Great ideas. But I hope Marama knows about the rules on treating.
[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.]
[seeing as how there was literally nothing in the post suggesting that Davidson was treating, your comment looks like concern trolling. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt here but suggest more care in future. – weka]
I see no suggestion that Marama was offering food or drink to people while encouraging people to vote. The post makes no mention of it.
I know Auckland Action Against Poverty offer food when providing benefit advocacy outside W&I offices. So maybe that is where the reference to food and drink came from in the post.
Offering food and drink is a normal part of Maaori culture. I’m sure that the Green Party are aware of both the culture and the rules, and have their MP’s act in accordance with both. I’d be very surprised if that was not the case.
Radio NZ has updated their Poll of Polls to include the latest Colmar Brunton.
National 43.7
Labour 35.5
NZ First 9.1
Greens 6.9
TOP 2.4
Māori Party 1.3
ACT 0.5
Almost at the end of the article is an intriguing snippet of info; Curia, who poll for the National Party have stopped providing data to Colin James for this poll.
That is very interesting about Curia not supplying polling data. Could possibly have National even lower than the recent TV polls and don’t want to bring their average down further.
It also ties in with a tweet from Hooten, reported here a few days ago, saying that National’s campaign manager Steven Joyce hadn’t updated his caucus on their internal polling from Curia last Tuesday because, apparently, ‘the data was incomplete’.
Agreed Scott and Devo. Very odd that a party that has trumpeted the polls for the last 9 years is now shutting them down.
If Curia is showing the Nats at 41-42% they will not want that out there. This is perfectly feasible given Colmar Brunton has them at 44% and Swordfish has demonstrated CB’s pro-National bias above.
To get them panicking this much it must show a drop bigger than just to 41-42%. IMO, They’re probably looking at sub 40% and they know damn well that they won’t be in government with that no matter how many seats that they try to give away to get over-hang seats (Wonder if their polling is telling them that giving away seats isn’t working).
And polls lead via the Bandwagon Effect. If the polls show people leaving National in droves more people will leave.
James refers to “the faction-ridden Greens.” Nice, isn’t it – two MPs quit over a dispute with the leadership, rest of the caucus says “Don’t let the door smack your arse on the way out,” and to Colin James that means the party’s “faction-ridden.” National and Labour successfully keep a lid on the constant devious plotting and back-stabbing, and to Colin James there’s no factions to see here folks, what shining examples of unity these two parties offer! I thought he was supposed to be some kind of expert at this stuff?
I’m aware that the Green Party has a big problem and is effectively in a fight for its survival. Its senior MPs are saying the same thing in public, albeit more diplomatically worded. However, I’m also aware that conservatives and the mainstream media are extremely hostile to left-wing parties, and might occasionally point out examples of it in comments.
Although Colin James has always leant towards the right, he used to be one of the very few journalists who could be trusted to put his brain into gear before going into print – oh dear!
I respect Colin James for mentioning reality and trying to explain it in the lights of NZ. If he learnt anything from America you just let the rich have their way. Where it falls down. Long live us, even Colin.
I personally are hopeful the Greens stay below 5%. Labour governing without them is more palatable to me. My biggest concern is Winston pushing the untried Labour leadership around. Overall I’m very happy with the poll results.
I do want action on the environment. The Greens went off environmental issues and more in to social issues which is what Labour stands for. I don’t think the answer to NZ’s poverty is to throw more money at beneficiaries which was the message Turei was sending. On Shane Jones I can take or leave him. He doesn’t offend ne as much as Turei did.
I’m not sure where it was stated that the poor had to pay for it?
On Turei, I am over the moon she will be gone from NZ politics. NZ is better off without having that lying fraudster in office. Only a blind twit wouldn’t be able to see that.
“throw money at”. You really need to stop getting your lines from right wing spin machines.
And that’s extremely offensive to beneficiaries. Turei’s message included the one about not demonising beneficiaries, and the one about the need to change the punitive W&I culture. Clearly you want to keep beneficaries marginalised as as if they are unfortunates in the corner you throw pennies to.
The Greens went off environmental issues and more in to social issues which is what Labour stands for.
You left out the important, meaning-changing word “used” in that sentence, ie it should read “social issues that Labur used to stand for.” When James Shaw says his is the only party taking poverty seriously, he’s correct.
The Greens went off environmental issues and more in to social issues which is what Labour stands for.
What a load of bollocks.
But, then, you just seem to be one of these people who want people to fit into nice, tidy little boxes.
The Greens have always covered social issues. Labour, not so much even when it was a labour party and not just another pro business party.
I don’t think the answer to NZ’s poverty is to throw more money at beneficiaries which was the message Turei was sending.
That would indicate that you’re not thinking. If beneficiaries can’t afford to live on their incomes now then how else do you suggest we make it so that they can?
Draco, feel free to promote the Greens, but stop trying to undermine Labour. If it’s “just another pro business party”, how come it’s the only one that the sainted Greens are ready to cooperate with and go into coalition with?
Labour puts people at the heart of all policy. There’s a big focus on strengthening public services and lessoning inequality. There’s also a recognition that NZers value our natural environment. These are not the values of “just another pro business party”.
So, where’s their policy for raising benefits by the amount needed to bring them in line with reality?
Where’s their policy on cutting back the intrusive and punishing regime of WINZ?
There’s a big focus on strengthening public services and lessoning inequality.
Public services, yes. Inequality, no. Nothing they have will cut inequality. It may keep it level rather than increase it but it won’t address it.
There’s also a recognition that NZers value our natural environment.
It’s just taken them four decades to get there.
These are not the values of “just another pro business party”.
Yes they are because they’re still only see business and rich people as the way forward rather than the dead and that they are.
No they didnt. Media focus went to social justice. Anyone who has gone anywhere near their facebook or website or press relesses would know this. Stop swallowing the media/right memes you are better than that
@ Phil (6.1.1) … History reminds us Shane Jones is a grubby little man! As a senior Labour MP, Jones at taxpayers expense hired porn movies on his parliamentary credit card, for his own debauched gratification in a hotel room, for which he got caught out through recorded credit card receipts!
Metiria Turei on the other hand, as a struggling single parent, did defraud social welfare during her time on the DPB, to help her and her infant daughter to survive, which she belatedly owned up to and has now paid a heavy price for admitting her past misdemeanour. However, this occurred prior to her becoming an MP.
Unlike Turei though, Jones lives to see another political day!
Shane Jones abused his privileges, while in the trusted position of being an MP, a representative of the people of NZ. Personally I find his betrayal of trust, in particular the reason behind it, far more offensive than the past actions of Metiria Turei!
The problem for the Greens is that they will struggle to differentiate themselves from Labour now. I predict they will not get over the 5% threshold.
I actually like the idea of a Green party in parliament. But I would much prefer one that makes Green issues its sole focus (as its name suggests) and is able to work with either Labour or National.
Others such as John Armstrong have suggested the same:
They need to reposition themselves in the centre of the political spectrum so that if they have the numbers to be a player in post-election talks on government formation, they have the flexibility to engage in serious negotiations with either Labour or National or both major parties.
While I expect the Greens to be above 5% on election day, I would say that the last two polls that show the Greens collapse are the Nats worse nightmare coming true before their eyes.
How will they convince their heartland voters to stay away from NZF, if they cant paint a picture the Labour/Greens/NZF ugly coalition of equals.
A Labour/NZF coalition with the Greens on the outside looking in would present as a stable alternative.
And thats the last thing that the Nats would want.
But the Nats dont want change – and their sole electoral message is vote for stability. Nat voters like stability and the soft side of their voters may well like a Labour/NZF stability.
Now the world may want change Brexit/Trump/Macron style but I do note that theres a fair number in both the UK and the USA who may not be completely sold on the change they voted for.
Parties do not. Own, voters.
The MOU said nothing against Labour/Greens putting their own policies out there.
A bigger Green presence in Government means more concern for people and the environment. Something the right wing in both Labour and NACT are terrified of.
Fortunately Labour rank and file are happy to work with the Greens, as we have common goals.
yeah we get it – right wingers want an environmental party to make them feel better – so what. The day the Greens take advice from right wingers is the day they go and that day ain’t coming – so take your troll tears and piss off tsm.
+ 1 exactly – ffs green swinging supporters??? – the Greens will get there in style without your help, support or advice thanks ad and also to any right wingers who want to offer tears of support lol
this is the advice I listen to – Sue Bradford on fbook
“It’s critical that the Greens don’t get spooked by this week’s poll. There is a bedrock base of support built on decades of work on ecological & social justice issues, the latter strengthened by the welfare policy release so overshadowed by subsequent events. James Shaw can’t carry this alone & I’m hoping that the newer MPs & candidates suddenly thrust to the fore will step up now, beyond style to energetic substance.”
Sue said the same on Morning Report. She was on with political scientist Bronwyn Hayward who pointed out that single polls are not significant in themselves and the poll of polls, which shows the Greens at 6.9%, is a better indication of their current position.
I found it interesting that David Farrar’s polling company Curia refused to supply their latest poll to RNZ. I suspect the reason is that it showed the Nats in a much lower position, and possibly also showed the Greens higher than the 4.3% in CB. James Shaw said their internal polling had the Greens higher.
I am sure that the Greens will bounce back, maybe not up to 15%, but considerably higher than 4%. Of course Hooton et al are doing their best to suggest a vote for the Greens is a wasted vote, but I think this will actually give the Greens a boost. Nobody on the left wants to lose the Greens.
On social media and blogs I am seeing some support swinging behind the GP from people who may otherwise have voted Labour or some other party. They don’t want a Labour-led government too dependent on NZ First, and without support from the GP.
Sorry. The Greens will continue to disturb your self satisfied middle class life. And rise again in the polls. By challenging the poverty of comprehension, that thinks social and environmental sustainability are not linked.
Others such as John Armstrong have suggested the same:
Others such as National supporter and embarrassingly-effusive Key sycophant John Armstrong share your thoughts on the Green Party? Shouldn’t that have alarm bells ringing for you?
Thank you. Recent convert to supporting the Green Party, so feeling plenty of enthusiasm for supportive commenting. Of course, me deciding to support them was swiftly followed by them tanking in the polls, but correlation != causation…
How do you propose that the Greens work with National, when National are actively trying to opening up mining on conservation land, expanding oil and gas exploration and refuse to do anything meaningful on water quality and air emissions?
It seems to me that if people want the Greens to work with National, they need National to change not the Greens. National are an anti-green party, and the concept of a “blue-green” is an oxymoron.
On the other side, when will you advocate for Act to start being a liberal party and start to look like they can work with Labour, this way they can start to grow their vote to over 5%.
But I would much prefer one that makes Green issues its sole focus (as its name suggests) and is able to work with either Labour or National.
BOLLOCKS
You just want to be able to sideline them as National and the RWNJs tried last century when they said that the Greens were only a single issue party (which weren’t then either).
Sadly, the Greens don’t seem to be listening.
Why would they listen to people out to destroy them?
Of course when you quote a toxic far right flake like John Armstrong – who bayed for Cunliffe’s blood for no reason at all – you destroy whatever flimsy shreds of credibility your argument might otherwise have mustered.
The Greens have always been prepared to work with other parties – but with National up to crazy shit like creating a market for fraudulent carbon credits, filling Lake Forsythe with poo, and poisoning the whole goddamn country with 1080, the Greens simply cannot accommodate them.
Here are a couple of good movies that enlighten me now I wont tell you what to look for as that would be cheating.
The real Rocknrola main actors Tom Hardy and Gerard Butler.
Good Cop Bad Cop Woody Harrelson Matthew Mc Conaughey.
Some people I aspire to
1 Tim Berners Lee
2 Julian Assange
3 Elon Musk
4 Michael Lawley Founder of ecoinnovation NZ he invented the smart drive hydro turbine.
His advice go solar as it less maintenance and solar is cheap to build a DIY system
5 Bernie Sanders
6 Noam Chomsky
7 Obama now Noam bashes Obama abit But in Politic one has to give and take to
get your Ideal policy’s into law especially when you do not have the number of
seats in your own party to change make laws
Apirana Ngata yes I have read his book its is a real good read. He is the one of the main people to help persevere Maori culture/song.
Most of the Maraeis in NZ are here because of him and his helpers Tepuia she was a great Woman to
Most of the Maori trust farms in NZ are because of his influences .
His favorite past time was recording a lot of ancient Maori Waiata/ songs.
His Home land of Ngati Porou east coast is a shadow of its former glory.
The East coast In the end I think he was taken down by the powers that be
Because his accounting was on little bits of paper so the opposition party used that to discredit him for fraud He was a great man.
That book was the best gift my mom gave me
Chris Trotter is on the money today, in particular:
“This is what Aussie economist, Professor Bill Mitchell, from the University of Newcastle, NSW, said when asked to comment on the rigid fiscal parameters set down in Labour’s and the Greens’ budget rules. He described them as “the height of economic irresponsibility”……. Mitchell went on to argue that, since roughly 1 in 8 New Zealanders are either underemployed or unemployed; a third of our children live in poverty; and we have record levels of household debt ……. the very idea of running a fiscal surplus is, in Mitchell’s own words, “irresponsible in the extreme….the Labour Party are Neoliberal-Lite. They say we’ll do austerity – but we’ll do it fairer…..There’s no such thing as fair austerity when a third of your children are living in poverty.”
In the old days Labour were all economically literate and would not have fallen for Douglas’s crap for a moment. The generation that was the product of the decent society however, had no personal understanding either of poverty, or of the dishonest employer narratives used to justify it.
Cullen at least understood it – whether he took sufficient action is arguable. But the mass of contemporary Labour grew up on the assumption that major socioeconomic matters had been resolved, leaving them free to pursue progressive issues that were important to them. The slew of disastrous socioeconomic indicators shows that the assumption hasn’t held for some time, and that responsible left government is going to have to dig us out of the neo-liberal rut as quickly as possible.
If we give Ardern the benefit of the doubt we must presume that her administration will address these issues forcefully. But indications are not especially promising – by failing to support Metiria’s anti-poverty position Ardern essentially endorsed the murderous failure that is contemporary social policy.
I am sure a read an article in just the last couple of days in which they detail how even though the economy is seemingly good real wage increases for anyone not in the top 10% of earners is either flat or negative when inflation is taken into account.
Whilst businesses are making good profits at the moment this is on the back of poor wages and even poorer social outcomes. So yes if all you want to look at is GDP and trade deficits you can sell it as good. I would imagine most people now are starting to wonder however why this good economy is not reducing the numbers of homeless or the number of children considered to be living in poverty.
Ad your view is of course a short term one. In the end those people who are on crap wages are the same people that are expected to buy the products that keep our economy turning over. As ability to feed coins into the machine reduces so will the performance of the economy. Of course at that point conservative minded people will blame those same poor people calling them bludgers and claiming that all they need to do is work harder. However as more of them end up under the boot (remember most people aren’t in the 10% that are doing better every year) we will see the support for other options increase.
Real wages down.
Terms of trade, down.
Per capita GDP, down.
Per capita real incomes, down.
Borrowings up.
Poverty, up.
Growth. Negative without immigration and natural disasters.
Unemployment. National changed the basis it was counted to hide the real rate.
Environment. Need we start?
Health. Per capita funding down.
Education. Funding cut to pay for idealogical failures.
Manufacturing, down.
National has been a failure, even by their own measurements.
adam, being “underutilised” isn’t the same as being unemployed. I agree the unemployment rate is higher than 4.9(?)%, with some long-term unemployed not counted in the official figures because they’re not actively seeking work, but if we’re going to criticise the massaging of figures that makes the rate look artificially low, we shouldn’t massage them ourselves, the other way.
I’m a full time teacher. I have colleagues who work part time (and that might mean an 80% teaching load). They’re not unemployed – they work bloody hard and have longterm, stable jobs – but they may well be counted as “underutilised” as many would welcome fulltime positions if they were available.
As for the spin of underutilised, I’m sure many of a Tory on here would be impressed with your utterance, and be more than happy to add it to their parlor tricks.
The key words might be ‘narrow economy’.
If you’re operating in that particular economy, it’s haymaking time, if you’re not, well, in the words of Sir John…. “you probably won’t be voting for us anyway”.
Can you point to your source for the economy being broader?
I often hear people (including my own family) lament the poor books Labour left for NACT in 2008. I seem to remember as the finical crisis bit the current PM praising the previous Labour government for paying down debt as it put us in a strong position to ride the GFC out. Funny how that message has changed so much over a period of 9 years.
Where’s Paula Bennett? Has her star faded so much that Steven Joyce is actually hiding her away? We were told she was going to be a highlight for National on the campaign trail?
She’s fucked. The fact they didn’t use her against Turei suggests there are similar and possibly worse skeletons in her closet and their opponents will be aware of them. Too risky to have her visible in this campaign.
Bennett a policy wonk? She might produce policy but none of it works. I’m beginning to think KJT @11.2.1 is right. You spend a lot of time visiting another planet.
A not very bright apparatchik, promoted because she can regurgitate propaganda and bullshit with a straight face, and are happy to do National’s dirty work.
Ad – What pounds are you going on about – pounds as in sterling or pounds as in weight – if its weight you are comparing a feather with a brick with these two ladies. A better description could have been found here.
But she is a very solid performer in the House, and Ardern never so much as laid a finger on her when they opposed each other on Social Welfare portfolios.
Bennett holds State Services, Women,Tourism, Police, and Climate Change Portfolios, as well as being Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of the National Party.
She’s also been across Tourism, Housing, Finance, and a bunch of Select Committees. She also did an Eisenhower Fellowship, which is only awarded to 20 outstanding women leaders at a time.
She has risen through the ranks of National in fairly quick order as a Minister who is to be reckoned with, takes no prisoners, and delivers their policy.
The left have spent far too long losing because they underestimated the trust of a huge section of the public who accept that this National leadership is competent, stable leadership.
She is far too polarising. As said previously I come from a family that is very much in the life long National supports group and even they can’t stand Paula. She is far too abrasive and has shown herself to be a bully.
If National truly thought of her as a future PM she would not have been so regularly trotted out to do the Bennie bashing when a distraction was needed. She is the next Crusher Collins. Be tough, take the negative press, completely disposable when you need someone to take a fall.
The accusations in the back ground and what has just happened to MT just give those who are really in line to lead a good reason to shunt her aside when the time comes. Would not be surprised if it is Kiwiblog or WO that swing the axe.
She might have been “across many portfolios” but I would hazard a guess she knows stuff-all about most of them. Her Climate Change credentials are non existent. She knows nothing about it and understand less…
What she is good at is bullshitting the public that she knows stuff when she knows nothing. In other words, she’s a fake.
Here is Paula
Talking about Bill English and doorways.
““One of the main challenges he’s had as Prime Minister is every time he’d go to walk through a door, he said he was so used to always waiting for other people, because that’s just his nature – he’s a gentleman you know, it’s just what you do.
“Then he said everyone else would wait for him to walk through the door, so as the Minister for Women he came to me and [said], ‘So what do I do?’…
“I said to him, ‘Walk through the door Bill, no woman will think that you’re being discourteous’.”
“If you looked back in 2008, what we were heading into, my God, I was the brand new Minister of Social Development and we were talking about going well into double figures of unemployment, we were talking about literally hundreds of thousands of people going onto the benefit, we were gearing up for the worst of times…
“I think we’ve done an outstanding job against the odds of where we were and the circumstances that came with us, and most of them are the circumstances of success.”
Social housing, a particular interest of Bennett’s, was “a mess” before they came in, and has taken time to turn around, she says.
Yeah Paula B. We were heading into a global financail crisis caused by your neoliberal mentors. Chooses not to mention that.
Outstanding job? Sells off state and social housing. More homeless people than ever. Fiddles the stats to make it look like unemployment is lower than it is. Throws others off the system altogether.
Success? A dismal failure who shat on solo mums just because she could!
“…and we were talking about going well into double figures of unemployment, we were talking about literally hundreds of thousands of people going onto the benefit, we were gearing up for the worst of times…”
—
Simple solution, classify 1 hour of work as being in employment and hey, presto! Unemployment issue solved. This government shit is soooooo easy.
Imagine if the time our media devoting to polls was replaced by policy analysis? Tracy Watkins is in a live blog blathwring on about poll ramifications. It is lazy and fuels the gambling/sporting style of voting rather than information. I despair.
The atmosphere on the Right wing blogs is one of resignation; they’re resigned to losing, to having to endure a Jacinda-led Labour Government. They’re hopeful though, of a Green collapse, though their more candid commenters say this won’t happen, no matter how they screw up their eyes, bunch their little fisties and wish really hard for it.
I do feel sad for Matthew Hooton, as I do for anyone who battles addiction. It must be a terrible affliction. But wtf is he doing using addiction as a derogatory term for GP supporters? POT….KETTLE….BLACK?
Perhaps! Has he broken his addiction with this site? I don’t see him commenting here anymore (but I have only recently returned here). Is he banned or just disinterested in The Standard?
He (hooton) decided to spewed one of his lies on/at lprent. lprent gave him a chance to retract, he doubled down, then lprent banned him for life.
Atmosphere got a lot cleaner around here after that. We have our tiffs, but the gutter/sewer/cesspool politics of the hooton era, does not appear as much.
Oh hooton is still into his gutter/sewer/cesspool politics but we just don’t have to see or listen to it, if we choice not to. Personally I chose not to. Trolls and gutter rats are going to go on being what they are, and I don’t need it in my life.
Which by the way, leads to a major thanks to lprent, in one afternoon you made this site 100% more pleasant. Thank you.
I have been told that the reason the young are not registering to vote is because they are not inspired by words but by video clips. So perhaps Labour needs to invest in a number of short animated video clips to attract the young.
Further to my comment above. One hundred odd years ago a lot of people could not read or if they could, could not afford to buy papers or books so young people were employed to read to them while they worked. Now a days people, especially those who were not read to when they were young, watch YouTube of Facebook. That is where they get their information from. So if a party wants to get to those unregistered 400,000 people they must use those formats with animated video clips. It is a no brainer.
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The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
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 ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. ...
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. ...
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 ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dan Jerker B. Svantesson, Professor specialising in Internet law, Bond University Do Australian courts have the right to decide what foreign citizens, located overseas, view online on a foreign-owned platform? Anyone inclined to answer “yes” to this question should perhaps also ask ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giovanni E Ferreira, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney Last week in a post on X, owner of the platform Elon Musk recommended people look into disc replacement if they’re experiencing severe neck or back pain. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University anek.soowannaphoom/Shutterstock NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey caught the headlines yesterday, courtesy of a blistering speech condemning the latest GST carve-up. New South Wales, he claimed, would be A$11.9 billion worse off over the ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived at Kokoda Station, Northern province, at the start of his state visit to Papua New Guinea. Both Albanese and Prime Minister James Marape will meet with the locals and the Northern Provincial government before they begin their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Wallace, Professor, School of Politics Economics & Society, Faculty of Business Government & Law, University of Canberra Shutterstock An important principle was invoked by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week in defence of the government’s Future Made in Australia industry ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Security forces reinforcements were sent from France ahead of two rival marches in the capital Nouméa today, at the same time and only two streets away one from the other. One march, called by Union Calédonienne party (a component of the ...
A poll last August found that just 16% of New Zealanders oppose bringing back the ‘Three Strikes’ law. The nationwide poll of 1,000 New Zealanders was commissioned by Family First NZ and carried out by Curia Market Research. ...
The solo show from Ana Scotney is both sprawling and intimate, and a must-see, writes Mad Chapman. In the opening moments of Scattergun: After the Death of Rūaumoko, writer and performer Ana Scotney lays out the groundwork, literally. Silently moving around the square stage, Scotney is not so much dancing ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Burridge, Professor of Linguistics, Monash University Who makes the words? Why are trees called trees and why are shoes called shoes and who makes the names? – Elliot, age 5, Eltham, Victoria Good question Elliot! Let’s start with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne at amRawpixel.com/Shutterstock Roles of health professionals are still unfortunately often stuck in the past. That is, before the ...
COMMENTARY:By Malcolm Evans Last week’s leaked New York Times staff directive, as to what words can and cannot be used to describe the carnage Israel is raining on Palestinians, is proof positive, since those reports are published verbatim here in New Zealand, that our understanding of the conflict is ...
In the case of New Zealand, the results confirm that there is no popular support for the vicious austerity program being imposed by the National Party-led government, which is backed in all fundamental respects by the opposition Labour Party. ...
The ‘Vampire’ singer has never visited our part of the world, but that might all be about to change. We assess the evidence.Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour is pulling in massive crowds as it whips around the US and Europe, even helping to catapult regular supporting act Chappell Roan ...
Testing of drinking water in rural Canterbury over the weekend by Greenpeace revealed that several public town supplies were reaching levels of nitrate above 5 mg/L - the threshold which a growing body of scientific evidence has linked to increased ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rohan Fisher, Information Technology for Development Researcher, Charles Darwin University It may come as a surprise to hear 2023 was Australia’s biggest bushfire season in more than a decade. Fires burned across an area eight times as big as the 2019–20 Black ...
Responding to the Government’s announcement of changes to resource management laws, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, said: “These changes are a step in the right direction in terms of removing ideological and unworkable ...
More than two years after the Human Rights Council called for the establishment of a national human rights commission, such a body has yet to be formed. ...
Comment:An emergency management system with wide variations in performance, significant capability gaps, funding shortfalls and above all a setup that is not meeting the needs of New Zealanders at times of crisis. The Government’s inquiry into the response to Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events in the North ...
Welcome to the whirring wonders of one brain trying to align its actions with its beliefs within a system it thinks is evil. My brain has been spiralling in a woke conundrum ever since I found out a bookshop I’ve never been to was shutting down. Good Books, a bookshop ...
We repeat our call for criminal justice policy to be based on evidence, something the three strikes regime neglects to recognise – with no evidence that it either reduces crime or assists with rehabilitation. ...
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Comparisons (2008-17)
Colmar Brunton (Five Weeks out)
CB Aug 2017 ………. Aug 2014 ……….. Oct 2011 ……….. Oct 2008
Nat 44 ……………………. 50 ……………………. 56 ……………. 52
Lab 37 ……………………. 26 ……………………. 30 …………… 33
NZF 10 …………………..… 5 ……………….………2 ….………..… 2
Green 4 ……………………11 …………….…….…. 9 ….…….…… 7
UMR & Newshub Reid Research Comparisons
https://thestandard.org.nz/two-good-polls-for-labour-and-a-call-to-arms-for-the-greens/#comment-1366124
https://thestandard.org.nz/it-is-nationals-time-for-the-brown-trousers/
If National continues to trend down, and Labour up, the Greens rally to 9ish, who needs Winston?
What is the undecided %
13% I think ( down from 20%)
Comparisons (2008-17)
Colmar Brunton (Five Weeks out)
CB Aug 2017 ………. Aug 2014 ……….. Oct 2011 ……….. Oct 2008
English 30 ………………Key 45 ……………Key 56 ……………. Key 41
Ardern 30 ………… Cunliffe 10 …………Goff 12 ……….….•Clark 31
Great ideas. But I hope Marama knows about the rules on treating.
[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.]
[seeing as how there was literally nothing in the post suggesting that Davidson was treating, your comment looks like concern trolling. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt here but suggest more care in future. – weka]
I see no suggestion that Marama was offering food or drink to people while encouraging people to vote. The post makes no mention of it.
I know Auckland Action Against Poverty offer food when providing benefit advocacy outside W&I offices. So maybe that is where the reference to food and drink came from in the post.
Offering food and drink is a normal part of Maaori culture. I’m sure that the Green Party are aware of both the culture and the rules, and have their MP’s act in accordance with both. I’d be very surprised if that was not the case.
Radio NZ has updated their Poll of Polls to include the latest Colmar Brunton.
National 43.7
Labour 35.5
NZ First 9.1
Greens 6.9
TOP 2.4
Māori Party 1.3
ACT 0.5
Almost at the end of the article is an intriguing snippet of info; Curia, who poll for the National Party have stopped providing data to Colin James for this poll.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/337443/ardern-turns-the-worm-but-green-losses-threaten-left
That is very interesting about Curia not supplying polling data. Could possibly have National even lower than the recent TV polls and don’t want to bring their average down further.
It also ties in with a tweet from Hooten, reported here a few days ago, saying that National’s campaign manager Steven Joyce hadn’t updated his caucus on their internal polling from Curia last Tuesday because, apparently, ‘the data was incomplete’.
“The Jacindaroller” takes no prisoners
Agreed Scott and Devo. Very odd that a party that has trumpeted the polls for the last 9 years is now shutting them down.
If Curia is showing the Nats at 41-42% they will not want that out there. This is perfectly feasible given Colmar Brunton has them at 44% and Swordfish has demonstrated CB’s pro-National bias above.
To get them panicking this much it must show a drop bigger than just to 41-42%. IMO, They’re probably looking at sub 40% and they know damn well that they won’t be in government with that no matter how many seats that they try to give away to get over-hang seats (Wonder if their polling is telling them that giving away seats isn’t working).
And polls lead via the Bandwagon Effect. If the polls show people leaving National in droves more people will leave.
Yep
Hoots on Twitter (50 mins ago)
@MatthewHootonNZ
James refers to “the faction-ridden Greens.” Nice, isn’t it – two MPs quit over a dispute with the leadership, rest of the caucus says “Don’t let the door smack your arse on the way out,” and to Colin James that means the party’s “faction-ridden.” National and Labour successfully keep a lid on the constant devious plotting and back-stabbing, and to Colin James there’s no factions to see here folks, what shining examples of unity these two parties offer! I thought he was supposed to be some kind of expert at this stuff?
Nothing’s changed,
no one’s hurt,
there’s no problem, and
it’s someone else’s fault.
Every Green supporter needs to support Shaw like their very political survival is at stake. Because it is.
I’m aware that the Green Party has a big problem and is effectively in a fight for its survival. Its senior MPs are saying the same thing in public, albeit more diplomatically worded. However, I’m also aware that conservatives and the mainstream media are extremely hostile to left-wing parties, and might occasionally point out examples of it in comments.
Although Colin James has always leant towards the right, he used to be one of the very few journalists who could be trusted to put his brain into gear before going into print – oh dear!
I respect Colin James for mentioning reality and trying to explain it in the lights of NZ. If he learnt anything from America you just let the rich have their way. Where it falls down. Long live us, even Colin.
Well said. In fact if it had been nats they would have said of the 2 dissenters treatment. ” dealth with decisively”
I personally are hopeful the Greens stay below 5%. Labour governing without them is more palatable to me. My biggest concern is Winston pushing the untried Labour leadership around. Overall I’m very happy with the poll results.
What a shame you don’t want any concerted action on the enviroment, climate or poverty and our social security system.
For me these are pressing issues that, for NZ’s future, need to be acted on ASAP.
I also do not like the idea of Shane Jones being involved in any future NZ government – not at all. Anti-Green. Pro-big bizniz.
I do want action on the environment. The Greens went off environmental issues and more in to social issues which is what Labour stands for. I don’t think the answer to NZ’s poverty is to throw more money at beneficiaries which was the message Turei was sending. On Shane Jones I can take or leave him. He doesn’t offend ne as much as Turei did.
So. You want “action on the environment” but you want the poor to pay for it.
Turei doesn’t offend me. It was a brave stand. Self righteous twits who are offended by having to face up to the poverty in New Zealand, do.
I’m not sure where it was stated that the poor had to pay for it?
On Turei, I am over the moon she will be gone from NZ politics. NZ is better off without having that lying fraudster in office. Only a blind twit wouldn’t be able to see that.
Not good at self reflection are you.
What about the other lying fraudsters still there. Happy with them?
Edit: Not too you KJT but Phil above.
Metiria told the truth about being on welfare. That is what upsets the Phil’s.
Being confronted with your own hypocrisy and meanness can’t be pleasant.
+111
Well said
“throw money at”. You really need to stop getting your lines from right wing spin machines.
And that’s extremely offensive to beneficiaries. Turei’s message included the one about not demonising beneficiaries, and the one about the need to change the punitive W&I culture. Clearly you want to keep beneficaries marginalised as as if they are unfortunates in the corner you throw pennies to.
+1
The Greens went off environmental issues and more in to social issues which is what Labour stands for.
You left out the important, meaning-changing word “used” in that sentence, ie it should read “social issues that Labur used to stand for.” When James Shaw says his is the only party taking poverty seriously, he’s correct.
What a load of bollocks.
But, then, you just seem to be one of these people who want people to fit into nice, tidy little boxes.
The Greens have always covered social issues. Labour, not so much even when it was a labour party and not just another pro business party.
That would indicate that you’re not thinking. If beneficiaries can’t afford to live on their incomes now then how else do you suggest we make it so that they can?
Draco, feel free to promote the Greens, but stop trying to undermine Labour. If it’s “just another pro business party”, how come it’s the only one that the sainted Greens are ready to cooperate with and go into coalition with?
Labour puts people at the heart of all policy. There’s a big focus on strengthening public services and lessoning inequality. There’s also a recognition that NZers value our natural environment. These are not the values of “just another pro business party”.
So, where’s their policy for raising benefits by the amount needed to bring them in line with reality?
Where’s their policy on cutting back the intrusive and punishing regime of WINZ?
Public services, yes. Inequality, no. Nothing they have will cut inequality. It may keep it level rather than increase it but it won’t address it.
It’s just taken them four decades to get there.
Yes they are because they’re still only see business and rich people as the way forward rather than the dead and that they are.
No they didnt. Media focus went to social justice. Anyone who has gone anywhere near their facebook or website or press relesses would know this. Stop swallowing the media/right memes you are better than that
@ Phil (6.1.1) … History reminds us Shane Jones is a grubby little man! As a senior Labour MP, Jones at taxpayers expense hired porn movies on his parliamentary credit card, for his own debauched gratification in a hotel room, for which he got caught out through recorded credit card receipts!
Metiria Turei on the other hand, as a struggling single parent, did defraud social welfare during her time on the DPB, to help her and her infant daughter to survive, which she belatedly owned up to and has now paid a heavy price for admitting her past misdemeanour. However, this occurred prior to her becoming an MP.
Unlike Turei though, Jones lives to see another political day!
Shane Jones abused his privileges, while in the trusted position of being an MP, a representative of the people of NZ. Personally I find his betrayal of trust, in particular the reason behind it, far more offensive than the past actions of Metiria Turei!
Very happy with the momentum, hope the Greens steady the ship and natz shed some more. Jacinda has looked great so far. Knock off dunne too.
The problem for the Greens is that they will struggle to differentiate themselves from Labour now. I predict they will not get over the 5% threshold.
I actually like the idea of a Green party in parliament. But I would much prefer one that makes Green issues its sole focus (as its name suggests) and is able to work with either Labour or National.
Others such as John Armstrong have suggested the same:
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/john-armstrong-greens-in-election-no-mans-land-after-metiria-turei-shambles
Sadly, the Greens don’t seem to be listening.
While I expect the Greens to be above 5% on election day, I would say that the last two polls that show the Greens collapse are the Nats worse nightmare coming true before their eyes.
How will they convince their heartland voters to stay away from NZF, if they cant paint a picture the Labour/Greens/NZF ugly coalition of equals.
A Labour/NZF coalition with the Greens on the outside looking in would present as a stable alternative.
And thats the last thing that the Nats would want.
People don’t want stability, they want change.
Which is why the enthusiasm for a different Labour.
Meanwhile National is rowing, efficiently, briskly and in authoritarian unison towards third world status. Just like the USA, they admire.
But the Nats dont want change – and their sole electoral message is vote for stability. Nat voters like stability and the soft side of their voters may well like a Labour/NZF stability.
Now the world may want change Brexit/Trump/Macron style but I do note that theres a fair number in both the UK and the USA who may not be completely sold on the change they voted for.
No. The world wants Corbyn or Sanders.
But the establishment tried to ensure they were not given that choice.
KJT,
Enthusiasm for a different Labour – as in different policies or as in a different face on the billboards?
Despite the MoU, it seems that both the Greens and Labour are not averse to eating the other for the sole benefit of their own party’s betterment.
Parties do not. Own, voters.
The MOU said nothing against Labour/Greens putting their own policies out there.
A bigger Green presence in Government means more concern for people and the environment. Something the right wing in both Labour and NACT are terrified of.
Fortunately Labour rank and file are happy to work with the Greens, as we have common goals.
yeah we get it – right wingers want an environmental party to make them feel better – so what. The day the Greens take advice from right wingers is the day they go and that day ain’t coming – so take your troll tears and piss off tsm.
Not the moment to burn off green-swinging supporters.
They need every single vote they can get back.
Won’t get them back by listening to you.
+ 1 exactly – ffs green swinging supporters??? – the Greens will get there in style without your help, support or advice thanks ad and also to any right wingers who want to offer tears of support lol
this is the advice I listen to – Sue Bradford on fbook
“It’s critical that the Greens don’t get spooked by this week’s poll. There is a bedrock base of support built on decades of work on ecological & social justice issues, the latter strengthened by the welfare policy release so overshadowed by subsequent events. James Shaw can’t carry this alone & I’m hoping that the newer MPs & candidates suddenly thrust to the fore will step up now, beyond style to energetic substance.”
Sue said the same on Morning Report. She was on with political scientist Bronwyn Hayward who pointed out that single polls are not significant in themselves and the poll of polls, which shows the Greens at 6.9%, is a better indication of their current position.
I found it interesting that David Farrar’s polling company Curia refused to supply their latest poll to RNZ. I suspect the reason is that it showed the Nats in a much lower position, and possibly also showed the Greens higher than the 4.3% in CB. James Shaw said their internal polling had the Greens higher.
I am sure that the Greens will bounce back, maybe not up to 15%, but considerably higher than 4%. Of course Hooton et al are doing their best to suggest a vote for the Greens is a wasted vote, but I think this will actually give the Greens a boost. Nobody on the left wants to lose the Greens.
On social media and blogs I am seeing some support swinging behind the GP from people who may otherwise have voted Labour or some other party. They don’t want a Labour-led government too dependent on NZ First, and without support from the GP.
I have never voted green in my life. That is about to change.
🙂
Onya!
Great to hear Peter 🙂
tsm is most definitely not a swing voter. He’s a National Party sycophant.
They won’t want to chuck away the support of voters who find labour insufficiently socially focused.
Thanks for the, well meaning advice, LOL,
Sorry. The Greens will continue to disturb your self satisfied middle class life. And rise again in the polls. By challenging the poverty of comprehension, that thinks social and environmental sustainability are not linked.
Others such as John Armstrong have suggested the same:
Others such as National supporter and embarrassingly-effusive Key sycophant John Armstrong share your thoughts on the Green Party? Shouldn’t that have alarm bells ringing for you?
Loving your comments in this thread PM
Thank you. Recent convert to supporting the Green Party, so feeling plenty of enthusiasm for supportive commenting. Of course, me deciding to support them was swiftly followed by them tanking in the polls, but correlation != causation…
LOL I had noticed the change. I am a more firmed up GP supporter since the Turei massacre.
How do you propose that the Greens work with National, when National are actively trying to opening up mining on conservation land, expanding oil and gas exploration and refuse to do anything meaningful on water quality and air emissions?
It seems to me that if people want the Greens to work with National, they need National to change not the Greens. National are an anti-green party, and the concept of a “blue-green” is an oxymoron.
On the other side, when will you advocate for Act to start being a liberal party and start to look like they can work with Labour, this way they can start to grow their vote to over 5%.
+111
BOLLOCKS
You just want to be able to sideline them as National and the RWNJs tried last century when they said that the Greens were only a single issue party (which weren’t then either).
Why would they listen to people out to destroy them?
Given you arent voting for them or a member it isnt relevant what you want them to be.
Of course when you quote a toxic far right flake like John Armstrong – who bayed for Cunliffe’s blood for no reason at all – you destroy whatever flimsy shreds of credibility your argument might otherwise have mustered.
The Greens have always been prepared to work with other parties – but with National up to crazy shit like creating a market for fraudulent carbon credits, filling Lake Forsythe with poo, and poisoning the whole goddamn country with 1080, the Greens simply cannot accommodate them.
Go fritter yourself in the golden blood of non-senescence where the rich have commonality with finitude.
Here are a couple of good movies that enlighten me now I wont tell you what to look for as that would be cheating.
The real Rocknrola main actors Tom Hardy and Gerard Butler.
Good Cop Bad Cop Woody Harrelson Matthew Mc Conaughey.
Some people I aspire to
1 Tim Berners Lee
2 Julian Assange
3 Elon Musk
4 Michael Lawley Founder of ecoinnovation NZ he invented the smart drive hydro turbine.
His advice go solar as it less maintenance and solar is cheap to build a DIY system
5 Bernie Sanders
6 Noam Chomsky
7 Obama now Noam bashes Obama abit But in Politic one has to give and take to
get your Ideal policy’s into law especially when you do not have the number of
seats in your own party to change make laws
Apirana Ngata is the my number one person I aspire to
Aspiring to be ones own self…
Surpasses aspiring to mimic others, 100% of the time…
But if you had to aspire to be anyone, Apirana Ngata would be pretty hard to beat… Greatest New Zealander ever??
“A formless void is only possible in existential human observation”
Hello, McFlock
Was that a comment from Andre which you pasted?
Either way, it’s unoriginal..
Stop copying others, and maybe you can understand the comment I made..
Or perhaps your response was triggered because you felt a sense of shame, at being unoriginal..
And decided to lash out!
“Your heart self interacts with an abundance of potentiality”
Can you tell us more about Apirana Ngata?
Apirana Ngata yes I have read his book its is a real good read. He is the one of the main people to help persevere Maori culture/song.
Most of the Maraeis in NZ are here because of him and his helpers Tepuia she was a great Woman to
Most of the Maori trust farms in NZ are because of his influences .
His favorite past time was recording a lot of ancient Maori Waiata/ songs.
His Home land of Ngati Porou east coast is a shadow of its former glory.
The East coast In the end I think he was taken down by the powers that be
Because his accounting was on little bits of paper so the opposition party used that to discredit him for fraud He was a great man.
That book was the best gift my mom gave me
Thanks, so much good Māori history we haven’t been taught.
Weka you do know that’s Sir Apirana Ngata on the fifty dollar bill?
Maybe, but it’s pretty rare for me to see a fifty dollar bill.
His Wikipedia page manages to stay rather sterile while hinting at some very impressive nuances.
Chris Trotter is on the money today, in particular:
“This is what Aussie economist, Professor Bill Mitchell, from the University of Newcastle, NSW, said when asked to comment on the rigid fiscal parameters set down in Labour’s and the Greens’ budget rules. He described them as “the height of economic irresponsibility”……. Mitchell went on to argue that, since roughly 1 in 8 New Zealanders are either underemployed or unemployed; a third of our children live in poverty; and we have record levels of household debt ……. the very idea of running a fiscal surplus is, in Mitchell’s own words, “irresponsible in the extreme….the Labour Party are Neoliberal-Lite. They say we’ll do austerity – but we’ll do it fairer…..There’s no such thing as fair austerity when a third of your children are living in poverty.”
It’s here: http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2017/08/dont-you-dare-jacinda-ardern-dont-you.html
Jacinda take note, or become a puppet for the steady as it goes (look after the top 10% and forget the homeless and those in poverty) brigade.
Jacinda has ‘no choice’
Assuming she has a fundamental understanding of ‘money’…which Jacinda might not even have that level…
The ‘money mirage’ must not be exposed
Exposure will not be tolerated, and will be swiftly dealt with
money main objective is it is a sham
Why would you assume that Ardern is not financially literate? A bit of latent sexism, maybe..?
In the old days Labour were all economically literate and would not have fallen for Douglas’s crap for a moment. The generation that was the product of the decent society however, had no personal understanding either of poverty, or of the dishonest employer narratives used to justify it.
Cullen at least understood it – whether he took sufficient action is arguable. But the mass of contemporary Labour grew up on the assumption that major socioeconomic matters had been resolved, leaving them free to pursue progressive issues that were important to them. The slew of disastrous socioeconomic indicators shows that the assumption hasn’t held for some time, and that responsible left government is going to have to dig us out of the neo-liberal rut as quickly as possible.
If we give Ardern the benefit of the doubt we must presume that her administration will address these issues forcefully. But indications are not especially promising – by failing to support Metiria’s anti-poverty position Ardern essentially endorsed the murderous failure that is contemporary social policy.
Perhaps pause and consider why, not ONE single politician, doesn’t can’t or won’t talk openly and hosestly about ‘money/debt’..
Norman mentioned ‘printing’ years back..but that got radio silence..
SO either…
1. They don’t understand
2. They understand but have a ‘gun’ to their head
Those are the only options..
The subject was Jacinda Adern..stop degrading yourself looking for what does not exist!
Jacinda doesn’t need advice right now.
If she wins, she will inherit a strong, narrow economy with low unemployment. Her tasks are pretty obvious.
Watch for the full Labour manifesto release next Wednesday. All the detail you could wish for.
A strong economy.?
Are you on the same planet?
Would you like to go through the industry sectors with me one by one?
The left currently do not have an economic message to respond to National’s sustained narrative of economic success.
All the left currently do is tell everyone about how poorly off some people are. Which is useful, but only to a point.
It’s not enough.
I am sure a read an article in just the last couple of days in which they detail how even though the economy is seemingly good real wage increases for anyone not in the top 10% of earners is either flat or negative when inflation is taken into account.
Whilst businesses are making good profits at the moment this is on the back of poor wages and even poorer social outcomes. So yes if all you want to look at is GDP and trade deficits you can sell it as good. I would imagine most people now are starting to wonder however why this good economy is not reducing the numbers of homeless or the number of children considered to be living in poverty.
Ad your view is of course a short term one. In the end those people who are on crap wages are the same people that are expected to buy the products that keep our economy turning over. As ability to feed coins into the machine reduces so will the performance of the economy. Of course at that point conservative minded people will blame those same poor people calling them bludgers and claiming that all they need to do is work harder. However as more of them end up under the boot (remember most people aren’t in the 10% that are doing better every year) we will see the support for other options increase.
Real wages down.
Terms of trade, down.
Per capita GDP, down.
Per capita real incomes, down.
Borrowings up.
Poverty, up.
Growth. Negative without immigration and natural disasters.
Unemployment. National changed the basis it was counted to hide the real rate.
Environment. Need we start?
Health. Per capita funding down.
Education. Funding cut to pay for idealogical failures.
Manufacturing, down.
National has been a failure, even by their own measurements.
Over 11% unemployment and Ad says we have low unemployment, and a good economy.
Can I have what ever it is you are smoking, I need a pick me up.
adam, being “underutilised” isn’t the same as being unemployed. I agree the unemployment rate is higher than 4.9(?)%, with some long-term unemployed not counted in the official figures because they’re not actively seeking work, but if we’re going to criticise the massaging of figures that makes the rate look artificially low, we shouldn’t massage them ourselves, the other way.
I’m a full time teacher. I have colleagues who work part time (and that might mean an 80% teaching load). They’re not unemployed – they work bloody hard and have longterm, stable jobs – but they may well be counted as “underutilised” as many would welcome fulltime positions if they were available.
Try reading this piece from Frank.
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2017/08/09/msm-catches-up-on-unemployment-stats-rort/
Or the one One Two put up below.
As for the spin of underutilised, I’m sure many of a Tory on here would be impressed with your utterance, and be more than happy to add it to their parlor tricks.
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/election/2017/08/unemployment-bad-news-nz-it-s-much-worse-than-you-think.html#.WYOoQGi5WF0.twitter
Strong economy…low unemployment
Not even the MSM believe that!
The key words might be ‘narrow economy’.
If you’re operating in that particular economy, it’s haymaking time, if you’re not, well, in the words of Sir John…. “you probably won’t be voting for us anyway”.
Narrow and still brittle.
A whole bunch broader and better off than when Labour left office in 2008, but there’s still not an alternative narrative about success.
Can you point to your source for the economy being broader?
I often hear people (including my own family) lament the poor books Labour left for NACT in 2008. I seem to remember as the finical crisis bit the current PM praising the previous Labour government for paying down debt as it put us in a strong position to ride the GFC out. Funny how that message has changed so much over a period of 9 years.
Ad is a true believer.
Its a joke, you cannot have low unemployment and stagnant wage growth. Doesn’t happen.
Where’s Paula Bennett? Has her star faded so much that Steven Joyce is actually hiding her away? We were told she was going to be a highlight for National on the campaign trail?
She’s fucked. The fact they didn’t use her against Turei suggests there are similar and possibly worse skeletons in her closet and their opponents will be aware of them. Too risky to have her visible in this campaign.
Hiding. Because no one can survive on welfare for long, without extra help or resources.
And National knows it.
Bennett is well groomed to take over in October if Bill resigns.
Pound for pound Ardern and Bennett are policy wonks with oodles of pedigree.
National have refreshed very well.
Bennett a policy wonk? She might produce policy but none of it works. I’m beginning to think KJT @11.2.1 is right. You spend a lot of time visiting another planet.
Do tell us you’re being sarcastic.
Agree. She said she didnt deliberately mislead winz. I lied but 20 years on I cant say that. Off scot free. Again.
“Bennett are policy wonks with oodles of pedigree”
lol you are really delusional if you think bennett is a policy wonk
A not very bright apparatchik, promoted because she can regurgitate propaganda and bullshit with a straight face, and are happy to do National’s dirty work.
Like the most National MP’s.
Ad – What pounds are you going on about – pounds as in sterling or pounds as in weight – if its weight you are comparing a feather with a brick with these two ladies. A better description could have been found here.
I’m not saying I like her.
But she is a very solid performer in the House, and Ardern never so much as laid a finger on her when they opposed each other on Social Welfare portfolios.
Bennett holds State Services, Women,Tourism, Police, and Climate Change Portfolios, as well as being Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of the National Party.
She’s also been across Tourism, Housing, Finance, and a bunch of Select Committees. She also did an Eisenhower Fellowship, which is only awarded to 20 outstanding women leaders at a time.
She has risen through the ranks of National in fairly quick order as a Minister who is to be reckoned with, takes no prisoners, and delivers their policy.
The left have spent far too long losing because they underestimated the trust of a huge section of the public who accept that this National leadership is competent, stable leadership.
Paula Bennett is ready to be top of the pile.
She is far too polarising. As said previously I come from a family that is very much in the life long National supports group and even they can’t stand Paula. She is far too abrasive and has shown herself to be a bully.
If National truly thought of her as a future PM she would not have been so regularly trotted out to do the Bennie bashing when a distraction was needed. She is the next Crusher Collins. Be tough, take the negative press, completely disposable when you need someone to take a fall.
The accusations in the back ground and what has just happened to MT just give those who are really in line to lead a good reason to shunt her aside when the time comes. Would not be surprised if it is Kiwiblog or WO that swing the axe.
She might have been “across many portfolios” but I would hazard a guess she knows stuff-all about most of them. Her Climate Change credentials are non existent. She knows nothing about it and understand less…
What she is good at is bullshitting the public that she knows stuff when she knows nothing. In other words, she’s a fake.
“across many portfolios”.
I though of something rude here, but I don’t want to denigrate an even older, but more honest profession.
😀
Ad. You really do live in a fantasy world.
Bennett is like so many hatchet men i have seen in corporations.
A useful idiot to front the destructive policies of management. To be disposed of, when convenient.
Here is Paula
Talking about Bill English and doorways.
““One of the main challenges he’s had as Prime Minister is every time he’d go to walk through a door, he said he was so used to always waiting for other people, because that’s just his nature – he’s a gentleman you know, it’s just what you do.
“Then he said everyone else would wait for him to walk through the door, so as the Minister for Women he came to me and [said], ‘So what do I do?’…
“I said to him, ‘Walk through the door Bill, no woman will think that you’re being discourteous’.”
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2017/08/17/43546/nationals-battle-to-move-on-from-john-key
Here is Paula
Talking about her achievements.
Yeah Paula B. We were heading into a global financail crisis caused by your neoliberal mentors. Chooses not to mention that.
Outstanding job? Sells off state and social housing. More homeless people than ever. Fiddles the stats to make it look like unemployment is lower than it is. Throws others off the system altogether.
Success? A dismal failure who shat on solo mums just because she could!
“…and we were talking about going well into double figures of unemployment, we were talking about literally hundreds of thousands of people going onto the benefit, we were gearing up for the worst of times…”
—
Simple solution, classify 1 hour of work as being in employment and hey, presto! Unemployment issue solved. This government shit is soooooo easy.
That happened in the 1980s.
Fixed unemployment nos. by changing the way it was counted.
Snap Kevin
Imagine if the time our media devoting to polls was replaced by policy analysis? Tracy Watkins is in a live blog blathwring on about poll ramifications. It is lazy and fuels the gambling/sporting style of voting rather than information. I despair.
The atmosphere on the Right wing blogs is one of resignation; they’re resigned to losing, to having to endure a Jacinda-led Labour Government. They’re hopeful though, of a Green collapse, though their more candid commenters say this won’t happen, no matter how they screw up their eyes, bunch their little fisties and wish really hard for it.
Yep. And as for the hooting one: calling the remaining GP voters addicts, when he has admitted alcohol problems, is not a very good look.
And this tweet from Julie Fairey:
yes hooton is pathetic – hollow hooton is irrelevant and he is hating it. Who? who? who?
I do feel sad for Matthew Hooton, as I do for anyone who battles addiction. It must be a terrible affliction. But wtf is he doing using addiction as a derogatory term for GP supporters? POT….KETTLE….BLACK?
Might be experiencing a bit of the Black Dog at the moment ?
Perhaps! Has he broken his addiction with this site? I don’t see him commenting here anymore (but I have only recently returned here). Is he banned or just disinterested in The Standard?
He (hooton) decided to spewed one of his lies on/at lprent. lprent gave him a chance to retract, he doubled down, then lprent banned him for life.
Atmosphere got a lot cleaner around here after that. We have our tiffs, but the gutter/sewer/cesspool politics of the hooton era, does not appear as much.
Oh hooton is still into his gutter/sewer/cesspool politics but we just don’t have to see or listen to it, if we choice not to. Personally I chose not to. Trolls and gutter rats are going to go on being what they are, and I don’t need it in my life.
Which by the way, leads to a major thanks to lprent, in one afternoon you made this site 100% more pleasant. Thank you.
You expect self awareness from Hooter?
There does seem to be a rabid dislike on the Right and in some media quarters. Irrationally so.
I have been told that the reason the young are not registering to vote is because they are not inspired by words but by video clips. So perhaps Labour needs to invest in a number of short animated video clips to attract the young.
Further to my comment above. One hundred odd years ago a lot of people could not read or if they could, could not afford to buy papers or books so young people were employed to read to them while they worked. Now a days people, especially those who were not read to when they were young, watch YouTube of Facebook. That is where they get their information from. So if a party wants to get to those unregistered 400,000 people they must use those formats with animated video clips. It is a no brainer.
Clever.
http://www.sirmitchell.com/product/45-enamel-pin
They’re tumbling like ninepins in Canberra;
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/nick-xenophon-checking-whether-hes-a-british-citizen-in-shock-new-twist-in-citizenship-crisis-20170818-gxyzo2.html
Far too many clerks on this site – technicians – where victory for the people is a heart you can’t refuse: fight with 8 limbs.