From Stuff this morning. The richest 1 per cent of the population owns three times more than the combined cash and assets of the poorest 50 per cent.
Though it is often lauded overseas as an egalitarian society, New Zealand’s income inequality statistics are much worse than those of most other developed nations. More than 200,000 Kiwi children live below the poverty line.
One can only conclude looking at the Polls that we are a heartless venal bunch of bastards. Or maybe just idiots for siding with the crapheads who promote this type of society.
The Dominion Post has investigated the group’s claims to measure just how big the gulf is here between the haves and have nots. A Statistics New Zealand report says the richest inhabitants’ net wealth runs into tens of millions of dollars, but is “likely to be underestimated”.
The report’s 2004 data – the latest available – reveals the richest 10 per cent collectively possess $128 billion in wealth, with median individual wealth of $255,000. In contrast, the poorest 10 per cent collectively possess $17.2b, with median individual wealth of $3200. While the richest 1 per cent held 16.4 per cent of the country’s net wealth, the poorest 50 per cent owned just 5.2 per cent.
Data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development shows New Zealand’s income inequality climbed dramatically in the 1980s and 1990s after sweeping economic reforms and deregulation of labour markets.
Disparities have plateaued since 2000, largely thanks to Working for Families tax credits, bigger pay packets for middle and low-income earners and declining investment returns for the rich.
But the gap between rich and poor still ranked ninth worst in the developed world in 2008.
And at the bottom of the article is the response from each party to this news/situation.
National/Key’s response is all waffly aspirational, grow the economy and jobs. Act/Brash’s is also fairly waffley. Labour/Goff and The Greens/Turie are more specific, mentioning their policies to change the situation.
Such disparity is clearly the result of the country’s regulatory and legislative settings in areas like taxation, wage rates, welfare support, employment law, union restrictions and wider commercial regs.
The settings have been set and the water has found its level ….. at these ridiculous and frankly completely rude differences.
If the settings mentioned above are all adjusted appropriately then the water will find a new level ….. at differences that are more reflective of the contributions each person makes to society.
It (this enormous gulf, not a general gulf) is nothing to do with who works harder or takes the greater risk or creates the most benefit for society, it is all to do with the government rules and regs.
Yeah, but wealth controls the discourse, so the settings will always be optimal for wealth concentration with just sufficient for the rest to prevent outright civil disintegration.
Maybe that’s why the PM can refuse to discuss tea drinking because the ‘public’ are only interested in ‘the economy’, while at the same time National doesn’t even attempt to provide policy answers on the Q & A site, or go on RNZ to discuss said policies.
Yes well it wrong that wealth controls much of the discourse. That is why we have a form of democracy. That is why we must be ever vigilant against this type of creeping change. After all, most of the world for most of its history has been under the control of heavily concentrated power.
Such disparity is clearly the result of the country’s regulatory and legislative settings in areas like taxation, wage rates, welfare support, employment law, union restrictions and wider commercial regs.
vto
Below is some tax policy that that begins to address this disparity:
MANA MEDIA RELEASE
18 November 2011
MANA Finds Friends in Strange Places
MANA economic justice spokesperson John Minto says MANA is surprised to find friends in strange places with no less than 39% of major New Zealand company chief executives supporting a Financial Transactions Tax in the New Zealand Herald’s “Mood of the Boardroom” survey released yesterday.
He says the CEOs were asked for their attitude to an FTT involving “a low tax on transactions involving equities, bonds, currency deals and derivatives”, and an astonishing 39% agreed.
“We thought the wealthy 1% would be the last to join the MANA call for a Hone Heke Financial Transactions Tax,” Mr Minto said.
“But these businesspeople are responding to international momentum building up behind this tax.
“Debate has taken off around the world and the FTT is now elbowing its way to the centre of economic debate in New Zealand where such a tax would have major benefits.
“When even the most right-wing businesspeople are seeing the benefits of such a tax then neo-liberal parties like Labour and National should take notice.
“An FTT on currency speculators would have the effect of stabilising and reducing the value of the New Zealand dollar (we have the 11th most traded currency in the world) which will bring in more money from exports as well as bringing in enough revenue to abolish GST.
“GST is a tax on the poor and has to go. The bottom 10% of income earners pay 14% of their income on GST while the top 10% pay just 4% of their income on GST.
“An FTT which abolishes GST will enable New Zealand to shift the tax burden from the poor to wealthy individuals and parasitic financial institutions.”
“GST is a tax on the poor and has to go. The bottom 10% of income earners pay 14% of their income on GST while the top 10% pay just 4% of their income on GST.
Although I believe it (it’s why National put GST up to 15% while cutting taxes for the rich) I’d like to see the research and figures that prove it.
…and parasitic financial institutions.
Wouldn’t it be better just to ban the parasitic institutions?
Carol, surely this is a joke? No self respecting report would have put their name to this drivel? For instance:
“But the gap between rich and poor still ranked ninth worst in the developed world in 2008”.
Given that earlier in the article the writer stated “The report’s 2004 data – the latest available”, how can a judgement be made that we are ninth in 2008, given there is no data for 2008? Warning bells, surely?
Oh, and on the 04 data, wasnt this after 5 years of Labour government, and during a period of the best economic conditions of a generation?
Given that earlier in the article the writer stated “The report’s 2004 data – the latest available”, how can a judgement be made that we are ninth in 2008, given there is no data for 2008?
Easy. Extrapolate decreasing wages for the majority with the fact that the top 151 people increased their net wealth by $7b in one year.
Oh, and on the 04 data, wasnt this after 5 years of Labour government, and during a period of the best economic conditions of a generation?
You may not have noticed but the increasing gap started after the neo-liberal reforms of the 1980s. It’s been getting worse ever since except over the time from 2000 to 2008 when it closed slightly. Then the GFC happened and it widened again.
So Draco, you propose that the conclusions drawn by the journo responsible for the article are by “extrapolation” rather than factual information? Now I see where you get some of your left field views from. You make stuff up!!
I note that you have mentioned the top 151 people increasing their wealth by $7billion. I assume these numbers have come from the NBR rich list. Best you have a look through, say the top 20 on that list. Tell me how many actually live and have business’s in NZ.
For eg: Graeme Hart’s wealth is almost entirely generated offshore and taxed accordingly, since it is unlikely that he is a tax resident of NZ. The Chandler brothers, Richard and Chris, have lived offshore for years. Again, their business interests are offshore and taxed in the jurisdictions where the income is earned. To that you can add Owen Glenn, Sir Michael Fay, David Richwhite, Eric Watson. There, I’ve done some of the legwork for you. What you need to do now, is sort out the actual numbers re those left in NZ, and their relative increase in wealth to get an accurate perspective.
Also, do some reading on the time value of money. When you have some, put it in the bank at an interest rate, do nothing and it actually increases! Amazing!
The decreasing incomes for the majority and the increasing net wealth of the minority is observed fact.
Also, do some reading on the time value of money. When you have some, put it in the bank at an interest rate, do nothing and it actually increases! Amazing!
Money in itself has no value. Interest is theft, a way to gain without work.
Shamubeel Eaqub says, in relation to the rich/poor divide, “The big issue isn’t in terms of whether low income people have assets, but whether they have enough to live decently.”
While he is right up to a point, he does not take into account the fact that a lack of assets in a place like NZ plays a big part in being able to live decently – in fact the wealth gap is probably a bigger driver of inequality than the wage gap. NZ used to have a very high proportion of home ownership, supplemented by a stable state housing policy, both of which have been seriously eroded over the past 20-30 years. Being subject to the changing whims of landlords and policies may not cause starvation, but does deprive people of a base upon which to build a life, even a modest life. The realistic appraisal that all industry is under threat and underpaid here, and that there is little hope of getting a foothold in the place if you do not already have one are the two main factors driving the exodus to Australia.
I may not have made myself clear enough Draco. I meant that people need assets in the sense of security of dwelling, whether through widespread home ownership or some other model. The lack of this, in a country where home ownership has decreased, casual landlording has increased, and state housing is under threat, plays a large part in locking people into poverty. I certainly did not mean that if we could all be rentiers then we would all be well off.
Where does Campbell get off thinking it valid journalism to resurrect
the worm for assessing public opinion on his show, when the worm,
in this case, is a downloadable app on smart phones that only a few can afford?
Some group some where in our “monitoring-of-practice-around-election-behaviour”
should be on to this one. Particularly as there was “serious” analysis of the results
on his programme …
Paul Goldsmith at last night’s Epsom candidate meeting while the “elephant in the room” was being talked about by David Parker: http://i42.tinypic.com/30hog0n.jpg
I hate to see a grown man cry, but it looks as though Goldsmith is about to break into tears with the news that he is still leading in the polls and is likely to win Epsom for National and not ACT.
Good to see the politicians tightening their belts and only accepting a 1.5% payrise and 5k bonus.
Leading by example that’s what we like to see.
MPs ‘don’t deserve’ pay rise
The Remuneration Authority, the independent body that sets politicians’ pay, has given MPs a salary increase of 1.5 per cent plus a $5000 payment to compensate for their scrapped international travel perks. The changes have bumped up a backbencher’s pay from $134,800 to $141,800, backdated to July 1 this year.
a increase of 20 cents a hour like Key gave to minimum wage earners- i earn a bit more than minimum wage but still is fuk all and i resent that MP’s r gona get 7k increase a year
r u that dumb?
Interesting that Joyce says on RNZ that their internal polling says that 80%+ people think that there are more important issues to discuss than tea-tapes. Wow! Fancy that. Most people would say that but the credibility/stability of our PM is also important. Joyce says we should be discussing the important issues like the economy. True but why won’t Key, who has been made the focus of everything, front up for serious interviews on those serious issues? That man is arrogant and treats the voters with contempt.
Where are the Government Ministers for interview and could they front for more than just reading statements?
Where is Key on serious interviews?
Afraid to face the Nation?
if Policy is so important to them, why won’t they answer the RNZ Q+A Policy questions?
These guys are just sitting there with middle fingers raised high.
I do not put it past them to have rigged something that they retain power no matter what the ballots say.
I do not trust these self serving arse-licking maggot spewing lap dogs of the Industrial-Military-Corpocracy,
(apologies to maggots everywhere which are, as we all know, very useful little critters)
Unfortunately with the “Over the teacups” gossip, Labour’s policies, asset sales, CGT, Phil Goff’s meetings, etc, etc, are getting sidelined and not reported. Was this the initial strategy that has just got out of hand?
My friend keeps telling me the Jesus Christ was the first socialist in the world and the consertave government of the day did not like his message and crucified him.
That was how anxious they were to close down a socialist view, I am beginning to think she is right, here we have another conservative government trying to close down the socialist view.
Are they any different than the Romans, they have different methods these days but….. would they call themselves christians and look upon Jesus as their savour…. go figure they don’t know what they are talking about.
Well said Deborah Hill Cone. I share the very same thoughts with regard to the Zac Guildford issue. I was also struck by the contrast between the reaction to Guildford and that meted out by this National Government to run-of-the-mill “criminals”.
Deborah Hill Cone
‘While Zac Guildford gets forgiveness and life coaching, run-of-the-mill crims get locked up and ignored.”
“National does not seem to see this double standard. It has run an increasingly punitive law and order policy which seems to have been ghost-written by the Sensible Sentencing Trust.”
Exactly. Reflected also in the example of hypocrisy by ACT and Sensible Sentencing over their hard stance on crims and soft stance on David Garrett’s crimes.
Another example – name suppression for high profile or rich crims because it “would affect their life so much” whereas the ordinary worker down the road gets no suppression even though it “would affect their life even more, relatively”.
People notice these things and the slow downward slide in standing of the supposed upper-echelons of society continues and is increasing ….
it is pretty daft to say that the media are abusing their power because they want to bring to the public’s attention what the pm of nz is saying and doing – it’s the media’s job to tell us all what’s going on and it’s hardly an ‘overuse of power’ if a lot of people in nz really want to know what sort of person their pm really is…..
Must say, whatever you think of his politics and methods, Winston Peters certainly has the gift of the gab. It’s been refreshing to hear a fluent speaking style on the radio after all the bland waffle of the last 3 years.
Winnie’s not everyone’s cuppa but at least you know what you’ll get from him and I agree with a previous blogger that at least he’s got kudos from the Winebox saga.
Which is more than the NACT can claim in terms of honesty or achievement as all they’ve done in 3 years is take a zero nett debt position they inherited from the fiscally prudent clark/cullen era and plunder it for their mates and backers benefits at the expense of hard working struggling kiwis.
Hoping beyond hope for this scenario…..tied election with Winnie back……Key and Goff approach Winnie who says, “Hey guys, my price is that we re open the Winebox, push through legislation with massive penalties for corporate fraud etc etc etc………”!
Downton Abbey…..pretty settings, costumes and photography….crap dialogue and pathetic story lines….sort of reminds me of John Key and his cronies really. Here the Guardian climbs into it politically.
Act: “James and I have actually entered into a deal: I’m telling ACT voters to vote for Shaw, and he’s telling his supporters to party vote ACT.”
of course it is a joke but in a soundbite world these guys need to be more responsible
politics in NZ is a bloody joke,
it’s off down the rabbit hole for us all
“Britain’s jobless young people are being sent to work for supermarkets and budget stores for up to two months for no pay and no guarantee of a job, the Guardian can reveal.”
Much as I gave up on The Listener years ago, Toby Manhire has an online blog at the Listener site which is updated throughout the day on the campaign and media developments which I found very useful for keeping up with the play. Probably way behind others in finding the site!
Anyway, he has posted a link to this weekend’s 60 minutes promo = and scary!!!!
Another link found via Toby Manhire’s blog to a TV3 video. Really found Goff’s natural and appropriate reaction at the end of the video a delight compared to Dear Leader’s performance this week.
Interesting. Taken from your good friend the Whale’s site (but not written by him):
1.You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.
2.What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.
3.The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.
4.You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it!
5.When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.
Your proportions were a bit off for #5. Should read:
When 1% of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other 99% is going to take care of them, and when the other 99% gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.
Your figures are somewhat skewed McFlock. Over 40 % of households in NZ are net beneficiaries. How does this equate with 99% working to support the 1%?
The top 10% of households in NZ pay over 70% of income tax already. So to say that the 99% support the one percent is just plain nonsense and an unsustainable argument.
The candidates all (except for Brendon Burns) look a bit…odd. Cosgrove looks like he has no upper lip. Dyson looks like she has a shrunken head. Woods looks like shes wearing somones couch and Dalziel looks like shes seen a ghost.
Is it really that hard to get/take a half-way decent photo?
RUGBY NEWS
Phil Goff almost broke the national conspiracy of silence tonight
Radio New Zealand National “Checkpoint”, 6:25 p.m., Friday 18 November 2011
The Friday night political round-up is not exactly the context you’d expect for this incident. But there you are: football is always on the minds of Kiwis, even the Leader of the Opposition during the heat of a campaign. What follows below constitutes a tantalizing near-miss in the maintenance of the national blackout….
JULIAN ROBINS: There are just over seven days left before election day. It’s a very big task ahead of you.
PHIL GOFF: Yes, but then the French team were underdogs five minutes before the World Cup final last month—and look what happened.
ROBINS: But they lost.
GOFF: Yes but… [long, long pause] …I will do it differently.
* * * * * * * * * *
That was extremely close. Phil Goff NEARLY did it. He nearly broke ranks and said: “Yes, but …. [long, long pause] … the National Party can’t count on a Craig Joubert to deliver them the result they want.”
But during that long, long pause, Goff’s finely honed political instincts kicked in and he (not for the first time in his career) suppressed the urge to state the truth and almost certainly unleash a political furore about his lack of patriotism. So he uttered the lame and unconvincing Plan B: “I will do it differently.”
We wonder who in New Zealand will be the first establishment figure to commit the heretical act of admitting what rugby fans all over the world already acknowledge: that the All Blacks were gifted the World Cup by the (possibly corrupt) non-referee.
I don’t know how to break this to you but no matter if anyone says it it isn’t going to change anything. The All Blacks still won – probably time to move on, everyone else has.
I don’t know how to break this to you but no matter if anyone says it it isn’t going to change anything.
Of course the All Blacks will keep the Cup for the next four years, so you’re right in that narrow sense. But millions of fans all over the world—and especially in France, a country that has always held All Black rugby in high regard—saw the All Blacks gifted the final because a possibly corrupt (non-) referee refused to penalize their cynical, repeated, blatant fouling.
So, in fact, the unfairness of Joubert’s astounding non-performance has left the All Blacks’ victory tarnished. In the euphoric afterglow of victory, it’s not something many of us feel able to comment on, however. It will take a while.
The All Blacks still won – probably time to move on, everyone else has.
No, “everyone else” has not “moved on”. This is a major story in France, and it’s only going to get worse. If you’re a fan of the All Blacks, you will feel angry that Joubert’s outrageous display has devalued this victory.
A couple of comments from Matt McCarten on iPredict tonight:
He saw Phil Goff yesterday and he was alive and vibrant – his head’s in a very good place compared with Key looking tired and stressed.
he confirms Hooton’s comment that Key disparaged the Greens in the teapot conversation: Key allegedly said, in the election the Greens won’t score as high as they have been in the polls because the Green supporters are losers and won’t get out to vote.
Key allegedly said, in the election the Greens won’t score as high as they have been in the polls because the Green supporters are losers and won’t get out to vote.
Key is as arrogant as he is indolent. The Green voters will come out in force next Saturday, and it looks like Winston’s Army will too.
Hooton is a keen and intelligent monitor of the airwaves, so he will have heard the alarming (for Hooton and his cronies) item on National Radio this morning, which pointed out that Auckland’s vast Pacific Islands community is going to vote in force for Labour next weekend, and will not be boycotting like it did in 2008.
Also McCarten made a “measure of the man” kind of comment about Goff. He said that Goff has spent 3 years being slammed in the media, and every day he gets back up and is out there doing his job, and he still looks eager. In contrast, Matt said, Key has had a dream run with the press, and he gets a bit of flack from them and he starts to cave.
Its true I have doubts now, I used to think National would be able to govern alone. Now I think they’ll need one of either the maori party, peter dunne or act
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You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8. The universe was ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
Peter Dunne writes – The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same?Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Buzz from the Beehive Melissa Lee – as may be discerned from the screenshot above – has not been demoted for doing something seriously wrong as Minister of ...
Morning in London Mother hugs beloved daughter outside the converted shoe factory in which she is living.Afternoon in London Travelling writer takes himself and his wrist down to A&E, just to be sure. Read more ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – The recent announcement of the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, makes very clear where the Government’s focus and priorities lie. The remit of the Advisory Group is that Group members will consider challenges and opportunities for improvement in the university sector including: ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
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. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
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. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
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. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
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. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Albanese government will introduce legislation to ban deepfake pornography and provide more funding for the eSafety Commission to pilot age-assurance technologies. The contribution of internet sites to gender-based violence was one major issue ...
Average ordinary time hourly earnings, as measured by the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES), increased 5.2 percent in the year to the March 2024 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. Annual wage cost inflation, as measured by the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dimitrios Salampasis, FinTech Capability Lead | Senior Lecturer, Emerging Technologies and FinTech, Swinburne University of Technology Clem Onojeghuo/Unsplash In the digital era, the job market is increasingly becoming a minefield – demanding and difficult to navigate. According to the Australian Bureau ...
As of the March 2024 quarter, we can now look back on 20 years of data related to youth not in employment, education, or training (NEET), as collected by the Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS), according to figures released by Stats NZ today. "The ...
Thousands of workers attended public events in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch today to celebrate International Workers’ Day (May Day), but union representatives are urging caution and vigilance over the Government’s blatantly "anti-worker" ...
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in the March 2024 quarter, compared with 4.0 percent in the previous quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. ...
The PSA is warning the Government that the sensitive information of New Zealanders held by various agencies will fall into the wrong hands if the latest round of proposed cuts goes ahead. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Talitha Best, Professor of Psychology, CQUniversity Australia Victoria Rodriguez/Unsplash How do sugar rushes work? – W.H, age nine, from Canberra What a terrific question W.H! Let’s explore this, starting with some of the basics. What is sugar? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karinna Saxby, Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne MART PRODUCTION/Pexels Increasing income support could help keep women and children safe according to new work demonstrating strong links between financial insecurity and domestic violence. ...
ANALYSIS:By Olli Hellmann, University of Waikato When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day today on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also to mark a defining event for national identity. The battle of Gallipoli against ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark A Gregory, Associate Professor, School of Engineering, RMIT University The telecommunications industry faces a major shakeup following the release of the post-incident report on last November’s 12-hour Optus outage. Telecommunications companies will have to share more information with customers during future ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Bookseller Confessional, in which we get to know Aotearoa’s booksellers. This week: Eden Denyer, bookseller at Unity Books Auckland.Weirdest question/request you’ve had on the shop floorA mother came in looking for anything we might have on Alaskan bison as that was her little boy’s ...
NZCTU Economist Craig Renney said new data released by Statistics New Zealand shows the need for Government to act now, with unemployment rising from 3.4% to 4.3%. ...
The outpouring of anger over Maiki Sherman’s hyperbolic presentation of this week’s ‘nightmare’ poll is itself an overreaction, argues Stewart Sowman-Lund. Politicians love nothing more than to pretend they don’t care about polls. This week, deputy prime minister Winston Peters said he didn’t give a “rat’s derriere” about a TVNZ ...
Asia Pacific Report Ngāti Kahungunu in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Hawkes Bay region has become the first indigenous Māori iwi (tribe) to sign a resolution calling for a “ceasefire in Palestine”, reports Te Ao Māori News. Reporter Te Aniwaniwa Paterson talked to Te Otāne Huata, who has been organising peace rallies ...
By Dale Luma in Port Moresby “We want grants and not concessional loans,” is the crisp message from Papua New Guinea businesses directly affected by the Black Wednesday looting four months ago. The businesses, which lost millions after the January 10 rioting and looting, say they need grants as part ...
Happy May Day. Join a union. Q: What’s worse than a staff break room where the only place to sit and have a cup of tea is on a teetering stack of old pornography magazines? A: Your boss replacing the magazine stacks with chairs that are “heartily encrusted with ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor Former opposition leader Matthew Wale has been announced as the second prime ministerial candidate ahead of the election in Solomon Islands tomorrow. He will face off against former foreign affairs minister Jeremiah Manele, who was announced by the Coalition for National Unity and Transformation ...
We get but one birthday a year – why not make it last as long as possible by scheduling as many meals with friends and family as you can? This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. How do you celebrate your birthday? Do you celebrate at ...
A Koi Tū discussion paper released today proposes sweeping changes to New Zealand’s media industry. The principal’s key author, Gavin Ellis, explains how journalists have a key role to play in making others value their role in society. This is an abridged version of a piece first published on knightlyviews.com ...
The Government’s spending cuts are again targeting support for Māori with proposed reform of the agency charged with advising on Māori wellbeing and development. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Douglas, Honorary Senior Lecturer, UNSW Aviation., UNSW Sydney The history of budget jet airlines in Australia is a long road littered with broken dreams. New entrants have consistently struggled to get a foothold. Low-cost carrier Bonza has just become the industry’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rosalind Dixon, Director, Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law, UNSW Sydney Australia is finally having a sustained conversation about violence against women and what we can do about it. It is more than time. Australian women and girls continue to experience ...
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 stockfour/Shutterstock Preliminary bulk billing data released this week shows a 2.1% rise in bulk billing up to March. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Schulz, Senior Lecturer, University of Adelaide Australia is once again grappling with how we can stop gendered violence in our country. Protests over the weekend show there is enormous community anger over the number of women who are dying and National ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University AnastasiaDudka/Shutterstock What if the government was doing everything it could to stop thieves making off with our money, except the one thing that could really work? That’s how it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Harrington, Senior Lecturer in English and Cultural Studies, University of Canterbury The Conversation It seems to be a time of old favourites. This month our experts have recommended two new seasons – the second season of Alone Australia (although ...
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From Stuff this morning.
The richest 1 per cent of the population owns three times more than the combined cash and assets of the poorest 50 per cent.
Though it is often lauded overseas as an egalitarian society, New Zealand’s income inequality statistics are much worse than those of most other developed nations. More than 200,000 Kiwi children live below the poverty line.
One can only conclude looking at the Polls that we are a heartless venal bunch of bastards. Or maybe just idiots for siding with the crapheads who promote this type of society.
Yes, I just read the article:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5989843/Revealing-the-gap-between-NZs-rich-and-poor
And at the bottom of the article is the response from each party to this news/situation.
National/Key’s response is all waffly aspirational, grow the economy and jobs. Act/Brash’s is also fairly waffley. Labour/Goff and The Greens/Turie are more specific, mentioning their policies to change the situation.
Yes National, your youth rate is really going to close that gap…
Such disparity is clearly the result of the country’s regulatory and legislative settings in areas like taxation, wage rates, welfare support, employment law, union restrictions and wider commercial regs.
The settings have been set and the water has found its level ….. at these ridiculous and frankly completely rude differences.
If the settings mentioned above are all adjusted appropriately then the water will find a new level ….. at differences that are more reflective of the contributions each person makes to society.
It (this enormous gulf, not a general gulf) is nothing to do with who works harder or takes the greater risk or creates the most benefit for society, it is all to do with the government rules and regs.
Yeah, but wealth controls the discourse, so the settings will always be optimal for wealth concentration with just sufficient for the rest to prevent outright civil disintegration.
Maybe that’s why the PM can refuse to discuss tea drinking because the ‘public’ are only interested in ‘the economy’, while at the same time National doesn’t even attempt to provide policy answers on the Q & A site, or go on RNZ to discuss said policies.
Yes well it wrong that wealth controls much of the discourse. That is why we have a form of democracy. That is why we must be ever vigilant against this type of creeping change. After all, most of the world for most of its history has been under the control of heavily concentrated power.
Below is some tax policy that that begins to address this disparity:
MANA MEDIA RELEASE
18 November 2011
MANA Finds Friends in Strange Places
MANA economic justice spokesperson John Minto says MANA is surprised to find friends in strange places with no less than 39% of major New Zealand company chief executives supporting a Financial Transactions Tax in the New Zealand Herald’s “Mood of the Boardroom” survey released yesterday.
He says the CEOs were asked for their attitude to an FTT involving “a low tax on transactions involving equities, bonds, currency deals and derivatives”, and an astonishing 39% agreed.
“We thought the wealthy 1% would be the last to join the MANA call for a Hone Heke Financial Transactions Tax,” Mr Minto said.
“But these businesspeople are responding to international momentum building up behind this tax.
“Debate has taken off around the world and the FTT is now elbowing its way to the centre of economic debate in New Zealand where such a tax would have major benefits.
“When even the most right-wing businesspeople are seeing the benefits of such a tax then neo-liberal parties like Labour and National should take notice.
“An FTT on currency speculators would have the effect of stabilising and reducing the value of the New Zealand dollar (we have the 11th most traded currency in the world) which will bring in more money from exports as well as bringing in enough revenue to abolish GST.
“GST is a tax on the poor and has to go. The bottom 10% of income earners pay 14% of their income on GST while the top 10% pay just 4% of their income on GST.
“An FTT which abolishes GST will enable New Zealand to shift the tax burden from the poor to wealthy individuals and parasitic financial institutions.”
Mr Minto says it’s a win-win tax for New Zealand.
For further information contact John Minto
MANA Media Liaison: Peter Verschaffelt
Email media@mana.net.nz Web http://mana.net.nz
Not all business people are hard right-wingers.
Although I believe it (it’s why National put GST up to 15% while cutting taxes for the rich) I’d like to see the research and figures that prove it.
Wouldn’t it be better just to ban the parasitic institutions?
Carol, surely this is a joke? No self respecting report would have put their name to this drivel? For instance:
“But the gap between rich and poor still ranked ninth worst in the developed world in 2008”.
Given that earlier in the article the writer stated “The report’s 2004 data – the latest available”, how can a judgement be made that we are ninth in 2008, given there is no data for 2008? Warning bells, surely?
Oh, and on the 04 data, wasnt this after 5 years of Labour government, and during a period of the best economic conditions of a generation?
Easy. Extrapolate decreasing wages for the majority with the fact that the top 151 people increased their net wealth by $7b in one year.
You may not have noticed but the increasing gap started after the neo-liberal reforms of the 1980s. It’s been getting worse ever since except over the time from 2000 to 2008 when it closed slightly. Then the GFC happened and it widened again.
That is in fact why The Powers That Be launched the global neoliberal reforms.
So Draco, you propose that the conclusions drawn by the journo responsible for the article are by “extrapolation” rather than factual information? Now I see where you get some of your left field views from. You make stuff up!!
I note that you have mentioned the top 151 people increasing their wealth by $7billion. I assume these numbers have come from the NBR rich list. Best you have a look through, say the top 20 on that list. Tell me how many actually live and have business’s in NZ.
For eg: Graeme Hart’s wealth is almost entirely generated offshore and taxed accordingly, since it is unlikely that he is a tax resident of NZ. The Chandler brothers, Richard and Chris, have lived offshore for years. Again, their business interests are offshore and taxed in the jurisdictions where the income is earned. To that you can add Owen Glenn, Sir Michael Fay, David Richwhite, Eric Watson. There, I’ve done some of the legwork for you. What you need to do now, is sort out the actual numbers re those left in NZ, and their relative increase in wealth to get an accurate perspective.
Also, do some reading on the time value of money. When you have some, put it in the bank at an interest rate, do nothing and it actually increases! Amazing!
The decreasing incomes for the majority and the increasing net wealth of the minority is observed fact.
Money in itself has no value. Interest is theft, a way to gain without work.
And, Draco, on that same note, Socialism is theft.
Well, if we are getting that fundamental:
Capitalism is theft from the poor by the rich;
Socialism is when the poor “steal” it back.
Shamubeel Eaqub says, in relation to the rich/poor divide, “The big issue isn’t in terms of whether low income people have assets, but whether they have enough to live decently.”
While he is right up to a point, he does not take into account the fact that a lack of assets in a place like NZ plays a big part in being able to live decently – in fact the wealth gap is probably a bigger driver of inequality than the wage gap. NZ used to have a very high proportion of home ownership, supplemented by a stable state housing policy, both of which have been seriously eroded over the past 20-30 years. Being subject to the changing whims of landlords and policies may not cause starvation, but does deprive people of a base upon which to build a life, even a modest life. The realistic appraisal that all industry is under threat and underpaid here, and that there is little hope of getting a foothold in the place if you do not already have one are the two main factors driving the exodus to Australia.
Actually, it is. People with assets can be rentiers and increase their income even without working. People without assets can’t.
Capitalism creates poverty by by shifting the communities wealth into the ownership and control of a few.
I may not have made myself clear enough Draco. I meant that people need assets in the sense of security of dwelling, whether through widespread home ownership or some other model. The lack of this, in a country where home ownership has decreased, casual landlording has increased, and state housing is under threat, plays a large part in locking people into poverty. I certainly did not mean that if we could all be rentiers then we would all be well off.
What the story only implies:
John Key is a 1%-er.
Polling.
Where does Campbell get off thinking it valid journalism to resurrect
the worm for assessing public opinion on his show, when the worm,
in this case, is a downloadable app on smart phones that only a few can afford?
Some group some where in our “monitoring-of-practice-around-election-behaviour”
should be on to this one. Particularly as there was “serious” analysis of the results
on his programme …
Paul Goldsmith at last night’s Epsom candidate meeting while the “elephant in the room” was being talked about by David Parker:
http://i42.tinypic.com/30hog0n.jpg
It looks like he’s just finished a big piece of turd pie.
I hate to see a grown man cry, but it looks as though Goldsmith is about to break into tears with the news that he is still leading in the polls and is likely to win Epsom for National and not ACT.
a pisstake on jokey hens life and
Go and listen – its farkin funny and spread it thru yr networks guys n gals 😛
http://www.robroynz.com/
Good one except who knows what charities his (increased) goes too?
Would love to know what charities get his salary ?- considering alot of them run on the smell of a oily rag aye
Not many if any– springz 2 mind
He is too greedy to donate all of his salary
National’s Waitemata Trust.
Have you seen this one….so true!
Good to see the politicians tightening their belts and only accepting a 1.5% payrise and 5k bonus.
Leading by example that’s what we like to see.
MPs ‘don’t deserve’ pay rise
The Remuneration Authority, the independent body that sets politicians’ pay, has given MPs a salary increase of 1.5 per cent plus a $5000 payment to compensate for their scrapped international travel perks. The changes have bumped up a backbencher’s pay from $134,800 to $141,800, backdated to July 1 this year.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5989505/MPs-don-t-deserve-pay-rise
Still far too much
how bout 20 cents a hour? like the rest of us on minimum wage
You earn 20c per hour Kris, really.
a increase of 20 cents a hour like Key gave to minimum wage earners- i earn a bit more than minimum wage but still is fuk all and i resent that MP’s r gona get 7k increase a year
r u that dumb?
Interesting that Joyce says on RNZ that their internal polling says that 80%+ people think that there are more important issues to discuss than tea-tapes. Wow! Fancy that. Most people would say that but the credibility/stability of our PM is also important. Joyce says we should be discussing the important issues like the economy. True but why won’t Key, who has been made the focus of everything, front up for serious interviews on those serious issues? That man is arrogant and treats the voters with contempt.
Where are the Government Ministers for interview and could they front for more than just reading statements?
Where is Key on serious interviews?
Afraid to face the Nation?
How many times has Joyce refused morning report interviews?
if Policy is so important to them, why won’t they answer the RNZ Q+A Policy questions?
These guys are just sitting there with middle fingers raised high.
I do not put it past them to have rigged something that they retain power no matter what the ballots say.
I do not trust these self serving arse-licking maggot spewing lap dogs of the Industrial-Military-Corpocracy,
(apologies to maggots everywhere which are, as we all know, very useful little critters)
Unfortunately with the “Over the teacups” gossip, Labour’s policies, asset sales, CGT, Phil Goff’s meetings, etc, etc, are getting sidelined and not reported. Was this the initial strategy that has just got out of hand?
My friend keeps telling me the Jesus Christ was the first socialist in the world and the consertave government of the day did not like his message and crucified him.
That was how anxious they were to close down a socialist view, I am beginning to think she is right, here we have another conservative government trying to close down the socialist view.
Are they any different than the Romans, they have different methods these days but….. would they call themselves christians and look upon Jesus as their savour…. go figure they don’t know what they are talking about.
Well said Deborah Hill Cone. I share the very same thoughts with regard to the Zac Guildford issue. I was also struck by the contrast between the reaction to Guildford and that meted out by this National Government to run-of-the-mill “criminals”.
Deborah Hill Cone
‘While Zac Guildford gets forgiveness and life coaching, run-of-the-mill crims get locked up and ignored.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10766918
“National does not seem to see this double standard. It has run an increasingly punitive law and order policy which seems to have been ghost-written by the Sensible Sentencing Trust.”
Exactly. Reflected also in the example of hypocrisy by ACT and Sensible Sentencing over their hard stance on crims and soft stance on David Garrett’s crimes.
Another example – name suppression for high profile or rich crims because it “would affect their life so much” whereas the ordinary worker down the road gets no suppression even though it “would affect their life even more, relatively”.
People notice these things and the slow downward slide in standing of the supposed upper-echelons of society continues and is increasing ….
Is the media munting our democracy? They certainly seem to overuse and abuse their power.
it is pretty daft to say that the media are abusing their power because they want to bring to the public’s attention what the pm of nz is saying and doing – it’s the media’s job to tell us all what’s going on and it’s hardly an ‘overuse of power’ if a lot of people in nz really want to know what sort of person their pm really is…..
Pete’s having another Rodney King moment, “can’t we all just get along”.
And, meanwhile, United Follicles continues to ‘peter’ out.
They’re doing their job for once and holding power to account you feckless fucking courtesan.
http://www.guerillamedia.co.nz/content/freedom-speech-and-using-phone-post-facebook-are-crimes-nz
Nope you dickhead
Your mate Key is
Grist: The push is on to discredit clean energy investment.
Questioning Bill English
Over the last couple of days I’ve been asking a few questions of Bill English through his website…
Must say, whatever you think of his politics and methods, Winston Peters certainly has the gift of the gab. It’s been refreshing to hear a fluent speaking style on the radio after all the bland waffle of the last 3 years.
Winnie’s not everyone’s cuppa but at least you know what you’ll get from him and I agree with a previous blogger that at least he’s got kudos from the Winebox saga.
Which is more than the NACT can claim in terms of honesty or achievement as all they’ve done in 3 years is take a zero nett debt position they inherited from the fiscally prudent clark/cullen era and plunder it for their mates and backers benefits at the expense of hard working struggling kiwis.
Hoping beyond hope for this scenario…..tied election with Winnie back……Key and Goff approach Winnie who says, “Hey guys, my price is that we re open the Winebox, push through legislation with massive penalties for corporate fraud etc etc etc………”!
Fantastic to see more of the 1% coming out.
Somehow, does the piece sound like it is akschully written by the stated author?
Great to see he has spare time, like the cops do, to work on John Key’s campaign.
Owen Glenn on the joys and miracles of selling our assets
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10766751
Hey you 99%, go on, you know you want to vote for your serfdom 🙂
Downton Abbey…..pretty settings, costumes and photography….crap dialogue and pathetic story lines….sort of reminds me of John Key and his cronies really. Here the Guardian climbs into it politically.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2011/nov/17/downton-abbey-kirstie-new-boring
Occupy streams from around the globe so the revolution will
notbe televised.http://www.ustream.tv/theother99
12:22 on the Stuff live debate we have Greens announcing a deal with Act
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/election-2011/wellington-electorates/5987798/Wellington-Central-candidates-live-forum
Act: “James and I have actually entered into a deal: I’m telling ACT voters to vote for Shaw, and he’s telling his supporters to party vote ACT.”
of course it is a joke but in a soundbite world these guys need to be more responsible
politics in NZ is a bloody joke,
it’s off down the rabbit hole for us all
Yeah, I’m pretty annoyed with Stephen about that.
Young jobseekers told to work without pay or lose unemployment benefits
“Britain’s jobless young people are being sent to work for supermarkets and budget stores for up to two months for no pay and no guarantee of a job, the Guardian can reveal.”
Much as I gave up on The Listener years ago, Toby Manhire has an online blog at the Listener site which is updated throughout the day on the campaign and media developments which I found very useful for keeping up with the play. Probably way behind others in finding the site!
Anyway, he has posted a link to this weekend’s 60 minutes promo = and scary!!!!
http://www.3news.co.nz/The-Facegoff—a-dystopian-future/tabid/1620/articleID/233184/Default.aspx
Another link found via Toby Manhire’s blog to a TV3 video. Really found Goff’s natural and appropriate reaction at the end of the video a delight compared to Dear Leader’s performance this week.
http://www.3news.co.nz/Defacing-Labour-billboards-with-Goffs-face/tabid/419/articleID/233120/Default.aspx
Thats just mean
Interesting. Taken from your good friend the Whale’s site (but not written by him):
1.You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.
2.What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.
3.The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.
4.You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it!
5.When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.
You cannot substitute intelligence by intelligence substitute cannot you.
Your proportions were a bit off for #5. Should read:
When 1% of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other 99% is going to take care of them, and when the other 99% gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.
Your figures are somewhat skewed McFlock. Over 40 % of households in NZ are net beneficiaries. How does this equate with 99% working to support the 1%?
The top 10% of households in NZ pay over 70% of income tax already. So to say that the 99% support the one percent is just plain nonsense and an unsustainable argument.
i just want to touch on 4 because i am still pissing my pants laughing at the rest of them
“4.You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it!”
What do you think fractional reserve banking does ?
Whats up with Christchurch MP pictures
The candidates all (except for Brendon Burns) look a bit…odd. Cosgrove looks like he has no upper lip. Dyson looks like she has a shrunken head. Woods looks like shes wearing somones couch and Dalziel looks like shes seen a ghost.
Is it really that hard to get/take a half-way decent photo?
their pictures DONT get photoshopped like Keystone the bully does mate
god u RWNJ aint that bright eh
Tell you what sunshine go have a look at Dalziels pic and tell me its not shopped
http://www.ownourfuture.co.nz/candidates/lianne-dalziel
and do you think this image is shopped or real?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Helen_Clark_2.jpg
Helen Clark’s a ChristChurch mp?
Excuse me, sir, your desperation is showing.
Well to be fair I was a bit iffy about putting her in but in the end I decided I was ok with it.
My comments arn’t about the MPs themselves more about whoevers taking the photos, choosing the clothes etc etc
I did say that Burns didn’t look bad
Token faint praise duly noted.
RUGBY NEWS
Phil Goff almost broke the national conspiracy of silence tonight
Radio New Zealand National “Checkpoint”, 6:25 p.m., Friday 18 November 2011
The Friday night political round-up is not exactly the context you’d expect for this incident. But there you are: football is always on the minds of Kiwis, even the Leader of the Opposition during the heat of a campaign. What follows below constitutes a tantalizing near-miss in the maintenance of the national blackout….
JULIAN ROBINS: There are just over seven days left before election day. It’s a very big task ahead of you.
PHIL GOFF: Yes, but then the French team were underdogs five minutes before the World Cup final last month—and look what happened.
ROBINS: But they lost.
GOFF: Yes but… [long, long pause] …I will do it differently.
* * * * * * * * * *
That was extremely close. Phil Goff NEARLY did it. He nearly broke ranks and said: “Yes, but …. [long, long pause] … the National Party can’t count on a Craig Joubert to deliver them the result they want.”
But during that long, long pause, Goff’s finely honed political instincts kicked in and he (not for the first time in his career) suppressed the urge to state the truth and almost certainly unleash a political furore about his lack of patriotism. So he uttered the lame and unconvincing Plan B: “I will do it differently.”
We wonder who in New Zealand will be the first establishment figure to commit the heretical act of admitting what rugby fans all over the world already acknowledge: that the All Blacks were gifted the World Cup by the (possibly corrupt) non-referee.
I don’t know how to break this to you but no matter if anyone says it it isn’t going to change anything. The All Blacks still won – probably time to move on, everyone else has.
I don’t know how to break this to you but no matter if anyone says it it isn’t going to change anything.
Of course the All Blacks will keep the Cup for the next four years, so you’re right in that narrow sense. But millions of fans all over the world—and especially in France, a country that has always held All Black rugby in high regard—saw the All Blacks gifted the final because a possibly corrupt (non-) referee refused to penalize their cynical, repeated, blatant fouling.
So, in fact, the unfairness of Joubert’s astounding non-performance has left the All Blacks’ victory tarnished. In the euphoric afterglow of victory, it’s not something many of us feel able to comment on, however. It will take a while.
The All Blacks still won – probably time to move on, everyone else has.
No, “everyone else” has not “moved on”. This is a major story in France, and it’s only going to get worse. If you’re a fan of the All Blacks, you will feel angry that Joubert’s outrageous display has devalued this victory.
A couple of comments from Matt McCarten on iPredict tonight:
He saw Phil Goff yesterday and he was alive and vibrant – his head’s in a very good place compared with Key looking tired and stressed.
he confirms Hooton’s comment that Key disparaged the Greens in the teapot conversation: Key allegedly said, in the election the Greens won’t score as high as they have been in the polls because the Green supporters are losers and won’t get out to vote.
Key allegedly said, in the election the Greens won’t score as high as they have been in the polls because the Green supporters are losers and won’t get out to vote.
Key is as arrogant as he is indolent. The Green voters will come out in force next Saturday, and it looks like Winston’s Army will too.
Hooton is a keen and intelligent monitor of the airwaves, so he will have heard the alarming (for Hooton and his cronies) item on National Radio this morning, which pointed out that Auckland’s vast Pacific Islands community is going to vote in force for Labour next weekend, and will not be boycotting like it did in 2008.
Maybe that’s why Goff seems positive?
Also McCarten made a “measure of the man” kind of comment about Goff. He said that Goff has spent 3 years being slammed in the media, and every day he gets back up and is out there doing his job, and he still looks eager. In contrast, Matt said, Key has had a dream run with the press, and he gets a bit of flack from them and he starts to cave.
Its true I have doubts now, I used to think National would be able to govern alone. Now I think they’ll need one of either the maori party, peter dunne or act