What can be done about the closure of the Cadbury factory in Dunedin?
Are we really going to allow around 350 skilled staff and a iconic production plant go to waste?
It’s been reported that globally, the Dunedin factory is one of the best-performing operations in the Mondelez family.
Cadbury/Mondelez acknowledge workers at the plant are among the best performing and if it weren’t for their commitment, dedication and outstanding performance, the factory might have closed some time ago.
On top of that, Dunedin has a high quality local milk supply and a port with easy access to international markets facilitating exports.
The Dunedin factory has also been reported as being a pretty profitable business.
Figures from 2015 showed the company reported a profit of $9 million.
Therefore, there is a potential opportunity here.
Interest from Whittaker’s has been sought, but unfortunately Whittaker’s ruled out any interest in buying Cadbury’s Dunedin factory.
However, at this stage, there’s still hope (from the consultation process) the proposal to close the plant will be dropped.
Otago-Southland Employers Association is strongly advocating for Cadbury/Mondelez to retain the factory in Dunedin.
Meanwhile, Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive Dougal McGowan wasted no time (in an already-scheduled meeting with Central Otago Mayor) trying to find jobs for the Cadbury workers. Pledging the total support of the Chamber to any task-force established to find a way of supporting the workers.
Critical of the statements put out by politicians immediately after the Cadbury/Mondelez announcement, Mr McGowan said it was important MPs got involved in discussions about the future of the plant’s employees.
Failing Cadbury/Mondelez dropping the proposal, can the plant and jobs be saved?
Well, there are numerous possibilities.
Although Whittaker’s declined to show interest, there still could be other local confectionery producers looking to expand, thus be interested in purchasing the plant.
There could be local private investors seeking an opportunity. Or local investment funds such as NZ Super, ACC etc…
Central Government, Dunedin Council or both could consider investing. Ranging from a full out purchase of the plant down to facilitating a low interest loan to a local interested party.
A public crowd-funding project.
The Union could assist employees to form a cooperative to purchase the plant, perhaps with the assistance of local or central Government.
Offshore interest could be sought.
At the end of the day we have a fully staffed plant with export potential ready to go, therefore, it’s in the country’s best interest to ensure this plant continues to be commercially viable and remains in Dunedin.
The call to not boycott Cadbury sounds silly to me. So if Cadbury managed to magically double sales would there be any more chance of them staying? I doubt it. Trying to mind read and please an ugly profit driven corporate is not a good idea in my opinion.
inspider
Noticed since you started dropping in that you tend to make puerile comments. Nothing to add to the discussion, instead some half-arsed sneer. Why bother I ask? You will get lonely and confused with all these thinking people outdistancing you. Go home Red Riding Hood before you get lost. Mortgage your own house and invest in something, perhaps some up-to-date tertiary education.
Personally, I don’t have the time to commit to such a venture.
Nevertheless, it’s been reported Cadbury workers are gaining a lot of public support. Therefore, it would be interesting to see if the NZ public would be willing to support them by taking a punt and fiscally invest through an online crowd funding scheme.
I put up a comment about Cadbury’s workers and it went down to #15 somehow.
All about co-ops – they are getting a push now especially smaller ones, and could have something to offer Dunedin.
This is the point at which it would be useful to have a government that gave a shit. The factory remains profitable despite the best efforts of Mondelez to make crap chocolate that’s inferior to the competition, so a government that understood its job would make sure it stayed running, whether by putting up money for the workers to take it over as a cooperative, or just making it a publicly-owned asset until there’s a private buyer for it. Too bad we don’t have a government worth the name.
Would the parent company be willing to franchise the name and leave the local operation here – not owned by them but making Cadbury branded products? You get the feeling that NZ is seen as a trading nuisance.
That way we could have a locally owned co-operative and either fundraise for that – or make some other local financial arrangements.
Makes a lie of the “we need crap wages” doesn’t it. Lots of Aussie made products here despite there much higher wage structure.
Not sure if Cadbury/Mondelez are interested in franchising. But it is something that could be put to them.
They are however considering the potential of continuing to produce their local products (Pineapple Lumps, Jaffas, etc) here. The current plant would be best suited to continue on that production, thus could be a contract a new owner could potentially secure.
It’s profitable when run by one of the world’s largest companies, producing products with years of brand marketing behind them and a sophisticated distribution system that gets them to market across NZ, Australia and beyond.
That’s no guarantee it would be successful under a new owner. What does the government know about chocolate marketing that makes it sensible to run it? Maybe we should encourage it to step in and save the tattoo parlour and hairdresser in my neighbourhood that are closing down?
“It’s profitable when run by one of the world’s largest companies…”
Yes, yet they are considering laying off staff and moving production offshore.
While brand marketing and distribution networks are important, a fundamental behind any company is its people (staff). The Dunedin factory is one of the best-performing operations in the Mondelez family.
Of course there is no guarantee it would be successful under a new owner, but having such an outstanding production team already in place reduces the risk, thus improves the odds.
“What does the government know about chocolate marketing that makes it sensible to run it? “
They would secure the skill and expertise required as is generally done.
The local tattoo parlour and hairdresser closing down in your area don’t have such a large impact on the economy, thus are no serious comparison.
Critical of the statements put out by politicians immediately after the Cadbury/Mondelez announcement, Mr McGowan said it was important MPs got involved in discussions about the future of the plant’s employees.
Weird. I’m pretty sure that the Chamber of Commerce is one of the main proponents of keeping government out of business.
The Union could assist employees to form a cooperative to purchase the plant, perhaps with the assistance of local or central Government.
That would probably be the best option. Set it up as an independent, self-owned* business that’s run by the people who work there.
* Not owned by either the government, shareholders or the workers. It would be a legal entity with the workers listed as its directors. No, I don’t know the law – this is just how I think all businesses should be.
Nope. Whenever business feels the pinch they reach out for government handouts real fast. It seems to be a general hypocrisy of the business community.
“Nope. Whenever business feels the pinch they reach out for government handouts real fast. It seems to be a general hypocrisy of the business community.”
Which is what I meant about the severity. Other businesses will be impacted by the plant’s closure.
“Do we know why Cadbury/Mondelez plan to close the plant?”
Apparently, the vast majority of their product is exported to Australia and they believe they have the capacity to produce their product there, thus cutting shipping costs etc…
As for selling it as a going concern, as far as I’m aware no final decision has been made. They are currently seeking feedback through their consultation process. However, they have stated they recognise the significance of the site, thus are hopeful of finding a buyer that will use it in a way that supports the local community and economy.
It’s sad for Dunedin culturally, and it’s a huge indictment of the company that they’d throw those workers to the wolves for some extra dosh. I’m not sure that saving the company is the way to go, but buying up the plant and supporting the existing workers to run it co-operatively is a great idea.
Having said that chocolate is pretty dirty business. Not sure it would be possible to run a large chocolate making business in NZ ethically. Maybe.
Why? Because it is child/teacher focussed and does away with useless on going assessments a la Parata. It brings in free ece and does away with Charter schools.
It promotes egalitarianism and puts more into producing better (and trusted) teachers – you know ,the ones who know what the children need.
Nothing on Tertiary as such, they say ece has a better return on investment, and that Tertiary needs an overhaul first.
The phoney war is nearly over.
“The odds of an early collapse of EU-UK Brexit negotiations are shortening by the day. And that’s before talks have started. Usually circumspect analysts have concluded that Theresa May is likely to flounce out in a huff. Prime candidate for the catalyst that spurs an almighty row is a bill for €60 billion that Brussels is reported to be drawing up: the amount that Britain owes for pension liabilities and budgeted spending commitments.”
She actually has control over the negotiations. She signalled this at the outset, when she said no deal would be better than a bad deal.
At the end of two years the UK can simply leave with no further liabilities, and just revert to the WTO rules. It is after all the basis that New Zealand, the US, Japan and in fact most of the world trades with the EU.
The EU will eventually work out they do not hold the strong cards, especially when a US/UK FTA is in the offing.
The EU will eventually work out they do not hold the strong cards, especially when a US/UK FTA is in the offing.
You know, the whole point of the WTO and GATT before it was so that there weren’t, and wasn’t any need for, bilateral trade agreements.
Modern bilateral trade agreements are indicative of the failure of the WTO and the WTO was set up because of the previous failure of bilateral trade agreements.
Why do we keep repeating the same mistakes when we know that they don’t work?
Obviously FTA’ are better than GATT/WTO, but the reality is that a huge amount of trade still occurs under GATT/WTO.
For instance all of NZ’s trade with the US occurs under GATT/WTO.
So while it would be better if there was some form of FTA between the UK and the EU, the UK will still be able to trade with the EU under GATT/WTO, especially in industrial goods. Most of these have very low tariffs under the GATT rules, often zero.
The negotiating edge that May has is that she has a US/UK FTA in the wings. This could easily be extended to Australia, Canada and NZ (Singapore as well). This is the same size market as the EU.
The EU may well decide it needs some form of FTA with the UK to hold onto markets – all those German cars! It will need to be a deal that the UK sees as fair.
So while it would be better if there was some form of FTA between the UK and the EU, the UK will still be able to trade with the EU under GATT/WTO, especially in industrial goods.
That’s an article of faith, not reality.
They don’t work because they lock countries into deals that are actually bad for them. Force them into doing trade that they don’t want to do.
So, again: Why do we keep repeating the same mistakes when we know that they don’t work?
Free trade in industrial goods has been one of the greatest engines of growth since WW2. For the opposite result try out the Smoot Hawley Act. It helped deepen the 1930’s recession.
The history of international trade may look like a struggle between protectionism and free trade, but the modern context is currently allowing both types of policies to grow in tandem. Indeed, the choice between free trade and protectionism may be a false choice; advanced nations are realizing that economic growth and stability depend on a strategic mix of trade policies.
Far better for each individual nation to set standards as to where they will trade and where they won’t. Standards that ensure that each cost is properly accounted for and principles maintained.
None of this forced trade that we see from the WTO. No more nations saying that they will stop trade with us if we demand an inquiry as to why their goods aren’t up to the standards that they were advertised as.
Remove the bloody threats that the present system forces upon us.
For the last several years we’ve had a trade deficit with China. Despite this the NZ$ is still worth more on the forex than the Chinese yuan. Why is this?
The NZ$ should be dropping against the yuan but it isn’t. This is because China keeps decreasing the value of the yuan every time that the global economy goes into recession and their exports start to decrease. Such actions used to be called marcantalism and beggar thy neighbour economics.
So, yes, we have an FTA with China – we don’t have free-trade.
The EU is a lot more than a Bilateral Trade Agreement.
It’s existance arose from a political desire to bring European countries together and to stop the incessat wars. That has been a success.
The EU has Four Fredoms at the heart of its constitution.
Freedom of Movememt of Workers
Freedom of Movement of goods and services
Freedom of Capital
Freedom to establish and provide services.
May and her light-weight team want to ignore the EU as a holistic entity. That is at the heart of their failure.
Cinny, this deal has been in the wind for a long time and is the only sensible way for them to go, otherwise they could well be wiped out (as Labour wants) .I would like to see Hone in parliament again… he speaks truth to power better than anyone else in that cosy little den of neolibs.
I really like Hone, have admired him for a long time. But I’m a bit disappointed.
Just like you I would love to see him in Parliament again, for the same reasons “he speaks truth to power better than anyone else in that cosy little den of neolibs.”
However I just don’t trust the Maori Party after cuddling up with the Nat’s for so long.
Mind you, it is the year of great change, so anything could happen. Maori Party may not cuddle up to National ever again.
That makes sense, but to add more to the daydream, cause am liking the idea of both of them in house.
Labour takes out the rest of the Maori seats, Maori party doesn’t reach the threshold and bye to them.
There’s some unusual political comment at the Herald of late (yesterday’s comments on the poll, for instance), and this is an example of this – I don’t think it’s a valid assumption to assume that most of Te Hira Paenga’s votes would go to Hone Harawira, for instance.
(It’s also probably not a good idea to assume that most of Annette Sykes’ votes would go to Te Ururoa Flavell either)
Judge Mark Buscombe said Lawson ‘giggled’ when police spoke to him after the crash.
He told them, “It worked, it got rid of the car.”
Lawson was taken to hospital suffering ‘psychosis’, the court heard on Friday.
He spent seven months as an involuntary mental health patient following the smash.
Judge Buscombe said Lawson had paranoid delusions.
Medical assessments found he had undiagnosed schizophrenia and was smoking three ‘cones’, also known as ‘bongs’, every day in the 12-months leading up to the crash.
We don’t know if he was stoned or not when the crash happened but we do know that he has mental health issues.
Talk about misreporting.
Interestingly enough, it was this type of misreporting that launched the War on Drugs. Of course, back then they would have gone heavy on the racism as well.
And what condition was the woman in after all that? A very glaring example of lack of empathy for one another, and concentration on correct reporting of cause. The victim is a woman, end of interest.
How quickly the msm divert their attention away from Flynn, Trump and his aides lying about their communications with Moscow ….. towards a stupid story about Sweden
Had the poll come out last night with good news for National Kiwiblog would have been instantly in action with big positive headlines and lots of blather.
Kim Dotcom will be on with J Campbell in a minute, re a ruling that there is no Copyright Law to justify the original arrest or the original charges.
But is liable for fraud deportation. Kim reckons it is a major win for him.
To update that Kiwiblog does now cover the latest poll. In a most pointedly down in the mouth, downmarket way.
Had things been positive there would have been orgasmic splurges last night followed by the metaphorical, cigarette today, with cooly blown smoke rings. Regardless of remarks directed at my reaction, I like displays of childish petulance by the spited.
Kiwiblog has been doing less in the way of commentary on polls since Late Last year. this is no different. Maybe he felt he was giving away his income as a pollster.
Starting a Co-op
Looking to build an enterprise that’s freely established by a group that provides mutual benefits? Here, NZ Co-op can show you how to start a Co-op and how to benefit from the activities of the enterprise, not just from primarily investments.
Since taking on the CEO role at Cooperative Business NZ in April 2016, Craig Presland has received many requests for assistance with setting up new co-operatives. With this in mind, Craig has produced a User Guide for all those considering whether to set up, or otherwise to join, a co-operative. In this document we answer the following questions:
Start Up User Guide for new co-ops, mutuals and societies
How do we progress from a group of individuals with an idea, to forming and registering a company, to drafting a constitution and business plan, to holding our first general meeting, to holding our first AGM 12 months later?
What is a co-operative and how does this vary from standard companies (publicly and privately owned), mutual companies, incorporated societies, building societies, industrial and provident societies, credit unions etc.
What is the history of co-operatives in NZ, and globally, and what other NZ co-operatives are there?
Is the co-operative business model the right one for us?
Which type of co-operative is best for us?
How do we set up a co-operative including best practice governance?
Is our idea business-worthy?
I feel so sorry for the poor downtrodden predominantly white trash “Deplorables”. Now they gotta deal with the fact they gave their all to a crazy man.
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Tuesday, March 19:Kāinga Ora’s dry rot The Spinoff DailyBill McKibben on ‘Climate Superfunds’ making Big Oil pay for climate damage The Crucial YearsPreston Mui on returning to 1980s-style productivity growth NoahpinionAndy Boenau on NIMBYs needing unusual bedfellows Urbanism SpeakeasyNed Resnikoff's case ...
Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
Bryce Edwards writes – It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played.“Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I- Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka KotahiThe fact that a ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st CenturyThe SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims StuffSteve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
David Farrar writes – We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how labour went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promiseThe result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
“I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
.“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
“It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet – is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
Bob Edlin writes – And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ HeraldThomas CoughlanSimeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
TL;DR:Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it: We want our country to be a ...
The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading → ...
Ele Ludemann writes – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
What was that judge thinking?Peter Williams writes – That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop:Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
Buzz from the BeehiveThe text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary. It can be quickly analysed ...
For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
Questions need to be asked on both sides of the worldPeter Williams writes – The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read:Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop:The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
TL;DR:Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
Bob Edlin writes – The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
The New Zealand public voted for a change in direction at the 2023 general election and that is exactly what this coalition government has been delivering in its first 100 days. There was an immediate focus on the economy, easing the cost of living, cracking down on law and order ...
The Government has left the health system as an afterthought, announcing half-baked targets at the last minute of their 100-day plan, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
Kiwis are still waiting for their promised cost of living support after 100 days of a National Government that is taking us backwards, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
100 days of National taking NZ backwardsThe National Government has spent its first 100 days stopping, cutting and reversing. They have scrapped stuff for stuff for the sake of it, without putting up any solutions of their own – and it’s hardworking New Zealanders who will pay for it. ...
The Government must commit to funding free and healthy school lunches, as thousands of people sign the petition to keep them, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says. ...
If the Government was serious about moving families into public housing, they would build more houses so there is actually somewhere for people to go. ...
The free and healthy school lunches programme feeds our kids, helps them to learn, and saves families money – but it is at risk under this Government, education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
The Government’s proposed changes to Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPO) add almost nothing new and are merely an attempt to distract from its plans to loosen gun laws, police spokesperson Ginny Andersen and justice spokesperson Dr Duncan Webb said. ...
The great Victorian era English politician Lord Macauley stood in the British House of Parliament and said, "The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm".He understood and outlined even way back then, the significant role and influence media have in a democracy. ...
The government’s attack on Māori health this week is committing tangata-whenua to a premature death, says Te Pāti Māori. “The government have begun their onslaught on Māori health with the abolishment of the Māori Health Authority and smokefree laws in the same day” said health spokesperson and co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. ...
"The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April. ...
Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand. Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships. “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland Acknowledgements and opening Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says. “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024 Acknowledgements and opening Morena, Nga Mihi Nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country. “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week. “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee. “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today. “The Amendment Paper represents ...
Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level. “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024. “Lower fruit and vege ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all. Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction. Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness. It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology. It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Deborah Lupton, SHARP Professor, Vitalities Lab, Centre for Social Research in Health and Social Policy Centre, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society, UNSW Sydney kitzcorner/Shutterstock The assertion from Queensland’s chief health officer John Gerrard that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Shutterstock Why are musicians so keen to get played on the radio? It can’t be because of the money. In Australia they are paid at rates so low they ...
"Farmers make a point not to tell our urban cousins how to live, yet Chlöe from central Auckland is hell-bent on having her say about farmers," says ACT Rural Communities spokesman Mark Cameron. “On her first day in the House as Green ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Curran, Associate Professor of Ecology, Lincoln University, New Zealand Getty Images/Gerald Corsi In the latest move to reform environmental laws in New Zealand, the coalition government has introduced a bill to fast-track consenting processes for projects deemed to ...
Uber has argued it does not have as much control over drivers as the unions suggest, and wants a judgment ruling that drivers are employees and not contractors set aside and sent back to the Employment Court. The 2022 ruling followed a three-week hearing in which four drivers sought to ...
What can and can’t be purchased by disabled people or their carers has been slashed in an effort by the Ministry of Disabled People Whaikaha to save money. The purchasing guidelines, a set of rules that sets out what can be purchased using the various streams of Government disability funding, ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Tod Wright and Hien Nguyen, Fiscal incidence in New Zealand: The effects of taxes and benefits on household incomes in tax year 2018/19 . Analyses of the distributional impact of taxation and government ...
The Treasury has published today a new Analytical Note by Cory Davis, Boston Hart and Benjamin Stubbing, Household cost-of-living impacts from the Emissions Trading Scheme and using transfers to mitigate regressive outcomes . This Analytical Note ...
A coalition of public transport and climate organisations, united as ‘Transport for All’, is actively opposing the government’s transport proposals. The draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) includes plans for higher fares for public transport, ...
Greater Wellington is inviting feedback on proposed changes to its Revenue and Financing Policy. The Revenue and Financing Policy covers the Council’s various sources of funding, and how the cost of services is shared across the region. This includes ...
Labour has conceded it could have done more to deal with disruptive state housing tenants while in government but says the current coalition is going too far. ...
The band has asked their record label to issue a cease and desist to stop the NZ First leader using their 1997 hit to support his ‘misguided political views’. “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” blared through the speakers on Sunday as Winston Peters took the stage ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Food rationing is underway in remote areas in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands following torrential rain and flash flooding. More than 20 people have been reported dead in Chimbu Province. In nearby Enga Province, the centre of last month’s massacre, a 15-year-old boy has been ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Hughes, Lecturer, Research School of Management, Australian National University After months of debate and intrigue, the AFL’s 19th and newest team, the Tasmania Devils, finally launched its jumper, logo and colours in Devonport this week. The Devils will wear green, ...
Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the debut novel by Saraid de Silva.One of the most baffling things for children who move to a new country is what their parents’ (or grandparents’) lives were like prior to moving – for kids in particular, they’re too busy trying to fit in in their ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Gaunson, Associate Professor in Cinema Studies, RMIT University Narelle Portanier/Binge “If you don’t know who your mob are, you don’t know who you are,” Detective Andrea “Andie” Whitford (played by Leah Purcell) is told early into the new crime ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elise Klein, Associate professor, Australian National University It’s commonly accepted that women do the vast majority of caregiving in Australian society. But less appreciated is that Indigenous women do larger amounts of unpaid care than any other group. Working with the Aboriginal ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Joe Biden and Donald Trump have both secured their parties’ nominations for the November 5 United States general election by winning a ...
Comment: There has been a striking contrast in trans-Tasman interest about Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand and Australia. While the Australian press has been full of articles about the visit – including his curious decision to meet with former prime minister and China booster Paul Keating ...
After years of pressuring banks and other institutions to stop investing in fossil fuels, climate campaigners are making some progress. So how does divestment work?For years, climate activists have been pushing banks and other big institutions to divest from fossil fuels. New research from climate advocacy group 350 Aotearoa ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. The three young Polynesians are part of a K-pop fan community in Tāmaki Makaurau. It’s one of many that have sprung up worldwide as K-pop has gone ...
For Boba, Ethan and Ashley, K-pop is a place to belong, a way to express themselves, and a bridge to connect with others. This one-off documentary presents three intimate portraits of young Polynesians who are pulled into a Korean cultural phenomenon. K-POLYS is directed by Litia Tuiburelevu, Produced by Hex ...
There’s ample evidence demonstrating free school lunch programmes provide wide benefits across schools, households and communities according to public health researchers. ACT Minister David Seymour wants to reduce the spending on Aotearoa New Zealand’s ...
By Wata Shaw in Suva Fiji is facing an exodus of Fijians as many are leaving for overseas seeking employment and education and others are migrating, says Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto. Speaking in Parliament, he said: “His Excellency’s speech (Ratu Wiliame Katonivere) comes after a little over one year of ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming comments from Christopher Luxon this morning recommitting to ‘no new taxes’ as part of Budget 2024. “Mr Luxon’s refusal at the Post-Cabinet press conference yesterday to repeat the ‘no new taxes’ promise ...
SAFE is urgently calling on the Environment Committee to reject the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill, and is urging New Zealanders to rally behind the call. The proposed Bill, currently under consideration with the Environment select committee, ...
Teammates who spend all their time picking fights with spectators are only helpful for the other team, writes Madeleine Chapman. Anyone who has ever played a team sport competitively, particularly as a child and particularly, for some reason, basketball, will know that there’s a lot of politics involved. While there ...
The long-running Wellington music festival is too focused on the Jim Beam-ness and not enough on the Homegrown-ness.There is something about Homegrown that’s difficult to place. A barely perceptible-ness. Like feeling a ghost is watching you from the corner of the room but when you look, there’s nothing there. ...
The latest Ipsos New Zealand Issues Monitor reveals that fewer New Zealanders believe crime / law and order is one of the top issues facing our country. In 2018, Ipsos New Zealand started tracking the key issues facing New Zealand. In this wave ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Griffiths, Deputy Program Director, Budgets and Government, Grattan Institute Australia’s political donations rules are woefully inadequate, but donations reform is finally on the agenda. The federal government has signalled its interest in reform and will soon begin briefing MPs on its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Patrick Taylor, Chief Environmental Scientist, EPA Victoria; Honorary Professor, School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University Naiyana Somchitkaeo/Shutterstock A recent study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine has linked microplastics with risk to human health. The study ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Albert Van Dijk, Professor, Water and Landscape Dynamics, Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University Global climate records were shattered in 2023, from air and sea temperatures to sea-level rise and sea-ice extent. Scores of countries recorded their hottest year ...
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a teacher explains why he and his partner are in frugal mode – and how they’re making it work. Gender: Male Age: 35Ethnicity: Pākehā Role: I am an intermediate school teacher and my partner is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Bendall, Senior Lecturer, Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences, Australian Catholic University Binge Mary & George, the new British television drama series, depicts the real-life story of Mary Villiers and her son George, and their social climbing at the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jason Nassios, Associate Professor, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University This article is part of The Conversation’s series examining the housing crisis. Read the other articles in the series here. Australian state and federal governments spend money in many ways to ...
The finance minister is denying that there’s a $5.6b shortfall in paying for the government’s campaign promises, including tax cuts. At his post-cabinet press conference yesterday, the PM refused to rule out new taxes to pay for the cuts, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s ...
Kāinga Ora tenants abused by their neighbours are doubting the government's crackdown on disruptive tenants will make a difference on their behaviour. ...
Kāinga Ora is New Zealand’s biggest residential landlord, housing more than 180,000 vulnerable people in more than 67,000 properties. Yesterday the government announced a crackdown on its tenants who fall behind on rent. One longtime Kāinga Ora tenant shares her experience.For 18 years I lived in a 1960s standalone ...
Why does this myth persist, and what’s the real reason our skin is suffering?It’s one of the biggest international grievances New Zealanders hold, up there with the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior and 1981’s underarm incident. We’re quick to tell international travellers that the world’s pollution led to the ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Tuesday 19 March appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Bob’s relationship with certain members of Lincoln’s academic staff continued to deteriorate in the 1990s. Others supported him publicly, though articles such as Roland Clark’s 1993 piece in Growing Today cannot have pleased the university management. Clark wrote that Bob was selling onions from the Biological Husbandry Unit to a ...
SailGP’s races feature in-your-face action, with agile, hydro-foiling catamarans tacking and jibing for the title over several days. However, public comments ahead of the global series’ return to New Zealand have left this past year’s controversy in the shadows, as a key appointment attracts criticism from dolphin advocates. A year ...
Opinion: We are fast approaching a fundamental change in prisons. As the number of people on custodial remand looks set to overtake the number of sentenced prisoners, the main function of prisons in New Zealand may become incarcerating un-sentenced people who may not be guilty of offending. We have already ...
A huge seven months lies in store for the White Ferns, beginning this week with the visit of England and culminating with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October. Starting on Tuesday in Dunedin, the world ranked No. 2 visitors will play five T20s and three ODIs, ...
Opinion: In a move that has shocked road safety advocates across the country, the new Minister of Transport, Simeon Brown, is poised to abandon the previous government’s speed limit reduction policy, particularly around schools. Even more alarmingly, he wants school speed limits to be variable rather than full-time, arguing ...
Auckland Council is opposing a fast-track development backed by Sir John Kirwan and Spark NZ, because it doesn’t meet stringent new climate adaptation requirements The post Surf-data centre faces new 3.8C climate warming rules appeared first on Newsroom. ...
When the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act was introduced in 2009 it was firmly targeted at gangs and drugs. The legislation means police no longer need a conviction to seize assets that criminals can’t prove were paid for legitimately, as long as their alleged offences are punishable by more than a ...
The letters, which were published last week, were addressed to Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairperson Megawati Sukarnoputri, National Democrat Party (NasDem) Chairperson Surya Paloh, National Awakening Party (PKB) Chairperson Muhaimin Iskandar, Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) President Ahmad Syaikhu and United Development Party (PPP) Chairperson Muhammad Mardiono. In ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Evicting more people from state housing is ignorant to the consequences of poverty, the Greens say, but the Housing Minister says it's a privilege that can be taken away if abused. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emerald L King, Lecturer in Humanities, University of Tasmania IMDB Between Netflix’s 2023 live-action version of One Piece, and its latest take on Avatar: The Last Airbender, fans are once again asking: why are live-action anime adaptations so tricky to ...
The government says it still intends to deliver tax cuts by July, but will not lock them in until they have got them past their coalition partners. ...
Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII has hosted members of the Green Party Caucus at Tuurangawaewae Marae in Ngaaruawahia. The audience follows the King’s Hui-aa-Motu on 20 January, where more than 10,000 people gathered to discuss national ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dr Rachael Potter, Research Associate and Lecturer in Work and Organisational Psychology, University of South Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Pregnant women and workers with children are often unfairly treated by their bosses and colleagues, despite laws to protect against workplace discrimination ...
Reacting to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s refusal to rule out introducing new taxes at the budget, Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns Manager, Connor Molloy, said: “Today’s refusal to rule out new taxes suggests the Government is nothing more ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne Aila Images/Shutterstock Aged-care workers will receive a significant pay increase after the Fair Work Commission ruled they ...
He’s bringing ‘Sophie’ back, yeah. Goodshirt’s ‘Sophie’ music video is one of the most instantly recognisable New Zealand music videos of all time. Featuring a woman listening to the song on headphones while her entire house is burgled behind her, the video won the New Zealand music award for Best ...
What can be done about the closure of the Cadbury factory in Dunedin?
Are we really going to allow around 350 skilled staff and a iconic production plant go to waste?
It’s been reported that globally, the Dunedin factory is one of the best-performing operations in the Mondelez family.
Cadbury/Mondelez acknowledge workers at the plant are among the best performing and if it weren’t for their commitment, dedication and outstanding performance, the factory might have closed some time ago.
On top of that, Dunedin has a high quality local milk supply and a port with easy access to international markets facilitating exports.
The Dunedin factory has also been reported as being a pretty profitable business.
Figures from 2015 showed the company reported a profit of $9 million.
Therefore, there is a potential opportunity here.
Interest from Whittaker’s has been sought, but unfortunately Whittaker’s ruled out any interest in buying Cadbury’s Dunedin factory.
However, at this stage, there’s still hope (from the consultation process) the proposal to close the plant will be dropped.
Otago-Southland Employers Association is strongly advocating for Cadbury/Mondelez to retain the factory in Dunedin.
Meanwhile, Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive Dougal McGowan wasted no time (in an already-scheduled meeting with Central Otago Mayor) trying to find jobs for the Cadbury workers. Pledging the total support of the Chamber to any task-force established to find a way of supporting the workers.
Critical of the statements put out by politicians immediately after the Cadbury/Mondelez announcement, Mr McGowan said it was important MPs got involved in discussions about the future of the plant’s employees.
Failing Cadbury/Mondelez dropping the proposal, can the plant and jobs be saved?
Well, there are numerous possibilities.
Although Whittaker’s declined to show interest, there still could be other local confectionery producers looking to expand, thus be interested in purchasing the plant.
There could be local private investors seeking an opportunity. Or local investment funds such as NZ Super, ACC etc…
Central Government, Dunedin Council or both could consider investing. Ranging from a full out purchase of the plant down to facilitating a low interest loan to a local interested party.
A public crowd-funding project.
The Union could assist employees to form a cooperative to purchase the plant, perhaps with the assistance of local or central Government.
Offshore interest could be sought.
At the end of the day we have a fully staffed plant with export potential ready to go, therefore, it’s in the country’s best interest to ensure this plant continues to be commercially viable and remains in Dunedin.
PS
There is talk of boycotting Cadbury/Mondelez.
Workers are asking that we don’t.
They don’t want to jeopardise any chance of the company remaining.
The call to not boycott Cadbury sounds silly to me. So if Cadbury managed to magically double sales would there be any more chance of them staying? I doubt it. Trying to mind read and please an ugly profit driven corporate is not a good idea in my opinion.
http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2017/02/cadbury-boycott-will-hurt-employees-union.html
There is nothing stopping you mortgaging your house and putting in an offer if you think it is such a good investment
inspider
Noticed since you started dropping in that you tend to make puerile comments. Nothing to add to the discussion, instead some half-arsed sneer. Why bother I ask? You will get lonely and confused with all these thinking people outdistancing you. Go home Red Riding Hood before you get lost. Mortgage your own house and invest in something, perhaps some up-to-date tertiary education.
Personally, I don’t have the time to commit to such a venture.
Nevertheless, it’s been reported Cadbury workers are gaining a lot of public support. Therefore, it would be interesting to see if the NZ public would be willing to support them by taking a punt and fiscally invest through an online crowd funding scheme.
I put up a comment about Cadbury’s workers and it went down to #15 somehow.
All about co-ops – they are getting a push now especially smaller ones, and could have something to offer Dunedin.
This is the point at which it would be useful to have a government that gave a shit. The factory remains profitable despite the best efforts of Mondelez to make crap chocolate that’s inferior to the competition, so a government that understood its job would make sure it stayed running, whether by putting up money for the workers to take it over as a cooperative, or just making it a publicly-owned asset until there’s a private buyer for it. Too bad we don’t have a government worth the name.
“This is the point at which it would be useful to have a government that gave a shit”
Indeed.
“The factory remains profitable despite the best efforts of Mondelez to make crap chocolate that’s inferior to the competition”
Imagine the potential improving the product would have. Organic may be the way to go?
Would the parent company be willing to franchise the name and leave the local operation here – not owned by them but making Cadbury branded products? You get the feeling that NZ is seen as a trading nuisance.
That way we could have a locally owned co-operative and either fundraise for that – or make some other local financial arrangements.
Makes a lie of the “we need crap wages” doesn’t it. Lots of Aussie made products here despite there much higher wage structure.
Not sure if Cadbury/Mondelez are interested in franchising. But it is something that could be put to them.
They are however considering the potential of continuing to produce their local products (Pineapple Lumps, Jaffas, etc) here. The current plant would be best suited to continue on that production, thus could be a contract a new owner could potentially secure.
There have been alternative lookalike products in the market for years. Check Planet Candy at the warehouse
Why do we need to keep the name?
It’s profitable when run by one of the world’s largest companies, producing products with years of brand marketing behind them and a sophisticated distribution system that gets them to market across NZ, Australia and beyond.
That’s no guarantee it would be successful under a new owner. What does the government know about chocolate marketing that makes it sensible to run it? Maybe we should encourage it to step in and save the tattoo parlour and hairdresser in my neighbourhood that are closing down?
“It’s profitable when run by one of the world’s largest companies…”
Yes, yet they are considering laying off staff and moving production offshore.
While brand marketing and distribution networks are important, a fundamental behind any company is its people (staff). The Dunedin factory is one of the best-performing operations in the Mondelez family.
Of course there is no guarantee it would be successful under a new owner, but having such an outstanding production team already in place reduces the risk, thus improves the odds.
“What does the government know about chocolate marketing that makes it sensible to run it? “
They would secure the skill and expertise required as is generally done.
The local tattoo parlour and hairdresser closing down in your area don’t have such a large impact on the economy, thus are no serious comparison.
Weird. I’m pretty sure that the Chamber of Commerce is one of the main proponents of keeping government out of business.
That would probably be the best option. Set it up as an independent, self-owned* business that’s run by the people who work there.
* Not owned by either the government, shareholders or the workers. It would be a legal entity with the workers listed as its directors. No, I don’t know the law – this is just how I think all businesses should be.
“Weird. I’m pretty sure that the Chamber of Commerce is one of the main proponents of keeping government out of business.”
An indication of the severity perhaps? Apparently they are Dunedin’s 4th largest employer.
The company’s annual expenditure into the local economy will also be a significant loss, impacting a number of local businesses.
Nope. Whenever business feels the pinch they reach out for government handouts real fast. It seems to be a general hypocrisy of the business community.
“Nope. Whenever business feels the pinch they reach out for government handouts real fast. It seems to be a general hypocrisy of the business community.”
Which is what I meant about the severity. Other businesses will be impacted by the plant’s closure.
Yes, they will be impacted but that’s just the free-market in action – just like they’ve been demanding for centuries.
Genuine questions,
Do we know why Cadbury/Mondelez plan to close the plant?
Have they shown any inclination to sell it as a going concern?
A.
“Do we know why Cadbury/Mondelez plan to close the plant?”
Apparently, the vast majority of their product is exported to Australia and they believe they have the capacity to produce their product there, thus cutting shipping costs etc…
As for selling it as a going concern, as far as I’m aware no final decision has been made. They are currently seeking feedback through their consultation process. However, they have stated they recognise the significance of the site, thus are hopeful of finding a buyer that will use it in a way that supports the local community and economy.
It’s sad for Dunedin culturally, and it’s a huge indictment of the company that they’d throw those workers to the wolves for some extra dosh. I’m not sure that saving the company is the way to go, but buying up the plant and supporting the existing workers to run it co-operatively is a great idea.
Having said that chocolate is pretty dirty business. Not sure it would be possible to run a large chocolate making business in NZ ethically. Maybe.
The TOP education policy is out. As an ex teacher I think it is the best policy on offer.
Why?
Why? Because it is child/teacher focussed and does away with useless on going assessments a la Parata. It brings in free ece and does away with Charter schools.
It promotes egalitarianism and puts more into producing better (and trusted) teachers – you know ,the ones who know what the children need.
Nothing on Tertiary as such, they say ece has a better return on investment, and that Tertiary needs an overhaul first.
Nothing on TOP’s website!?
The phoney war is nearly over.
“The odds of an early collapse of EU-UK Brexit negotiations are shortening by the day. And that’s before talks have started. Usually circumspect analysts have concluded that Theresa May is likely to flounce out in a huff. Prime candidate for the catalyst that spurs an almighty row is a bill for €60 billion that Brussels is reported to be drawing up: the amount that Britain owes for pension liabilities and budgeted spending commitments.”
http://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/chris-johns-it-won-t-be-pretty-when-the-brexit-wheels-come-off-1.2979264
She actually has control over the negotiations. She signalled this at the outset, when she said no deal would be better than a bad deal.
At the end of two years the UK can simply leave with no further liabilities, and just revert to the WTO rules. It is after all the basis that New Zealand, the US, Japan and in fact most of the world trades with the EU.
The EU will eventually work out they do not hold the strong cards, especially when a US/UK FTA is in the offing.
You know, the whole point of the WTO and GATT before it was so that there weren’t, and wasn’t any need for, bilateral trade agreements.
Modern bilateral trade agreements are indicative of the failure of the WTO and the WTO was set up because of the previous failure of bilateral trade agreements.
Why do we keep repeating the same mistakes when we know that they don’t work?
Obviously FTA’ are better than GATT/WTO, but the reality is that a huge amount of trade still occurs under GATT/WTO.
For instance all of NZ’s trade with the US occurs under GATT/WTO.
So while it would be better if there was some form of FTA between the UK and the EU, the UK will still be able to trade with the EU under GATT/WTO, especially in industrial goods. Most of these have very low tariffs under the GATT rules, often zero.
The negotiating edge that May has is that she has a US/UK FTA in the wings. This could easily be extended to Australia, Canada and NZ (Singapore as well). This is the same size market as the EU.
The EU may well decide it needs some form of FTA with the UK to hold onto markets – all those German cars! It will need to be a deal that the UK sees as fair.
That’s an article of faith, not reality.
They don’t work because they lock countries into deals that are actually bad for them. Force them into doing trade that they don’t want to do.
So, again: Why do we keep repeating the same mistakes when we know that they don’t work?
Free trade in industrial goods has been one of the greatest engines of growth since WW2. For the opposite result try out the Smoot Hawley Act. It helped deepen the 1930’s recession.
But hey thats your view, you are welcome to it.
the Smoot Hawley Act was an accelerator for the british innovation era eg
stereophonic sound ,television.radar, computers,jet engines,
Globally it was the golden age for physics and innovation,and as Rutherford said as we have little or no money we will have to think.
Where did I say anything against free-trade?
I was asking why we keep doing stupid things like the WTO and bilateral trade agreements when they obviously don’t work.
A Brief History of International Trade Agreements
Far better for each individual nation to set standards as to where they will trade and where they won’t. Standards that ensure that each cost is properly accounted for and principles maintained.
None of this forced trade that we see from the WTO. No more nations saying that they will stop trade with us if we demand an inquiry as to why their goods aren’t up to the standards that they were advertised as.
Remove the bloody threats that the present system forces upon us.
Give us Fair trade , not Free trade.
Yep CER is a disaster.
Same for Hong Kong.
Don’t mention ASEAN. What’s it ever done for us.
South Korea. Disaster, a real dog.
Thailand? Worse than a phone call with the Australian PM.
P4… Just as useless as udders on a cow.
As for Malaysia it just means more hijabs and students.
And don’t mention China. It’s not worth the $20 billion.
Yes, We need to stop repeating these errors
Consider this:
For the last several years we’ve had a trade deficit with China. Despite this the NZ$ is still worth more on the forex than the Chinese yuan. Why is this?
The NZ$ should be dropping against the yuan but it isn’t. This is because China keeps decreasing the value of the yuan every time that the global economy goes into recession and their exports start to decrease. Such actions used to be called marcantalism and beggar thy neighbour economics.
So, yes, we have an FTA with China – we don’t have free-trade.
The EU is a lot more than a Bilateral Trade Agreement.
It’s existance arose from a political desire to bring European countries together and to stop the incessat wars. That has been a success.
The EU has Four Fredoms at the heart of its constitution.
Freedom of Movememt of Workers
Freedom of Movement of goods and services
Freedom of Capital
Freedom to establish and provide services.
May and her light-weight team want to ignore the EU as a holistic entity. That is at the heart of their failure.
And if they had left it at the four freedoms, Britain would probably have voted to stay in. Instead the eurocrats tried to build a supra state.
Not too much of a stretch for CER to expand to common external tariffs.
And their application of those four things brought about the collapse of the EU and probably more wars as well.
That really is how bad its failed.
Greece wasn’t given freedom of capital. It should have defaulted but the rest of Europe insisted that they pay the debts that they couldn’t.
And that is just another reason why each nation should have its own currency.
Looks like there will be an annoucement today from Maori and Mana Parties.
They look set to make an ‘agreement’
What are you doing Hone? I’m not sure that Maori/Mana voters will be happy about it.
Cinny, this deal has been in the wind for a long time and is the only sensible way for them to go, otherwise they could well be wiped out (as Labour wants) .I would like to see Hone in parliament again… he speaks truth to power better than anyone else in that cosy little den of neolibs.
I really like Hone, have admired him for a long time. But I’m a bit disappointed.
Just like you I would love to see him in Parliament again, for the same reasons “he speaks truth to power better than anyone else in that cosy little den of neolibs.”
However I just don’t trust the Maori Party after cuddling up with the Nat’s for so long.
Mind you, it is the year of great change, so anything could happen. Maori Party may not cuddle up to National ever again.
Hone will NEVER go with the Nats so it may well create a one seat overhang in favour of the Labour-Green bloc which would be excellent..
It’s sure going to be interesting, but I really feel that Kelvin is the better MP.
The voters no doubt have experienced both of them as MP’s so they will know for sure what’s best for them.
hi cinny,
it just got a little less straight forward/business as usual; the greens are standing a candidate in ttt.
part of the mou?
Choice is good. MMP for the win, voters will decide. Greens looking for the Party vote in TTT, awesome, educate the people.
If I were to vote in that electorate, I’d vote for Kelvin, best person for the job. Will be an exciting election this year, that’s for sure.
interesting, my take, with mmp in mind, would be to vote for hone, then party vote green or labour.
get two good mps representing the area.
reasoning that kelvin gets in on the list.
That makes sense, but to add more to the daydream, cause am liking the idea of both of them in house.
Labour takes out the rest of the Maori seats, Maori party doesn’t reach the threshold and bye to them.
There’s some unusual political comment at the Herald of late (yesterday’s comments on the poll, for instance), and this is an example of this – I don’t think it’s a valid assumption to assume that most of Te Hira Paenga’s votes would go to Hone Harawira, for instance.
(It’s also probably not a good idea to assume that most of Annette Sykes’ votes would go to Te Ururoa Flavell either)
Oh good, an actual leftie on today’s RNZ “from the left and right” spot this morning at 11.05am-ish.
Sue Bradford tweeted:
I can’t remember when I last listened to that slot. I’ll try to listen to it today.
Thanks will have to tune in for that.
@ Carolyn
That is unfair. Stephen Mills has been excellent in the slot.
Who we don’t need there is Mr. Iagreewithmathew.
Ah private prisons – stupid idea, just more information why. Also enjoyable to watch.
http://www.trutv.com/shows/adam-ruins-everything/videos/the-shocking-way-private-prisons-make-money.html
Headline is:
Stoned driver crashed into woman at 200km/h in New South Wales
Actual information is:
We don’t know if he was stoned or not when the crash happened but we do know that he has mental health issues.
Talk about misreporting.
Interestingly enough, it was this type of misreporting that launched the War on Drugs. Of course, back then they would have gone heavy on the racism as well.
Did a stoned driver crash a into woman at 200km/h in New South Wales?
In the Trump age we like to tell it like it is.
Bearded white male crashes into a woman at 200km/h.
Blue-eyed blond crashes into a woman at 200km/h,
P-Plater crashes into a woman at 200km/h,
Skateboarding hitchhiker crashes into a women at 200km/h,
Man with undiagnosed schizophrenia was thought to be having a psychotic episode when he crashed into a woman at 200km/h.
All of these statements are true. But the last reports the most pertinent information to give an indication of that particular situation.
As any child knows, selective reporting of true facts often can give a false impression of what the whole truth is.
And what condition was the woman in after all that? A very glaring example of lack of empathy for one another, and concentration on correct reporting of cause. The victim is a woman, end of interest.
How quickly the msm divert their attention away from Flynn, Trump and his aides lying about their communications with Moscow ….. towards a stupid story about Sweden
Bannon is laughing his socks off
Had the poll come out last night with good news for National Kiwiblog would have been instantly in action with big positive headlines and lots of blather.
And now a dweeby post not being clear and upfront about yesterdays results!
This is interesting, seems kiwis don’t like the idea of one corporate media outlet controlling all the news.
https://www.horizonpoll.co.nz/page/451/disbelief-d
WTF? This is obscene.
“New Zealand’s highest-paid public servant received a 36 per cent pay increase against the objections of Prime Minister Bill English and the State Services Commission (SSC).
Documents obtained under the Official Information Act show NZ Super Fund chief executive Adrian Orr received the pay rise last year on the back of a 22 per cent salary hike only two years earlier, with his annual pay packet now over $1 million.”
Well it turns out that English has some explaining to do, can he not control his minions?
“Board members are appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Minister of Finance. The Minister’s recommendation follows nominations from a committee, independent of the Guardians, which is established by the Minister.”
Why I say that we need to put a cap on the pay of public servants. It’s not in our best interests to make them rich while they make us poor.
Horizon poll comments on merger proposed for media makes interesting reading.
Kim Dotcom will be on with J Campbell in a minute, re a ruling that there is no Copyright Law to justify the original arrest or the original charges.
But is liable for fraud deportation. Kim reckons it is a major win for him.
Tell him: “he’s dreaming!”
To update that Kiwiblog does now cover the latest poll. In a most pointedly down in the mouth, downmarket way.
Had things been positive there would have been orgasmic splurges last night followed by the metaphorical, cigarette today, with cooly blown smoke rings. Regardless of remarks directed at my reaction, I like displays of childish petulance by the spited.
Kiwiblog has been doing less in the way of commentary on polls since Late Last year. this is no different. Maybe he felt he was giving away his income as a pollster.
co ops might be the idea.
https://nz.coop/
Starting a Co-op
Looking to build an enterprise that’s freely established by a group that provides mutual benefits? Here, NZ Co-op can show you how to start a Co-op and how to benefit from the activities of the enterprise, not just from primarily investments.
Since taking on the CEO role at Cooperative Business NZ in April 2016, Craig Presland has received many requests for assistance with setting up new co-operatives. With this in mind, Craig has produced a User Guide for all those considering whether to set up, or otherwise to join, a co-operative. In this document we answer the following questions:
Start Up User Guide for new co-ops, mutuals and societies
How do we progress from a group of individuals with an idea, to forming and registering a company, to drafting a constitution and business plan, to holding our first general meeting, to holding our first AGM 12 months later?
What is a co-operative and how does this vary from standard companies (publicly and privately owned), mutual companies, incorporated societies, building societies, industrial and provident societies, credit unions etc.
What is the history of co-operatives in NZ, and globally, and what other NZ co-operatives are there?
Is the co-operative business model the right one for us?
Which type of co-operative is best for us?
How do we set up a co-operative including best practice governance?
Is our idea business-worthy?
This Start-Up User Guide provides a good level of information relevant also to established co-operatives.
Let’s Get Started Manual 2017
https://nz.coop/start-user-guide-new-co-operatives/
An informative link. Thanks for posting.
I feel so sorry for the poor downtrodden predominantly white trash “Deplorables”. Now they gotta deal with the fact they gave their all to a crazy man.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11804361