout of the Enabling Good Lives approach to Disability Support Services to provide self-determination for disabled people Extra funding for disability support services “Budget 2022 demonstrates the Government’s commitment to deliver change for the disability community with the establishment of a ...
Fairer Equity Funding system to replace school deciles The largest step yet towards Pay Parity in early learning Local support for schools to improve teaching and learning A unified funding system to underpin the Reform of Vocational Education Boost for schools and early learning centres to help with cost ...
$118.4 million for advisory services to support farmers, foresters, growers and whenua Māori owners to accelerate sustainable land use changes and lift productivity $40 million to help transformation in the forestry, wood processing, food and beverage and fisheries sectors $31.6 million to help maintain and lift animal welfare practices across Aotearoa New Zealand A total food and ...
House price caps for First Home Grants increased in many parts of the country House price caps for First Home Loans removed entirely Kāinga Whenua Loan cap will also be increased from $200,000 to $500,000 The Affordable Housing Fund to initially provide support for not-for-profit rental providers Significant additional ...
Child Support rules to be reformed lifting an estimated 6,000 to 14,000 children out of poverty Support for immediate and essential dental care lifted from $300 to $1,000 per year Increased income levels for hardship assistance to extend eligibility Budget 2022 takes further action to reduce child poverty and ...
More support for RNA research through to pilot manufacturing RNA technology platform to be created to facilitate engagement between research and industry partners Researchers and businesses working in the rapidly developing field of RNA technology will benefit from a new research and development platform, funded in Budget 2022. “RNA ...
A new Business Growth Fund to support small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to grow Fully funding the Regional Strategic Partnership Fund to unleash regional economic development opportunities Tourism Innovation Programme to promote sustainable recovery Eight Industry Transformation Plans progressed to work with industries, workers and iwi to transition ...
Budget 2022 further strengthens the economic foundations and wellbeing outcomes for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa, as the recovery from COVID-19 continues. “The priorities we set for Budget 2022 will support the continued delivery of our commitments for Pacific peoples through the Pacific Wellbeing Strategy, a 2020 manifesto commitment for Pacific ...
Boost for Māori economic and employment initiatives. More funding for Māori health and wellbeing initiatives Further support towards growing language, culture and identity initiatives to deliver on our commitment to Te Reo Māori in Education Funding for natural environment and climate change initiatives to help farmers, growers and whenua ...
New hospital funding for Whangārei, Nelson and Hillmorton 280 more classrooms over 40 schools, and money for new kura $349 million for more rolling stock and rail network investment The completion of feasibility studies for a Northland dry dock and a new port in the Manukau Harbour Increased infrastructure ...
$168 million to the Māori Health Authority for direct commissioning of services $20.1 million to support Iwi-Māori Partnership Boards $30 million to support Māori primary and community care providers $39 million for Māori health workforce development Budget 2022 invests in resetting our health system and gives economic security in ...
Biggest-ever increase to Pharmac’s medicines budget Provision for 61 new emergency vehicles including 48 ambulances, along with 248 more paramedics and other frontline staff New emergency helicopter and crew, and replacement of some older choppers $100 million investment in specialist mental health and addiction services 195,000 primary and intermediate aged ...
Landmark reform: new multi-year budgets for better planning and more consistent health services Record ongoing annual funding boost for Health NZ to meet cost pressures and start with a clean slate as it replaces fragmented DHB system ($1.8 billion year one, as well as additional $1.3 billion in year ...
Fuel Excise Duty and Road User Charges cut to be extended for two months Half price public transport extended for a further two months New temporary cost of living payment for people earning up to $70,000 who are not eligible to receive the Winter Energy Payment Estimated 2.1 million New ...
A return to surplus in 2024/2025 Unemployment rate projected to remain at record lows Net debt forecast to peak at 19.9 percent of GDP in 2024, lower than Australia, US, UK and Canada Economic growth to hit 4.2 percent in 2023 and average 2.1 percent over the forecast period A ...
Cost of living payment to cushion impact of inflation for 2.1 million Kiwis Record health investment including biggest ever increase to Pharmac’s medicines budget First allocations from Climate Emergency Response Fund contribute to achieving the goals in the first Emissions Reduction Plan Government actions deliver one of the strongest ...
Budget 2022 will help build a high wage, low emissions economy that provides greater economic security, while providing support to households affected by cost of living pressures. Our economy has come through the COVID-19 shock better than almost anywhere else in the world, but other challenges, both long-term and more ...
Health Minister Andrew Little will represent New Zealand at the first in-person World Health Assembly since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from Sunday 22 – Wednesday 25 May (New Zealand time). “COVID-19 has affected people all around the world, and health continues to ...
New Zealand is committing to trade only in legally harvested timber with the Forests (Legal Harvest Assurance) Amendment Bill introduced to Parliament today. Under the Bill, timber harvested in New Zealand and overseas, and used in products made here or imported, will have to be verified as being legally harvested. ...
The Government has welcomed the release today of StatsNZ data showing the rate at which New Zealanders died from all causes during the COVID-19 pandemic has been lower than expected. The new StatsNZ figures provide a measure of the overall rate of deaths in New Zealand during the pandemic compared ...
Legislation that will help prevent serious criminal offending at sea, including trafficking of humans, drugs, wildlife and arms, has passed its third reading in Parliament today, Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta announced. “Today is a milestone in allowing us to respond to the increasingly dynamic and complex maritime security environment facing ...
Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor is set to travel to Thailand this week to represent New Zealand at the annual APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) meeting in Bangkok. “I’m very much looking forward to meeting my trade counterparts at APEC 2022 and building on the achievements we ...
Settlement of the first pay-equity agreement in the health sector is hugely significant, delivering pay rises of thousands of dollars for many hospital administration and clerical workers, Health Minister Andrew Little says. “There is no place in 21st century Aotearoa New Zealand for 1950s attitudes to work predominantly carried out ...
Health Minister Andrew Little opened a new intensive care space for up to 12 ICU-capable beds at Christchurch Hospital today, funded from the Government’s Rapid Hospital Improvement Programme. “I’m pleased to help mark this milestone. This new space will provide additional critical care support for the people of Canterbury and ...
Budget 2022 will continue to deliver on Labour’s commitment to better services and support for mental wellbeing. The upcoming Budget will include a $100-million investment over four years for a specialist mental health and addiction package, including: $27m for community-based crisis services that will deliver a variety of intensive supports ...
Budget 2022 will continue to deliver on Labour’s commitment to better mental wellbeing services and support, with 195,000 primary and intermediate aged children set to benefit from the continuation and expansion of Mana Ake services. “In Budget 2022 Labour will deliver on its manifesto commitment to expand Mana Ake, with ...
Auckland Central Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick has revealed an alarming failure by the Department of Conservation to live up to its name and protect native kororā (penguins) at Pūtiki Bay on Waiheke Island. “DOC was asked to submit on the Kennedy Point ...
Policy failure over the last eight years — including a massive cut to the ABC’s international funding — has weakened Australia’s voice in the Pacific to its lowest ebb since the Menzies government established the first radio shortwave service across the region more than 80 years ago. Now, with China’s ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern early in March insisted there was no cost-of-living “crisis” in New Zealand. Now her right-hand man, Grant Robertson, has presented a budget which he proudly claims deals with that very same “crisis”, giving away $1 billion in an emergency cost-of-living package. About 2.1 million New Zealanders ...
Podcast - This Budget needed to tackle health and climate while delivering cost-of-living relief. Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch assesses the implications. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne AAP/Lukas Coch The federal election is on Saturday. Polls close at 6pm local time; that means 6pm AEST in the eastern states, 6:30pm in SA and the ...
Analysis - It was the government's biggest week of the year with the Budget and the Emissions Reduction Plan coming out, and neither was given much of a welcome, Peter Wilson writes. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ataus Samad, Lecturer, Western Sydney University Mick Tsikas/AAP With the election almost upon us, thoughts are more than ever turned to political survival. While getting pre-selected and winning elections are the initial, difficult challenges of a political career, a major ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Chart by Keith Rankin. We know that New Zealand has one of the world’s lowest mortality outcomes, so far, in the Covid19 pandemic. (So has North Korea.) It’s still far too early to access the costs incurred – loss of utility enjoyed by actual and ‘would-have-been’ ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liz Giuffre, Senior Lecturer in Communication, University of Technology Sydney Lillie Eiger/ Sony You’ve probably heard the name Harry Styles. He is the current “real big thing” in popular music. But how did a former boy band star become ...
New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty managing director Mark Harris is advocating for a stamp duty on foreign buyers of residential property. Following yesterday’s Budget 2022 announcement, Harris believes that a stamp duty would help increase the ...
And how did the people react to the boost in spending announced in this year’s Budget to promote our wellbeing? In some cases by pleading for more; in other cases, by grouching they got nothing. But Budget spending is never enough. Two lots of bleating came from the Human Rights ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra University of Canberra Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan and Emma La Rouche, from the University of Canberra’s Media and Communications team, look at the last week of the campaign as Australians head to the polls. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Hurlimann, Associate Professor in Urban Planning, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock It will be impossible to tackle climate change unless we transform the way we build and plan cities, which are responsible for a staggering 70% of global emissions. ...
Military spending allocated in the 2022 Wellbeing Budget is $6,077,484,000 - an average of more than $116.8 million every week, and a 10.4% increase on actual spending in 2021. [1] This year’s increase illustrates yet again that the government remains ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven Tingay, John Curtin Distinguished Professor (Radio Astronomy), Curtin University JIM LO SCALZO/EPA The United States Congress recently held a hearing into US government information pertaining to “unidentified aerial phenomena” (UAPs). The last investigation of this kind happened ...
Bank shareholders, speculators, investors, and ticket clippers will be partying for days over the enormous profits they’ll be expecting following Labour’s budget reveal yesterday. After a 48 percent increase in profits in 2021, banks in particular ...
Budget 2022 has a relatively small amount of new cash allocated to science, research and innovation. This budget comes ahead of what could become a major overhaul of the research, science, and innovation sector in the coming years, with MBIE now ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jennifer Curtin, Professor of Politics and Policy, University of Auckland Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to parliament via video link from COVID isolation during budget day.Getty Images All budgets are about economics and politics, and 2022’s was no different. The Labour ...
Early this Sunday evening there will be a phone alert you can’t ignore – but don’t worry, it’s just a test. This year’s nationwide test of the Emergency Mobile Alert system will take place on Sunday 22 May between 6-7pm It is expected ...
It was announced today that the inaugural Chinese Medicine Council of New Zealand (CMCNZ) has been appointed by the Minister of Health, Hon. Andrew Little. This brings the Chinese medicine profession in under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peggy Kern, Associate professor, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock It’s been a big week and you feel exhausted, and suddenly you find yourself crying at a nice nappy commercial. Or maybe you are struck with a cold or the coronavirus ...
No, we haven’t fully analysed Budget 2022, but we did listen to Finance Minister Grant Robertson’s speech. He took great pride in announcing his fifth Budget invests $5.9 billion a year in net new operating spending, while introducing multi-year funding packages that also draw from Budget 2023 and Budget 2024 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Deakin University Victor Grabarczyk/unsplash Dogs have an exceptional sense of smell. We take advantage of this ability in many ways, including by training them to find illicit drugs, dangerous goods and even people. In ...
The Government is using dirty tactics as it pushes through enabling legislation to increase PAYE revenue by 10% under the cover of yesterday’s Budget, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union in response to the Income Insurance Scheme (Enabling ...
RNZ Pacific A total of NZ$196 million has been set aside for Pacific services in Aotearoa New Zealand in this year’s Budget. A big chunk of that — $76 million will go on Pacific health services. Finance Minister Grant Robertson said the cash injection would be used to support Pacific ...
By George Heagney of Stuff A group of students from West Papua, the Melanesian Pacific region in Indonesia, are fearful about their futures in New Zealand after their scholarships were cut off. A group of about 40 students have been studying at different tertiary institutions in New Zealand, but in ...
By Craig McCulloch, RNZ News deputy political editor More than two million New Zealanders will get a one-off $350 sweetener as part of the Budget’s centrepiece $1 billion cost-of-living relief package. The temporary short-term support is counterbalanced by a record $11.1 billion for the health system as the government scraps ...
Asia Pacific Report newsdesk A movement dedicated to peaceful self-determination among indigenous groups in the Pacific is the latest group in Aotearoa to add support for struggling Papuan students caught in Aotearoa New Zealand after an abrupt cancellation of their scholarships. About 70 Papuan students are currently in New Zealand ...
RNZ Pacific The pro-independence coalition parties of Kanaky New Caledonia have selected their candidates for the French Legislative elections next month. Wali Wahetra from the Palika Party is standing in one electoral district, and Gerard Reignier from Union Caledonienne is standing in the other. Speaking with La Premiere, Wahetra explained ...
COMMENTARY:By Nina Santos in AucklandOn May 9, the Philippines went to the polls in what has been called “by far the most divisive and consequential electoral contest” in the Philippines.The electoral race had boiled down to two frontrunners: one was the current Vice-President Leni Robredo, running on ...
PNG Post-Courier Governor-General Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae has described Papua New Guinea’s late Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil as a vibrant and visionary leader who was passionate about his people and the electorate. He said Basil loved and dedicated his life to the people of Bulolo until his unexpected ...
Are you receiving NZ Superannuation? If you are, then no, you are not one of the 2.1 million Kiwi’s getting the $350 cost of living supplement announced in the 2022 Budget. If you hold a Gold card the extension of the half priced public ...
On May 19th, the Government released its 2022 Budget which included a number of initiatives to help vulnerable whānau in our communities. Many of these initiatives focus on a proactive strategy to recover from the effects of COVID. Within the community ...
Budget 2022 has been a disappointment for New Zealand’s leading advocate for older people. Although the Grey Power Federation is pleased to note that the Government is investing $3.103 million over four years to continue implementing the Better Later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato Ukraine’s sea port of Mariupol, blockaded and now fallen to Russian forces.Getty Images Trying to gauge the worst aspect of the Russian invasion of Ukraine is difficult. For some, it will be the ...
The Government has committed $37.485m to continue the work of achieving a thriving, fair and sustainable construction sector. The funding will support the Construction Sector Accord to deliver its Construction Sector Transformation Plan 2022-2025. “This ...
The Commission commends the Government’s Budget 2022 investment in specialist mental health and addiction, particularly the investment in community-based crisis services, specialist child and adolescent mental health and addiction services, and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Kenny, Professor, Australian Studies Institute, Australian National University You first have to lose an election on principle if you want to win one on principle. This was how Labor rationalised the miscalculations that led to its “Don’s Party” disappointment in 1969, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Camilla Hoyos, Research Fellow, University of Sydney Shutterstock There is increasing recognition of the important role sleep plays in our brain health. Growing evidence suggests disturbed sleep may increase the risk of developing dementia. I and University of Sydney ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samuel Wilson, Associate Professor of Leadership, Swinburne University of Technology Shutterstock Whatever the result of the 2022 election, one thing is clear: many Australians are losing faith that their social institutions serve their interests. Our annual survey of 4,000 Australians ...
National Party leader Christopher Luxon has labelled the Budget a "backwards Budget" and with "bandaid" solutions. Watch his post-Budget speech here ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The text arrived on Thursday morning, from a woman who helps me with my horses. “And now I have to do that voting thing. Recommendations please? Who is best?” Well Margaret, after an unedifying ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Margaret Hellard, Deputy Director (Programs), Burnet Institute Australia’s COVID death toll is rising, yet public health measures to reduce transmission such as mask mandates are largely a thing of the past. It’s time for governments and the community to consider what ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society and NATSEM, University of Canberra Shutterstock Early in the election campaign, on April 14, we learned that Australia’s unemployment rate had slipped below 4% in March, to 3.95% – ...
The sum includes about $1.8 billion to wipe out DHB deficits, while Pharmac will receive $191m over two years to fund new drugs - with a particular focus on cancer care. ...
E tū welcomes Budget 2022, which includes a range of measures that will help E tū members and their communities during a time of increased hardship coming out of the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. E tū Assistant National Secretary Annie Newman ...
The 2022 Budget was delivered against a gloomier backdrop. The latest forecasts suggest more subdued growth, more persistent inflation, and further tightening in the labour market. The headline numbers provided little surprise. The Government ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wendy Bonython, Associate Professor of Law, Bond University Shutterstock This Saturday, most Australians over 18 will vote in the federal election. The right to participate in elections is enshrined in international and domestic human rights law. Under Australia’s Commonwealth ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Shaw, Professor of Politics, Massey University Getty Images One way to make sense of Finance Minister Grant Robertson’s fifth budget speech was to see it as a political performance working on different levels. First, Labour needs this budget ...
Greater Wellington welcomed news today that the Government will permanently fund cheaper public transport fares for community services card hold holders. Chair of Greater Wellington Daran Ponter said there had been strong support for this type ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Preston, Professor of Economics, The University of Western Australia Shutterstock In 2020 the Morrison government allowed Australians to raid their superannuation to get through during the pandemic. This week Scott Morrison proposed letting people raid their super for a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Eltham, Lecturer, School of Media, Film and Journalism, Monash University Shutterstock The past term of government has been tough for arts and culture in Australia. Culture was among the worst affected by the pandemic of any aspect of society: ...
It's a 'cost of living crisis' not a 'spending on living crisis'. Throwing more and more money at a black-hole for kiwis to spend is akin to the famous saying: "...it's like standing in a bucket and trying to pull yourself up by the handle." ...
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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….
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?