John Key has reinvented politics for New Zealand – winning politics in New Zealand now has nothing to do with policy, leadership, or content of any kind. Politics is entertainment. A few jokes, a bit of teasing, lots of banter, golf, and holidays with a bit of work on the side.
It’s a spectacular success. No one has gotten near it.
It’s where the people are. You go to them, no more expecting them to come to you and be attracted to your message in your terms.
“A few jokes, a bit of teasing, lots of banter, golf, and holidays with a bit of work on the side.’….so its a B.O.D. then….no wonder he’s right at home
Still to arrive despite a Nobel Peace Prize for the people who held the country together.
These issues are bread and butter for the internationalist Left. Surely this is a textbook case for assistance to build democracy and the administrative leadership the country needs.
I can’t understand why the military and its weapons is considered the best use of the Western nations’ funds to fight Daesh.
Military Industrial Complex and there is money in war. Daesh gets its weapons from someone, like the US, Germany, France, England, Sweden, Russia, China and any other manufacturer of killing machines that I may have forgotten. People? ha collateral damage and we have got seven billion and counting of them, so a few hundred thousands here and there missing are nothing but a trickle down in an ocean.
Interesting breakdown of those opposing the TPPA from political parties ( from TPPA News Bulletin #80 , 17 December 2015)
….Shows that supporters of NZF and Winston Peters are MOST opposed to the TPPA…87%
“Kiwis against the TPPA
In successive polls, Kiwis have rejected the TPPA. A stunning TV3 Reid Research poll revealed that a majority of NZ voters reject the TPPA. The coverage said that 52% rejected the TPPA (some people didn’t have an opinion, and the rejection was over 60% of those who expressed an opinion). 73% of Labour supporters were against it (is Andrew Little listening?), 84% Greens and 87% NZ First. Even 23% of National
Party supporters were against the TPPA. That’s an amazing result especially as it came after a month of media carrying the government’s PR and spin while we couldn’t see the final text. Then last week, 97.5% voted no to TPPA in an online referendum run by the people’s ‘Real Choice’ ”
(which gives lie to the constant criticism here by some, especially professed Greens, that Winston Peters and NZF are right wing and not to be trusted….more anti TPPA from NZF supporters than than the Greens …take note !)
Current polling suggests that even if Winston goes into coalition Labour/Greens it still won’t be enough and do you really think (and be honest here) that Winston wants to play second fiddle to the Greens or anyone?
PR, if Winston wants to be in coalition/supply agreement or whatever on the government side, he will be playing second fiddle to whomsoever, for he’s not going to be the major partner with the most seats.
And an elvish Christmas to you, too. I hope you get a good end bonus.
Like he did with Jim Bolger before the uncooperative Jenny Shipley dropped Bolger and then Peters. Or the second fiddle that he played for Helen Clark?
I think that you misunderstand the concept of cooperation in politics.
I think you merely prove PRs main points.
Winston is, as PR says, “particularly fond of the baubles of office” and doesn’t like having to “play second fiddle to the Greens or anyone”.
Do you think that Little would, if it came down to it, include Winston in his Government and exclude the Greens if that was one of Winston’s demands?
Do you think that the Green Party would go along with it, as they had to do when Helen Clark excluded them from being part of her Government?
Would a Labour-led Government find that titles were a good idea if Winston demanded a knighthood as part of his price?
Are you happy that these would merely be the trifles of co-operation in Government?
Sigh – read the seat numbers in 2005. I really wish that you mythmaker idiots would do some parliamentary maths.
50 Labour Party
48 National Party
07 New Zealand First Party
06 Green Party
04 Mâori Party
03 United Future New Zealand
02 ACT New Zealand
01 Jim Anderton’s Progressive
Jim Anderton was a known partner and trusted by Labour.
The Maori party had essentially declared war on Labour so they were out of the mix.
UF were a known and trustworthy commodity in government.
The Greens and NZ First were both ‘unknown’ to Labour as to how well they’d work in government. But NZF had people who’d been in government before. The Greens did not.
Lab went for the mix with the least political risk for them as a government. If the Greens had gotten one more, then they would have been a contender. But that would have required that Peter Dunne preferred them over NZF which he didn’t.
Now look at 2014
60 National Party
32 Labour Party
14 Green Party
11 New Zealand First Party
02 Māori Party
01 ACT New Zealand
01 United Future
Assume National got a five less seats and Labour got a five more.
The Maori party appears to be just as hostile as they were back in 2005, but now because they are heavily in the pockets of corporate iwi. ACT and UF are supplicant clients of National. So assume all of them support National and Labour won’t. Besides
37 + 14 + 02 + 01 +01 = 55 == well short
but
37 + 14 + 11 = 62
A pretty simple coalition compared to anything in 2005. The Greens are not what they were in 2005, they are a lot more stable. In many ways NZF social policies are closer to the Greens now than they are to Labour.
Personally I don’t think there is a hope in hell of Winston going with National unless Key is dumped along with a lot of the National frontbench who launched that personal attack on him in 2008. I doubt if many of the cabinet experienced hands in NZF will either – Joyce’s National campaign was directly responsible for their time in the wilderness..
But lets follow your idiotic bauble logic.
NZF’s MPs will get more cabinet posts in a coalition where they are about half of the size of the main party. That party now has relatively few ex-cabinet ministers, which means that the parties are more cabinet equal. It is nearly a third larger than a cabinet neophyte Green party. NZF on a straight equal basis will get more baubles and a more equal partnership in the L + NZF + G.
That won’t happen in National where more than a third of their MPs will have some kind of RECENT cabinet experience.
I have a problem following some of the latter part of this comment. There are statements that don’t seem to be accurate.
For example “many of the cabinet experienced hands in NZF”. There is only one of them – Winston. Only 3 others were even in Parliament pre 2011 and none of them had any Executive, much less Cabinet experience. The same applies to “parties are more cabinet equal”. They aren’t.
“about half of the size of the main party”. Your own assumption is 11 to 37, which is nothing like “about half”
” It is nearly a third larger than a cabinet neophyte Green party” It isn’t. It would be, on your assumptions, 11 NZF to 14 Greens. Also, as I comment above, they are both ” cabinet neophyte” parties.
If the Green Party is larger than NZF they are certainly going to demand more Cabinet positions than NZF. It won’t be NZF that is the second party. It will be the Greens. They (the Greens) can also remember how NZF locked them out in 2005.
I think Winston can adapt his “principles” to get first pick of the baubles and a knighthood. I don’t really think he wants to have to follow two parties in the pecking order.
Actually, it’s at the point where NZ1st simply couldn’t side with National as their policies are poles apart. IMO, there’s actually a higher probability of Labour siding with National.
Over the last few months I have become increasingly concerned about the actions of our Prime Minister, and how they show a complete lack of understanding about the impacts of sexual and physical violence in this country. His “prison rape” joke on radio yesterday was the last straw. I believe it is no longer OK for John Key to make light of sexual abuse and sexual violence, and so I ask you to join me in calling on the White Ribbon organization to remove John Key as an ambassador.”
~ Kyle MacDonald, ActionStation Member
Martin Shkreli, the former hedge fund manager under fire for buying a pharmaceutical company and ratcheting up the price of a life-saving drug, is in custody following a securities probe not directly related to those actions.
A seven-count indictment unsealed in Brooklyn federal court charged Shkreli with conspiracy to commit securities fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and securities fraud. A second defendant, attorney Evan Greebel, of Scarsdale, New York, was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. It was not immediately clear who will represent Greebel in court.
Can’t say that I’m surprised in the least as his ratcheting up of the price of a drug simply to boost his own wealth shows the psychopathic tendencies.
With all that is going on at present, those of you who are anti-TPPA (as I am) may have missed this ray of hope discussed by Gordon Campbell on Scoop yesterday.
A leading thinker speaks out:
“Slaughter’s never something to be recommended.” PAUL HENRY, TV3, Friday 18 December 2015
Alison Mau, Hilary Barry, Jim Kayes
As noted a couple of days ago, the egregious breakfast show PAUL HENRY has been markedly improved by the temporary absence of …. Paul Henry. His temporary replacement, Alison Mau, is far more intelligent and serious—and a nice person as well. This puts others at ease; Henry’s slaves Hilary and Jim are notably more relaxed and have been smiling and laughing this week rather than grimacing as Henry makes one of his ignorant and brutal comments, cringing as he grovels to a National Party politician, or forcing out an uneasy snicker at one of his mirthless jokes.
However, Alison Mau is still at the mercy of the show’s producers. So she had no option but to talk to the discredited former ACT führer Jamie “Lock Up His Sisters” Whyte, who was one of the guests on the “Panel” segment after the 8 o’clock news. The other Panel guest was the 21 year old blogger Verity Johnson. She did not even try to disguise her contempt for Whyte.
First item up for discussion was the decision to allow Rugby League player Russell Packer, convicted of serious assault, to remain in Australia. Whyte started by making a Paul Henry-standard joke: “It’s a severe punishment to have to stay in Australia,” he quipped. Nobody laughed. Then he embarked on a long and wandery homily about how equal treatment of offenders is unfair on the rich, who suffer unduly because “they have more to lose.” This led him on to some even more confused remarks about the love life of Brad Pitt, and then another awkward joke about how he loves alcohol.
As Whyte rambled on, Verity Johnson looked hard up and to the right, to a spot as far away from Whyte as possible. She also fought to stop herself from laughing out loud. Even Jim and Hilary, accustomed to listening to bizarre monologues every morning, were clearly uncomfortable….
JAMIE “LOCK UP HIS SISTERS” WHYTE: I’m a very jolly chap, especially after a certain time of night. … It’s been a very boring year. the highlight was the Free Trade deal. It was bloody great. Cons? I suppose all the slaughter. Slaughter’s never something to be recommended.
ALISON MAU: But there are legitimate concerns about the TPP. Even Tim Groser admits that.
JAMIE “LOCK UP HIS SISTERS” WHYTE:[speaking as slowly as possible to convey how serious he is] People don’t like companies suing governments. That’s a feature I LIKE because it constrains government. And I like government to be constrained. Ummm….
As Whyte bored on, the camera cruelly pulled back to show Verity Johnson shaking her head and rolling her eyes, Jim and Hilary wincing, and even the technicians and studio crew shaking their heads in disbelief.
After Whyte was gone, Jim and Hilary made a few light-hearted remarks about the absent Henry enjoying his overseas holiday. Ali Mau then uttered what might have been an even more nonsensical statement than anything by the hapless ex-ACT führer….
ALISON MAU: Paul DESERVES a holiday! He’s worked EXTREMELY hard all year….
IN A COUNTERINSURGENCY FAR, FAR AWAY….
(with thanks to Foreign Policy magazine)
The first great struggle between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire ended with the destruction of the Death Star and an apparent victory for the Rebels at the Battle of Endor. Yet we now know that the struggle has raged on for the last 30 years. Why did the defeat of Emperor Palpatine and the much heralded “return of the Jedi” not produce decades of peace under a restored Republic?
In hindsight, it’s clear that for the Rebel Alliance the Imperial defeat at the Battle of Endor was a classic example of a catastrophic victory: a sudden collapse of a seemingly unbeatable foe that produced opportunities it was unprepared to exploit. Rather than capitalizing on their historic gains and establishing the hoped-for New Republic, the Rebels simply allowed the Galactic Empire to fragment, ushering in a period of chaos.
Now, facing a more virulent version of the Empire under the guise of the mysterious First Order, the Resistance, the successor of the Rebel Alliance, must succeed where its progenitor failed: It must be prepared to “win the peace” and show that it represents the best hope to end this destructive conflict and bring order to the galaxy.
As Libya, Iraq, and Syria have shown us, the combination of intense religious factionalism and a chaotic post-conflict environment is a toxic one that can lead to escalating violence and brutality. To avoid that outcome, the new Resistance must learn from the mistakes of the Rebel Alliance and quickly devise a plan to destroy the First Order and re-establish the Republic on the basis of indirect rule.
Ultimately, the success of the peace will depend on the Resistance’s ability to hold territory and provide law and order, especially in places that were once dens of criminality. For this reason, the stability of planets like Jakku and Tatooire- is crucial and can no longer be left to the control of crime bosses like the Hutts.
And then there are the lessons that fail to get learned; the “Horror vacui” when regimes are forced out with no replacing plan to re-settle civic order; the temptation of “boots on the ground” when hit and run tactics simply fail; the magic recipe of “Build, Hold, Govern” … suffice to say that analogies to stuff happening on earth right now abound.
The Resistance may find itself concluding — as Britain and later the United States did — that the only way to re-establish order over fragmented, politically diverse territories is indirect rule supported by indigenous law enforcement. Carefully cultivating local leaders will be crucial to providing a legitimate “face” for the new Resistance-led government. Otherwise, if the Resistance fails to govern, or governs too directly as the Empire did (and effectively become a new empire but in faun organic cotton), there will be no end in sight to the generational wars among the stars.
John Key reflecting on ponytailgate: “…but there’s only one person who understands the complete story and that’s me and I’m quite comfortable with it.” My emphasis.
So, how come Serco are in line for performance bonuses this year, even after they’ve had the contract retracted for failure to run a safe prison?
$8 million over 4 years in bonuses, including about $1 million this year, according to Andrea Vance. Apparently some money will be recovered to cover costs, but there’ll still be bonuses paid for this year.
I don’t have a link, sorry – just listening (in disbelief – no no disbelief, just disgust) to One News.
Because ever bodies mate john is fucking useless at driving a hard bargain and gets shafted in every deal. The fact the inept douche bag made millions makes me wonder how much he must of made his bosses.
We should get Michael Cullen out of retirement, shouldn’t we?
That magnificent deal he did when he bought back the railways off Toll Holdings. That showed how negotiations should be done and how to get a real bargain, didn’t it? Pay $665 million for something that was essentially worthless. That deal was even sillier than Bond paying Packer $1 billion for TV9. Packer bought that back a couple of years later for $250 million.
That purchase of the railways showed real skill. Or, as is more realistic, total stupidity by the government of the time. http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/rail-buy-back-marks-new-sustainable-era-transport
The rail should never of been sold ,its as intrinsic to a functioning country as the roads, the rail lines need to be a seperated from from the cartage side and be treated the same as roads.
Imagine an airport in a major city that only let its own planes land, not a good idea is it.?
“Do you think we can ever get rid of hate?” The Panel, RNZ National, Friday 18 December 2015
Jim Mora, Jock Anderson, Nicky Pellegrino
“I think there’s a certain unwillingness to intervene when unruliness breaks out.”—Jim Mora.
Indeed.
Jim Mora was talking in this case about crime on the trains in Auckland, but perhaps some of the following incidences of “unwillingness to intervene when unruliness breaks out” passed across his mind for a moment….
JOCK ANDERSON casually insulting Australian soldiers, JOHN BISHOP cracking anti-Arab hate “jokes”, MICHAEL BASSETT snarling that Nicky Hager is a Holocaust-denier, MICHELLE BOAG denouncing for several minutes the untermenschen who dare to question the wisdom of politicians, CHRIS TROTTER laughing at the fate of political dissidents, DENISE L’ESTRANGE-CORBET shouting insanely about the poor (“I don’t believe there IS a shortage of jobs in New Zealand!”), CHRIS TROTTER (again) sternly lecturing those foolish enough to doubt the integrity of the Deep South jury that found the killer of Trayvon Martin “not guilty”, ROSEMARY McLEOD contemptuously dismissing Egyptian civilians (“Those people don’t WANT democracy!”) and—nobody who heard this one will ever forget it—Cameron Slater’s personal servant JORDAN WILLIAMS frothing and bawling like a banshee at Josie McNaught [1].
The list goes on, and on, and on, ad absurdum, ad nauseam.
Every one of those outbreaks of unruliness came on The Panel, the RNZ National program hosted by…. Jim Mora. In each of those outbreaks of unruliness, Mora either kept silent, or—perhaps even worse—joined in with the derisive laughing at the victims. He was unwilling—or afraid—to intervene.
– – – – – – – – – –
Right at the end of the program, the host brought up the German government’s decree that social media platforms must delete hate speech within 24 hours….
JIM MORA: Do you think we can ever get rid of hate? NICKY PELLEGRINO:[speaking very slowly to convey great seriousness] You can’t get rid of it, but you can refuse to give it a platform.
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Should New Zealand have a snap election? That’s one of the questions arising out of the chaos of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s shock resignation. There’s an increased realisation that everything has changed, and the old plans and assumptions for election year have suddenly evaporated. So, although Ardern has named an ...
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The resignation of Jacinda Ardern has already made more global headlines than you might expect for that of the PM of a small commonwealth nation like say Sierra Leone (population 6.5 million) or Singapore (population 5.5 million). But international observers might not be too surprised by Ardern’s announcement that ...
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Buzz from the Beehive Hard on the heels of our Buzz from the Beehive earlier today, the PM has made two announcements – the 2023 general election will be held on Saturday 14 October and she will not be campaigning to win a third term as Prime Minister. She will ...
Jacinda Ardern had an outsized impact on New Zealand’s international relations. While all Prime Ministers travel internationally, Ardern’s calendar was fuller than most. Ardern’s first major foreign trip came within weeks of her election in 2017, to the APEC summit in Vietnam. The meeting gave Ardern her first in-person encounter ...
She gave it her all. No New Zealand Prime Minister has ever dominated the political scene at home as she has done, or has established an international profile to match hers. No New Zealand Prime Minister has had to confront such a sequence of domestic and international catastrophes – from ...
Jacinda Ardern's shock resignation announcement today has left a lot of us with a lot of complicated feelings. In my case, while I've been highly critical of Ardern's government, I'm still sorry to see her go. We've had far too many terrible things happen during her term as Prime Minister ...
The decision by Jacinda Ardern to end her term as Prime Minister on February 7 has come as a stunning surprise. It turns the task of a centre-left government winning re-election this year from difficult to nigh on impossible. No-one else among the Labour caucus has Ardern’s ability to explain ...
Jacinda Ardern’s first press conference as Labour leader in August 2017 was a defining moment in the past decade of New Zealand politics. A young woman (by the standards of politics) who had long been tipped for higher office, she had underperformed as a minister and Andrew Little’s noble resignation ...
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The tools exist to help families with surging costs – and as costs continue to rise it is more urgent than ever that we use them, the Green Party says. ...
Members of Parliament for the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand have today written to Iran’s Grand Ayatollah Khamenei to condemn the ongoing violence and killing of women’s rights and democracy protesters, and to call on him to intervene immediately. ...
Ka papā te whatitiri, Hikohiko ana te uira, wāhi rua mai ana rā runga mai o Huruiki maunga Kua hinga te māreikura o te Nota, a Titewhai Harawira Nā reira, e te kahurangi, takoto, e moe Ka mōwai koa a Whakapara, kua uhia te Tai Tokerau e te kapua pōuri ...
Carmel Sepuloni, Minister for Social Development and Employment, has activated Enhanced Taskforce Green (ETFG) in response to flooding and damaged caused by Cyclone Hale in the Tairāwhiti region. Up to $500,000 will be made available to employ job seekers to support the clean-up. We are still investigating whether other parts ...
The 2023 General Election will be held on Saturday 14 October 2023, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today. “Announcing the election date early in the year provides New Zealanders with certainty and has become the practice of this Government and the previous one, and I believe is best practice,” Jacinda ...
Jacinda Ardern has announced she will step down as Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party. Her resignation will take effect on the appointment of a new Prime Minister. A caucus vote to elect a new Party Leader will occur in 3 days’ time on Sunday the 22nd of ...
The Government is maintaining its strong trade focus in 2023 with Trade and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor visiting Europe this week to discuss the role of agricultural trade in climate change and food security, WTO reform and New Zealand agricultural innovation. Damien O’Connor will travel tomorrow to Switzerland to attend the ...
The Government has extended its medium-scale classification of Cyclone Hale to the Wairarapa after assessing storm damage to the eastern coastline of the region. “We’re making up to $80,000 available to the East Coast Rural Support Trust to help farmers and growers recover from the significant damage in the region,” ...
The Government is making an initial contribution of $150,000 to the Mayoral Relief Fund to help communities in Tairāwhiti following ex-Tropical Cyclone Hale, Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty announced. “While Cyclone Hale has caused widespread heavy rain, flooding and high winds across many parts of the North Island, Tairāwhiti ...
Rural Communities Minister Damien O’Connor has classified this week’s Cyclone Hale that caused significant flood damage across the Tairāwhiti/Gisborne District as a medium-scale adverse event, unlocking Government support for farmers and growers. “We’re making up to $100,000 available to help coordinate efforts as farmers and growers recover from the heavy ...
A vaccine for people at risk of mpox (Monkeypox) will be available if prescribed by a medical practitioner to people who meet eligibility criteria from Monday 16 January, says Associate Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall. 5,000 vials of the vaccine have been obtained, enough for up to 20,000 ...
Auckland Transport has apologised for confusing messaging that suggested attendees of tonight’s Elton John concert should drive. In a post on Facebook last night, AT said “driving to the concert is recommended” – a suggestion that prompted backlash due to the lack of parking options near the stadium. The announcement ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven Tingay, John Curtin Distinguished Professor (Radio Astronomy), Curtin University Asteroid 20223 BU’s path in red, with green showing the orbit of geosynchronous satellites.NASA/JPL-Caltech There are hundreds of millions of asteroids in our Solar System, which means new asteroids are discovered ...
In his memoir Spare, Prince Harry revealed he attended the future King and Queen of England’s wedding with a frostbitten penis. A veteran of Antarctic expeditions says it’s not an issue that crops up often, if at all.Now that the avalanche of coverage about the Duke of Sussex’s memoir ...
A new poem by Wellington poet and publisher Ash Davida Jane. objects in the mirror are closer than they appear if a dog digs in the right spot and unearths a rib what do I care if a woman grows from that bone take her in and tend to her ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (Grove Press, $25) Everyone’s chowing down on fiction ...
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More water than anything else, the cucumber is the perfect counter to intense and fiery flavours. Cucumber is without a doubt the most refreshing vegetable*, the antidote to hot summer days. At 95% water, a cucumber is basically an edible, crunchy, waste-free water bottle. Beside water, the cucumber has almost ...
REVIEW:By Rowan Callick Radio Australia was conceived at the beginning of the Second World War out of Canberra’s desire to counter Japanese propaganda in the Pacific. More than 70 years later its rebirth is being driven by a similarly urgent need to counter propaganda, this time from China. Set ...
The yellow brick road to Mt Smart stadium looks to be packed this weekend as thousands travel to dual Elton John concerts In the words of pop royal Elton John, “I think it’s going to be a long, long time” - in this case for the 40,000 odd concert-goers driving ...
The decision by Sport Northland to deny 'Stop Co-Governance', a community group, use of their Whangarei venue to hold a public meeting is illegal and defies the rights given to all Kiwis to voice their political opinions. This case, yet again, illustrates ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rolf Gerritsen, Professorial Research Fellow, Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University The supposed dimensions of the “crisis” in Alice Springs have been exhaustively portrayed in the media, both nationally and in the Northern Territory. The stories abound: shopfront windows repeatedly broken, groups of ...
Children’s Commissioner, Judge Frances Eivers: "Myself and previous Commissioners have been clear that the use of motels at all is deplorable, and a symptom of a system that is failing children. "Concerns around the practice have been raised repeatedly ...
Everything you need to know to get through the chaotic commute to to the Elton John concert in Tāmaki Mākaurau this weekend. Fans heading to Elton John’s concerts at Mt Smart Stadium this weekend have been advised to drive or walk thereby Auckland Transport (AT). In a Facebook post ...
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Finance minister Grant Robertson has opted to go list-only for the upcoming election, meaning he will not seek to be re-elected as MP for Wellington Central. It opens up the door for a swift exit from politics should Labour lose the election; without an electorate, no byelection would be triggered ...
Tory Whanau told The Spinoff’s When The Facts Change podcast that National’s transport spokesperson would push Wellington ‘backwards’ if he becomes transport minister.Wellington’s left-leaning mayor is worried her plans for the city could be scuppered by a new National-led government – and specifically by the party’s most likely candidate ...
Thousands of people are expected to flock to Auckland’s Western Springs on Monday for the triumphant return of the Laneway Festival. But with severe weather warnings in place, is it going to be reduced to a Splendour in the Grass-style “hellscape”? According to the organisers, no. In an email sent ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert G. Patman, Professor of International Relations, University of Otago A German Leopard 2 heavy battle tank of the type destined for Ukraine.Getty Images The recent decision by Olaf Scholz’s German government to supply Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks – after ...
The Hauraki Gulf Alliance, a group of diverse organisations representing more than 1 million people, has rubbished proposals to continue trawling and dredging in New Zealand’s first marine park, the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. The Hauraki Gulf Fisheries ...
Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission has shared experiences of children and young people in emergency housing ahead of New Zealand’s review under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in Geneva this week. “The government ...
It’s felt like a long time between drinks, but everyone’s favourite/least favourite family are almost back on our screens. HBO today released a trailer for the upcoming fourth season of Succession and announced a March release date. Check out the trailer – which doesn’t give away too much, but successfully ...
Want to avoid being a bad visitor at the beach this summer? Just follow these simple steps.My partner’s whānau has had a bach in Whangaparāoa, 45 minutes north of Auckland, since the 1950s. They’ve been around long enough to become a part of the bay’s furniture. They know the ...
A slightly underrated track from Elton John gained real life resonance last night. Fans heading to his concerts at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland this weekend have been advised to drive or walk there by Auckland Transport as work on the rail network upgrade has closed the Penrose train station. One of ...
Morning Report - RNZ political editor Jane Patterson and deputy political editor Craig McCulloch run the ruler over the transition to Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, and the co-governance debate. ...
Activists from the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) will gather right outside the main entrance of the Wellington Cup with props that symbolise the blood that is shed on the racetrack. ...
Waking up this morning was like a return to my summer break, where I was lulled out of my sleep by the sound of torrential rain. The North Island is in for a wet, windy and generally just bleak weekend. That’s particularly bad news for those of us at the ...
A lot of it is from Auckland as business leaders and a local MP make their requests. Further south, leading academics want plans for a new airport scratched, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
Parts of the nation’s capital have turned into a wasteland of red stickers, and ‘for lease’ signs. WellingtonNZ CEO John Allen has been given the challenge of breathing new life into the city’s economy, businesses, and image. He talks to Bernard about housing and hotel shortages, sewerage on the streets, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Baron, Associate Professor, Philosophy of Science, Australian Catholic University Counterfactuals are claims about what would happen, were something to occur in a different way. For instance, we can ask what the world would be like had the internet never been developed. ...
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The Bill that will create a new public media entity has been improved by the select committee that studied it, but it remains unfit for purpose. Kio Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures, a think tank at the University of Auckland, had submitted that ...
Never mind the chief executives and TV cameras in the CBD – it was a small business grouping in west Auckland that had the new Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister as a captive audience, to talk through the challenges for struggling employers. Jonathan Milne reports.Mark Hauser and his ...
This morning, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child called out the failure of the New Zealand Government to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility. Referring to the current minimum age of criminal responsibility, the Committee stated ...
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Te Tai Hauāuru MP and Speaker of the House Adrian Rurawhe will not stand for the Māori electorate in October's general election and will instead move to the Labour Party list. ...
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*This story was originally published on RNZ and is republished with permission* Prime Minister Chris Hipkins speaks to media after meeting with business leaders in Tāmaki Makaurau this morning. Hipkins says Auckland is incredibly important to the New Zealand economy, and our gateway to the world. He says his meeting with business ...
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201783337/labour-unlawful-hager-warrant-evidence-of-political-pressure
Strong statement from Parker….reaction will be interesting
So let me get this straight…
Hager’s raid was illegal
Dotcom’s raid was illegal
looks like a pattern to me
and Winston also on radio but guess what declines from police and Nact
Key too busy on the Rock, the Crowd Goes Wild, Radio Sport, The Edge…….
Far too much to do to be actually doing his job.
+1
John Key has reinvented politics for New Zealand – winning politics in New Zealand now has nothing to do with policy, leadership, or content of any kind. Politics is entertainment. A few jokes, a bit of teasing, lots of banter, golf, and holidays with a bit of work on the side.
It’s a spectacular success. No one has gotten near it.
It’s where the people are. You go to them, no more expecting them to come to you and be attracted to your message in your terms.
“A few jokes, a bit of teasing, lots of banter, golf, and holidays with a bit of work on the side.’….so its a B.O.D. then….no wonder he’s right at home
Tunisia
After the revolution [6 mins]
Employment, freedom, dignity
Still to arrive despite a Nobel Peace Prize for the people who held the country together.
These issues are bread and butter for the internationalist Left. Surely this is a textbook case for assistance to build democracy and the administrative leadership the country needs.
I can’t understand why the military and its weapons is considered the best use of the Western nations’ funds to fight Daesh.
Military Industrial Complex and there is money in war. Daesh gets its weapons from someone, like the US, Germany, France, England, Sweden, Russia, China and any other manufacturer of killing machines that I may have forgotten. People? ha collateral damage and we have got seven billion and counting of them, so a few hundred thousands here and there missing are nothing but a trickle down in an ocean.
+1
The system we have is: Profit for the few before people.
I’m glad to see this guy arrested. What a prick.
“the world’s most hated CEO”, bet there’s quite a few contenders for that title.
I bet some fellow pharamceutical CEO’s both admired and hated him 😉
Interesting breakdown of those opposing the TPPA from political parties ( from TPPA News Bulletin #80 , 17 December 2015)
….Shows that supporters of NZF and Winston Peters are MOST opposed to the TPPA…87%
“Kiwis against the TPPA
In successive polls, Kiwis have rejected the TPPA. A stunning TV3 Reid Research poll revealed that a majority of NZ voters reject the TPPA. The coverage said that 52% rejected the TPPA (some people didn’t have an opinion, and the rejection was over 60% of those who expressed an opinion). 73% of Labour supporters were against it (is Andrew Little listening?), 84% Greens and 87% NZ First. Even 23% of National
Party supporters were against the TPPA. That’s an amazing result especially as it came after a month of media carrying the government’s PR and spin while we couldn’t see the final text. Then last week, 97.5% voted no to TPPA in an online referendum run by the people’s ‘Real Choice’ ”
(which gives lie to the constant criticism here by some, especially professed Greens, that Winston Peters and NZF are right wing and not to be trusted….more anti TPPA from NZF supporters than than the Greens …take note !)
To believe WinstonFirst will side with Labour post-election is as foolish as thinking WinstonFirst will side with National post-election
Winston will do whats best for Winston not whats best for any particular party
Perhaps – but it’s reasonably clear that he is not particularly enamoured of Key.
Hes not too keen on the Greens either but he is particularly fond of the baubles of office and hes probably quite keen on being knighted as well
But that’s what I mean, for every valid reason he could go left theres an equally valid reason for him to go right
@ Pucky …well you would say that wouldnt you…the nacts HATE Winston…and they know he will form a coalition with Labour if he can
…which he will
http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/6599-roy-morgan-new-zealand-voting-intention-december-2015-201512092333
Current polling suggests that even if Winston goes into coalition Labour/Greens it still won’t be enough and do you really think (and be honest here) that Winston wants to play second fiddle to the Greens or anyone?
PR, if Winston wants to be in coalition/supply agreement or whatever on the government side, he will be playing second fiddle to whomsoever, for he’s not going to be the major partner with the most seats.
And an elvish Christmas to you, too. I hope you get a good end bonus.
Like he did with Jim Bolger before the uncooperative Jenny Shipley dropped Bolger and then Peters. Or the second fiddle that he played for Helen Clark?
I think that you misunderstand the concept of cooperation in politics.
I think you merely prove PRs main points.
Winston is, as PR says, “particularly fond of the baubles of office” and doesn’t like having to “play second fiddle to the Greens or anyone”.
Do you think that Little would, if it came down to it, include Winston in his Government and exclude the Greens if that was one of Winston’s demands?
Do you think that the Green Party would go along with it, as they had to do when Helen Clark excluded them from being part of her Government?
Would a Labour-led Government find that titles were a good idea if Winston demanded a knighthood as part of his price?
Are you happy that these would merely be the trifles of co-operation in Government?
Sigh – read the seat numbers in 2005. I really wish that you mythmaker idiots would do some parliamentary maths.
50 Labour Party
48 National Party
07 New Zealand First Party
06 Green Party
04 Mâori Party
03 United Future New Zealand
02 ACT New Zealand
01 Jim Anderton’s Progressive
Jim Anderton was a known partner and trusted by Labour.
The Maori party had essentially declared war on Labour so they were out of the mix.
UF were a known and trustworthy commodity in government.
The Greens and NZ First were both ‘unknown’ to Labour as to how well they’d work in government. But NZF had people who’d been in government before. The Greens did not.
50 + 06 + 03 + 01 == 60 insufficient + 1 unknown
50 + 07 + 03 + 01 == 61 sufficient + 1 unknown
50 + 07 + 06 + 01 == 64 more than required + 2 unknowns
50 + 07 + 06 + +03 + 01 == 67 way more than required + 2 unknown
Lab went for the mix with the least political risk for them as a government. If the Greens had gotten one more, then they would have been a contender. But that would have required that Peter Dunne preferred them over NZF which he didn’t.
Now look at 2014
60 National Party
32 Labour Party
14 Green Party
11 New Zealand First Party
02 Māori Party
01 ACT New Zealand
01 United Future
Assume National got a five less seats and Labour got a five more.
The Maori party appears to be just as hostile as they were back in 2005, but now because they are heavily in the pockets of corporate iwi. ACT and UF are supplicant clients of National. So assume all of them support National and Labour won’t. Besides
37 + 14 + 02 + 01 +01 = 55 == well short
but
37 + 14 + 11 = 62
A pretty simple coalition compared to anything in 2005. The Greens are not what they were in 2005, they are a lot more stable. In many ways NZF social policies are closer to the Greens now than they are to Labour.
Personally I don’t think there is a hope in hell of Winston going with National unless Key is dumped along with a lot of the National frontbench who launched that personal attack on him in 2008. I doubt if many of the cabinet experienced hands in NZF will either – Joyce’s National campaign was directly responsible for their time in the wilderness..
But lets follow your idiotic bauble logic.
NZF’s MPs will get more cabinet posts in a coalition where they are about half of the size of the main party. That party now has relatively few ex-cabinet ministers, which means that the parties are more cabinet equal. It is nearly a third larger than a cabinet neophyte Green party. NZF on a straight equal basis will get more baubles and a more equal partnership in the L + NZF + G.
That won’t happen in National where more than a third of their MPs will have some kind of RECENT cabinet experience.
I have a problem following some of the latter part of this comment. There are statements that don’t seem to be accurate.
For example “many of the cabinet experienced hands in NZF”. There is only one of them – Winston. Only 3 others were even in Parliament pre 2011 and none of them had any Executive, much less Cabinet experience. The same applies to “parties are more cabinet equal”. They aren’t.
“about half of the size of the main party”. Your own assumption is 11 to 37, which is nothing like “about half”
” It is nearly a third larger than a cabinet neophyte Green party” It isn’t. It would be, on your assumptions, 11 NZF to 14 Greens. Also, as I comment above, they are both ” cabinet neophyte” parties.
If the Green Party is larger than NZF they are certainly going to demand more Cabinet positions than NZF. It won’t be NZF that is the second party. It will be the Greens. They (the Greens) can also remember how NZF locked them out in 2005.
I think Winston can adapt his “principles” to get first pick of the baubles and a knighthood. I don’t really think he wants to have to follow two parties in the pecking order.
Actually, it’s at the point where NZ1st simply couldn’t side with National as their policies are poles apart. IMO, there’s actually a higher probability of Labour siding with National.
+100 …and not just a “higher probability”….an actuality at the moment…Labour’s policies are Nact light blue eg TPPA, spy bill…
Over the last few months I have become increasingly concerned about the actions of our Prime Minister, and how they show a complete lack of understanding about the impacts of sexual and physical violence in this country. His “prison rape” joke on radio yesterday was the last straw. I believe it is no longer OK for John Key to make light of sexual abuse and sexual violence, and so I ask you to join me in calling on the White Ribbon organization to remove John Key as an ambassador.”
~ Kyle MacDonald, ActionStation Member
http://www.actionstation.org.nz/noribbon?utm_campaign=noribbon1&utm_medium=email&utm_source=actionstation
Thanks EP for the opportunity to join and sign this petition. Done.
FJK is a disgraceful affront to any person who has been the victim of sexual assault!
esoteric pineapple …t+100 …good work ….have signed
I’m (hopefully) getting knocked off soon so this’ll probably be my last post for the year
So everyone have a merry Christmas and stay healthy over the holidays
You’re getting knocked off?!? I guess that’s the risk of hanging out at WO so much. But it sounds like you are planning a ressurection…
😈 😆
I’m not sure that I want to condone such a public crime. I trust that you have told the police about this impending act of violence?
Have a good xmas and try not to get cooked like a turkey in the summer sun… 😈
Didn’t know the ministry of truth had such a good holiday plan, .!
roflnui
See you on the other side Puckish.
..not too much cooking sherry Pucky
It seems that once more NZ is featuring in world media for all the wrong reasons thanks to the disgraceful behaviour of our PM.
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/17/asia/new-zealand-prime-minister-rape-joke/index.html
Thanks Key. You have, yet again, made me embarrassed for my country.
Thanks Karen, that has the white ribbon petition which I couldn’t find yesterday,
http://www.actionstation.org.nz/noribbon
http://whiteribbon.org.nz/about/
http://whiteribbon.org.nz/act/ambassadors/
World’s ‘most hated CEO’ Martin Shkreli arrested for fraud
Can’t say that I’m surprised in the least as his ratcheting up of the price of a drug simply to boost his own wealth shows the psychopathic tendencies.
TPPA Alert.
With all that is going on at present, those of you who are anti-TPPA (as I am) may have missed this ray of hope discussed by Gordon Campbell on Scoop yesterday.
http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2015/12/17/gordon-campbell-on-how-the-republicans-just-buried-the-tpp/
Excellent!
A leading thinker speaks out:
“Slaughter’s never something to be recommended.”
PAUL HENRY, TV3, Friday 18 December 2015
Alison Mau, Hilary Barry, Jim Kayes
As noted a couple of days ago, the egregious breakfast show PAUL HENRY has been markedly improved by the temporary absence of …. Paul Henry. His temporary replacement, Alison Mau, is far more intelligent and serious—and a nice person as well. This puts others at ease; Henry’s slaves Hilary and Jim are notably more relaxed and have been smiling and laughing this week rather than grimacing as Henry makes one of his ignorant and brutal comments, cringing as he grovels to a National Party politician, or forcing out an uneasy snicker at one of his mirthless jokes.
However, Alison Mau is still at the mercy of the show’s producers. So she had no option but to talk to the discredited former ACT führer Jamie “Lock Up His Sisters” Whyte, who was one of the guests on the “Panel” segment after the 8 o’clock news. The other Panel guest was the 21 year old blogger Verity Johnson. She did not even try to disguise her contempt for Whyte.
First item up for discussion was the decision to allow Rugby League player Russell Packer, convicted of serious assault, to remain in Australia. Whyte started by making a Paul Henry-standard joke: “It’s a severe punishment to have to stay in Australia,” he quipped. Nobody laughed. Then he embarked on a long and wandery homily about how equal treatment of offenders is unfair on the rich, who suffer unduly because “they have more to lose.” This led him on to some even more confused remarks about the love life of Brad Pitt, and then another awkward joke about how he loves alcohol.
As Whyte rambled on, Verity Johnson looked hard up and to the right, to a spot as far away from Whyte as possible. She also fought to stop herself from laughing out loud. Even Jim and Hilary, accustomed to listening to bizarre monologues every morning, were clearly uncomfortable….
JAMIE “LOCK UP HIS SISTERS” WHYTE: I’m a very jolly chap, especially after a certain time of night. … It’s been a very boring year. the highlight was the Free Trade deal. It was bloody great. Cons? I suppose all the slaughter. Slaughter’s never something to be recommended.
ALISON MAU: But there are legitimate concerns about the TPP. Even Tim Groser admits that.
JAMIE “LOCK UP HIS SISTERS” WHYTE: [speaking as slowly as possible to convey how serious he is] People don’t like companies suing governments. That’s a feature I LIKE because it constrains government. And I like government to be constrained. Ummm….
As Whyte bored on, the camera cruelly pulled back to show Verity Johnson shaking her head and rolling her eyes, Jim and Hilary wincing, and even the technicians and studio crew shaking their heads in disbelief.
After Whyte was gone, Jim and Hilary made a few light-hearted remarks about the absent Henry enjoying his overseas holiday. Ali Mau then uttered what might have been an even more nonsensical statement than anything by the hapless ex-ACT führer….
ALISON MAU: Paul DESERVES a holiday! He’s worked EXTREMELY hard all year….
More on Jamie “Lock Up His Sisters” Whyte….
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-07102015/#comment-1079367
So…Tertiary Councils have fewer members, more government appointees and are going to cost more…who would have thunk it?
http://i.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/9716785/University-reforms-an-attack-on-democracy
http://i.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/75217389/Tertiary-councils-get-big-pay-rise
IN A COUNTERINSURGENCY FAR, FAR AWAY….
(with thanks to Foreign Policy magazine)
The first great struggle between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire ended with the destruction of the Death Star and an apparent victory for the Rebels at the Battle of Endor. Yet we now know that the struggle has raged on for the last 30 years. Why did the defeat of Emperor Palpatine and the much heralded “return of the Jedi” not produce decades of peace under a restored Republic?
In hindsight, it’s clear that for the Rebel Alliance the Imperial defeat at the Battle of Endor was a classic example of a catastrophic victory: a sudden collapse of a seemingly unbeatable foe that produced opportunities it was unprepared to exploit. Rather than capitalizing on their historic gains and establishing the hoped-for New Republic, the Rebels simply allowed the Galactic Empire to fragment, ushering in a period of chaos.
Now, facing a more virulent version of the Empire under the guise of the mysterious First Order, the Resistance, the successor of the Rebel Alliance, must succeed where its progenitor failed: It must be prepared to “win the peace” and show that it represents the best hope to end this destructive conflict and bring order to the galaxy.
As Libya, Iraq, and Syria have shown us, the combination of intense religious factionalism and a chaotic post-conflict environment is a toxic one that can lead to escalating violence and brutality. To avoid that outcome, the new Resistance must learn from the mistakes of the Rebel Alliance and quickly devise a plan to destroy the First Order and re-establish the Republic on the basis of indirect rule.
Ultimately, the success of the peace will depend on the Resistance’s ability to hold territory and provide law and order, especially in places that were once dens of criminality. For this reason, the stability of planets like Jakku and Tatooire- is crucial and can no longer be left to the control of crime bosses like the Hutts.
And then there are the lessons that fail to get learned; the “Horror vacui” when regimes are forced out with no replacing plan to re-settle civic order; the temptation of “boots on the ground” when hit and run tactics simply fail; the magic recipe of “Build, Hold, Govern” … suffice to say that analogies to stuff happening on earth right now abound.
The Resistance may find itself concluding — as Britain and later the United States did — that the only way to re-establish order over fragmented, politically diverse territories is indirect rule supported by indigenous law enforcement. Carefully cultivating local leaders will be crucial to providing a legitimate “face” for the new Resistance-led government. Otherwise, if the Resistance fails to govern, or governs too directly as the Empire did (and effectively become a new empire but in faun organic cotton), there will be no end in sight to the generational wars among the stars.
John Key reflecting on ponytailgate: “…but there’s only one person who understands the complete story and that’s me and I’m quite comfortable with it.” My emphasis.
Hmm.
Good news on norightturn – The Aussies won over the megacorporate tobacco giant.
http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/2015/12/plain-packs-win-in-australia.html
So, how come Serco are in line for performance bonuses this year, even after they’ve had the contract retracted for failure to run a safe prison?
$8 million over 4 years in bonuses, including about $1 million this year, according to Andrea Vance. Apparently some money will be recovered to cover costs, but there’ll still be bonuses paid for this year.
I don’t have a link, sorry – just listening (in disbelief – no no disbelief, just disgust) to One News.
Because ever bodies mate john is fucking useless at driving a hard bargain and gets shafted in every deal. The fact the inept douche bag made millions makes me wonder how much he must of made his bosses.
We should get Michael Cullen out of retirement, shouldn’t we?
That magnificent deal he did when he bought back the railways off Toll Holdings. That showed how negotiations should be done and how to get a real bargain, didn’t it? Pay $665 million for something that was essentially worthless. That deal was even sillier than Bond paying Packer $1 billion for TV9. Packer bought that back a couple of years later for $250 million.
That purchase of the railways showed real skill. Or, as is more realistic, total stupidity by the government of the time.
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/rail-buy-back-marks-new-sustainable-era-transport
The rail should never of been sold ,its as intrinsic to a functioning country as the roads, the rail lines need to be a seperated from from the cartage side and be treated the same as roads.
Imagine an airport in a major city that only let its own planes land, not a good idea is it.?
This?
https://t.co/sosinBbnUD
“Do you think we can ever get rid of hate?”
The Panel, RNZ National, Friday 18 December 2015
Jim Mora, Jock Anderson, Nicky Pellegrino
“I think there’s a certain unwillingness to intervene when unruliness breaks out.”—Jim Mora.
Indeed.
Jim Mora was talking in this case about crime on the trains in Auckland, but perhaps some of the following incidences of “unwillingness to intervene when unruliness breaks out” passed across his mind for a moment….
JOCK ANDERSON casually insulting Australian soldiers, JOHN BISHOP cracking anti-Arab hate “jokes”, MICHAEL BASSETT snarling that Nicky Hager is a Holocaust-denier, MICHELLE BOAG denouncing for several minutes the untermenschen who dare to question the wisdom of politicians, CHRIS TROTTER laughing at the fate of political dissidents, DENISE L’ESTRANGE-CORBET shouting insanely about the poor (“I don’t believe there IS a shortage of jobs in New Zealand!”), CHRIS TROTTER (again) sternly lecturing those foolish enough to doubt the integrity of the Deep South jury that found the killer of Trayvon Martin “not guilty”, ROSEMARY McLEOD contemptuously dismissing Egyptian civilians (“Those people don’t WANT democracy!”) and—nobody who heard this one will ever forget it—Cameron Slater’s personal servant JORDAN WILLIAMS frothing and bawling like a banshee at Josie McNaught [1].
The list goes on, and on, and on, ad absurdum, ad nauseam.
Every one of those outbreaks of unruliness came on The Panel, the RNZ National program hosted by…. Jim Mora. In each of those outbreaks of unruliness, Mora either kept silent, or—perhaps even worse—joined in with the derisive laughing at the victims. He was unwilling—or afraid—to intervene.
– – – – – – – – – –
Right at the end of the program, the host brought up the German government’s decree that social media platforms must delete hate speech within 24 hours….
JIM MORA: Do you think we can ever get rid of hate?
NICKY PELLEGRINO: [speaking very slowly to convey great seriousness] You can’t get rid of it, but you can refuse to give it a platform.
Indeed.
[1] http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-17042013/#comment-620413