Open Mike 17/05/2017

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 17th, 2017 - 82 comments
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82 comments on “Open Mike 17/05/2017”

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  1. Ed 1
    17 May 2017 at 6:14 am

    The depths of journalism.

    Barry Soper pimping for this wretched government.

    “So this time Labour’s beating the housing drum, playing to its constituents who don’t and will probably never own a home, by getting at the fat cats that do. To an extent it’s a politics of envy. Only trouble is to play that game you’ve got to be on firm ground and Andrew Little’s example actually made him the envy of those struggling to get on to the home ownership ladder.”…..

    it’s embarrassing to read.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11857277

    • North 1.1
      17 May 2017 at 7:26 am

      Soper has always been a dog. Will never forget the time he tried to take over a meeting between Winnie and John McCain in Washington DC for some bitchiness he harboured against Winnie. Winnie turned Rotty’. Ordered the scruffy terrier hack out of the room. Was beautiful to watch the hack roundly fail in his attempt to look ‘Da Man’……

    • Herodotus 1.2
      17 May 2017 at 10:53 am

      “And with his promise this week to cut the tax dodges for landlords, rents are bound to rise making it even harder for those who are trying to scrape together an ever increasing deposit.”
      and from
      http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2017/05/its_land_not_owners_who_are_the_problem.html
      Problem for me with this uneducated sensationalism is that it is based on a very small minority of landlords that would be negatively geared ( and for those landlords in the 50+ properties would be companies that should losses be incurred would carry over these until profitable when they would be liable for taxes so this is not applicable for to such companies),
      Some of those individuals who are incurring losses, the IRD has legislation that these would not comply as a profitable going concern and that their “business case” is based on loss making but compensated by a capital gain, and under this situation the capital gain is taxable income.
      And the situation of being negatively geared has been reduced with banks requiring 40% deposit, so the 80-95% mortgage does not apply.

    • michelle 1.3
      17 May 2017 at 2:50 pm

      Remember he is one of the gnats lapdogs and his misses got her job with Duncan because she is buddy wuddy with uncle john and the gnats and by the way what is the age difference as he is quick to put the boot into others this fellow.
      I switch of anything he is on, sop- a he is just as bad if not worse than listening to Larry Williams on the radio same old bias self opinionated and one sided bullshert
      Then we have hoskings using his TV role state owned TV1 to advocate for the gnats he has been a bit quieter since his mate uncle john left hooray!

      • JanM 1.3.1
        17 May 2017 at 5:29 pm

        Back in the day I was unfortunate enough to have some mutual friends with this horrible little man and wound up at a dinner party with him. The food was beautiful but the conversation was dire thanks to him! What a self opinionated loudmouthed ethic-free twit!

      • Ed 1.3.2
        17 May 2017 at 6:49 pm

        Never listen to ZB or watch TVNZ or watch Garner in the morning.
        Makes for a less polluted day.

  2. Ed 2
    17 May 2017 at 6:17 am

    The heights of journalism.

    Rachel Stewart speaking truth to power.

    “What is it about New Zealand’s economic mentality that is so fatally and stupidly drawn to boom and bust?

    You’d think the tourism industry would have a wee shufti over at the dairy wallahs, take a deep breath, and ask themselves how they’re going to avoid the same problems with rapid and unmanageable expansion.”…..

    Read it all here.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11856866

    • Ad 2.1
      17 May 2017 at 7:41 am

      “What is it about New Zealand’s economic mentality that is so fatally and stupidly drawn to boom and bust?”
      It’s the famous Anglo-American economic tradition to make cheap bulk commodities, which we inherited and have always held to.

      DoC should make it clear that all New Zealand citizens and residents can do any Great Walk free of charge, and charge the bejeezus out of the tourists.

      • Johan 2.1.1
        17 May 2017 at 8:12 am

        “DoC should make it clear that all New Zealand citizens and residents can do any Great Walk free of charge, and charge the bejeezus out of the tourists.”
        Get a reality check Ad. No one is going to to kill the goose that lays the golden egg.

        • Robert Guyton 2.1.1.1
          17 May 2017 at 8:38 am

          Many countries charge a “tourist tax” and don’t kill that goose, Johan. There’s no reason why NZ shouldn’t, ‘cept National.

        • Ad 2.1.1.2
          17 May 2017 at 8:51 am

          Well past time that DoC started to make some proper gold out of them – out of tourists.

        • Graeme 2.1.1.3
          17 May 2017 at 6:21 pm

          More the Nats don’t want to upset all their donors in the lower end of the tourism industry. I think that’s what you mean by “the goose that lays the golden egg”

          Reality is that if a $100 border tax is going to kill the profit on a tour operator’s punter, there’s fuck all for the country in that punter either.

          We’ve got a government, and industry that is only interested in numbers, more more and more. Nothing about yield, just greater numbers.

    • adam 2.2
      17 May 2017 at 12:26 pm

      The dominate ideology – Liberal economics.

  3. Ed 3
    17 May 2017 at 6:24 am

    It’s amazing how a headline can hide the truth.

    ‘Govt to build 34,000 homes.’

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11857181

    Lucky then we have bloggers like No Right Turn to give us the real information.

    “National is finally promising to tackle the housing crisis by building some houses, with plans to “build 34,000 new Auckland houses”. Except that when you scratch the surface, its not all its cracked up to be. Firstly, those houses are being built by demolishing 8,300 existing homes, so the total is only 26,000. Secondly, it includes already announced and underway (and in some cases, built) projects in Tamaki, Northcote and Point England – so they’re back to re-announcing old news to get a new headline. Thirdly, two thirds of those houses will be sold to speculators rather than being state houses – so we’re looking at a program to bulldoze and sell off state homes. And finally, its over ten years, with a deadline on the never-never so National can avoid accountability – just as with their climate change, renewable electricity, and water quality promises. In short, its the usual story: PR as a substitute for policy, spin as a substitute for action. Because the goal isn’t to fix the bloody problem, but simply to generate positive headlines.”

    http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2017/05/the-usual-story.html

    Sadly, however, many people will not read past the Herald Editor’s headline.
    And therein lies the problem.

    Any progressive government must reform the media so corporations do not have their present level of control over the message people hear,

    • Wayne 3.1
      17 May 2017 at 8:38 am

      It is no right turn that is not telling the truth.

      In particular suggesting that two thirds will be sold to speculators. Unless of course you consider first home buyers to be speculators.

      Yes it is an aggregation of all prior announcement, plus new ones. Whats wrong with that? It is all about what will happen in the next ten years. It makes sense to aggregate them so people get a sense of the actual scale. Otherwise it is all lost in piecemeal announcements.

      Yes, some houses are being demolished, and frankly about time. Tonah St for instance is really substandard housing.

      • Robert Guyton 3.1.1
        17 May 2017 at 8:41 am

        “Yes it is an aggregation of all prior announcement, plus new ones. Whats wrong with that? ”

        Ummm..? Misleading for the sake of deception, perhaps? Putting lipstick on a pig is the baser expression.
        ” so they’re back to re-announcing old news to get a new headline” says, I/S. He directs us to think this strategy has been used before by the National Party for reasons we can only guess at.

        • Wayne 3.1.1.1
          17 May 2017 at 10:24 am

          Why is it misleading?

          It is all about the plans for the next ten years. The fact some of it has been previously announced (Northcote, Tamaki) does not change that it is all about the next ten years.

          One of my concerns about Nationals housing plans was that there had been a plethora of announcements, and it almost impossible to work out the overall plan.

          Amy Adams has done everyone a favour by pulling it all together, then announcing it as an overall plan.

          That means it is possible to compare the packages of both major parties, which has now been done, including on the lead item of The Standard.

          Because there have been previous announcements, you know some of the houses will be started within the next year, rather than just planned.

          On reflection I imagine Labours housing plans also include these projects.

          • Draco T Bastard 3.1.1.1.1
            17 May 2017 at 4:37 pm

            It is all about the plans for the next ten years.

            Then why’s it including all their plans for the last nine years? (Which didn’t work either)

            One of my concerns about Nationals housing plans was that there had been a plethora of announcements, and it almost impossible to work out the overall plan.

            I’m reasonably certain that’s done on purpose so that they can continue to lie in all of the confusion that they create.

            Because there have been previous announcements, you know some of the houses will be started within the next year, rather than just planned.

            Ah, no, we don’t know that. Many of the ones that have been announced haven’t been built and never will be. Managed to funnel lots of wealth to some National’s major donors though.

            On reflection I imagine Labours housing plans also include these projects.

            i doubt it.

      • Robert Guyton 3.1.2
        17 May 2017 at 8:44 am

        ” piecemeal announcements” indeed.
        And 8,300 is “some”?
        That’s some “some”!

      • Bearded Git 3.1.3
        17 May 2017 at 9:01 am

        @ Wayne But when they are demolishing 8,000 houses as part of the 34,000 this is simply lying. You could at least acknowledge this Wayne or you are simply trolling.

        Most of the houses in question will be sold at market value; the others are “affordable” at $650k. Little was spot-on on Morning Report this AM when he said this was “smoke and mirrors”.

        What’s interesting here is that people like Hoskin say the Labour/Green bloc will not win the election on the housing issue yet Amy Adams finds it necessary to lie through her teeth with announcements like this to defend the government’s position.

        I love Labour’s new policy to abolish tax write-offs for housing speculators. A strong and bold policy that will push resources into productive investment. This “mum and dad” investors terminology is crap-they are speculators buying houses whether they are buying one extra house or ten.

      • Stephen Doyle 3.1.4
        17 May 2017 at 3:26 pm

        That’s Tonar St, for those that don’t live in the Shore bubble.

    • michelle 3.2
      17 May 2017 at 2:52 pm

      its called recycling Ed

  4. Sanctuary 4
    17 May 2017 at 6:52 am

    Now Phil Goff has ensured he is a one term mayor, anyone got any idea on a good replacement?

    • tc 4.1
      17 May 2017 at 7:10 am

      Who cares ! national screwed over akl so badly it’s a ceremonial position with virtually no actual power and control.

      Hide and key made sure that they appointed the CCO chiefs of which I note some rats already jumping ship such as akl transport.

      Other mates like Jim, I plundered kiwirail, Quinn enjoy highly paid do nothing roles also, goffs just making noise and pointing out the obvious really which gets the nactiods and their media muppets all frothy and righteous.

    • Draco T Bastard 4.2
      17 May 2017 at 4:39 pm

      Yeah, I noticed that. Typical neo-liberal giving away our wealth without even consulting with us.

  5. Tamati Tautuhi 5
    17 May 2017 at 8:42 am

    Ethiopia ahead of NZ on Childrens Rights Statistics/Index, NZ standing at 158th out of 165, it is sobering reading ?

    We are not going particularly well with our young people here in NZ especially with our 94,000 unemployed youth aged between 15-24 years old, but we do hold the Rugby World Cup ?

  6. Robert Guyton 6
    17 May 2017 at 8:56 am

    “The Government has confirmed that countries not signed up to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, including the United States, will be able to reap the benefit of concessions New Zealand has made on pharmaceuticals.

    Yet New Zealand will not benefit from better access to the US market in return, because president Donald Trump pulled it out of the pact.”

    Brilliant.

  7. Cemetery Jones 7
    17 May 2017 at 9:28 am

    Oh the intel came from Israel? No wonder they were mad about the Russians getting hold of it. They don’t want Baathist Syria to beat Salafism, they want it to fall to Salafism, so that they have the pretext to pour the IDF out of the Golan heights and annex some more Lebensraum for their US, UK, and RSA born ‘settlers’. Then they will ‘miraculously’ make some ‘archaeological’ ‘discoveries’ within said Lebensraum which proves that ancient Hebrews once lived there, which is generally their out of the can pretext for taking other people’s land on a permanent basis

    [lprent: You appear to have missed the point of the post – which was about missing the point. ]

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]

    • Stunned Mullet 7.1
      17 May 2017 at 9:44 am

      Didn’t do a very good job of hiding your bigotry there CJ.

      • Cemetery Jones 7.1.1
        17 May 2017 at 10:10 am

        Bigotry? Continue, I’m looking forward to it. You do realise that some of us need more than just SJW buzzwords to do much more than raise an eyebrow, right?

      • One Two 7.1.2
        17 May 2017 at 11:33 am

        What a little mind you have!

        • McFlock 7.1.2.1
          17 May 2017 at 12:07 pm

          Says the chap who uses his pseudonym to count his brain cells…

          • One Two 7.1.2.1.1
            17 May 2017 at 1:01 pm

            That’s your incorrect interjection, seeking an opportunity…and flailing once again…

            Because you ‘don’t understand’, is not an excuse..

            At least make a funny interjection, if you must continue to be wrong!

            • McFlock 7.1.2.1.1.1
              17 May 2017 at 1:22 pm

              I totally understood that your entire comment was to say stunned mullet had a little mind.

              And now when it’s flipped back you say “at least make a funny interjection”.

              Does your hypocrisy cause your stupidity, or vice versa?

              • One Two …
                17 May 2017 at 2:32 pm

                Gordon Bennett, that’s poor

                Why do you think I said that about SMs response to CJ?

                Context boy, context!

                Now your projecting and deflecting like a rank amateur who can’t comprehend the relevance of context vs ‘at least be funny’ when throwing a naked insult

                Brakes are on the handle bars, and no amount of back peddle can prevent the inevitable

                • McFlock …
                  17 May 2017 at 2:49 pm

                  Why do you think I made the comment about your pseudonym matching your number of brain cells?
                  Context, dear boy, context!

                  And please don’t call me “context boy” in the future. It’s not like you wear a cape and insist everyone calls you “Cogent Argument Man”.

                  • One Two …
                    17 May 2017 at 10:10 pm

                    Good job, McFlock

                    That was quite a funny retort!

                    • McFlock …
                      17 May 2017 at 10:42 pm

                      Well, the first one went over your head, so I had to make it obvious and use an old Zucker/Abrams pattern.

                    • One Two []
                      18 May 2017 at 3:01 pm

                      No surprise in the lack of graciousness..

                      Obvious….Yes, quite so!

                    • McFlock …
                      18 May 2017 at 3:18 pm

                      Dude, we’re not two gentlemen meeting in a sparring contest with mutual respect.

                      I regard you as a vacuous jerk whose ego writes cheques his IQ can’t cash. You don’t deserve graciousness, and I require neither your respect nor your approval. In fact, affirmation from such a source would normally require deep introspection as to where my life went astray.

  8. saveNZ 8
    17 May 2017 at 9:48 am

    Yellow-eyed penguins will disappear from mainland within 40 years, warn researchers

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/south-island/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503933&objectid=11857519

  9. joe90 9
    17 May 2017 at 10:05 am

    Here of course it’s all about choice for union busting sake.

    Another week, another round of evidence that providing parents with more “school choice,” especially the kind that lets them opt out of public schools, is not a very effective vehicle for ensuring students improve academically or that taxpayer dollars are spent more wisely.

    The latest evidence comes from a study of the voucher program in Washington, DC that allows parents to transfer their children from public to private schools at taxpayer expense. The study found that students “who attended a private school through the program performed worse on standardized tests than their public school counterparts who did not use the vouchers,” reports the New York Times.

    This study adds to others – from Ohio, Indiana, and Louisiana – finding that school vouchers have negative impacts on students.

    Despite these results, many proponents of school choice contend the purpose of school choice was never about generating better results. It’s about choice for choice’s sake.

    http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2017/05/evidence-school-choice-hurts-student-performance.html

  10. Spikeyboy 10
    17 May 2017 at 10:10 am

    So Russia has done and is doing more to fight isis than anyone else and trump shares intelligence on isis and this is somehow a problem? Only if you buy into the russia as supreme evil meme. Trump has done plenty wrong but collaborating on the battle against isis is eminently sensible. This and his stance on tpp. Some say even a broken clock is correct twice…

    [lprent: It looks like you missed the point of the post as well. Perhaps you could try reducing your self-indulgent wanking some time and actually read what people write. ]

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]

  11. marty mars 11
    17 May 2017 at 10:21 am

    Comey memos coming out now – trump toast – death by 1000 cuts and we are up to 100 or so by now – not bad for just over 100 days. Whatever you do don’t mention Russia that peace loving utopia where everyone has a full tummy – Putin must be slysmiling at all this trumpstuff.

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]

    • Bill 12.1
      17 May 2017 at 11:40 am

      Read that a few days back and did some digging. There’s a prof at Washington University looks at ‘deep time’. The story goes like this – each mass extinction has been accompanied by rises in atmospheric CO2. (One was an impact that also had increasing CO2 levels)

      The CO2 has come from basalt flows in the past. (eg – the Siberian Traps). Today we’ve got industry smoke stacks and cars. Anyway. As temp increases, the poles heat far faster than the tropics, the temperature differential that drives ocean currents is lost and oxygen doesn’t get mixed into the deep ocean.

      As the existing oxygen in the ocean is used up, they become stagnant and a breeding ground for bacteria that give off hydrogen sulphide. And that then kills just about everything everywhere. (Mammals more so than reptiles apparently which was why we got dinosaurs – off the back of mammals getting ‘totaled’ 200 odd million years back)

      Anyway, as that’s unfolding, that same loss of temperature differential kills the jet stream. And that means that weather doesn’t form or move. (The jet stream is already slowing and meandering which is giving rise to prolonged droughts etc)

      The figure of 1000ppm was suggested as the atmospheric concentration that accompanies all that crap…not necessarily the level that triggers it. We’re at 400+ and rising at about 2ppm per year.

      With current warming, we have ‘locked in’ sea level rise of over 1 metre with some respected quarters suggesting we may be looking at 1.5m by as soon as 2050. Now, how much of the worlds agriculture is on flood plains – ie, at sea level?

      I’ll stop now…;-)

  13. The Chairman 13
    17 May 2017 at 11:33 am

    Will National’s willingness to proceed with the TPP (as initially negotiated) become a major election issue?

    McClay said countries would discuss whether the TPP as negotiated should stay in place – NZ’s preferred route – or the deal should be renegotiated now the US has quit.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/92664440/the-us-is-set-to-reap-the-benefits-of-nz-concessions–without-joining-tpp

    The existing text of the TPP has all the toxic rules a good number of New Zealanders opposed. Bringing into question the Government’s position. Moreover, how badly will it hurt National in the polls?

    • saveNZ 13.1
      17 May 2017 at 12:19 pm

      Shocking. Would be good for Labour to publicly condemn Natz wasting time and money trying to resurrect this zombie deal that is NOT a good deal for NZ especially destructive for copy write and medicine and for the neanderthal ISDS clauses.

      • The Chairman 13.1.1
        17 May 2017 at 12:40 pm

        Shocking indeed. And yes, the silver lining is the opposition should be able to capitalize off this.

        The Government is taking a risk trying to resurrect this with the elections only months away. There is a good chance voters will express their discontent at the polling booths come election day.

  14. One Two 14
    17 May 2017 at 11:42 am

    Did the insult posing as a question lift your self esteem?

    I don’t spend energy trying to rationalize such ‘events’, because really…who ‘knows’

    You don’t!

    Prententing to ‘know’, or trying to rationalize…is fruitless IMO

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]

    [lprent: Perhaps if you’d read the post and the notice at the end of it then you would have realized what it was about and not irritated me by blathering irrelevant nonsense. ]

  15. Poission 15
    17 May 2017 at 11:43 am

    Well the so called oligarchical kleptocracy,turned down a protection racket.

    https://www.businessinsider.com.au/saudis-russia-sochi-olympics-terrorism-syria-2013-8?r=US&IR=T

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]

  16. Johan 16
    17 May 2017 at 11:44 am

    Trump is bowing down to his masters. Sharing confidential information from Five Eyes, and carrying on in an unprecedented manner with the Kremlin stooges in the White House as photos show, which were not meant for the eyes of US citizens. This latest breech by by Trump is a big concern not only to the Democrats in Congress but Trump’s fellow Republicans. Why is Trump so friendly with the Russians? Perhaps it has something to do with who has been financing TTO. Money laundering out of Russia and big loans from a German bank, has given Trump massive support when his commercial empire was crumbling.

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]

  17. aerobubble 17
    17 May 2017 at 12:07 pm

    Trump noise show continues. Pense for President! Wow, Israeli secrets divulged to Russia and leaked to the press. Coz Russoa would have told then too! Are we saying Russia leaked them to undermine Trump and give Pense the Whitehouse, thought Russia and Israel weren’t friendly, why would Russia want a fundamental christian in the Whitehouse when the far christian rig are one of Isreals biggest friends. So, who leaked and why can Trump trust nobody.

    If Trump makes a habit of disclosing ‘facts’, on top of his fake facts, he’ll just put Congres and allies out of sorts and Pense in charge. Like that wasn’t the plan!

    [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]

  18. joe90 18
    17 May 2017 at 12:19 pm

    heh

    Bannon, Reince, Kushner, Cohn, Powell, Ivanka, Spicer, and more! Trump taking entire West Wing abroad. https://t.co/rX4HnL18vn— Annie Karni (@anniekarni) May 16, 2017

    Full nanny corps. https://t.co/tGTl8OE5tK— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) May 16, 2017

  19. Andre 19
    17 May 2017 at 12:38 pm

    Parsing the difference between the DGAF lies coming from some parts of the Chump administration, and the ordinary misdirection by weasel words of those with at least a vestigial sense of shame that makes them want to later be able say “I didn’t technically lie”.

    https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/5/16/15646836/mcmaster-trump-russia-lie

  20. The Chairman 20
    17 May 2017 at 1:06 pm

    It’s our water and our wildlife, therefore if we are going to allow this shouldn’t the profits also be ours?

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/92665865/controversial-west-coast-water-bottling-operation-awarded-final-resource-consents

    • saveNZ 20.1
      17 May 2017 at 2:19 pm

      Yep. More NZ public resources going into private hands.

    • Red 20.2
      17 May 2017 at 3:07 pm

      Who’s doing the collection, sales bottling marketing distributio, Taking the risk on capital etc I suggest that where the profits go, the public resource just enjoys a royalty, ie the water

      • bwaghorn 20.2.1
        17 May 2017 at 3:23 pm

        if it goes bust who do you think will pick up the tab to dismantle the crumbling ruins?

      • saveNZ 20.2.2
        17 May 2017 at 4:11 pm

        That would be fine if it was billed at the same rate as we have to pay Metrowater here in Auckland…. but it’s more billed in magic bean territory.

        Aside from that there is beauty and prosperity in having an untouched natural resource.

        Some things should not be modified.

  23. Whispering Kate 23
    17 May 2017 at 4:35 pm

    What’s with the Auditor General Martin Mathews now in the firing line by Winnie. Winnie says under his watch as Head of the Ministry of Transport a female employee embezzled three quarters of a million. She was brought to the attention of Mr Mathews on more than one occasion over financial anomalities but he did not intervene. Now he is our Auditor General. It could only happen in New Zealand. I wonder how much auditing is being done and how much scrutiny is being applied to the nation’s books these days. Wonders will never cease. No wonder Winnie is having an apoplexy tiss wizz over it.

    All parties are to blame – the committee who selected him had Trevor Mallard representing Labour along with other representatives – Little says nobody was aware of this happening in the MOT when the decision was made to elect him Auditor General. . WTF

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    Jonathan Coleman cannot resort to his ongoing litany that the Ministry of Health’s $38 million budget blunder is an error on paper only, says Labour’s Health spokesperson David Clark. “He might keep saying it’s a ‘technical error’ but the reality ...
    Labour
    5 days ago

  • Labour to invest in public transport for Greater Christchurch
    Labour will commit $100m in capital investment for public transport in Greater Christchurch, including commuter rail from Rolleston to the CBD, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. “As the rebuild progresses, there are huge opportunities for Greater Christchurch, but ...
    Labour
    5 days ago

  • Green Party will repeal solar tax
    It’s ridiculous for an electricity distribution monopoly to apply a charge on solar panels but worse than that, it’s harming our effort to tackle climate change. Hawke’s Bay lines company Unison last year announced a new solar charge for their ...
    GreensBy Gareth Hughes
    5 days ago

  • English fails the character test over Barclay
    Bill English is hoping this scandal will go away, but he is still dodging important questions over his role in covering up for Todd Barclay, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. ...
    Labour
    5 days ago

  • Government must apologise for Christchurch schools stuff-up
    The Ombudsman’s findings that the Ministry of Education botched the reorganisation of Christchurch schools after the 2011 earthquake are damning for an under-fire National Government, says Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins. “The Ombudsman has found the reorganisation of schools in ...
    Labour
    5 days ago

  • Government’s multinational tax measures weak
    The Government’s proposals to crack down on multinational tax avoidance, by its own admission only recovering one third of the missing money, means hardworking Kiwis will bear more of the tax burden, says Labour’s Revenue spokesperson Michael Wood. “The Government ...
    Labour
    6 days ago

  • World Refugee Day – we can do our bit
    I’m really proud that yesterday, on World Refugee Day, the Greens launched an ambitious plan to increase the refugee quota to 5000 over the next six years. Of those places, 4,000 will be directly resettled by the government and another ...
    GreensBy Denise Roche
    6 days ago

  • PM’s leadership in question over Barclay affair
    The Prime Minister must belatedly show some leadership and compel Todd Barclay to front up to the Police, says Labour Leader Andrew Little. “Twice today Bill English has been found wanting in this matter. ...
    Labour
    6 days ago

  • Another memory lapse by Coleman?
    The Minister of Health ‘couldn’t recall’ whether the Director General of Health Chai Chuah offered his resignation over the Budget funding fiasco involving the country’s District Health Boards, says Labour’s Health spokesperson David Clark. “In the House today Jonathan Coleman ...
    Labour
    6 days ago

  • Bill English needs to come clean over Barclay
    Bill English needs to explain why he failed to be upfront with the public over the actions of Clutha-Southland MP Todd Barclay, following revelations that he knew about the secretly recorded conversations in the MP’s electorate office, says Labour Leader ...
    Labour
    7 days ago

  • Minister, show some backbone and front up and debate
    Rather than accusing critics of his Te Ture Whenua Māori Bill of telling ‘lies’, Māori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell should show some backbone and front up to a debate on the issue, says Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP Meka Whaitiri. “Te ...
    Labour
    7 days ago

  • Equal pay for mental health workers
    Today, mental health workers are filing an equal pay claim through their unions. Mental health support workers do important and difficult work in our communities. But because the workforce is largely female, they are not paid enough. It’s wrong for ...
    GreensBy Jan Logie
    1 week ago

  • Nats’ HAM-fisted housing crisis denial
    National’s decision to knowingly release a flawed Housing Affordability Measure that underestimates the cost of housing is the latest evidence of their housing crisis denial, says Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. ...
    Labour
    1 week ago

  • New Pike footage builds compelling case for mine re-entry
    New footage of the Pike River Mine deep inside the operation, revealing no fire damage or signs of an inferno, provides a compelling reason to grant the families of Pike River’s victims their wish to re-enter the drift, says Labour ...
    Labour
    1 week ago

  • Labour will get tough on slum boarding houses
    The next Labour-led Government will legislate a Warrant of Fitness based on tough minimum standards to clean out slum boarding houses, says Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. “It’s not acceptable for New Zealanders in the 21st Century to be living ...
    Labour
    1 week ago

  • Green Party tribute to Dame Nganeko Minhinnick
    Haere ngā mate ki tua o paerau; te moenga roa o ngā mātua tupuna. Haere, haere, haere. It was with a huge sense of loss that we learned of the death of Dame Nganeko Minhinnick yesterday. The Green Party acknowledges ...
    GreensBy Catherine Delahunty
    1 week ago

  • Urgent answers needed on DHB funding
      Jonathan Coleman must come clean and answer questions about what actual funding DHBs received in Budget 2017, says Labour Health Spokesperson David Clark.   ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Treasury puts Māori Land Service on red alert
    A damning Treasury report raises serious questions about the delivery of Te Ururoa Flavell’s proposed Māori Land Service, giving it a ‘red’ rating which indicates major issues with the project, says Ikaroa-Rāwhiti MP Meka Whaitiri.  “Treasury’s Interim Major Projects Monitoring ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Economy stalling after nine years of National’s complacency
    The second successive quarterly fall in per person growth shows the need for a fresh approach to give all New Zealanders a fair share in prosperity, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson. ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Kiwi kids deserve much more
    All Kiwi kids deserve so much more than the impoverished picture painted by the shameful rankings provided by the UNICEF Innocenti Report Card, says Labour’s children spokesperson Jacinda Ardern. ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • NZ Zone a precursor to a total nuclear weapon ban
    New Zealand’s nuclear-free zone, legislated by Parliament in 1987, is something we all take pride in. It’s important, however, that we don’t let it thwart its own ultimate purpose – a world free of nuclear weapons. That goal must be ...
    GreensBy Kennedy Graham
    2 weeks ago

  • English must confirm we still stand by our principles on UN resolution
    Bill English must tell New Zealand whether we remain in support of the UN Security Council resolution on Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory, says Labour Leader Andrew Little. “After Foreign Affairs Minister Gerry Brownlee’s evasive answers to repeated questions on ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Māori party drop the poi on Māori health
    The Māori Party have dropped the poi when it comes to supporting Ngati Whakaue and Māori interests in Bay of Plenty by allowing an iwi owned and operated service Te Hunga Manaaki to be brushed aside in favour of a ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Labour to invest in Whanganui River infrastructure
    Labour will work in partnership with the Whanganui Council to repair and redevelop the city’s Port precinct in advance of planned economic development and expansion. To enable Whanganui’s plans, Labour will commit $3m in matching funding for repairing the Whanganui ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Parihaka: an apology
    An apology only works for healing if it is sincere and if it is accepted. We teach our children to apologise and to be genuine if they want to be forgiven. On Friday, June 9 at Parihaka, the Crown apologised ...
    GreensBy Catherine Delahunty
    2 weeks ago

  • Survey shows many international students plan to stay in NZ after study
    Most international students in New Zealand at PTEs (private training establishments) who have a plan for themselves after study intend to stay in New Zealand to work. This shows how low-level education has become a backdoor immigration route under National, ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Councils step up as Nats drop the ball on housing crisis
    Phil Goff’s Mayoral Housing Taskforce is another positive example of councils stepping up where National has failed on housing, says Labour Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Time for a breather on immigration
    Labour will introduce moderate, sensible reforms to immigration to reduce the pressure on our cities, while ensuring we get the skilled workers our country needs, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. “New Zealand is a country built on immigration. ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Inaction puts Māui dolphins at risk
    Conservation Minister Maggie Barry was at the United Nations Oceans Conference in New York last week, trying to convince the world that the New Zealand Government is doing a good job at protecting our marine environment.  Yet last week after ...
    GreensBy Eugenie Sage
    2 weeks ago

  • National unprepared as immigration runs four times faster than forecast
    National has been caught asleep at the wheel by record immigration that has outstripped Budget forecasts, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • First home buyers shouldn’t carry the can for National’s failed policies
    The introduction of tighter limits on lending to first home buyers would see them paying the price for the National Party’s failure to recognise or fix the housing crisis, Labour’s Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson says. “Nine years of denial and ...
    Labour
    3 weeks ago

  • Motel bill blows out as Nats fail to deliver emergency housing
    Minister Amy Adams has admitted at select committee that National has now spent $22m on putting homeless families in motels as it fails to deliver the emergency housing places it promised, says Labour Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. ...
    Labour
    3 weeks ago

  • Minister, how out of touch are you?
    What was going through Jonathan Coleman’s head in the Health Select Committee this morning when he claimed he was unaware that an estimated 533,000 people have missed out on a GP’s visit in the last 12 months due to cost, ...
    Labour
    3 weeks ago

  • Divided we fall
    I’m getting pretty sick of the politics of division in this country.  The latest example was yesterday’s comments from NZ First leader Winston Peters having a good go in the House at driving up fear and loathing towards people of ...
    GreensBy Denise Roche
    3 weeks ago

  • Labour’s Electoral Amendment Bill to enhance democracy
    Democracy will be enhanced under Labour’s Private Member’s Bill which will have its First Reading today, says Labour’s Local Government spokesperson MP Meka Whaitiri. ...
    Labour
    3 weeks ago

  • Police underfunded despite rise in crime
    As crime continues to rise dairy owners are scared for their lives and communities reel under a record increase in burglary numbers, it has now been revealed that Police received less than three quarters of their bid in this year’s ...
    Labour
    3 weeks ago

  • Road pricing years off, public transport investment needed now
    With road pricing still years away, Labour will step up with investment in public transport to ease Auckland’s congestion woes, says Labour’s Auckland Issues spokesperson Phil Twyford. ...
    Labour
    3 weeks ago

  • Call to protect Easter Sunday in Auckland
    Auckland’s Labour MPs are backing the community to protect Easter Sunday by retaining current trading restrictions in the city, says Labour MPs Aupito William Sio and Michael Wood.  “The Government’s weak and confusing decision to delegate the decision over Easter ...
    Labour
    3 weeks ago

  • $2.3 billion shortfall in health
    The funding needed for health to be restored to the level it was seven years ago to keep pace with cost pressures has widened to a massive $2.3 billion, says Labour Leader Andrew Little.  “We used to have a health ...
    Labour
    3 weeks ago

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