It is long accepted by many that the pay rates for MPs has gotten well out of hand and i am sorry but $400,000 to have the honour of being your country’s Prime Minister is more than sufficient.
If you want to earn big bucks go work in the private sector.
If you want to serve your country why should it matter what the private sector are paying?
p.s. you will also notice comments are not turned on for this article.
So let me get this straight: Instead of actually looking at the information presented in Labour’s ad, determining the depth of truth and then putting questions to the National Party, Danya Levy asked “Do you agree?” to which the predictable response is “No” from Steven Joyce. (Then they wrap Joyce’s response as the headline – I notice the headline as written on the main page is “Labour’s new ad ‘short on facts'” without quoting the source of that comment. Interesting.)
Surely if there was an ounce of journalism in this, they would have at least investigated whether Labour’s claims were fact and presented them to Joyce in a robust way, rather than just phoning him up and saying “hey give us something to write to make you look good.”
The media in this country let us down something remarkable – especially FairFax.
If anyone wants to see how to do proper political journalism, watch practically any interview done by Stephen Sackur of the BBC. The John Key HardTalk interview is a good start.
Fairfax has also shown bias in its handling of recent Labour advertising in Auckland. At some expense Labour has purchased the footer on the front page of all of the Fairfax owned Suburban Newspapers. In at least three of these papers the same piece of “editorial” by John Key about Surf Lifesaving is placed immediately above the Labour ad on the front page. There is no promoter statement and stating Key’s support for surf lifesaving is the sort of copy money normally cannot buy. It reads like something his PR department wrote.
It is long accepted by many that the pay rates for MPs has gotten well out of hand and i am sorry but $400,000 to have the honour of being your country’s Prime Minister is more than sufficient.
I agree with the Alliance. All MPs should get the same rate and that rate should be the same as what teachers get paid.
richard # 10 threw in a very interesting bunch of questions
“Richard #10 08:44 am Nov 17 2011
‘Opposition Leader’ is an interesting concept these days. Do all opposition party leaders get that, or just the leader of the biggest one? Does signing a coalition agreement cost you the bonus? A memorandum of understanding? And what if the opposition party has co-leaders – do they all get it, or have to split the difference from the backbencher salary?”
can any of the experts out there offer any clarity for the befuddled masses?
Yesterday I was on the Vinny Eastwood show and had the chance to ask one of my heroes some questions about the international finance world and John Key.
Gordon Duff is the senior editor of Veterans today, an online publication which dwarfs many conventional media outlets and has millions of followers and which addresses many controversial issues such as international finance and banking corruption (Gordon Duff has been in the banking business and is a whistleblower) 911 and the ongoing criminal wars. Here is what he had to say and about 20 minutes in hear what he has to say about John Key. the total interview is about 1:25.
Added to that here is a copy of an email exchange I had with Gordon Duff after the show:
Hi Gordon,
I was on Vinnies show with you and that more or less cancels out the previous email I send you.
I am left with one question with regards to our National debt. When John Key took power we were in the plus. No huge debt. Now three years later we are $ 40 billion (only four million people here) in debt. Does this mean that John Key just made a fortune for his former bosses?
His answer:
yes
but also…there will be “off the books” debt which will be migrated into the public sector…
this would be his “tasking”
g
The “off the books debt” he is referring to is the tactic of keeping risky financial investments out of the normal day to day bookkeeping such as this example but when they collapse into no value at all try to get them reinbursed dollar for dollar from the taxpayer.
All you politicians out there bank the yearly pay rise, while workers lose jobs and get told to take 25% pay cuts at Marton meatworks.
Fletchers, the largest construction outfit in the country and responsible for Chch rebuild, fires loads of workers due to the downturn, while Fletchers directors pocket increased pay packets of $500,000.
National govt cuts funding to DOC and increases funding to the Mining dept.
National govt sells the people’s power stations and gives the money to farmers for irrigation.
National govt increases taxes on the poor and gives tax breaks to the rich.
.
.
.
can anyone see a pattern here? A pattern so heavy that if it continues at this rate for another three years all those gated communities and houses may find their gates on the street. Bullshit arseholes.
This worried me though “The puzzle is why someone who handled the Pike River mine disaster and the Christchurch earthquakes with aplomb is tripping up on something trivial in comparison.”. It’s obvious what the problem is, this is about Key and, egomaniacal sociopath that he is, can’t cope with criticism or looking bad,
I saw a big long interview with Key in the paper sometime during the world cup, didn’t read it but glanced at a little of it. In it he said that he came very close to resigning as PM after the Feb 22nd quake, when on that night or the next day he said something like 90 people were dead, when there was no actual evidence for it at the time. Subsequent events eclipsed his statement so he was ok, but he said that if it turned out he was wrong, that he would have resigned.
That doesn’t seem like he “handled [it] with aplomb” to me. He was making shit up as he went along and managed to get away with it.
See also: “money is no object”, and yet the bodies are still down there.
The problem is that all those business leaders are castigating National and Key for not doing the slash and burn through NZ society, for their convenience of profit.
New Plymouth’s history as a litmus test on election day looks set to continue.
In a surprise result after last night’s Taranaki Daily News candidate debate, an exit poll of those attending gave Labour’s Andrew Little a resounding thumbs-up for his performance.
TV3′s political editor, Duncan Garner, has been on Firstline describing how the prime minister he knew has changed. It’s like I don’t even know him any more, he almost says. Will they air the tapes? “Where we stand is this: we are reviewing our decisions daily. We understand the law, and this stage we have decided not to run the tapes. But of course there’s today and tomrorow and Saturday and Sunday, so we will just see. I mean the level of public interest has really become quite immense … There are some legitimate questions here … Yes, John Key is trying to create a wedge between the public and the media, so people don’t like the media, but I think there’s enough public interest in these tapes now to come out.”
And on Banks? “I believe John Banks is now misleading the New Zealand public.”
The fickleness of fame
Has left Liar Key very lame
While he ducks now for cover
Its the Media which once loved him is to blame
A lot of pain for a man so vain
This is clip with Garner. He also says that an invitation for Key to appear on the Nation to talk about the big issues stands – but that Key will no doubt be a no show.
The media are looking out for themselves as they always do.
While I welcome the newfound criticism of Shonkeys duck and dive, I cannot purge my mind of the weeks and weeks of duplicity from some members of the press and branches of the MSM. What is certain is that in the eyes of many this debacle ‘proves’ that the MSM is not biased – well I am not convinced. Instead I will be taking a different realization from these recent events – I believe that the MSM and it’s owners are actually quite sensitive to accusations of complicity. The Herald for example had been doing a rather poor job of countering accusations of bias, relying on ‘letters’ to the editor to argue their innocence.
One only has to contemplate the ramifications of a controlled and contrived MSM and the implications on democracy to realize that if a case is made against one then the evidence damns both. The media has chosen to sacrifice the credibility of Shonkey rather than loose their own. Should they be applauded for that?
A much larger game is being played here – the publics perception of a free press is necessary prerequisite for the MSM to have any influence.
My guess is that this recent fiasco was intended to reassure people that the Media did not exhibit favoritism towards the Nats but unintentionally has gone too far, actually damaging brand Shonkey.
The meaningless sound bites uttered by our so called PM are becoming so weird sounding an repetitive that i’m sure that a parrot could inject more human emotion into the words – but still the MSM records and rebroadcasts them with nary a mention or a challenge in regard to this peculiar affectation – people don’t speak like that. It needs to be challenged.
Garner seems genuinely surprised. From the above clip just prior to the invitation:
” . . . I’ve never seen him like this to be honest, when we’ve asked questions in the past
the access has always been good, he’s always been pretty upfront, in my view, started to lose it a bit a few weeks ago ’round Standard and Poors and the credit downgrade and since then I think we’re starting to see the changing face of the Prime Minister and that’s what you see with stress.”
You’ve seen the Ed Miliband clip these strikes are wrong that is the perfect example of politicians as spammers? It is also makes clear that yesterday’s stunt by Key was managed by the same type of PR ‘gurus’
the debate last night highlighted some interesting aspects
Hone is a rangatira, a leader and what’s more he stays on message and that message is all about the poor and disadvantaged in our society. Sure some will still not like him but others will be realising the spin that they have accepted about hone is just not the reality. Anyone serious about advancing social justice and equality issues must surely now be considering a Mana Party vote and if so – do it!
I can understand the affection still between tariana and hone – I feel it too – when I watch tariana I feel like I’m watching a auntie, a relly, kin. I am hopeful that the two parties can sort it out after the vote – they will, but the tuākana/taina relationship may not be as expected.
The SPLC winter edition with articles about the hate groups gathering in Montana, the American Family Association’s hate and the resurgence of the neo-confederates.
And now Labour release the Letterman Top Ten list Key didn’t read out on the show:
LABOUR’S LATEST TOP TEN – NATIONAL’S BROKEN PROMISES
1. GST was increased to 15 per cent.
2. The wage gap with Australia has increased by $32 a week.
3. 100,000 New Zealanders have left for Australia.
4. Budget 2011 cut over $400 million from Working for Families by reducing payments through changing abatement rates and thresholds.
5. National is already spending the money from their partial asset sales policy and Treasury has already hired an Australian investment banking firm as an adviser on the asset sales.
6. The underclass has grown with 32,000 more children living in benefit dependent households over the past three years.
7. National passed legislation that halved the KiwiSaver member tax credit in year starting 1 July 2011.
8. Only a fraction of the jobs promised from the national cycleway have materialised.
9. Early Childhood Education subsidies were changed.
10. The 2010 ”tax switch” has not been fiscally neutral, as promised.
However this should have been on boards and on tv for the past month. These kind of facts haven’t been presented to the public in a n effective way and I fear there is now not enough time for them to sink in.
Memorise this list people and remind your mates of theses facts before they vote next week.
Election issues….dictatorship in Canterbury. Remember Key and crew taking over ECAN with a commissioner????? All powerful and ready to go and gift whatever to the vested interests?
Talking to a buddy today he told me that the Conservation Order on the Rakaia was in Madam Bazleys (the Commisioner) hands and that submissions close tomorrow. He basically reckoned (and I dont doubt he is going to be proven correct) that the existing Conservation order would be overturned and water extraction below current minimum flows would be allowed 20 days per year. This is all in favour of providing dairy farmers water on dry country.
The powers given Bazley cannot be challenged, it is a dictatorship. That is the real nature of Nacts approach to the environment.
For the record the downstream effects: higher groundwater pollution in the Selwyn catchment, and the further endangering of a very rare bird that lives on the Rakaia river bed (wrybill plover), stuffing up the river as a fishery. Its a great example of power and money driving environmental destruction and species extinction. All for a few more cows.
I have given up on the Canterbury Plains. This is now a highly developed and barren wasteland industrial zone. Quite why farmers think how lovely it is working in the natural environment I do not know. Go into the mid-Plains and there aint a single drop of nature – it is all foreign grasses, no native bush, polluted groundwater (Dunsandel water supply now requires treatment courtesy of Hubbard’s cows next door), metallic irrigation machinery, roads, houses and hedges of gorse and gum tree.
It is a wasteland. As is, in fact, most of NZ’s countryside courtesy of our farming sector who have had to totally wreck the natural environment in order for them to make more and more money.
It is the great shame.
And yep, the Ecan dicactorship is pure evil. Sent in to do a job. The job is being done. The Canterbury Plains are all over. It’s fucked.
Actually I laughed like crazy at people who were describing the Rena oil spills in the BoP as NZs biggest environmental disaster, and all the media focus it got. I told them to go to Lake Ellesmere and have a good hard look. I should have said Canterbury, or Manawatu etc etc. You are so right, its fucked.
while I agree re: water quality etc, I’ve never understood the fixation on “native” vs “exotic” plants. Yes, native species needs to be preserved and NZ is the best/only place to preserve them, but gorse and oak and pine etc are just as nice (it’s just a pity some types have a tendency to crowd out everything else).
My issue is more that in a garden or a field apparently native species are “good”, but imported species are “bad” (regardless of noxious status in the area). I just don’t get it. Oak is just as nice a pohutakawa
Mr McFlock my point was about the wholesale destruction of the NZ biosphere so more and more money can be made from farming (which we all bear responsibility for given its 100 year timeframe). One-off trees, sure, oaks and willows are lovely jubbly but they don’t even come close to thousands of square kilometres of NZ goodness.
Good luck in trying to replace the entire flora and fauna using oak trees and cuckoos …..
My point is perhaps assisted by explanation. I sometimes head out to bays and beaches on Banks Peninsula (lordy I give away so much personal info someone’s going to spring me one day) and they are generally completely devastated. Nearly all surface area is bare foreign grassland. Now, imagine if these bays were still resplendent in the full regalia of untouched aotearoan wilderness. And then multiply that across the country. Much of NZ’s biospehere has been wiped out in order to support a few uneconomic sheep. May have seemed the right thing to do at the time but in hindsight no way.
And this entire outlook imo applies, or rather should apply, to the current continuing biospherical destruction of the Canterbury Plains and its rivers for what will, after the boom, be uneconomic moo cows. We are just eating it up for no genuine benefit. The Canterbury Plains is the country’s largest industrial zone. Check it out. Drive down the roads. Try walking across the paddocks. You will get no sense of nature but you will get a sense of industrial food production and an environment laid to waste.
what is wrong with grassland or tussock?
You’ll get no argument about the quality of the waterways, or the use of fossil hydrocarbons to make fertilizers. But green fields are just as nice as a bit of bush.
But green fields are just as nice as a bit of bush.
No, they aren’t. Bush has far more boo-diversity in it and is thus much nicer. Then there’s the fact that bush is the natural filter that keeps the streams and rivers clean.
Excuse me for disagreeing but there aint no comparison between large scale grass from the northern hemisphere and large scale full blown virgin NZ bush. In both quantity and quality terms. When the first peoples (white and brown) made it to these shores the dawn chorus of birdsong each and every morning was apparently deafening. You know, so loud that you had to yell to hear yourself speak. So imagine the birdlife, for one part, that would abound in, say a 500ha patch of dirt. Now, walk into a 500ha grass paddock. See the difference? And that is even before starting on the giant kauir, matai, rimu, etc and on it goes and goes and goes…
I would hazard a guess that the bio life in a grass paddock would be less than 1% of the bio life in a wilderness bush.
I am not addressing the obvious follow question – namely, what would NZ have done if it had not farmed, but I’m sure the people would not have starved. I am merely painting a picture of background to provide some context for the destruction being wrought on the Canterbury Plains.
well what about the high country tussock lands, e.g. central otago?
Although I will say that part of keeping the rivers clean with farming going on is planting tree and wetlands along the edges – and willows seem to do quite nicely for that.
Actually I laughed like crazy at people who were describing the Rena oil spills in the BoP as NZs biggest environmental disaster, and all the media focus it got.
Well, I didn’t laugh at the assertion but I did question it. Our biggest environmental disaster is farming.
The Great Earth Monster lurking under Christchurch just shat its pants again seemingly right under our house. Aint had a good rattle like that for a while. What a drainer this ongoing shaking is ……….
If Key really wants to declare war on something then how about this mega-sized monster?
As you might be aware, the Jackal has been running a weekly asshole award. Recipients of this prestigious award are automatically nominated for something you’ve all been waiting for…
Winston to reveal teapot tape contents at 2pm meeting in Invercargill but as David slack tweets “A reminder to listeners: Peters recited most of War and Peace before his Nats coalition announcement. Make yourselves comfortable.”
Fossil-fuel consumers worldwide received about six times more government subsidies than were given to the renewable-energy industry, according to the chief adviser to oil-importing nations.
I was staggered to hear on TV3, John Key say that while he was ‘not entirely unhappy’ with MMP he intended to vote for change because while he likes proportionality he ‘slightly prefers the characteristics of Supplementary Member’ (SM).
Those last two statements are mutually exclusive, of course, because SM is not classed as a proportional representation electoral system. Key cannot have it both ways.
So, Jonkey has finally admitted that he wants to go back to the same failed system that we got rid of 20 years ago.
NewstalkZB’s ridiculous “Huddle” goes from dismal to rock-bottom
Thursday 17 November 2011
Larry Williams’ abysmal Drivetime programme is notorious for its extreme views and its lack of intelligent debate. Tonight, though, it’s sunk lower than it ever has before. Joining Williams tonight is not only Bill Ralston, but Leighton “ummmm, Errrr, Ahhhhh” Smith.
NewstalkZB has obviously dispensed with the idea of intelligent debate.
With the appointment of Smith to the Huddle, the NewstalkZB “Fair and Balanced” slogan (stolen from the equally ludicrous Fox News) looks more absurd than it ever did.
WTF!!! There’s me out delivering Labour pamphlets (as a favour to a mate since I’m voting Green) all chuffed about John Key making a twat of himself, turn on the news and . . . this!! Tell me its a blip!
Both major parties are falling as support goes to minor. In the 3 News poll the Nats are at their lowest since they were elected. It’s usual and expected for major parties to fall and minors to rise at this stage – don’t panic!
Herald Poll was out of kilter with all other major reliable polls last time…so it will be interesting. when it was showing 49% for nats, the ROy Morgan, 3News Poll, One news poll and the Fairfacpoll all had Nats at 53-54% They did however have Labs trending Down like all other polls.
I hope you are right, as I am utterly downcast and conflicted after seeing this last round of polls. Conflicted because Labour candidates appear to be doing well in particular places – Andrew Little for instance, and Jacinda Adern, while the polls remain roughly the same. Where are the teachers, the sacked and threatened-with-the-boot public servants,etc? Downcast because I do not think I can stand another three years of this duplicitous circus.
Perhaps the election will deliver a different result from what the polls are telling us, as happened with Len Brown. But given our large private debt, perhaps a lot of New Zealanders feel OK about feeding the poor to the minotaur so long as they themselves are left alone and their property retains its value.
no one is “lying”….clearly you dont keep up with the polls…they are never 100% agreeable. what they BOTH show is the trend for Labour is DOWN…not Up as you might expect by this timeof the election cycle.
Soon people will get over their Key-derangement syndrome….but at the rate Labour are going they will learn too late that people hate nasty petty gutter politics.
I believe that is why the greens are up so much…they focus on policy and dont turn nasty like the Labs have (do).
Interesting, National will not govern alone. Voters do not like their asset sales policy, this coupled with Key’s meltdown will ensure this.
Also Labour will not be decimated.
Private Prisons, An awesome profit making Opportunity:-
Prisoners held in this remote facility depend on the prison’s phones to communicate with their lawyers and loved ones. Exploiting inmates’ need, CCA charges detainees here $5 per minute to make phone calls. Yet the prison only pays inmates who work at the facility $1 a day. At that rate, it would take five days to pay for just one minute.
So, why is NAct so interested in putting them in place in NZ when they’ve already been proven to be more expensive government run prisons?
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In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
A poem by Wellington writer Tayi Tibble.Hoki Mai She kisses him goodbye with her eyes still wet and alight from their last swim in the Awatere river. At the train station celebration, she leads the Kapa Haka but her voice keeps breaking under and over itself like waves. ...
A poem from Bill Manhire’s 2017 book of verse Some Things to Place in a Coffin.My World War I Poem Inside each trench, the sound of prayer. Inside each prayer, the sound of digging. Image courtesy of Auckland War Memorial Museum. ...
There are three books I have wolfed down in one sitting over the last two years. Colleen Maria Lenihan’s gorgeous and sad debut Kōhine, Noelle McCarthy’s memoir Grand about becoming her mother and then unbecoming her, and now Hine Toa, a staunch yet gentle self-portrait by living legend Ngāhuia te ...
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Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University laurello/Shutterstock Some reports and popular books, such as Bill Gammage’s Biggest Estate on Earth, have argued that extensive areas of Australia’s forests were kept open through frequent burning by ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon framing the demotion of two ministers as the portfolios getting "too complex" is a charitable way of saying they weren't up to the job. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As ...
Analysis: Melissa Lee has lost the media portfolio and her spot in Cabinet after multiple failed attempts to find solutions for a media industry in crisis. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced Lee would be losing her spot in Cabinet along with her media and communications ministerial portfolio. The job ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Wilmot, Senior Lecturer, Film, Deakin University Among the many Australian who served during the second world war, there is a small group of people whose stories remain largely untold. These are the Muslim men and women who, while small in number, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Saunders, PhD Candidate, University of Canberra There has been much analysis and praise of Justice Michael Lee’s recent judgement in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Channel Ten. Many people were openly relieved to read Lee’s “forensic” and “nuanced” application of law ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathy Gibbs, Program Director for the Bachelor of Education, Griffith University zEdward_Indy/Shutterstock Around one in 20 people has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It’s one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and often continues into adulthood. ADHD is diagnosed ...
The Fairer Future coalition of anti-poverty groups say Whaikaha must be properly funded going forward, and that to argue that poor financial management of the new Ministry is a red herring by the Prime Minister. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is today congratulating Hon. Paul Goldsmith on his appointment as Minister for Media and Communications and urges him to rule out state intervention in the private media sector. ...
Asia Pacific Report The West Papuan resistance OPM leader has condemned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden, accusing their countries of “six decades of treachery” over Papuan independence. The open letter was released today by OPM chairman Jeffrey P Bomanak on the eve of ANZAC Day ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits and quirks of New Zealanders at large. This week: writer and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2024, Lauren Groff.The book I wish I’d writtenIf I wish I’d written a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Fechner, Research Fellow, Social Marketing, Griffith University mavo/Shutterstock Imagine having dinner at a restaurant. The menu offers plant-based meat alternatives made mostly from vegetables, mushrooms, legumes and wheat that mimic meat in taste, texture and smell. Despite being given that ...
“Three Strikes is a dead-end policy proposed by a dead-end government. The Three Strikes law ignores the causes of crime, instead just brutalising people already crushed by the cost of living.” ...
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist An Australian-born judge in Kiribati could well face deportation later this week after a tribunal ruling that he should be removed from his post. The tribunal’s report has just been tabled in the Kiribati Parliament and is due to be debated by MPs ...
With its clear mandate for police use, political nuances, and nuanced public trust, Denmark's insights provide valuable considerations for Australia and New Zealand. ...
Books editor Claire Mabey reviews poet Louise Wallace’s debut novel. A famous poet once said to me that he’s always suspicious when a poet publishes a novel. I never really understood why but maybe it’s something to do with cheating on your first form. Louise Wallace is a poet. She’s ...
For a few months at the turn of the millennium, TrueBliss burned bright as the biggest pop stars in the country. Alex Casey chats to two superfans who still hold the flame. During a humble backyard wedding in Nelson, 1999, one of the cordially invited guests had to excuse themselves ...
How will the recent wave of job cuts impact ethnic diversity in the media? In November last year, I was working a very busy day in the newsroom of a large online news site, interviewing whānau about their concerns over the imminent closure of one of the few puna reo ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruth Knight, Researcher, Queensland University of Technology Have you ever felt sick at work? Perhaps you had food poisoning or the flu. Your belly hurt, or you felt tired, making it hard to concentrate and be productive. How likely would you be ...
Despite heavy criticism and an ongoing select committee process, the Police Minister says the Government will forge ahead with a ban on gang patches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Whiting, Lecturer – Creative Industries, University of South Australia Shutterstock Everyone has a favourite band, or a favourite composer, or a favourite song. There is some music which speaks to you, deeply; and other music which might be the current ...
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http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/5981284/MPs-get-pay-rise-package-of-7000
If one of the Parties had a social conscience they would be smart and pool all their members ‘pay raises’ and donate it to charity or simply return it to the people of NZ. A token yes, but one with value.
It is long accepted by many that the pay rates for MPs has gotten well out of hand and i am sorry but $400,000 to have the honour of being your country’s Prime Minister is more than sufficient.
If you want to earn big bucks go work in the private sector.
If you want to serve your country why should it matter what the private sector are paying?
p.s. you will also notice comments are not turned on for this article.
I also notice they’re not turned on for this bit of National propaganda from Stuff:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5982733/Labours-new-ad-short-on-facts-Joyce
So let me get this straight: Instead of actually looking at the information presented in Labour’s ad, determining the depth of truth and then putting questions to the National Party, Danya Levy asked “Do you agree?” to which the predictable response is “No” from Steven Joyce. (Then they wrap Joyce’s response as the headline – I notice the headline as written on the main page is “Labour’s new ad ‘short on facts'” without quoting the source of that comment. Interesting.)
Surely if there was an ounce of journalism in this, they would have at least investigated whether Labour’s claims were fact and presented them to Joyce in a robust way, rather than just phoning him up and saying “hey give us something to write to make you look good.”
The media in this country let us down something remarkable – especially FairFax.
If anyone wants to see how to do proper political journalism, watch practically any interview done by Stephen Sackur of the BBC. The John Key HardTalk interview is a good start.
Fairfax has also shown bias in its handling of recent Labour advertising in Auckland. At some expense Labour has purchased the footer on the front page of all of the Fairfax owned Suburban Newspapers. In at least three of these papers the same piece of “editorial” by John Key about Surf Lifesaving is placed immediately above the Labour ad on the front page. There is no promoter statement and stating Key’s support for surf lifesaving is the sort of copy money normally cannot buy. It reads like something his PR department wrote.
I have blogged about it here.
I cannot believe how appallingly bad this is. I hope Labour demands its money back.
It’s beyond ridiculous, and it surprises me how few people actually notice the bias until someone points it out, loud and clear.
Speaking of which, Neil Watts does some excellent analysis of the FairFax bias over at http://fearfactsexposed.wordpress.com/
That’s pretty shite.
Why are they publishing what is obviously a PR piece by the PM anyway? Is it being included in his party’s election spend?
addendum: Stuff have now switched comments on
I agree with the Alliance. All MPs should get the same rate and that rate should be the same as what teachers get paid.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/5981284/MPs-get-pay-rise-package-of-7000
richard # 10 threw in a very interesting bunch of questions
“Richard #10 08:44 am Nov 17 2011
‘Opposition Leader’ is an interesting concept these days. Do all opposition party leaders get that, or just the leader of the biggest one? Does signing a coalition agreement cost you the bonus? A memorandum of understanding? And what if the opposition party has co-leaders – do they all get it, or have to split the difference from the backbencher salary?”
can any of the experts out there offer any clarity for the befuddled masses?
National circus versus good old fashioned election meetings going strong in Dunedin.
Now you’ll be greasing up labour supporters and not the hair piece
Yesterday I was on the Vinny Eastwood show and had the chance to ask one of my heroes some questions about the international finance world and John Key.
Gordon Duff is the senior editor of Veterans today, an online publication which dwarfs many conventional media outlets and has millions of followers and which addresses many controversial issues such as international finance and banking corruption (Gordon Duff has been in the banking business and is a whistleblower) 911 and the ongoing criminal wars. Here is what he had to say and about 20 minutes in hear what he has to say about John Key. the total interview is about 1:25.
Added to that here is a copy of an email exchange I had with Gordon Duff after the show:
Hi Gordon,
I was on Vinnies show with you and that more or less cancels out the previous email I send you.
I am left with one question with regards to our National debt. When John Key took power we were in the plus. No huge debt. Now three years later we are $ 40 billion (only four million people here) in debt. Does this mean that John Key just made a fortune for his former bosses?
His answer:
The “off the books debt” he is referring to is the tactic of keeping risky financial investments out of the normal day to day bookkeeping such as this example but when they collapse into no value at all try to get them reinbursed dollar for dollar from the taxpayer.
Interesting interview.
Shame the presenter is a bit of a tool.
All you politicians out there bank the yearly pay rise, while workers lose jobs and get told to take 25% pay cuts at Marton meatworks.
Fletchers, the largest construction outfit in the country and responsible for Chch rebuild, fires loads of workers due to the downturn, while Fletchers directors pocket increased pay packets of $500,000.
National govt cuts funding to DOC and increases funding to the Mining dept.
National govt sells the people’s power stations and gives the money to farmers for irrigation.
National govt increases taxes on the poor and gives tax breaks to the rich.
.
.
.
can anyone see a pattern here? A pattern so heavy that if it continues at this rate for another three years all those gated communities and houses may find their gates on the street. Bullshit arseholes.
and the biggest shareholder in Fletchers is……
Total Number of Shares: 680739504 Extensive Shareholding:Yes
Allocation 1: 296215920 shares
NEW ZEALAND CENTRAL SECURITIES DEPOSITORY LIMITED
2 The Terrace, Wellington ,
National must really be losing control, if they are even losing control of Armstrong
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10766622
This worried me though “The puzzle is why someone who handled the Pike River mine disaster and the Christchurch earthquakes with aplomb is tripping up on something trivial in comparison.”. It’s obvious what the problem is, this is about Key and, egomaniacal sociopath that he is, can’t cope with criticism or looking bad,
I saw a big long interview with Key in the paper sometime during the world cup, didn’t read it but glanced at a little of it. In it he said that he came very close to resigning as PM after the Feb 22nd quake, when on that night or the next day he said something like 90 people were dead, when there was no actual evidence for it at the time. Subsequent events eclipsed his statement so he was ok, but he said that if it turned out he was wrong, that he would have resigned.
That doesn’t seem like he “handled [it] with aplomb” to me. He was making shit up as he went along and managed to get away with it.
See also: “money is no object”, and yet the bodies are still down there.
Welcome to the socialist society of big business CEOs.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10766423
And that piece links to 80 ‘business leaders’ muttering vague dis-satisfaction under the heading ‘Party Time Over Prime Minister’.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10766493
Something ain’t gelling 🙂
The problem is that all those business leaders are castigating National and Key for not doing the slash and burn through NZ society, for their convenience of profit.
Note that the article does not say when the survey was conducted.
Little getting favourable coverage:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/campaign-trail/5981888/Labours-Little-in-poll-jolt
Steven Joyce pipes up
After largely remaining silent during the election campaign, Steven Joyce has finally piped up and made a press release on National’s website today…
Yet another odd twist to the ACT saga today with Boscawen indicating an about-face to his retirement.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/election-2011/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503012&objectid=10766591
Maybe there will be another cuppa in Tamaki, given how well the first one worked.
Lol!
Reading this the theme tune to Prisoner kept popping into my head (swapping inside for outside):
http://www.listener.co.nz/nz-election-2011-live/thursday-17-november-what-really-matters/
TV3′s political editor, Duncan Garner, has been on Firstline describing how the prime minister he knew has changed. It’s like I don’t even know him any more, he almost says. Will they air the tapes? “Where we stand is this: we are reviewing our decisions daily. We understand the law, and this stage we have decided not to run the tapes. But of course there’s today and tomrorow and Saturday and Sunday, so we will just see. I mean the level of public interest has really become quite immense … There are some legitimate questions here … Yes, John Key is trying to create a wedge between the public and the media, so people don’t like the media, but I think there’s enough public interest in these tapes now to come out.”
And on Banks? “I believe John Banks is now misleading the New Zealand public.”
The fickleness of fame
Has left Liar Key very lame
While he ducks now for cover
Its the Media which once loved him is to blame
A lot of pain for a man so vain
He used to buy me rosé,
I wish he would again.
But I was on the inside,
And things were different then
http://www.3news.co.nz/VIDEO-Duncan-Garner-on-the-teapot-tapes/tabid/370/articleID/233018/Default.aspx
This is clip with Garner. He also says that an invitation for Key to appear on the Nation to talk about the big issues stands – but that Key will no doubt be a no show.
Wow.
Nice for a change to see Key now screwing the media.
Maybe the media might now develop a tinge of empathy for Key and Warner Bros?
/sarc
The media are looking out for themselves as they always do.
While I welcome the newfound criticism of Shonkeys duck and dive, I cannot purge my mind of the weeks and weeks of duplicity from some members of the press and branches of the MSM. What is certain is that in the eyes of many this debacle ‘proves’ that the MSM is not biased – well I am not convinced. Instead I will be taking a different realization from these recent events – I believe that the MSM and it’s owners are actually quite sensitive to accusations of complicity. The Herald for example had been doing a rather poor job of countering accusations of bias, relying on ‘letters’ to the editor to argue their innocence.
One only has to contemplate the ramifications of a controlled and contrived MSM and the implications on democracy to realize that if a case is made against one then the evidence damns both. The media has chosen to sacrifice the credibility of Shonkey rather than loose their own. Should they be applauded for that?
A much larger game is being played here – the publics perception of a free press is necessary prerequisite for the MSM to have any influence.
My guess is that this recent fiasco was intended to reassure people that the Media did not exhibit favoritism towards the Nats but unintentionally has gone too far, actually damaging brand Shonkey.
The meaningless sound bites uttered by our so called PM are becoming so weird sounding an repetitive that i’m sure that a parrot could inject more human emotion into the words – but still the MSM records and rebroadcasts them with nary a mention or a challenge in regard to this peculiar affectation – people don’t speak like that. It needs to be challenged.
Some intersting points there worth thinking about, Campbell. Think we will get a better idea as things play out.
And, having five parrots, I agree re your comments about them!
Garner seems genuinely surprised. From the above clip just prior to the invitation:
” . . . I’ve never seen him like this to be honest, when we’ve asked questions in the past
the access has always been good, he’s always been pretty upfront, in my view, started to lose it a bit a few weeks ago ’round Standard and Poors and the credit downgrade and since then I think we’re starting to see the changing face of the Prime Minister and that’s what you see with stress.”
LOL
Politicians as spammers
You’re not talking to a human being; you’re talking to a pre-programmed spambot wearing a meat-puppet.
You’ve seen the Ed Miliband clip these strikes are wrong that is the perfect example of politicians as spammers? It is also makes clear that yesterday’s stunt by Key was managed by the same type of PR ‘gurus’
the debate last night highlighted some interesting aspects
Hone is a rangatira, a leader and what’s more he stays on message and that message is all about the poor and disadvantaged in our society. Sure some will still not like him but others will be realising the spin that they have accepted about hone is just not the reality. Anyone serious about advancing social justice and equality issues must surely now be considering a Mana Party vote and if so – do it!
I can understand the affection still between tariana and hone – I feel it too – when I watch tariana I feel like I’m watching a auntie, a relly, kin. I am hopeful that the two parties can sort it out after the vote – they will, but the tuākana/taina relationship may not be as expected.
Key’s strategy of pissing off the media takes a new turn with the Police demanding 4 news organisations dob in their sources for the tea tape stories.
Oh well if that doesn’t work out maybe the filth could try contacting blubber blog’s “Snitchline” kiwi curtain twitchers club.
Blubber boy poses.
The SPLC winter edition with articles about the hate groups gathering in Montana, the American Family Association’s hate and the resurgence of the neo-confederates.
And now Labour release the Letterman Top Ten list Key didn’t read out on the show:
LABOUR’S LATEST TOP TEN – NATIONAL’S BROKEN PROMISES
1. GST was increased to 15 per cent.
2. The wage gap with Australia has increased by $32 a week.
3. 100,000 New Zealanders have left for Australia.
4. Budget 2011 cut over $400 million from Working for Families by reducing payments through changing abatement rates and thresholds.
5. National is already spending the money from their partial asset sales policy and Treasury has already hired an Australian investment banking firm as an adviser on the asset sales.
6. The underclass has grown with 32,000 more children living in benefit dependent households over the past three years.
7. National passed legislation that halved the KiwiSaver member tax credit in year starting 1 July 2011.
8. Only a fraction of the jobs promised from the national cycleway have materialised.
9. Early Childhood Education subsidies were changed.
10. The 2010 ”tax switch” has not been fiscally neutral, as promised.
Brilliant List
However this should have been on boards and on tv for the past month. These kind of facts haven’t been presented to the public in a n effective way and I fear there is now not enough time for them to sink in.
Memorise this list people and remind your mates of theses facts before they vote next week.
Election issues….dictatorship in Canterbury. Remember Key and crew taking over ECAN with a commissioner????? All powerful and ready to go and gift whatever to the vested interests?
Talking to a buddy today he told me that the Conservation Order on the Rakaia was in Madam Bazleys (the Commisioner) hands and that submissions close tomorrow. He basically reckoned (and I dont doubt he is going to be proven correct) that the existing Conservation order would be overturned and water extraction below current minimum flows would be allowed 20 days per year. This is all in favour of providing dairy farmers water on dry country.
The powers given Bazley cannot be challenged, it is a dictatorship. That is the real nature of Nacts approach to the environment.
For the record the downstream effects: higher groundwater pollution in the Selwyn catchment, and the further endangering of a very rare bird that lives on the Rakaia river bed (wrybill plover), stuffing up the river as a fishery. Its a great example of power and money driving environmental destruction and species extinction. All for a few more cows.
I have given up on the Canterbury Plains. This is now a highly developed and barren wasteland industrial zone. Quite why farmers think how lovely it is working in the natural environment I do not know. Go into the mid-Plains and there aint a single drop of nature – it is all foreign grasses, no native bush, polluted groundwater (Dunsandel water supply now requires treatment courtesy of Hubbard’s cows next door), metallic irrigation machinery, roads, houses and hedges of gorse and gum tree.
It is a wasteland. As is, in fact, most of NZ’s countryside courtesy of our farming sector who have had to totally wreck the natural environment in order for them to make more and more money.
It is the great shame.
And yep, the Ecan dicactorship is pure evil. Sent in to do a job. The job is being done. The Canterbury Plains are all over. It’s fucked.
Actually I laughed like crazy at people who were describing the Rena oil spills in the BoP as NZs biggest environmental disaster, and all the media focus it got. I told them to go to Lake Ellesmere and have a good hard look. I should have said Canterbury, or Manawatu etc etc. You are so right, its fucked.
while I agree re: water quality etc, I’ve never understood the fixation on “native” vs “exotic” plants. Yes, native species needs to be preserved and NZ is the best/only place to preserve them, but gorse and oak and pine etc are just as nice (it’s just a pity some types have a tendency to crowd out everything else).
Which is why they’re a problem – that crowding out destroys the native plants.
My issue is more that in a garden or a field apparently native species are “good”, but imported species are “bad” (regardless of noxious status in the area). I just don’t get it. Oak is just as nice a pohutakawa
Mr McFlock my point was about the wholesale destruction of the NZ biosphere so more and more money can be made from farming (which we all bear responsibility for given its 100 year timeframe). One-off trees, sure, oaks and willows are lovely jubbly but they don’t even come close to thousands of square kilometres of NZ goodness.
Good luck in trying to replace the entire flora and fauna using oak trees and cuckoos …..
My point is perhaps assisted by explanation. I sometimes head out to bays and beaches on Banks Peninsula (lordy I give away so much personal info someone’s going to spring me one day) and they are generally completely devastated. Nearly all surface area is bare foreign grassland. Now, imagine if these bays were still resplendent in the full regalia of untouched aotearoan wilderness. And then multiply that across the country. Much of NZ’s biospehere has been wiped out in order to support a few uneconomic sheep. May have seemed the right thing to do at the time but in hindsight no way.
And this entire outlook imo applies, or rather should apply, to the current continuing biospherical destruction of the Canterbury Plains and its rivers for what will, after the boom, be uneconomic moo cows. We are just eating it up for no genuine benefit. The Canterbury Plains is the country’s largest industrial zone. Check it out. Drive down the roads. Try walking across the paddocks. You will get no sense of nature but you will get a sense of industrial food production and an environment laid to waste.
That’s why I say it’s fucked.
what is wrong with grassland or tussock?
You’ll get no argument about the quality of the waterways, or the use of fossil hydrocarbons to make fertilizers. But green fields are just as nice as a bit of bush.
No, they aren’t. Bush has far more boo-diversity in it and is thus much nicer. Then there’s the fact that bush is the natural filter that keeps the streams and rivers clean.
Excuse me for disagreeing but there aint no comparison between large scale grass from the northern hemisphere and large scale full blown virgin NZ bush. In both quantity and quality terms. When the first peoples (white and brown) made it to these shores the dawn chorus of birdsong each and every morning was apparently deafening. You know, so loud that you had to yell to hear yourself speak. So imagine the birdlife, for one part, that would abound in, say a 500ha patch of dirt. Now, walk into a 500ha grass paddock. See the difference? And that is even before starting on the giant kauir, matai, rimu, etc and on it goes and goes and goes…
I would hazard a guess that the bio life in a grass paddock would be less than 1% of the bio life in a wilderness bush.
I am not addressing the obvious follow question – namely, what would NZ have done if it had not farmed, but I’m sure the people would not have starved. I am merely painting a picture of background to provide some context for the destruction being wrought on the Canterbury Plains.
well what about the high country tussock lands, e.g. central otago?
Although I will say that part of keeping the rivers clean with farming going on is planting tree and wetlands along the edges – and willows seem to do quite nicely for that.
Well, I didn’t laugh at the assertion but I did question it. Our biggest environmental disaster is farming.
Ohau river not much better m8
Police are executing search warrants on News Media re any evidence to do with the tea party fiasco
Wonder if after this the MSM will be up Keys ass like they are @ the moment or go after the bastard
Mammoth fail DonKey
Fantastic to see the 1% love Key and want votes to go his way!
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10766423
The 99% know what to do next.
Gloria Steinem: ‘I think we need to get much angrier’
The Great Earth Monster lurking under Christchurch just shat its pants again seemingly right under our house. Aint had a good rattle like that for a while. What a drainer this ongoing shaking is ……….
If Key really wants to declare war on something then how about this mega-sized monster?
Hang in there vto. Must call my folks…
so after key called the cops did they discover if there were any clues?
to anything.
As you might be aware, the Jackal has been running a weekly asshole award. Recipients of this prestigious award are automatically nominated for something you’ve all been waiting for…
…without further adiue, here is the coveted Asshole of the Year Award prize giving ceremony.
Hurray!
jeez, more contenders than you can shake a wireless mic at… Good onya.
As of fact John Key’s Parliamentary salary goes to Charity (and always has done).
Yeah, the charity being National’s Waitemata Trust.
you seem so confident Fortran, do you have a shred of proof?
a skerrit of informative data?
or just the PM’s word?
Proof. I want to see receipts here and not just some RWNJs word.
Enjoy that Tui Beer Fortran.
Winston to reveal teapot tape contents at 2pm meeting in Invercargill but as David slack tweets “A reminder to listeners: Peters recited most of War and Peace before his Nats coalition announcement. Make yourselves comfortable.”
2.28pm: Winston Peters disappoints listeners and reveals nothing.
Typical Winston!
Fact du jour, fossil fuel subsidies: Six Times More Than Renewable Energy
Fossil-fuel consumers worldwide received about six times more government subsidies than were given to the renewable-energy industry, according to the chief adviser to oil-importing nations.
Jon Johansson: Key cannot have it both ways
So, Jonkey has finally admitted that he wants to go back to the same failed system that we got rid of 20 years ago.
NewstalkZB’s ridiculous “Huddle” goes from dismal to rock-bottom
Thursday 17 November 2011
Larry Williams’ abysmal Drivetime programme is notorious for its extreme views and its lack of intelligent debate. Tonight, though, it’s sunk lower than it ever has before. Joining Williams tonight is not only Bill Ralston, but Leighton “ummmm, Errrr, Ahhhhh” Smith.
NewstalkZB has obviously dispensed with the idea of intelligent debate.
With the appointment of Smith to the Huddle, the NewstalkZB “Fair and Balanced” slogan (stolen from the equally ludicrous Fox News) looks more absurd than it ever did.
Labour hits ten year low in latest poll
WTF!!! There’s me out delivering Labour pamphlets (as a favour to a mate since I’m voting Green) all chuffed about John Key making a twat of himself, turn on the news and . . . this!! Tell me its a blip!
Both major parties are falling as support goes to minor. In the 3 News poll the Nats are at their lowest since they were elected. It’s usual and expected for major parties to fall and minors to rise at this stage – don’t panic!
Also – Herald Digipol tomorrow may be better.
Herald Poll was out of kilter with all other major reliable polls last time…so it will be interesting. when it was showing 49% for nats, the ROy Morgan, 3News Poll, One news poll and the Fairfacpoll all had Nats at 53-54% They did however have Labs trending Down like all other polls.
Its a blip …
; )
Whew! Thanks fellas.
I hope you are right, as I am utterly downcast and conflicted after seeing this last round of polls. Conflicted because Labour candidates appear to be doing well in particular places – Andrew Little for instance, and Jacinda Adern, while the polls remain roughly the same. Where are the teachers, the sacked and threatened-with-the-boot public servants,etc? Downcast because I do not think I can stand another three years of this duplicitous circus.
Perhaps the election will deliver a different result from what the polls are telling us, as happened with Len Brown. But given our large private debt, perhaps a lot of New Zealanders feel OK about feeding the poor to the minotaur so long as they themselves are left alone and their property retains its value.
tvone – Guyonasslicker– said Labour on 26%
tv3-Garner– 27.5%
err whose lying here??
was great to see Key basically ignored by the workers in Whangerei hahahahahah
no one is “lying”….clearly you dont keep up with the polls…they are never 100% agreeable. what they BOTH show is the trend for Labour is DOWN…not Up as you might expect by this timeof the election cycle.
Oh….what a shame…no bump for Labour in the polls
http://tvnz.co.nz/election-2011/labour-hits-ten-year-low-in-latest-poll-4548044
and
http://www.3news.co.nz/NZ-First-climb-polls-on-back-of-teapot-tapes/tabid/370/articleID/233104/Default.aspx
Sad really…. NOT.
I can genuinely say i am happy for the greens to be going up. Good on them. They have worked hard to gain in the polls.
At this rate Nats will govern alone.
My prediciton for election:
Nats will govern alone.
Act will just scrape in.
Greens will gainmany MPs.
Labs will be desemated.
Winne the pooh WONT get back in.
Dirty tricks, gutter politics and gutter journalism DONT work:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/polls/5988186/National-maintains-lead-despite-tape-saga
Soon people will get over their Key-derangement syndrome….but at the rate Labour are going they will learn too late that people hate nasty petty gutter politics.
I believe that is why the greens are up so much…they focus on policy and dont turn nasty like the Labs have (do).
Interesting, National will not govern alone. Voters do not like their asset sales policy, this coupled with Key’s meltdown will ensure this.
Also Labour will not be decimated.
So why do you think NAct are using them then?
Private Prisons, An awesome profit making Opportunity:-
So, why is NAct so interested in putting them in place in NZ when they’ve already been proven to be more expensive government run prisons?
Cronyism?
Pictures from Epsom candidates’ meeting on 17 Nov.
John Banks (what a fine head of hair!)
http://i39.tinypic.com/2eo8ms2.jpg
Paul Goldsmith (Vote for me!)
http://i44.tinypic.com/kdjszc.jpg