“22% increase in profits with declining consumption is in need of investigation!”
Our family and community understand this as we are involved in the
controversial rollout of “Smart meters” the new electronic transmitting meters that are known to cause health problems especially with those who have “electromagnetic sensitivities” ES or EMS sensitivities to electromagnetic fields being created by these meters.
Doing our research we have found that the tariff charges for power is now being changed (as these meter tariffs are unregulated by Gov’t)
The method is called TOU or (Time of use,) in which minutes are separated and recorded by the computer inside the Smart meter as to the time of use is and that are setting a tariff that is much higher than when the EA/Gov’t has previously set for power charges during the day or night.
Now the time of use parcels of time say hypothetically cold be in 20 minute intervals would be higher by 300% during peak time of day than 9pm at night.
So people who use more power during the day will now be desperately trying to turn off their Heat pumps freezers and other high use appliances during the day to lower their monthly bills.
It is another Key Government ploy to extract the maximum profit from the least investment.
Hope this helps. We need an investigation into this criminal fleecing of consumers. who must see the real issues here,
I joined Grey Power Power via Pulse and was able to request the successful removal of the smart meter installed here at my house. No charge was applied to me either.
Don’t think others will do it. I was a Powershop customer until I moved here, but they couldn’t ( or wouldn’t ? ) do it. A Powershop rep told me to call Grey Power Power .. and here I am, a happy customer freed from 24 hour a day microwaves on the wide of my house next to my bedroom.
I also objected on the grounds it did one more person out of their job as a meter reader.
I sell pure mechanical Analogue meters if anyone needs them.
Most Power companies contactors cant supply them but we can,.
Some will refuse to use them but we have forced them to accept them now, as our right to own our own meters, so don’t’ take their crap that they are mandatory that is a lie, this is going on under this Government.
Time mind time of day/peak charging but it must be communicated before hand so that people know that it’s happening and they must also know also know how much they’re being charged. The present smart meters don’t do that.
GCHQ in the UK has the ability to manipulate political landscape !
The GSCB has the same ability here!
Key has already shown he is not above using any means to disrupt democracy!
srylands is one of the GSCB’s plants its so obvious!
Key has more to answer!
So how did Slater find out about politicians visiting Dotcom.
Key has denied Gscb and SIS but no one asked him if the police passed on info!
If it was PI’s who paid them!
He has to stand by them – he has always maintained that Dirty Politics is untrue and is a beat-up from the left. If he didn’t stand by them then he is admitting the book is correct.
He has a problem.
But don’t forget; Key lies (he just can’t help it).
You will notice that everytime he says NZers care about policy he walks away? Funny that. No real policy Mr key, just upgrading schools and building new schools which any govt has to do over the next few years. Calling it policy. Bah
John Key all of a sudden wants to discuss policy.
Here’s one to discuss then.
How does he plan to tackle systematic poverty in the country?
A letter to the Dominion Post yesterday.
“Child poverty within New Zealand remains a national shame. Low-incomes see New Zealand families always on the brink, one setback away from financial disaster.
Often these families find themselves resorting to third tier borrowing which traps them in a downward, never-ending cycle of indebtedness, powerlessness and increased poverty.
The gap between incomes and affordable housing has grown – housing affordability deteriorated by 7.6 per cent in the 12 months ending May 2014.”
…suggesting they “made bad decisions” also isn’t the answer. How the hell does a new born child make a “lifestyle choice” to live in poverty. How the hell do they consciously extricate themselves from the influence of their environment and culture. No question marks required on those statements.
Your topic, Mr.Key, is everything you ignore, your time starts now…
Paul, Dave + Crocc, Child & mother’s care in Key’s world.
I have in Daughter who lives away from our area, and works to keep her son in Playschool but he got a bug two days ago from Playschool and it is contagious so She (mother had to stay at home and care for his fever and cough.
Since she hasn’t been there at the job for six months yet, she wont get paid, and now she has contracted the virus off the son so she was forced to drop him at playschool today dosed up the panadol and her with the same and due to financial reasons forced herself to go back to work so she has to pass it o to others and her son too?
This illustrates the mindless Key government that can’t see the consequences of their actions.
She cannot get WINS help either so she is sick with a son and forced to work, = Key’s plan for us all.
Classic example of how mindless sanctions against the poorer parts of society can end up harming the wealthy. A more benign regime would reward behaviour which reduces the spread of disease.
Susie Ferguson – another disgraceful interview by a supposed public broadcaster.
Is she able to work beyond smears?
Waiting to hear her discuss the issues of housing, employment, inequality, the environment,
Just obsessed about polls and alliances.
What about informing your audience about the party’s policies and asking difficult questions about that?!
Rnz aside from the odd spot of professionalism like espinner yesterday is part of the nact pr machine. Theyve had many morning report combos since griffin was installed to get the mix right.
That is amusing since many consider RNZ to be a hotbed of left wingers. Reminds me of when I worked for TVNZ News and we were happy when both sides attacked us becuase obviously we were walking down the centre, hard as that is, but of course that was twenty five years ago … today I subscribe first sentance unfortunately.
Seeing Key and co. self destruct is a historic spectacle, especially with MSM players who are slowly realising that they have been complicit in the entire criminal John Key enterprise.
However none of this makes for a winning strategy for the Left. The election remains on a knife edge. (I don’t count having to cobble together a multi-multi party coalition simply to put together a sliver 2-3 seat majority as a win). We have a few more days of revelling in Key’s political demise – but it doesn’t mean that he won’t be PM again come Sept 20 – or that National won’t be in again come 2017.
This country’s politics is undergoing a major crisis which is almost constitutional in nature. Now is the moment – the opportunity – for major proposals and reforms to be put forward, by the Left to clean things up.
Regulations on lobbyists and unofficial spokespeople. On corporate money and campaign financing. On journalistic standards and public broadcasting. On democractic accountability – including within the security services. On cpmprehensive whistleblower, leaker and journalistic protections.
It’s clear we need broad, brave new measures to safeguard our democracy and to stop US style political rot taking hold in NZ.
Let’s see some gutsy proposals from the progressive parties to detoxify our politics.
They may well have some for all we know, the media isn’t focusing on policies and hasnt for a while. Is it a coincidence that only the Left have really been releasing any?
The Right Wing learnt the lesson a century ago via Freud, Bernays etc that through mass media, people are swayed far more by their emotions and their prejudices, than by rational fact and discussion. And they’ve put this understanding into action ever since. At the same time the left has continuously driven down increasingly narrow intellectual over rationalising cul de sacs and become less and less able to connect to and give moral voice to the people really suffering in our society.
Have you read Jaques Ellul : Formation of Men’s Attitudes (about Propaganda)? If you haven’t mind I be so bold as to recommend you do. I think you would “enjoy” it. He wrote during the Cold war, but he could have been talking about now.
The Left may call them policies but to me they sound more like bribes …. the one policy which would make a huge difference has been ignored for decades and I have no faith that either side will address the matter … ample State Housing for all who need it.
A warm dry roof over one’s head is the most important aspect of living in an inclement climate.
My top ones would be around end to end whistleblower/leaker/journalistic protections in any case where the public interest or democratic interest was at stake.
Also transparency of not just the funding of political entities but where that money is spent in terms of media advice and media buys.
Improvement of journalistic/news standards + public broadcasting.
Increased sanctions for the politicisation of the civil service/intelligence services.
given the militarisation of the USA and its decline in press freedom (now 40th in the world) we don’t want to follow their example… but do journos have some kind of constitutional protection in NZ already?
This country’s politics is undergoing a major crisis which is almost constitutional in nature.
Not ‘almost’, it is constitutional. What Hager reveals in Dirty politics is an outright undermining of our democracy and we need to have the tools to do something about despicable actions like these when they’re discovered.
They are fiddling the system, that’s what people who succeed in markets the best do. They call it finding loopholes BUT they also manipulate ( in the book there is a bit about manipulating ipredict) and lie and break rules. They rationalise and justify. BUT anyone who thinks that Key made it as far as he did in his chosen business without similar tactics is mad, or as slylands likes to say needs to stop being stupid all their life. And he clearly hasnt set aside those strategies since becoming PM.
The market failed the people, and now the market has disenfranchised the people.
I agree, it is constitutional. And who is final refuge for us ? The Governor General. And let’s recall, Jerry Mateparae was removed as head of GCSB to be replaced by Key’s ‘can’t-remember-him’ buddy Fletcher. His ‘reward’ was to become GG. And it remains to be seen if Key and his $$ masters own him. Be an interesting struggle I think, as Mateparae has previously seemed to be a man of great personal integrity.
Having watched all those years ago as Watergate unravelled from a single loose stitch at the bottom to the very top of the Republican knitting, maybe a major constitutional crisis is brewing here.
We’ve been considering the actions that the GG might take too, yeshe! What would it take for him to act, is he impartial, many, many things to ponder at the moment – The information is coming so thick and fast, it’s hard to know which murky pond to gaze upon next! What kind of creatures will we see emerging, who are their National party buddies and what nefarious enterprizes have they been involved in? Been wondering too, how good old Queen Lillibet is feeling these days? Think there will be any more invitations to Balmoral?
That is my fear: That just as Douglas radically changed the basis of the NZ economy, so Key is dismantling the constraints associated with political office, and turning the PM role into something more akin to a branch manager. He is one of the “leaders from central casting” that began to pop up in the Western world in the mid 2000’s.
Ad says, on the “Will the real National Party Please Stand up” thread, Nicky is merely holding a small mirror to New Zealand society on the morality of the Washington Consensus. By and large New Zealand voters chose this over several decades with their Faustian eyes wide open.
There are four main elements of concern that come up in the book, quite apart from the malignancy the main players: (1) The misuse of privileged information, (2) The theft of opposition information, with a view to giving them grief, (3) The use of this malignant group as a sort of news filter, so that anyone who wanted to meet deadlines,etc, had to pass through WO’s slanted interpretations, and (4) The group’s making use of any information they could get their hands on to bend others to their will.
I would like to be able to fathom how much of this is a deliberate attempt to irrevocably shift the political compass, and how much of it is simply rogue elements, living in a fantasy world, enjoying unbridled license under a PM who is “not a politician.”
I would like to be able to fathom how much of this is a deliberate attempt to irrevocably shift the political compass, and how much of it is simply rogue elements, living in a fantasy world, enjoying unbridled license under a PM who is “not a politician.”
Well, it seems to me to be a bit of both. The hackers refer to it as a “network”. By definition that is a complex of inter-relationships, rather than a centrally organised conspiracy. networks are also more flexible, less clearly defined, and rely a lot on personal connections and associations, albeit that they also link into associations with organisations and institutions.
I have done a few posts on Key’s “networks of influence” – these include a range of contacts and associations he nurtures – ones that Key can draw on when and as situations arise. My posts focused on the networks of powerful corporate and political players. In my nativity, I failed to included the kinds of underground networks that Slater et al play with and draw on: prostitutes, etc.
Suddenly, I have an idea for a future “networks of influence” post.
Yes, those underground networks are important, because they are able to do great damage to people. I think you are probably right about “the bit of both.” What is important is that the rogue elements are not working against the preferred direction, but are in general seen to be helping to achieve it, if indirectly.
NZ is a young country, and I think its population by and large have a limited conception of what a civic society is, just a vague sense of “decent people like me meeting my standards of decency.” If they vote Key in again, after all that has been revealed, I will be very frightened for this country.
I take it you mean the “two track system” that Hager has spoken of and written about in his book – where the PM remains aloof and lets thugs do his dirty work for him. If you are right, the book ought by rights to put pressure on that plan, but it remains to be seen how much influence it will have on voting patterns. The relaxed, untarnished image Key has cultivated is now seriously compromised, whether or not he ends up getting a third term.
+++10 Colonial Viper, true.
“This country’s politics is undergoing a major crisis which is almost constitutional in nature. Now is the moment – the opportunity – for major proposals and reforms to be put forward, by the Left to clean things up”
Cut out the corrupt political cancer.
This recapturing of honest open political policy must be aggressively perused by the opposition prior to the election as a major platform otherwise the cancer will infect any future Government also.
We really need something like the Australian corruption commissions. As things stand, Ede should have been arrested, there should be a warrant for Slug Boy, Collins should have been stood down, and Key should have been dismissed. All we seem to have is the GG, and he’s just a Tory who used to be in uniform. Something like a BOR tribunal would also be good, to ensure legislation and activities didn’t violate the Bill of Rights. It would need teeth. Both would need to be constituted as democratically as possible, rather than becoming one party’s toys via appointments.
If we don’t get something like this, the Tories are just going to get worse.
Whaledumper has done what the left wing parties have failed to do in the past 6 years. He/she has shown up the parties in a spectacular way.
I hope Whaledumper does not overegg it though. We are getting very close to the point where absolutely everyone agrees that Key, Collins at al are scum. Once we reach that point, more vile from the mouth and emails of Slater will not add anything to the issue and will run the risk of public exhaustion.
My strategy would be leak for a few more days. Then just let the media hammer Key until election day.
Ah, you haven’t read the book. Yup Mr Slater whom Mr Key wont distance himself from used a former prostitute to trawl brothels to try to catch politicians and people Slater doesn’t like “at it”.
Mr Bhatnagar seemed to revel in Slater’s gutter dwelling, and didn’t Ms Collins give him a job???
‘Hager’s Dirty Politics: what the book ultimately reveals is abuse of power’
By Martyn Bradbury / August 19, 2014
“Slater & Co are not bloggers, they are political sadists…Nicky’s book is now doing what I suspected it would do, create a shockwave of revulsion. Andrew Geddis over at Pundit Blog sums up this attitude best, and it’s reverberations build with every single new person who reads the book.
This is the outrage and the uproar caused by a mere 10 000 print run, what level of crescendo do you think we’ll hit when it becomes 20 000? 30 000? 40 000? What the headlines miss is the stinging hatred that shines through all the messages of those involved and that spite is shocking people. Politics can be angry, politics can be loud – but hateful? Hate politics has no place in a modern democracy….
“The Left may call them policies but to me they sound more like bribes …. the one policy which would make a huge difference has been ignored for decades and I have no faith that either side will address the matter … ample State Housing for all who need it.”
If you chopped all these transfer payments and used the money for a boost to the state housing stock and income related rents, you could achieve the same outcome in a much cleaner way.
Yes lots of ways to simplify and overhaul what has become a very convoluted system.
Our current political left has not a single radical bone in its body though, preferring to tinker with a machine which is increasingly broken and not fit for purpose – the care of NZ citizens from cradle to grave.
When did ANYTHING John Key said, actually MEAN anything? The Shallow Man doesn’t think deeply enough for anything he says to MEAN anything, but he does do an expert spin, better than a whirling dervish!!
“No one’s asked us to discuss whether the emails are real. Since this has not happened, there is doubt over whether or not they are made up. We are too big and powerful to offer to pre-empt the question. Power does not bow to open dialogue. I can be asked if I am willing to be asked to discuss the emails, but not on Mondays and not while I’m in the office or during interviews. Please make an appointment when I’m not in the office, at such time I will then be unwilling to discuss the emails.”
or a more literal translation,
“We have never argued that the emails are real, I don’t think anyone’s made that point. I have not come out and openly said they are. How can you accuse us of things we did if we don’t agree that we did them?*”
refer to general traits of psychopathic personality.
If I can borrow a boxing analogy, Bob Jones didn’t see it coming. His piece in the Herald must have been written early last week, because it looks terribly dated now:
Just got off the phone with the Ministry of Justice about sorting out a traffic fine I had.
I was going to do a payment arrangement, at $10 or $20 per week but apparently if you want to make a payment arrangement you have to provide a budget of income and expenses.
Seeing as I wasnt really keen on having to submit my personal affairs to justice system so they decide that I was worthy enough to be allowed to pay it off in the method I think best (I wasnt trying to get out of paying it, I just wanted to pay the damn thing off over time) out came the credit card.
Personally I reckon that is bullshit, and penalises the poor more than anyone else, just getting them further and further into debt, they shouldnt have to submit a budget because they cannot shit out $121 on the spot.
It seems that Courts Minister Chester Burrows has made it a mission bankrupt people through the fine system.
Right, that’s you done for. Expect your name to be passed on by judith to cam for outing her ministries sh!t systems and prepare for the attack on your character to commence. That’s how it works these days, isn’t it?
Interesting comment, Millsy. We had the same argument with ACC – but we just went ahead and
started paying off the ACC debt by $20 a fortnight instead of the amount they wanted – much more – and haven’t heard a word since. We have another few months to go before the debt is fully paid up.
I don’t see why how much we earn is any of their business. Nor is what we spend our money on. This could be something that Mana would look at. I doubt if Labour care.
Latest National Party policy regarding the poor was the announcement of a loan deal via one of the Australian banks hiring a woman from one of the payroll lenders whose market interest rate is often around 500%. The Govt is contributing a meagre $250,000 to the plan, not that it’s necessarily a good plan in the first place.
Why is it acceptable for our Prime Minister and his colleagues not to READ THE BOOK, in order that they could then answer each accusation point by point? I don’t understand why people allow this bullshit response. If you are an honest PM and someone accuses those closest to you of corruption, wouldn’t the first thing you’d want to do be to read the accusations so you can then investigate them? More needs to be made of the fact that Key refuses to do so. In my book that’s an admission of guilt in itself – and this needs to be slammed home.
Emphasis mine but very, very true. Key knows how deep the corruption goes and he’s trying to hide it.
So who will win the upcoming nat party leadership election contest?
Obviously judith, despite her arrogance probably disagreeing, is now out of the running and joyce, with his creepy and slimy dirty politics defence is looking somewhat lame, so with both pre race favourites falling at the starting gate, who’s left?
At a guess, English is happiest of the party stablemates right now.
Paula could be cake and sticked into making an attempt at a run.
And a longshot is Simple Simon from Tauranga, just as long as he doesn’t have to think and elucidate on the campaign trail.
Part of the Crosby Textor strategy is to dissuade people from voting at all, which was what happened last time.
That idea was explained in Dirty Politics by Simon Lusk.
“There are a few basic propositions with negative campaigning that are worth knowing about. It lowers turnout, favours right more than left as the right continues to turn out, and drives away the independents.’ In short, many people stop participating in politics. If politicians cannot be trusted, if politics looks like a petty or ugly game, and if no one seems to be talking about the things that matter, then what’s the point of bothering to participate? Just leave them to it.”
When you vote take 2 people with you and get them to take 2 people etc.etc.
Simon Lusk overstates the effect of negative campaigning. It may stop people participating in organised mainstream politics, but it also encourages stronger community links and unofficial groups. People don’t just throw up their hands and think, “oh well boss man is just too big for me. Best I just stand by and let my family die …”. Happens all over the world, throughout history, and while not entirely a constructive example it’s already happened here too: The Mongrel Mob.
I wonder why Colin Craig has been so quiet since publication of Dirty Politics ?
And then there is this … I guess if you want to defile a hoarding for any reason, it’s good to have some creative talent ! And yes, as is commented, it is an improvement of the Splendour In The Grass images …
Now John Key is using RNZAF A109’s to get himself around the country and campaign. What an appalling man and not very sound judgement. I know he occupies the highest office in the land, but there has to be a stage where public servants can say GTFO we can’t do that for you PM.
A couple of years back people said Key didn’t look like he wanted the job, and tories were outraged.
Then it turned out that yeah, he was seriously considering quitting the job.
Does this look like someone who wants to stay PM? I don’t think so – he’ll be off after the election, however it turns out. Joyce, Blinglish and Collins will be fighting over the succession: who gets to be PM if they win, and who doesn’t have to be caretaker leader of the opposition if they lose.
Well if people were as interested in Nicky Hager and dirty politics as the left were hoping then Campbells ratings would have been up yet his ratings were poo so I’ll leave you to draw your own conclusion as to why his ratings are in the toilet
Treasury says the economy is “growing strongly” and expected to continue to do so, with recent falls in dairy prices not outside forecasts.
This year the books are forecast to return to surplus; wafer-thin at $297 million. It nevertheless fulfils a major political promise which if missed could have hurt Finance Minister Bill English’s credibility.
Beyond 2014/15 the surpluses will not grow at nearly the rate that Treasury had forecast, owing to a cut in the level of expected revenue from tax, especially GST.
This means debt will be higher for longer, now peaking higher and later at $67.9b in 2017/18.
Unemployment is forecast to drop to 4.5 per cent by 2018, down from 5.6 per cent at the end of June
New Zealand First MP Andrew Williams is set to be dumped to an unelectable position on the party list, with former MP Ron Mark set to rejoin the party.
Stuff understands a draft copy of the NZ First list, determined by the party’s selection committee on the weekend, has Williams ranked at 13, and Mark ranked at 9.
A draft copy eh, can anyone confirm with Nicky Hager if Cameron Slater was involved? But seriously this is good for NZFirsts survival beyond Winston
well maybe an online petition /letter of concern could be started….I certainly would be willing to sign….she certainly does not do the legal fraternity any favours … in fact she brings them into disrepute
I really would like to know what is Labours Policy on Broadcasting/Media.
Nothing on the website but if they are serious about cleaning up NZ they need a strong Broadcasting Policy
‘cept that’s the Arts policy, and Ron was asking about the Broadcasting/Media policy, which it’s fair to say isn’t yet articulated on the Labour website.
Kris Faafoi seems to have been largely AWOL since the corporate box affair…
oh, ok, arts culture and heritage doesn’t involve media.
I guess if it hasn’t been released yet we must assume that it does not exist and everyone in caucus is a neoliberal rogernome. Seems reasonable.
‘Panic setting in for National as they realise what’s about to happen’
By Martyn Bradbury / August 19, 2014
“Whaledump has the potential to reveal the full picture and the full picture is just so much more disgusting and damaging than what is currently out in front of the public, that’s why those within National and the Right who are being informed just how vile that picture is are putting as much distance between themselves and Slater as they humanly can….
Radio LIVE Daily Poll
Thank You for Participating
1. Have you found it a struggle to pay your power bill this winter?
Yes 59 of votes 59%
No 41 of votes 41%
….what is his profile?
…who is he married/partnered to? ( anyone famous?)
….what is his CV background? ( Harvard? Cambridge?)
…where are the photos? ( golfing body shots are not clear enough)
…what exactly is his relationship with John Key?
… thus far Ede seems to have swum under the radar….but maybe he is pivotal?
Ok, so there’s this poster on a completely different forum which I used to be a memeber of who says he went to school with Ede. The poster is a fleewee, lives in London but likes to comment favourably toward the right when talking about NZ even though he’s not contributed to this country for some years now. I’ll post some of his musings on this…
One thing that is interesting is that apart from an obscured photo of Ede firing a golf ball into the ocean there are no known photographs of him. This is very clever on his part. He must have spent years keeping a lid on that, especially difficult in today’s age of selfies and camera phones. So there is no bullseye visible target for the media to focus on. They can’t seem to even doorstep him or track his movements.
He is a tremendously cunning f**k.
Unlike the Damian McBride incident in the UK, which is a close parallel, they can’t seem to take aim at the lead character. He refuses to speak to anyone too. This means that the connection to the Beehive remains a bit hazy. If one of the lead characters is essentially invisible, the plot is not as interesting and it may have less legs.
I guess we’ll have to see if they can smoke him out.
I recall Alistair Campbell saying these things have a shelf-life of three days. But if it goes on for longer than three days then you have a real problem, and the fire is out of control. With the weekend coming up you would think the National Party are hoping for it to die out then. If it’s still around Monday, then trouble ahead.
and
I went to school with ede and was fairly good mates with him. What I thought was funny at the time was that he made a unilateral decision in 7th form to stop wearing school uniform. A few old school teachers pulled him up on it but just sneered and ignored them. It was quite funny. He didn’t go to university. Went straight to radio and developed an ultra cynical methodology immediately. He has no philosophy. Amazing how long he’s been in the shadows.
well thanks for that …but still the faceless man of mystery….seems like a pivot man in the whole scheme of things ….even a junior Mr. Smiley ( but then i am just a nosey Chook with too much imagination)
…but maybe things will clarify…i look forward to a special Post on him on the Standard
i remember a book i used to read to the kids ….’Where is Wally?’
Yes, I know as much as anyone on Ede. The first I remember his name being mentioned was the photos of the aftermath of the press party sent straight to the hate speech merchant, Cameron Slater.
Yes, I have looked for stuff on Ede before and found very little via google. I thought I saw a link to a newspaper article back in about 2005 or so – maybe earlier, maybe later. I thought it was a newspaper article that was written by Jason Ede, about John key.
I just had another look tonight.
I found this mention from a couple of days ago on NZ Herald, with a bit about Ede being a former journalist and Don Brash’s press secretary.
I found this, which is total heresay, and as far as I know, could just be someone’s fantasy – although, he does have a bit of contextual detail – elaborate fantasy, if it is one.
‘Can someone in the media please ask the PM of NZ to categorically deny any National Party staff worked with Cam Slater in the smearing of Tania Billingsley? ‘
Prime Minister says he reads the standard and John – I can watch this again and again and again he goes on to say that hagers book only has pejorative things to say about about him personally. ?.not that hes read the book…wtf?
Has anyone posted a comment about the item tonight on Campbell Live which is that EQC is very short of money to complete their commitments. The reason is that the Government wants to hide the debt because if it was counted, then the “surplus” heralded by the Government does not exist. If proven this would suggest that the Govt is lying. Surely not.
Disturbed outlined what’s happening power companies are paying bigger surpluses to shareholders basically a cartel no competition .The previous price rises were for upgrades of infrastructure now the spend on infrastructure is declining rapidly instead of competing for customers with lower prices shareholders are taking windfall profits and tuning time for govt intervention!
I see that @whaledump has this evening tweeted “This is not all about party politics. Be patient. You’ll see.”
Pure speculation, but I wonder if Mssrs. Mallard and/or Cosgrove are about to take a tumble. Mallard has been unusually silent on social media re: #dirtypolitics.
Assuming those two are the primary ABC sources for the likes of Garner and Gower, it doesn’t seem beyond the question they’ve been in communication with Slater.
Surely anything about Labour would still be “party politics” as well. The simplest way to read “not all about party politics” is that there are leaks involving individuals or institutions that are not commonly associated with particular parties in the public eye.
There is a striking “bulge” in National’s electoral support in the 50 to 64 age bracket, and the profile is very different from 2011 :
Percentage of population by age bracket supporting National December 2011
18 to 24 – 38.4%
25 to 34 – 36.2%
35 to 49 – 46.7%
50 to 64 – 38.9%
65 plus – 44.4%
Percentage of population by age bracket supporting National July 2014
18 to 24 – 25.8%
25 to 34 – 32.9%
35 to 49 – 42.2%
50 to 64 – 51.2%
65 over – 44.6%
Two remarks
1) that’s a large constituency of people of roughly JK’s age who are fairly apolitical and identify with him (nice guy, winner)
2) They are National’s “soft underbelly”… (sorry, couldn’t resist)
A new season of White Lotus is nearly upon us: more murder mystery, more sumptuous surroundings, more rich people behaving badly.Once more we get to identify with the experience of the pampered tourist or perhaps the poorly paid help; there's something in White Lotus for all New Zealanders.And unlike the ...
In 2016, Aotearoa shockingly plunged to fourth place in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index. Nine years later, and we're back there again: New Zealand has seen a further slip in its global ranking in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). [...] In the latest CPI New Zealand's score ...
1. You’ve started ranking your politicians on how much they respect the rule of law2. You’ve stopped paying attention to those news publications3. You’ve developed a sudden interest in a particular period of history4. More and more people are sounding like your racist, conspiracist uncle.5. Someone just pulled a Nazi ...
Transforming New Zealand: Brian EastonBrian Easton will discuss the above topic at 2/57 Willis Street, Wellington at 5:30pm on Tuesday 26 February at 2/57 Willis Street, WellingtonThe sub-title to the above is "Why is the Left failing?" Brian Easton's analysis is based on his view that while the ...
Salvation Army’s State of the Nation 2025 report highlights falling living standards, the highest unemployment rates since the 1990s and half of all Pacific children going without food. There are reports of hundreds if not thousands of people are applying for the same jobs in the wake of last year’s ...
Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Correction: On the article The Condundrum of David Seymour, Luke Malpass conducted joint reviews with Bryce Wilkinson, the architect of the Regulatory Standards Bill - not Bryce Edwards. The article ...
Tomorrow the council’s Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee meet and agenda has a few interesting papers. Council’s Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport Every year the council provide a Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport which is part of the process for informing AT of the council’s priorities and ...
All around in my home townThey're trying to track me down, yeahThey say they want to bring me in guiltyFor the killing of a deputyFor the life of a deputySongwriter: Robert Nesta Marley.Support Nick’s Kōrero today with a 20% discount on a paid subscription to receive all my newsletters directly ...
Hi,I think all of us have probably experienced the power of music — that strange, transformative thing that gets under our skin and helps us experience this whole life thing with some kind of sanity.Listening and experiencing music has always been such a huge part of my life, and has ...
Business frustration over the stalled economy is growing, and only 34% of voters are confidentNicola Willis can deliver. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, February 12 are:Business frustration is growing about a ...
I have now lived long enough to see a cabinet minister go both barrels on their Prime Minister and not get sacked.It used to be that the PM would have a drawer full of resignations signed by ministers on the day of their appointment, ready for such an occasion. But ...
This session will feature Simon McCallum, Senior Lecturer in Engineering and Computer Science (VUW) and recent Labour Party candidate in the Southland Electorate talking about some of the issues around AI and how this should inform Labour Party policy. Simon is an excellent speaker with a comprehensive command of AI ...
The proposed Waimate garbage incinerator is dead: The company behind a highly-controversial proposal to build a waste-to-energy plant in the Waimate District no longer has the land. [...] However, SIRRL director Paul Taylor said the sales and purchase agreement to purchase land from Murphy Farms, near Glenavy, lapsed at ...
The US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has been a vital tool in combatting international corruption. It forbids US companies and citizens from bribing foreign public officials anywhere in the world. And its actually enforced: some of the world's biggest companies - Siemens, Hewlett Packard, and Bristol Myers Squibb - have ...
December 2024 photo - with UK Tory Boris Johnson (Source: Facebook)Those PollsFor hours, political poll results have resounded across political hallways and commentary.According to the 1News Verizon poll, 50% of the country believe we are heading in the “wrong direction”, while 39% believe we are “on the right track”.The left ...
A Tai Rāwhiti mill that ran for 30 years before it was shut down in late 2023 is set to re-open in the coming months, which will eventually see nearly 300 new jobs in the region. A new report from Massey University shows that pensioners are struggling with rising costs. ...
As support continues to fall, Luxon also now faces his biggest internal ructions within the coalition since the election, with David Seymour reacting badly to being criticised by the PM. File photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate ...
Not since 1988 when Richard Prebble openly criticised David Lange have we seen such a challenge to a Prime Minister as that of David Seymour to Christopher Luxon last night. Prebble suggested Lange had mental health issues during a TV interview and was almost immediately fired. Seymour hasn’t gone quite ...
Three weeks in, and the 24/7 news cycle is not helping anyone feel calm and informed about the second Trump presidency. One day, the US is threatening 25% trade tariffs on its friends and neighbours. The reasons offered by the White House are absurd, such as stopping fentanyl coming in ...
This video includes personal musings and conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Wherever you look, you'll hear headlines claiming we've passed 1.5 degrees of global warming. And while 2024 saw ...
Photo by Heather M. Edwards on UnsplashHere’s the key news, commentary, reports and debate around Aotearoa’s politics and economy in the week to Feb 10 below. That’s ahead of live chats on the Substack App and The Kākā’s front page on Substack at 5pm with: on his column in The ...
Is there anyone in the world the National Party loves more than a campaign donor? Why yes, there is! They will always have the warmest hello and would you like to slip into something more comfortable for that great god of our age, the High Net Worth Individual.The words the ...
Waste and fraud certainly exist in foreign aid programs, but rightwing celebration of USAID’s dismantling shows profound ignorance of the value of soft power (as opposed to hard power) in projecting US influence and interests abroad by non-military/coercive means (think of “hearts and minds,” “hugs, not bullets,” “honey versus vinegar,” ...
Health New Zealand is proposing to cut almost half of its data and digital positions – more than 1000 of them. The PSA has called on the Privacy Commissioner to urgently investigate the cuts due to the potential for serious consequences for patients. NZNO is calling for an urgent increase ...
We may see a few more luxury cars on Queen Street, but a loosening of rules to entice rich foreigners to invest more here is unlikely to “turbocharge our economic growth”. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate ...
Let us not dance daintily around the elephant in the room. Our politicians who serve us in the present are not honest, certainly not as honest as they should be, and while the right are taking out most of the trophies for warping narratives and literally redefining “facts”, the kiwi ...
A few weeks ago I took a look at public transport ridership in 2024. In today’s post I’m going to be looking a bit deeper at bus ridership. Buses make up the vast majority of ridership in Auckland with 70 million boardings last year out of a total of 89.4 ...
Oh, you know I did itIt's over and I feel fineNothing you could say is gonna change my mindWaited and I waited the longest nightNothing like the taste of sweet declineSongwriters: Chris Shiflett / David Eric Grohl / Nate Mendel / Taylor Hawkins.Hindsight is good, eh?The clarity when the pieces ...
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on UnsplashHere’s what we’re watching in the week to February 16 and beyond in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty:Monday, February 10The Kākā’s weekly wrap-up of news about politics and the economy is due at midday, followed by webinar for paying subscribers in Substack’s ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, February 2, 2025 thru Sat, February 8, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
Today, I stumbled across a Twitter Meme: the ending of The Lord of the Rings as a Chess scenario: https://x.com/mellon_heads/status/1887983845917564991 It gets across the basic gist. Aragorn and Gandalf offering up ‘material’ at the Morannon allows Frodo and Samwise to catch Sauron unawares – fair enough. But there are a ...
Last week, Kieran McAnulty called out Chris Bishop and Nicola Willis for their claims that Kāinga Ora’s costs were too high.They had claimed Kāinga Ora’s cost were 12% higher than market i.e. private devlopersBut Kāinga Ora’s Chair had already explained why last year:"We're not building to sell, so we'll be ...
Stuff’s Political Editor Luke Malpass - A Fellow at New Zealand IniativeLast week I half-joked that Stuff / The Post’s Luke Malpass1 always sounded like he was auditioning for a job at the New Zealand Initiative.Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. For a limited time, subscriptions are 20% off. Thanks ...
At a funeral on Friday, there were A4-sized photos covering every wall of the Dil’s reception lounge. There must have been 200 of them, telling the story in the usual way of the video reel but also, by enlargement, making it more possible to linger and step in.Our friend Nicky ...
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 from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is methane the ...
The Government’s idea is that the private sector and Community Housing Providers will fund, build and operate new affordable housing to address our housing crisis. Meanwhile, the Government does not know where almost half of the 1,700 children who left emergency housing actually went. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong ...
Oh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youOh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youSongwriters: Alexander Ebert / Jade Allyson CastrinosMorena,I’m on a tight time frame this morning. In about an hour and a half, I’ll need to pack up and hit the road ...
This is a post about the Mountain Tui substack, and small tweaks - further to the poll and request post the other day. Please don’t read if you aren’t interested in my personal matters. Thank you all.After oohing-and-aahing about how to structure the Substack model since November, including obtaining ...
This transcript of a recent conversation between the Prime Minister and his chief economic adviser has not been verified.We’ve announced we are the ‘Yes Government’. Do you like it?Yes, Prime Minister.Dreamed up by the PR team. It’s about being committed to growth. Not that the PR team know anything about ...
The other day, Australian Senator Nick McKim issued a warning in the Australian Parliement about the US’s descent into fascim.And of course it’s true, but I lament - that was true as soon as Trump won.What we see is now simply the reification of the intention, planning, and forces behind ...
Among the many other problems associated with Musk/DOGE sending a fleet of teenage and twenty-something cultists to remove, copy and appropriate federal records like social security, medicaid and other supposedly protected data is the fact that the youngsters doing the data-removal, copying and security protocol and filter code over-writing have ...
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tuneBird fly high by the light of the moonOh, oh, oh, JokermanSong by Bob Dylan.Morena folks, I hope this fine morning of the 7th of February finds you well. We're still close to Paihia, just a short drive out of town. Below is the view ...
It’s been an eventful week as always, so here’s a few things that we have found interesting. We also hope everyone had a happy and relaxing Waitangi Day! This week in Greater Auckland We’re still running on summer time, but provided two chewy posts: On Tuesday, a guest ...
Queuing on Queen St: the Government is set to announce another apparently splashy growth policy on Sunday of offering residence visas to wealthy migrants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, February 7:PM Christopher ...
The fact that Waitangi ended up being such a low-key affair may mark it out as one of the most significant Waitangi Days in recent years. A group of women draped in “Toitu Te Tiriti” banners who turned their backs on the politicians’ powhiri was about as rough as it ...
Hi,This week’s Flightless Bird episode was about “fake seizure guy” — a Melbourne man who fakes seizures in order to get members of the public to sit on him.The audio documentary (which I have included in this newsletter in case you don’t listen to Flightless Bird) built on reporting first ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk The 119th Congress comes with a price tag. The oil and gas industry gave about $24 million in campaign contributions to the members of the U.S. House and Senate expected to be sworn in January 3, 2025, according to a ...
Early morning, the shadows still long, but you can already feel the warmth building. Our motel was across the road from the historic homestead where Henry Williams' family lived. The evening before, we wandered around the gardens, reading the plaques and enjoying the close proximity to the history of the ...
Thanks folks for your feedback, votes and comments this week. I’ll be making the changes soon. Appreciate all your emails, comments and subscriptions too. I know your time is valuable - muchas gracias.A lot is happening both here and around the world - so I want to provide a snippets ...
Data released today by Statistics NZ shows that unemployment rose to 5.1%, with 33,000 more people out of work than last year said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. “The latest data shows that employment fell in Aotearoa at its fastest rate since the GFC. Unemployment rose in 8 ...
The December labour market statistics have been released, showing yet another increase in unemployment. There are now 156,000 unemployed - 34,000 more than when National took office. And having thrown all these people out of work, National is doubling down on cruelty. Because being vicious will somehow magically create the ...
Boarded up homes in Kilbirnie, where work on a planned development was halted. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, February 5 are;Housing Minister Chris Bishop yesterday announcedKāinga Ora would be stripped of ...
This week Kiwirail and Auckland Transport were celebrating the completion of the summer rail works that had the network shut or for over a month and the start of electric trains to Pukekohe. First up, here’s parts of the press release about the shutdown works. Passengers boarding trains in Auckland ...
Through its austerity measures, the coalition government has engineered a rise in unemployment in order to reduce inflation while – simultaneously – cracking down harder and harder on the people thrown out of work by its own policies. To that end, Social Development Minister Louise Upston this week added two ...
This year, we've seen a radical, white supremacist government ignoring its Tiriti obligations, refusing to consult with Māori, and even trying to legislatively abrogate te Tiriti o Waitangi. When it was criticised by the Waitangi Tribunal, the government sabotaged that body, replacing its legal and historical experts with corporate shills, ...
Poor old democracy, it really is in a sorry state. It would be easy to put all the blame on the vandals and tyrants presently trashing the White House, but this has been years in the making. It begins with Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan and the spirit of Gordon ...
The new school lunches came in this week, and they were absolutely scrumptious.I had some, and even though Connor said his tasted like “stodge” and gave him a sore tummy, I myself loved it!Look at the photos - I knew Mr Seymour wouldn’t lie when he told us last year:"It ...
The tighter sanctions are modelled on ones used in Britain, which did push people off ‘the dole’, but didn’t increase the number of workers, and which evidence has repeatedly shown don’t work. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, ...
Catching you up on the morning’s global news and a quick look at the parallels -GLOBALTariffs are backSharemarkets in the US, UK and Europe have “plunged” in response to Trump’s tariffs. And while Mexico has won a one month reprieve, Canada and China will see their respective 25% and 10% ...
This post by Nicolas Reid was originally published on Linked in. It is republished here with permission. Gondolas are often in the news, with manufacturers of ropeway systems proposing them as a modern option for mass transit systems in New Zealand. However, like every next big thing in transport, it’s hard ...
This is a re-post from The Climate BrinkBoth 2023 and 2024 were exceptionally warm years, at just below and above 1.5C relative to preindustrial in the WMO composite of surface temperature records, respectively. While we are still working to assess the full set of drivers of this warmth, it is clear that ...
Hi,I woke up feeling nervous this morning, realising that this weekend Flightless Bird is going to do it’s first ever live show. We’re heading to a sold out (!) show in Seattle to test the format out in front of an audience. If it works, we’ll do more. I want ...
From the United-For-Now States of America comes the thrilling news that a New Zealander may be at the very heart of the current coup. Punching above our weight on the world stage once more! Wait, you may be asking, what New Zealander? I speak of Peter Thiel, made street legal ...
Even Stevens: Over the 33 years between 1990 and 2023 (and allowing for the aberrant 2020 result) the average level of support enjoyed by the Left and Right blocs, at roughly 44.5 percent each, turns out to be, as near as dammit, identical.WORLDWIDE, THE PARTIES of the Left are presented ...
Back in 2023, a "prominent political figure" went on trial for historic sex offences. But we weren't allowed to know who they were or what political party they were "prominent" in, because it might affect the way we voted. At the time, I said that this was untenable; it was ...
I'm going, I'm goingWhere the water tastes like wineI'm going where the water tastes like wineWe can jump in the waterStay drunk all the timeI'm gonna leave this city, got to get awayI'm gonna leave this city, got to get awayAll this fussing and fighting, man, you know I sure ...
Waitangi Day is a time to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and stand together for a just and fair Aotearoa. Across the motu, communities are gathering to reflect, kōrero, and take action for a future built on equity and tino rangatiratanga. From dawn ceremonies to whānau-friendly events, there are ...
Subscribe to Mountain Tūī ! Where you too can learn about exciting things from a flying bird! Tweet.Yes - I absolutely suck at marketing. It’s a fact.But first -My question to all readers is:How should I set up the Substack model?It’s been something I’ve been meaning to ask since November ...
Here’s the key news, commentary, reports and debate around Aotearoa’s political economy on politics and in the week to Feb 3:PM Christopher Luxon began 2025’s first day of Parliament last Tuesday by carrying on where left off in 2024, letting National’s junior coalition partner set the political agenda and dragging ...
Half of Pacific children sometimes going without food is just one of many heartbreaking lowlights in the Salvation Army’s annual State of the Nation report. ...
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report is a bleak indictment on the failure of Government to take steps to end poverty, with those on benefits, including their children, hit hardest. ...
New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill which would restore decision-making power to local communities regarding the fluoridation of drinking water. The ‘Fluoridation (Referendum) Legislation Bill’ seeks to repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 that granted centralised authority to the Direct General of Health ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill aimed at preventing banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current “Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework”. “This Bill ensures fairness and prevents ESG standards from perpetuating woke ideology in the banking sector being driven by unelected, globalist, climate ...
Erica Stanford has reached peak shortsightedness if today’s announcement is anything to go by, picking apart immigration settings piece by piece to the detriment of the New Zealand economy. ...
Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...
The Government’s move to increase speed limits substantially on dozens of stretches of rural and often undivided highways will result in more serious harm. ...
In her first announcement as Economic Growth Minister, Nicola Willis chose to loosen restrictions for digital nomads from other countries, rather than focus on everyday Kiwis. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget 2025 – the Growth Budget - will be delivered on Thursday 22 May. “This year’s Budget will drive forward the Government’s plan to grow our economy to improve the incomes of New Zealanders now and in the years ahead. “Budget 2025 will build ...
For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament. “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes students back to school with a call to raise attendance from last year. “The Government encourages all students to attend school every day because there is a clear connection between being present at school and setting yourself up for a bright future,” says Mr ...
The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism Minister Louise Upston say. “The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto ...
The opening of Kāinga Ora’s development of 134 homes in Epuni, Lower Hutt will provide much-needed social housing for Hutt families, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I’ve been a strong advocate for social housing on Kāinga Ora’s Epuni site ever since the old earthquake-prone housing was demolished in 2015. I ...
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will travel to Australia today for meetings with Australian Trade Minister, Senator Don Farrell, and the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF). Mr McClay recently hosted Minister Farrell in Rotorua for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting, where ANZLF presented on ...
A new monthly podiatry clinic has been launched today in Wairoa and will bring a much-needed service closer to home for the Wairoa community, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.“Health New Zealand has been successful in securing a podiatrist until the end of June this year to meet the needs of ...
The Judicial Conduct Commissioner has recommended a Judicial Conduct Panel be established to inquire into and report on the alleged conduct of acting District Court Judge Ema Aitken in an incident last November, Attorney-General Judith Collins said today. “I referred the matter of Judge Aitken’s alleged conduct during an incident ...
Students who need extra help with maths are set to benefit from a targeted acceleration programme that will give them more confidence in the classroom, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Last year, significant numbers of students did not meet the foundational literacy and numeracy level required to gain NCEA. To ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced three new diplomatic appointments. “Our diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealand’s interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,” Mr Peters says. “It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ...
Ki te kahore he whakakitenga, ka ngaro te Iwi – without a vision, the people will perish. The Government has achieved its target to reduce the number of households in emergency housing motels by 75 per cent five years early, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The number of households ...
The opening of Palmerston North’s biggest social housing development will have a significant impact for whānau in need of safe, warm, dry housing, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. The minister visited the development today at North Street where a total of 50 two, three, and four-bedroom homes plus a ...
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – The United States shares the pathologies of all dying empires with their mixture of buffoonery, rampant corruption, military fiascos, economic collapse and savage state repression.ANALYSIS: By Chris Hedges The billionaires, Christian fascists, grifters, psychopaths, imbeciles, narcissists and deviants who ...
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Private Energy companies don’t serve the people.
They serve wealthy overseas shareholders.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11310769
22% increase in profits with declining consumption is in need of investigation!
Thanks for mentioning this Trickledrown,
“22% increase in profits with declining consumption is in need of investigation!”
Our family and community understand this as we are involved in the
controversial rollout of “Smart meters” the new electronic transmitting meters that are known to cause health problems especially with those who have “electromagnetic sensitivities” ES or EMS sensitivities to electromagnetic fields being created by these meters.
http://www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/
Doing our research we have found that the tariff charges for power is now being changed (as these meter tariffs are unregulated by Gov’t)
The method is called TOU or (Time of use,) in which minutes are separated and recorded by the computer inside the Smart meter as to the time of use is and that are setting a tariff that is much higher than when the EA/Gov’t has previously set for power charges during the day or night.
Now the time of use parcels of time say hypothetically cold be in 20 minute intervals would be higher by 300% during peak time of day than 9pm at night.
So people who use more power during the day will now be desperately trying to turn off their Heat pumps freezers and other high use appliances during the day to lower their monthly bills.
It is another Key Government ploy to extract the maximum profit from the least investment.
Hope this helps. We need an investigation into this criminal fleecing of consumers. who must see the real issues here,
I joined Grey Power Power via Pulse and was able to request the successful removal of the smart meter installed here at my house. No charge was applied to me either.
Don’t think others will do it. I was a Powershop customer until I moved here, but they couldn’t ( or wouldn’t ? ) do it. A Powershop rep told me to call Grey Power Power .. and here I am, a happy customer freed from 24 hour a day microwaves on the wide of my house next to my bedroom.
I also objected on the grounds it did one more person out of their job as a meter reader.
I sell pure mechanical Analogue meters if anyone needs them.
Most Power companies contactors cant supply them but we can,.
Some will refuse to use them but we have forced them to accept them now, as our right to own our own meters, so don’t’ take their crap that they are mandatory that is a lie, this is going on under this Government.
xlnt .. thx
Time mind time of day/peak charging but it must be communicated before hand so that people know that it’s happening and they must also know also know how much they’re being charged. The present smart meters don’t do that.
Yep, ripped off – as everybody knew we would be.
Time to impose a super tax on these power companies, as an interim measure.
+100 CV
‘
Rod Oram spells it out: http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/20146212
The government will, of course, exclaim that the higher profits is a result of better management and not that we’re being ripped off.
GCHQ in the UK has the ability to manipulate political landscape !
The GSCB has the same ability here!
Key has already shown he is not above using any means to disrupt democracy!
srylands is one of the GSCB’s plants its so obvious!
Key has more to answer!
So how did Slater find out about politicians visiting Dotcom.
Key has denied Gscb and SIS but no one asked him if the police passed on info!
If it was PI’s who paid them!
John Key all of a sudden wants to discuss policy.
Here’s one to discuss then.
How is he going to solve Christchurch’s housing problems?
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/business/your-property/10358544/Christchurch-housing-reaches-new-record
Clue :Calling them scum, Mr Key isn’t the answer….
As long as Key stands by Slater and Ede, he is calling earthquake victims “scum” , not to mention calling Pike River victims “sluts” and “ferals”.
And for some reason, it seems he does have to stand by them.
Whatever they have on Key, it must be something that would make him look worse than having Slater and Ede as mates.
+1
He has to stand by them – he has always maintained that Dirty Politics is untrue and is a beat-up from the left. If he didn’t stand by them then he is admitting the book is correct.
He has a problem.
But don’t forget; Key lies (he just can’t help it).
he doesn’t have a problem with his behaviour. Joyce made it very clear from his first utterance post book release. They think dirty politics is ok.
++10 Now Key is re-inventing McCarthyism.
We are now all left wing —-next terrorists ? —–Communists?
The criminal behaviour here should send a chill to anyone wondering what key has in mind now do to the truth unveiled in the Dirty Politics book.
You will notice that everytime he says NZers care about policy he walks away? Funny that. No real policy Mr key, just upgrading schools and building new schools which any govt has to do over the next few years. Calling it policy. Bah
Yeah he said NZers care. Never said he does though.
John Key all of a sudden wants to discuss policy.
Here’s one to discuss then.
How does he plan to tackle systematic poverty in the country?
A letter to the Dominion Post yesterday.
“Child poverty within New Zealand remains a national shame. Low-incomes see New Zealand families always on the brink, one setback away from financial disaster.
Often these families find themselves resorting to third tier borrowing which traps them in a downward, never-ending cycle of indebtedness, powerlessness and increased poverty.
The gap between incomes and affordable housing has grown – housing affordability deteriorated by 7.6 per cent in the 12 months ending May 2014.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/letters-to-the-editor/10390390/Child-poverty-a-national-shame
Clue :Calling them losers, Mr Key, isn’t the answer….
…suggesting they “made bad decisions” also isn’t the answer. How the hell does a new born child make a “lifestyle choice” to live in poverty. How the hell do they consciously extricate themselves from the influence of their environment and culture. No question marks required on those statements.
Your topic, Mr.Key, is everything you ignore, your time starts now…
Paul, Dave + Crocc, Child & mother’s care in Key’s world.
I have in Daughter who lives away from our area, and works to keep her son in Playschool but he got a bug two days ago from Playschool and it is contagious so She (mother had to stay at home and care for his fever and cough.
Since she hasn’t been there at the job for six months yet, she wont get paid, and now she has contracted the virus off the son so she was forced to drop him at playschool today dosed up the panadol and her with the same and due to financial reasons forced herself to go back to work so she has to pass it o to others and her son too?
This illustrates the mindless Key government that can’t see the consequences of their actions.
She cannot get WINS help either so she is sick with a son and forced to work, = Key’s plan for us all.
Classic example of how mindless sanctions against the poorer parts of society can end up harming the wealthy. A more benign regime would reward behaviour which reduces the spread of disease.
national/slater have destroyer themselves
Susie Ferguson – another disgraceful interview by a supposed public broadcaster.
Is she able to work beyond smears?
Waiting to hear her discuss the issues of housing, employment, inequality, the environment,
Just obsessed about polls and alliances.
What about informing your audience about the party’s policies and asking difficult questions about that?!
Rnz aside from the odd spot of professionalism like espinner yesterday is part of the nact pr machine. Theyve had many morning report combos since griffin was installed to get the mix right.
That is amusing since many consider RNZ to be a hotbed of left wingers. Reminds me of when I worked for TVNZ News and we were happy when both sides attacked us becuase obviously we were walking down the centre, hard as that is, but of course that was twenty five years ago … today I subscribe first sentance unfortunately.
Seeing Key and co. self destruct is a historic spectacle, especially with MSM players who are slowly realising that they have been complicit in the entire criminal John Key enterprise.
However none of this makes for a winning strategy for the Left. The election remains on a knife edge. (I don’t count having to cobble together a multi-multi party coalition simply to put together a sliver 2-3 seat majority as a win). We have a few more days of revelling in Key’s political demise – but it doesn’t mean that he won’t be PM again come Sept 20 – or that National won’t be in again come 2017.
This country’s politics is undergoing a major crisis which is almost constitutional in nature. Now is the moment – the opportunity – for major proposals and reforms to be put forward, by the Left to clean things up.
Regulations on lobbyists and unofficial spokespeople. On corporate money and campaign financing. On journalistic standards and public broadcasting. On democractic accountability – including within the security services. On cpmprehensive whistleblower, leaker and journalistic protections.
It’s clear we need broad, brave new measures to safeguard our democracy and to stop US style political rot taking hold in NZ.
Let’s see some gutsy proposals from the progressive parties to detoxify our politics.
Well said.
They may well have some for all we know, the media isn’t focusing on policies and hasnt for a while. Is it a coincidence that only the Left have really been releasing any?
The Right Wing learnt the lesson a century ago via Freud, Bernays etc that through mass media, people are swayed far more by their emotions and their prejudices, than by rational fact and discussion. And they’ve put this understanding into action ever since. At the same time the left has continuously driven down increasingly narrow intellectual over rationalising cul de sacs and become less and less able to connect to and give moral voice to the people really suffering in our society.
agreed.
Have you read Jaques Ellul : Formation of Men’s Attitudes (about Propaganda)? If you haven’t mind I be so bold as to recommend you do. I think you would “enjoy” it. He wrote during the Cold war, but he could have been talking about now.
Ahhh very nice thanks I will follow up.
The Left may call them policies but to me they sound more like bribes …. the one policy which would make a huge difference has been ignored for decades and I have no faith that either side will address the matter … ample State Housing for all who need it.
A warm dry roof over one’s head is the most important aspect of living in an inclement climate.
I see your perspective and it makes some sense 🙂
Government should be about the interests of the people and the fact that narrative has been lost makes everything look like a “bribe”
Agree.
Any thoughts on what those proposals might be?
My suggestion would be that anyone caught acting as described in Dirty Politics never be allowed near government again – ever.
I suggested a few areas of interest above.
My top ones would be around end to end whistleblower/leaker/journalistic protections in any case where the public interest or democratic interest was at stake.
Also transparency of not just the funding of political entities but where that money is spent in terms of media advice and media buys.
Improvement of journalistic/news standards + public broadcasting.
Increased sanctions for the politicisation of the civil service/intelligence services.
given the militarisation of the USA and its decline in press freedom (now 40th in the world) we don’t want to follow their example… but do journos have some kind of constitutional protection in NZ already?
I don’t think so, although the proof for libel is quite high and difficult to reach.
I would also suggest a transparent lobbyist register/audit.
Also, I would contract in Wikileaks to help build and run a Crown whistleblower site.
+1
Not ‘almost’, it is constitutional. What Hager reveals in Dirty politics is an outright undermining of our democracy and we need to have the tools to do something about despicable actions like these when they’re discovered.
They are fiddling the system, that’s what people who succeed in markets the best do. They call it finding loopholes BUT they also manipulate ( in the book there is a bit about manipulating ipredict) and lie and break rules. They rationalise and justify. BUT anyone who thinks that Key made it as far as he did in his chosen business without similar tactics is mad, or as slylands likes to say needs to stop being stupid all their life. And he clearly hasnt set aside those strategies since becoming PM.
The market failed the people, and now the market has disenfranchised the people.
I agree, it is constitutional. And who is final refuge for us ? The Governor General. And let’s recall, Jerry Mateparae was removed as head of GCSB to be replaced by Key’s ‘can’t-remember-him’ buddy Fletcher. His ‘reward’ was to become GG. And it remains to be seen if Key and his $$ masters own him. Be an interesting struggle I think, as Mateparae has previously seemed to be a man of great personal integrity.
Having watched all those years ago as Watergate unravelled from a single loose stitch at the bottom to the very top of the Republican knitting, maybe a major constitutional crisis is brewing here.
We will be counting on you Jerry. Can we ?
We’ve been considering the actions that the GG might take too, yeshe! What would it take for him to act, is he impartial, many, many things to ponder at the moment – The information is coming so thick and fast, it’s hard to know which murky pond to gaze upon next! What kind of creatures will we see emerging, who are their National party buddies and what nefarious enterprizes have they been involved in? Been wondering too, how good old Queen Lillibet is feeling these days? Think there will be any more invitations to Balmoral?
That is my fear: That just as Douglas radically changed the basis of the NZ economy, so Key is dismantling the constraints associated with political office, and turning the PM role into something more akin to a branch manager. He is one of the “leaders from central casting” that began to pop up in the Western world in the mid 2000’s.
Ad says, on the “Will the real National Party Please Stand up” thread, Nicky is merely holding a small mirror to New Zealand society on the morality of the Washington Consensus. By and large New Zealand voters chose this over several decades with their Faustian eyes wide open.
There are four main elements of concern that come up in the book, quite apart from the malignancy the main players: (1) The misuse of privileged information, (2) The theft of opposition information, with a view to giving them grief, (3) The use of this malignant group as a sort of news filter, so that anyone who wanted to meet deadlines,etc, had to pass through WO’s slanted interpretations, and (4) The group’s making use of any information they could get their hands on to bend others to their will.
I would like to be able to fathom how much of this is a deliberate attempt to irrevocably shift the political compass, and how much of it is simply rogue elements, living in a fantasy world, enjoying unbridled license under a PM who is “not a politician.”
I would like to be able to fathom how much of this is a deliberate attempt to irrevocably shift the political compass, and how much of it is simply rogue elements, living in a fantasy world, enjoying unbridled license under a PM who is “not a politician.”
Well, it seems to me to be a bit of both. The hackers refer to it as a “network”. By definition that is a complex of inter-relationships, rather than a centrally organised conspiracy. networks are also more flexible, less clearly defined, and rely a lot on personal connections and associations, albeit that they also link into associations with organisations and institutions.
I have done a few posts on Key’s “networks of influence” – these include a range of contacts and associations he nurtures – ones that Key can draw on when and as situations arise. My posts focused on the networks of powerful corporate and political players. In my nativity, I failed to included the kinds of underground networks that Slater et al play with and draw on: prostitutes, etc.
Suddenly, I have an idea for a future “networks of influence” post.
Yes, those underground networks are important, because they are able to do great damage to people. I think you are probably right about “the bit of both.” What is important is that the rogue elements are not working against the preferred direction, but are in general seen to be helping to achieve it, if indirectly.
NZ is a young country, and I think its population by and large have a limited conception of what a civic society is, just a vague sense of “decent people like me meeting my standards of decency.” If they vote Key in again, after all that has been revealed, I will be very frightened for this country.
Olwyn
Yes Key wanted to clear all moderate politician’s out as you saw post dissolving of parliament last month.
He is running a campaign as you quote is similar to Hitler’s grip on power in 1933 till the war.
We are very disturbed.
I take it you mean the “two track system” that Hager has spoken of and written about in his book – where the PM remains aloof and lets thugs do his dirty work for him. If you are right, the book ought by rights to put pressure on that plan, but it remains to be seen how much influence it will have on voting patterns. The relaxed, untarnished image Key has cultivated is now seriously compromised, whether or not he ends up getting a third term.
+++10 Colonial Viper, true.
“This country’s politics is undergoing a major crisis which is almost constitutional in nature. Now is the moment – the opportunity – for major proposals and reforms to be put forward, by the Left to clean things up”
Cut out the corrupt political cancer.
This recapturing of honest open political policy must be aggressively perused by the opposition prior to the election as a major platform otherwise the cancer will infect any future Government also.
We really need something like the Australian corruption commissions. As things stand, Ede should have been arrested, there should be a warrant for Slug Boy, Collins should have been stood down, and Key should have been dismissed. All we seem to have is the GG, and he’s just a Tory who used to be in uniform. Something like a BOR tribunal would also be good, to ensure legislation and activities didn’t violate the Bill of Rights. It would need teeth. Both would need to be constituted as democratically as possible, rather than becoming one party’s toys via appointments.
If we don’t get something like this, the Tories are just going to get worse.
One word. Herald.
Brilliant media management by the Whaledumper. This is going to be fun.
It has been brilliant to date.
Whaledumper has done what the left wing parties have failed to do in the past 6 years. He/she has shown up the parties in a spectacular way.
I hope Whaledumper does not overegg it though. We are getting very close to the point where absolutely everyone agrees that Key, Collins at al are scum. Once we reach that point, more vile from the mouth and emails of Slater will not add anything to the issue and will run the risk of public exhaustion.
My strategy would be leak for a few more days. Then just let the media hammer Key until election day.
Oh, and what the Viper said.
Listened to Harré taking ownership of Plunket. Catch and release before it starts to smell, Laila.
Listened to Key on RNZ admit it’s all true and offer ‘but but but but Lllllaaaabbbboooouuuurr’ as an excuse. Enjoy your retirement, trash.
Prostitutes is it now? The Herald eats its former trusted sources.
Ah, you haven’t read the book. Yup Mr Slater whom Mr Key wont distance himself from used a former prostitute to trawl brothels to try to catch politicians and people Slater doesn’t like “at it”.
Mr Bhatnagar seemed to revel in Slater’s gutter dwelling, and didn’t Ms Collins give him a job???
obviously your power is restored again today Tracey ! +100%
Meanwhile the Govt debt is
NZ$ 84,561,089,428
now
NZ$ 84,561,092,596
now
NZ$ 84,561,095,500
it rose 6000 while i was writing this comment
The Left really needs to quietly mention National’s mismanagement of the economy every chance they get.
this debt creating money system is a nightmare.
As in, if it’s a rock star economy, it is a very dead rock star !
The plastic surgery and groupie worship proved fatal in the end
🙂 @CV
Well, stop writing it then!
/old joke
LOL
I am a slow typist
Now
NZ$ NZ$ 84,561,303,053
Another good day to be left 😀
‘Hager’s Dirty Politics: what the book ultimately reveals is abuse of power’
By Martyn Bradbury / August 19, 2014
“Slater & Co are not bloggers, they are political sadists…Nicky’s book is now doing what I suspected it would do, create a shockwave of revulsion. Andrew Geddis over at Pundit Blog sums up this attitude best, and it’s reverberations build with every single new person who reads the book.
This is the outrage and the uproar caused by a mere 10 000 print run, what level of crescendo do you think we’ll hit when it becomes 20 000? 30 000? 40 000? What the headlines miss is the stinging hatred that shines through all the messages of those involved and that spite is shocking people. Politics can be angry, politics can be loud – but hateful? Hate politics has no place in a modern democracy….
Man, I was head-desking hard listening to Susie Ferguson being unable to grasp a straight forward answer from David Cunliffe.
It’s difficult to understand a point when ones livelihood depends on not understanding it.
She is a Natz patsy
RNZ Headline: “PM sticking to his line…”
There once was a fellow called Key,
Who lied to you and to me.
His lies tripped him up so,
Deceitful a new low,
And everybody can see.
jcuk says:
“The Left may call them policies but to me they sound more like bribes …. the one policy which would make a huge difference has been ignored for decades and I have no faith that either side will address the matter … ample State Housing for all who need it.”
If you chopped all these transfer payments and used the money for a boost to the state housing stock and income related rents, you could achieve the same outcome in a much cleaner way.
Yes lots of ways to simplify and overhaul what has become a very convoluted system.
Our current political left has not a single radical bone in its body though, preferring to tinker with a machine which is increasingly broken and not fit for purpose – the care of NZ citizens from cradle to grave.
In the Herald re TV3 Firstline this morning Key:
Mr Key stood by his stance that the emails were “selective” and an attempt to smear the government.
“We’ve never refuted actually that the emails were real, I don’t think anyone’s made that point.”
What does the last sentence mean?
When did ANYTHING John Key said, actually MEAN anything? The Shallow Man doesn’t think deeply enough for anything he says to MEAN anything, but he does do an expert spin, better than a whirling dervish!!
Either:
“No one’s asked us to discuss whether the emails are real. Since this has not happened, there is doubt over whether or not they are made up. We are too big and powerful to offer to pre-empt the question. Power does not bow to open dialogue. I can be asked if I am willing to be asked to discuss the emails, but not on Mondays and not while I’m in the office or during interviews. Please make an appointment when I’m not in the office, at such time I will then be unwilling to discuss the emails.”
or a more literal translation,
“We have never argued that the emails are real, I don’t think anyone’s made that point. I have not come out and openly said they are. How can you accuse us of things we did if we don’t agree that we did them?*”
another interpretation:
“I’m not saying these things didn’t happen, what I’m saying is that not enough people are saying they didn’t happen.”
If I can borrow a boxing analogy, Bob Jones didn’t see it coming. His piece in the Herald must have been written early last week, because it looks terribly dated now:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11311023
Just got off the phone with the Ministry of Justice about sorting out a traffic fine I had.
I was going to do a payment arrangement, at $10 or $20 per week but apparently if you want to make a payment arrangement you have to provide a budget of income and expenses.
Seeing as I wasnt really keen on having to submit my personal affairs to justice system so they decide that I was worthy enough to be allowed to pay it off in the method I think best (I wasnt trying to get out of paying it, I just wanted to pay the damn thing off over time) out came the credit card.
Personally I reckon that is bullshit, and penalises the poor more than anyone else, just getting them further and further into debt, they shouldnt have to submit a budget because they cannot shit out $121 on the spot.
It seems that Courts Minister Chester Burrows has made it a mission bankrupt people through the fine system.
Right, that’s you done for. Expect your name to be passed on by judith to cam for outing her ministries sh!t systems and prepare for the attack on your character to commence. That’s how it works these days, isn’t it?
Yep right on Planet Key.
Interesting comment, Millsy. We had the same argument with ACC – but we just went ahead and
started paying off the ACC debt by $20 a fortnight instead of the amount they wanted – much more – and haven’t heard a word since. We have another few months to go before the debt is fully paid up.
My budget would have been:
Income $X
Expenses $X-10
I don’t see why how much we earn is any of their business. Nor is what we spend our money on. This could be something that Mana would look at. I doubt if Labour care.
Latest National Party policy regarding the poor was the announcement of a loan deal via one of the Australian banks hiring a woman from one of the payroll lenders whose market interest rate is often around 500%. The Govt is contributing a meagre $250,000 to the plan, not that it’s necessarily a good plan in the first place.
Nicky Hager’s sister has written a very moving piece on her blog about Nicky and “Dirty Politics.”. It’s worth reading.
http://mandyhager.blogspot.fr/p/occasional-political-rant.html
Emphasis mine but very, very true. Key knows how deep the corruption goes and he’s trying to hide it.
This has probably been linked to already:
http://www.3news.co.nz/Key-Left-wing-has-given-up-arguing-policy/tabid/1607/articleID/357418/Default.aspx
Stunning video of Key unraveling on TV3
@geoff-Notice how Key calls him “Cam” not Cameron Slater. Dead giveaway.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10396668/Today-in-politics-Tuesday-August-19
“Labour leader David Cunliffe tried to score a point over John Key yesterday by saying he rarely talks to bloggers, but that seems a stretch. ”
That has to be the understatement of the day
Don’t try and drag Cunliffe into this
Why not? Let’s make the comparison: David Cunliffe has done Q&A sessions right here at The Standard. Something to be ashamed of, not.
Now we know the Prime Minister hires people to post at Whaleoil for him, which begs the question: why can’t he post there under his own name?
Come on Puckish Runt, let’s hear it.
PR
And your point is?
So who will win the upcoming nat party leadership election contest?
Obviously judith, despite her arrogance probably disagreeing, is now out of the running and joyce, with his creepy and slimy dirty politics defence is looking somewhat lame, so with both pre race favourites falling at the starting gate, who’s left?
At a guess, English is happiest of the party stablemates right now.
Paula could be cake and sticked into making an attempt at a run.
And a longshot is Simple Simon from Tauranga, just as long as he doesn’t have to think and elucidate on the campaign trail.
sounds like a script for a horror movie.
A very interesting Blogpost by Giovani tiso…I wondered who might have written the anonymous articles in the Listerner….possibly Jane Clifton.
http://bat-bean-beam.blogspot.co.nz/2014/08/of-journalism-and-monsters.html
Part of the Crosby Textor strategy is to dissuade people from voting at all, which was what happened last time.
That idea was explained in Dirty Politics by Simon Lusk.
“There are a few basic propositions with negative campaigning that are worth knowing about. It lowers turnout, favours right more than left as the right continues to turn out, and drives away the independents.’ In short, many people stop participating in politics. If politicians cannot be trusted, if politics looks like a petty or ugly game, and if no one seems to be talking about the things that matter, then what’s the point of bothering to participate? Just leave them to it.”
When you vote take 2 people with you and get them to take 2 people etc.etc.
Simon Lusk overstates the effect of negative campaigning. It may stop people participating in organised mainstream politics, but it also encourages stronger community links and unofficial groups. People don’t just throw up their hands and think, “oh well boss man is just too big for me. Best I just stand by and let my family die …”. Happens all over the world, throughout history, and while not entirely a constructive example it’s already happened here too: The Mongrel Mob.
I wonder why Colin Craig has been so quiet since publication of Dirty Politics ?
And then there is this … I guess if you want to defile a hoarding for any reason, it’s good to have some creative talent ! And yes, as is commented, it is an improvement of the Splendour In The Grass images …
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11310723
Now John Key is using RNZAF A109’s to get himself around the country and campaign. What an appalling man and not very sound judgement. I know he occupies the highest office in the land, but there has to be a stage where public servants can say GTFO we can’t do that for you PM.
A couple of years back people said Key didn’t look like he wanted the job, and tories were outraged.
Then it turned out that yeah, he was seriously considering quitting the job.
Does this look like someone who wants to stay PM? I don’t think so – he’ll be off after the election, however it turns out. Joyce, Blinglish and Collins will be fighting over the succession: who gets to be PM if they win, and who doesn’t have to be caretaker leader of the opposition if they lose.
Collins to Slater email; Pleasants ph. numbers supplied
https://twitter.com/whaledump/status/501519060782551040
interestingly not from collins’ govt email but her private ‘judithcollinslaw’ which is hugely ironic …
(maybe she is related to coleslaw from banks’ cabbage boat ?)
when ‘last’ doesn’t mean ‘last’ .. another lie from Key .. but at least he has been forced to address it, or so it seems .. Key on Collins …
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11311222
( she is getting another chance because it’s all a left-wing smear campaign ffs !
http://www.throng.co.nz/2014/08/ratings-campbell-live-suffers-worst-week-2014/
What is not as big a deal?
Well if people were as interested in Nicky Hager and dirty politics as the left were hoping then Campbells ratings would have been up yet his ratings were poo so I’ll leave you to draw your own conclusion as to why his ratings are in the toilet
because they flipped over to 7 Sharp that was screen the same thing maybe?
Ok so
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/10396698/Surplus-on-track-Treasury-figures-show
Well done National and John Key
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10399377/Ron-Mark-back-with-NZ-First
New Zealand First MP Andrew Williams is set to be dumped to an unelectable position on the party list, with former MP Ron Mark set to rejoin the party.
Stuff understands a draft copy of the NZ First list, determined by the party’s selection committee on the weekend, has Williams ranked at 13, and Mark ranked at 9.
Christchurch Earthquake
Take that out of the equation and we are in a deep recession.
National has failed on every count
Maybe pr is given them a last last last chance, which seems to be in vogue down nat party lane.
This year the books are forecast to return to surplus
The projected surplus is less then the model error.(and already wrong due to the models finalization in early august)
Whose books? Nicki Hagers?
Just joking, I know how little he’ll make from this.
Bryce Edwards dumped by NZH – Cathy Odgers and Pagani doing columns
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11300033
So, Josie for the centre right, Cathy Odgers for the contract killer vote, who have they got from the left?
lol…i shouldnt laugh because it is very very, serious …..potentially fatal…that horrible Cactus woman should come somewhere under the Crimes Act imo
…i hope someone hauls her arse and those of her co-conspirators /collaborators before the courts
Law Society needs lots of letters.
well maybe an online petition /letter of concern could be started….I certainly would be willing to sign….she certainly does not do the legal fraternity any favours … in fact she brings them into disrepute
Fricking Josie Pagani. Figures. At least she’s good at being a careerist.
I really would like to know what is Labours Policy on Broadcasting/Media.
Nothing on the website but if they are serious about cleaning up NZ they need a strong Broadcasting Policy
Ron +100
Jacinda inadvertently broached this in the Arts debate covered here: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11309897
Revive TVNZ7 or similar public broadcaster, apparently.
I’ll assume there’s quite a bit more substance to it than that, because otherwise it would be utterly pathetic and ineffectual.
fair assumption.
‘cept that’s the Arts policy, and Ron was asking about the Broadcasting/Media policy, which it’s fair to say isn’t yet articulated on the Labour website.
Kris Faafoi seems to have been largely AWOL since the corporate box affair…
oh, ok, arts culture and heritage doesn’t involve media.
I guess if it hasn’t been released yet we must assume that it does not exist and everyone in caucus is a neoliberal rogernome. Seems reasonable.
lol
Farrar on the Panel.
How does he get selected?
What happens if Mora has to interview him about Dirty Politics in Checkpoint.
Not good enough, RNZ.
Jim Mora’s a Nat’s spinner mole, and should go or come clean and give promised unbiased media.
‘Panic setting in for National as they realise what’s about to happen’
By Martyn Bradbury / August 19, 2014
“Whaledump has the potential to reveal the full picture and the full picture is just so much more disgusting and damaging than what is currently out in front of the public, that’s why those within National and the Right who are being informed just how vile that picture is are putting as much distance between themselves and Slater as they humanly can….
.
– See more at: http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/08/19/panic-setting-in-for-national-as-they-realise-whats-about-to-happen/#sthash.fWh2KlNN.dpuf
Hi Trickledown, 1.1 at 7.11am
you should see this after you said;
“Why have my power bills gone up so much”.
Todays poll on high power prices.
http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Winston-Peters-A-burglary-that-went-horribly-wrong-for-the-president/tabid/721/articleID/52607/Default.aspx
Don’t forget Nixon on History channel after 8pm tonight.
Radio LIVE Daily Poll
Thank You for Participating
1. Have you found it a struggle to pay your power bill this winter?
Yes 59 of votes 59%
No 41 of votes 41%
Hi Trickledown, 1.1 at 7.11am
you should see this after you said;
“Why have my power bills gone up so much”.
Have a look at the graph how much power costs have risen. Nat’s said all happened under Labour.’
Bloody liars again!!!MMMMMM
http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Duncan-Garner-Power-prices-revealed-Why-you-pay-what-you-do/tabid/674/articleID/52614/Default.aspx
ZB reporting that Slater has called Ede squeamish and gutless for not speaking about his black ops role. Weehee! the right are eating themselves!
Anyone got a link?
Slater calling Ede a gutless —-
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/auckland/news/nbpol/953007518-new–whaledump–info-targets-judith-Collins
7;pm Campbelllive in Rununga west coast talking to folks about the Feral /Slater issue.
8pm on History Nixon – Watergate tonight.
also on Herald site first I think …
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11311070
@ Weepus Beard….Ede really is the dark horse here
Call me a nosey Chook but:
….what is his profile?
…who is he married/partnered to? ( anyone famous?)
….what is his CV background? ( Harvard? Cambridge?)
…where are the photos? ( golfing body shots are not clear enough)
…what exactly is his relationship with John Key?
… thus far Ede seems to have swum under the radar….but maybe he is pivotal?
Ok, so there’s this poster on a completely different forum which I used to be a memeber of who says he went to school with Ede. The poster is a fleewee, lives in London but likes to comment favourably toward the right when talking about NZ even though he’s not contributed to this country for some years now. I’ll post some of his musings on this…
and
– Seneca of the Night
well thanks for that …but still the faceless man of mystery….seems like a pivot man in the whole scheme of things ….even a junior Mr. Smiley ( but then i am just a nosey Chook with too much imagination)
…but maybe things will clarify…i look forward to a special Post on him on the Standard
i remember a book i used to read to the kids ….’Where is Wally?’
….where is Jason?
Yes, I know as much as anyone on Ede. The first I remember his name being mentioned was the photos of the aftermath of the press party sent straight to the hate speech merchant, Cameron Slater.
Well we didn’t have uniforms in the 7th Form.
Has anybody seen Ede then, or is he an alter-ego of someone?
Yes, I have looked for stuff on Ede before and found very little via google. I thought I saw a link to a newspaper article back in about 2005 or so – maybe earlier, maybe later. I thought it was a newspaper article that was written by Jason Ede, about John key.
I just had another look tonight.
I found this mention from a couple of days ago on NZ Herald, with a bit about Ede being a former journalist and Don Brash’s press secretary.
I found this, which is total heresay, and as far as I know, could just be someone’s fantasy – although, he does have a bit of contextual detail – elaborate fantasy, if it is one.
My link to John Key. saying Ede knows where Key’s bodies are buried.
Ede also gets a mention in the Hollow Men. Forwarding and email of story about Brash.
Ede and Kevin Taylor were both Press secretaries for Brash.
Bryce Edwards said way back, that Ede came from TV3.
Why do Brash and Key need two press secretaries for? Kevin seems to do a good enough job. Jason seems invisible.
Slater is calling him gutless.
Interesting that Slater is really pally with Jason but when he needs to ask a press secretary a favour regarding access to Key he asks Kevin.
Do you think Key takes Jason to Hawaii?
‘Can someone in the media please ask the PM of NZ to categorically deny any National Party staff worked with Cam Slater in the smearing of Tania Billingsley? ‘
By Martyn Bradbury / August 19, 2014
“Force him to go on the record!..
From Thursday – so long ago right?
http://www.3news.co.nz/Video-John-Key-talks-Nicky-Hagers-Dirty-Politics/tabid/1607/articleID/356848/Default.aspx
Prime Minister says he reads the standard and John – I can watch this again and again and again he goes on to say that hagers book only has pejorative things to say about about him personally. ?.not that hes read the book…wtf?
Has anyone posted a comment about the item tonight on Campbell Live which is that EQC is very short of money to complete their commitments. The reason is that the Government wants to hide the debt because if it was counted, then the “surplus” heralded by the Government does not exist. If proven this would suggest that the Govt is lying. Surely not.
Amazing what technology can do these days
Facebook to point out satire from news
http://www.3news.co.nz/Facebook-to-point-out-satire-from-news/tabid/412/articleID/357416/Default.aspx
Next they’ll be able to point out all cam slater’s comments and posts are sh!t.
Nixon & Watergate on at 8.30 tonight on History channel
Or 10.20 on maori tv tonight- Russell and Nicky
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BvX9HJECEAAPQW9.jpg
Disturbed outlined what’s happening power companies are paying bigger surpluses to shareholders basically a cartel no competition .The previous price rises were for upgrades of infrastructure now the spend on infrastructure is declining rapidly instead of competing for customers with lower prices shareholders are taking windfall profits and tuning time for govt intervention!
“power companies are paying bigger surpluses to shareholders”.
Quite right too, old boy. Gott’a get something out of the trough before those bally socialists win the election and nationalise it all again.
I see that @whaledump has this evening tweeted “This is not all about party politics. Be patient. You’ll see.”
Pure speculation, but I wonder if Mssrs. Mallard and/or Cosgrove are about to take a tumble. Mallard has been unusually silent on social media re: #dirtypolitics.
Assuming those two are the primary ABC sources for the likes of Garner and Gower, it doesn’t seem beyond the question they’ve been in communication with Slater.
Hope I’m wrong.
Surely anything about Labour would still be “party politics” as well. The simplest way to read “not all about party politics” is that there are leaks involving individuals or institutions that are not commonly associated with particular parties in the public eye.
You’re right, that is the most logical interpretation, which I think is the same point disturbed was making below.
The common factor will be whaleoil, and who he “runs interference” with/for.
Nah more like the Justice or other intel arm has been burnt now.
Did you watch Nixon Watergate tonight on History channel I posted it.
So way out about how far Nixon reached out to control all, so these guys may be in the play too.
Just looking at the Electoral Consortium stuff just put on line :
http://www.electionresults.co.nz/national-loses-youth-gains-middle-aged
There is a striking “bulge” in National’s electoral support in the 50 to 64 age bracket, and the profile is very different from 2011 :
Percentage of population by age bracket supporting National December 2011
18 to 24 – 38.4%
25 to 34 – 36.2%
35 to 49 – 46.7%
50 to 64 – 38.9%
65 plus – 44.4%
Percentage of population by age bracket supporting National July 2014
18 to 24 – 25.8%
25 to 34 – 32.9%
35 to 49 – 42.2%
50 to 64 – 51.2%
65 over – 44.6%
Two remarks
1) that’s a large constituency of people of roughly JK’s age who are fairly apolitical and identify with him (nice guy, winner)
2) They are National’s “soft underbelly”… (sorry, couldn’t resist)