Open Mike 20/03/2017

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, March 20th, 2017 - 50 comments
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50 comments on “Open Mike 20/03/2017”

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  1. esoteric pineapples 1
    20 March 2017 at 8:46 am

    I don’t suppose there are any protests planned for when John Key leaves Parliament. It would be great to give him a final hurray to let him know that a lot of people don’t like him. I don’t live in Wellington so couldn’t make it but it is a fine thought.

    I also don’t think he is just disliked by the general population. He has unjustly ruined the reputations and careers of a lot of people by passing the blame, particularly in the Public Service. They, their families and friends must know the truth when someone further down the chain of command has been the scapegoat for the actions of Key and his ministers.

    • Pete 1.1
      20 March 2017 at 9:29 am

      He may have unjustly ruined the reputations and careers of a lot of people. He may deserve a noisy send-off. (or better still a ‘Bugger off!’) I personally think he was a lying, weasly opportunist.

      It’s a fact though that he was not disliked by the general population. Certainly not by any significant numbers.

      • aerobubble 1.1.1
        20 March 2017 at 10:03 am

        Media assisted Key. Take this weeks Nation and Q&a, both had annoying stupid greying balding hacks on, no doubt paid by the 1% to go on TV and say annoyingly stupid things. Franks says Greens caused Aucklands Housing crisis, you know the Green party that constucted the stupid city, Key, and the ACT MP Hide who became local govt minister. Then on Q&a former ACT leader, the more balding one, says that not only should foregn buyers have no cultural concerns when shifting to a new different culture, but once here should total act without any community spirit, doubling down on how mney makes rich people invinsible invisible even to us general oiks. This is how Key got such an easy ride, dumb and stupid are merged and put into the media spotlight, just right, that it does not show. As long as the talking heads dont shift the shadows, insure the obvious lies aren’t not asked or answered, then the distraction is complete. everyone gets paid. Hey think about the Chinese tourists, how can they feel about bringing their monkey year child up on NZ milk, to NZ and feeling at home swimming in a shitty river like back home.
        The dairy boom was a politicial Chinese need for milk and we all paid for it with farm debt, land misuse in conversions, overstocking and shiity rivers. No wonder NZ gets poorer, it grows and takes on all the risks and hands off the profits.

        • Wayne 1.1.1.1
          20 March 2017 at 10:45 am

          aerobubble,

          You do realise that Q & A usually has a political scientist, plus a commentator from the left and the right; same with the Nation. As publicly funded political programmes I guess they naively think balance is important.

          So it is no doubt really annoying for you to put with comment from the right as well as the left. Though Jamie Whyte is a true libertarian and does not really buy into regulation, certainly much less than National supporters think appropriate.

          At least it gives you something to complain about.

          • Tophat 1.1.1.1.1
            20 March 2017 at 11:58 am

            Are you suggesting political scientists are all balanced?

          • Pete 1.1.1.1.2
            20 March 2017 at 1:57 pm

            “Jamie Whyte is a true libertarian and does not really buy into regulation.”
            Must be a real bastard for him that there are traffic lights and speed limits restricting his freedom to choose.

          • aerobubble 1.1.1.1.3
            21 March 2017 at 2:19 pm

            The right by which you mean super individualists whose objective is to stymie the issue and keep systemic wealth unaccountable. Essentially false libertarians whose job is to hose down any issue. Any company that grows has growing pains, its essential those matrs are brought to the boardroom, inequality, low pay, high rents, por public transit, shitty rivers, etc are all met by these paid supposed libertarians with ad hom, distraction fed by mediator of some gen war. If the nats really thought these particular commentators are doing themselves any favors then sirely they deserve the now obvious joke. Trump, like them makes bald obvious untrue claims of greatness, how he’s great with the economyetc Facts are nAtional are woeful managers of the economy, who shorts their kids? Tax cuts coupled with taxing education, its decades of shoving future weath into the pile of present politicial expediancy.
            And its all now coming back to bite. The ultra stupid savants of ACT are hardly credible rightwing commentators, just lousy socialists for the few.

        • Once was Tim now no longer 1.1.1.2
          20 March 2017 at 5:22 pm

          Christ Wayne – you really are quite a naiive little wall flower aren’t you. And here’s me thinking you were the Brains of Britain with a wealth of experience.

          No accounting for a closed mind, rote ‘learnings’ and ideology though I ‘spose.

          Btw…..did you check out Matty boy this morning?. Someone’s obviously told him to try and be cool calm and collected. He ALMOST made it.
          He was almost convincing. He certainly had Nick Smith and major friend Bill pegged (as to their mediocre intelligence, disguised by polly and spin speak).
          It was probably Matty’s attempt at exercising a smidgeon of honesty (going forward).
          Congratulations Matty – you almost made it.

          But as for you Wayne – much as I tried to think otherwise, now I know you’re really just full of shit dressed up in the robes of academic rationalism and supposed experience.
          You’ll go far (going forward). A+ with honours

          • Once was Tim now no longer 1.1.1.2.1
            20 March 2017 at 5:35 pm

            And oh btw @ Wayne
            Did you hear Nick Smith on Q+A or The Nation (both fairly feeble efforts at holding our political ‘representatives’ to account in a democratic nation state) say
            “I did them the courtesy of meeting them in my office”.
            ??
            It seems to me that Nick the faux has lost all notion of what his job is, what a functioning rep dem is, and the idea that he is a servant. (As of course were you and ilk if you could just get past your priviledges and swilling at the trough)

            Historically, that’s the sort of arrogance that got the natives really really restless. Lucky we don’t really have a functioning mainstream media that picks up on those details – though as Dear Matty suggests – Nick Smith is managing to piss off people all on his own

            • Once was Tim now no longer 1.1.1.2.1.1
              20 March 2017 at 9:27 pm

              Ah well it’s been about 4 hours and fuk all response from ‘The Wayne’.
              My reason for not engaging in discussion in the past was more about the state of TS – whereas, it appears ‘The Wayne’s’ is more about a troll-like hit and run agenda in pursuit of his agenda and in the name of self preservation.

              @The Wayne, and @The Nick Smith …… we know you present yourselves as the gorgeous voices of reason (going forward), and as the intelligensia of the Neshnool Party along with that bitter old queen from the Eastern suburbs trying to define High and Might (there’d be one or two Snots Porridge old boys along with a few polly bois that still have ushooooos).
              (There are a few of them that set themselves apart from the feral leopard skins but who are publicly so-in-sync with the same publicly – for some – it hurts: IT REALLY HURTS)
              Why do you keep at it @ Wayne? (It’s a genuine question).
              Are you actually as thick as I suspect you might be and just riding on your past, or are you getting just an eeensie teeeensie little bit scared.
              I think Matty Dear the Hooter could actually be correct, and that you, along with Nuk Smuff could actually be just a little bit FUK

              • Once was Tim now no longer …
                20 March 2017 at 10:04 pm

                Let me clarify @ Wayne
                by which I mean you have the capacity for argument but not reason, ideology over issue, and a total lack of critical thought processes.
                Polly wanna Cracker?

                Wayne – you’re in ….compliant? ideologically comitted’ cultural? company. There’s a Hekia to ya roit, and a Crus to ya left. A part time feminist to ya roit, and a bitter old poof to ya left (even though he’d be too scared to move)
                . And both sides protesting a high ground in a compliant and main stream media (check out that AM Show fukwit trying his hardest to cling to yoof and relevance for a start -and no ….. not the “Dunk”
                A tuff on croim coward to ya roit, and probably half the fucking back bench asking where to point their tounges: should it be towards a Bling giving a thrill his wife yet never has – or ……. (And it’s a shame that so many are just a little bit ….. you know …. Nafe Goi).

                Jesus! I sure as shit hope you’re getting value for the CT dollar, but I suspect (as do others in your politically defined bracket) your time is up and you’ll have to start dealing with the ushooooze

  2. Graeme 2
    20 March 2017 at 10:10 am

    Careful Bill, the head of that pin could get awfully small very fast….

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/90610222/no-charge-put-on-water-before-the-election-because-its-too-hard–bill-english

    I don’t see what’s so hard about the ownership side, there’s no issues around petroleum and minerals, only contentious bit there is the price.

    • aerobubble 3.1
      20 March 2017 at 10:24 am

      Noted. Wealthy people change nothing, nothing to see types, its so good, its never been better… …oh and bring back beatings for kids. Yeah, they hven’t ben holding back Northland with thei ineffective neolib fantasy of leaving it to the market, no not them, that stress out families, working two jobs, never able to communicate values to their kids.

  5. Penny Bright 5
    20 March 2017 at 11:01 am

    New Zealand, in my considered opinion, is and has been riddled with endemic and entrenched corruption for decades.

    The ‘commercialise – corporatise -PRIVATISE Neo – liberal Rogernomics’ model, locally, nationally and internationally, promoted and enforced the contracting out of public services that used to be provided ‘in house’ by central and local government.

    The ‘Rogernomics RORT’ was based upon the unsubstantiated myth and mantra
    ‘PUBLIC IS BAD – PRIVATE IS GOOD’.

    That public service provision, under the genuine non-commercialised (not for profit) public service model was supposedly ‘inefficient’.

    ‘Inefficient’ in my view, was corporate-speak for ‘we haven’t yet got our filthy hands on it’.

    The NZ Business Round Table (made up of CEOs of NZ BIG business) who both vigorously promoted and directly benefited from the Rogernomics reforms which served their vested interests – focused on a form of ‘grand’ corruption which most New Zealanders have never even heard of.

    STATE CAPTURE – where vested interests get their way at the POLICY level, to get laws passed which serve their vested interests.

    Where do you look to find STATE CAPTURE in New Zealand?

    Look at the Regulatory Impact Statements that are produced before proposed law changes go to Cabinet.

    Look at those with whom the ‘policy analysts’ have consulted.

    That’s how this form of endemic ‘grand’ corruption has been carried out for decades in this corrupt, polluted tax haven, falsely and misleadingly marketed as ‘clean, green New Zealand’.

    What a total CROCK.

    The answer?

    In my considered opinion ?

    Open the books.

    Cut out the contractors.

    Return public services to ‘in house’ provision under the public service model.

    Penny Bright

    Proven ‘anti-privatisation / anti-corruption Public Watchdog’

  6. Ad 6
    20 March 2017 at 11:11 am

    Fletcher Building taking a massive hit, probably on just a couple of jobs: Sky City and Christchurch.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11821548

    Really bad case of overreach.

    Near-monopoly meets near-monopsony in a small coutnry; who’d’ve thought there’d be tears before bedtime?

  7. mauī 7
    20 March 2017 at 11:32 am

    Bruce has got a great idea, the natural world doesn’t like the west coast or people very much so the plan is to export the natural world to China. Genius!

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/03/water-from-mt-aspiring-in-the-south-island-set-to-be-shipped-overseas.html

    • greywarshark 7.1
      20 March 2017 at 12:51 pm

      This is a great boost for the West Coast, S.I. NZ The locals think it’s all right.
      Yeah, a good idea we’ve got plenty of it heh heh, says Fred Dagg, a local.
      I’ll become a supplier, wear one of those heavy waterproof coats and a hat with a rim and catch the flow in a container at the hem. The way it rains here I’ll be a millionaire in ten years. They are short of water in the world but we will always have plenty to spare. Great idea, need some business and new people to boost house prices here.

  8. greywarshark 8
    20 March 2017 at 12:15 pm

    Another organic farmer, 2% up 98% to go. Come on you farmers that care about the land and doing a good job, not just screwing every last drop out of your properties – Don’t Drop-Prop!
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/90617108/heriot-farmer-encourages-others-to-go-organic

    Does anyone know the percentage into organics of all NZ farmers?

    • greywarshark 8.1
      20 March 2017 at 12:44 pm

      Great news. Today’s farmers have a new idea – they are putting in water troughs like NZ farms always used to have. However the energy being used as of now to move the water is not provided by solar, so they are really starting with an old model which would probably have been gravity-fed and adding old technology to it. Hey guys and girls there are things that have been discovered since then – solar, and of course there is the ancient method of windmills that have been updated. So much to learn, it’s a problem.

      Up-front capital costs included pipes, troughs and tanks, as well as fences and additional stock. Running costs were fuel or electricity, insurance, as well as additional fertiliser and extra supplementary feed.

      Manawatu AgFirst consultant Erica van Reenen​ said list “significant” benefits. “Such as increased subdivision, better grazing management, an increase in the number of stock run, and more sold prime rather than as store stock.
      http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/90520128/water-troughs-bring-big-gains-for-hill-country-farmers

    • bwaghorn 8.2
      20 March 2017 at 1:04 pm

      It takes a very switched on farmer to farm the organic way , there have been some horror stories about animals suffering under people that have tried and failed.

      • greywarshark 8.2.1
        20 March 2017 at 1:08 pm

        Thanks bwaghorn
        I have heard it is hard. I note that the farmer in the NZ Farmer article said you have to do it in stages.

        • weka 8.2.1.1
          20 March 2017 at 1:23 pm

          It’s not hard technically. Organics is just another set of skills and approaches (although I think you probably do need to have the philosophy clear in your own head too). I can’t see how it would be any harder than switching from sheep to industrial dairying for instance.

          The problem is that the huge infrastructure that exists to support farming doesn’t support organics very well. Banks, farm advisors, support organisations, govt research etc are still massively weighted towards industrial and conventional farming. Not to mention supply line issues. Farm debt is a big one too from what I understand. Banks are less likely to lend to operations they don’t understand and perceive as risky. Risk assessment being affected by all that other weighting.

          • bwaghorn 8.2.1.1.1
            20 March 2017 at 2:48 pm

            we’ve breed sheep and cattle for at least 50 years using all manner of potions to keep them safe ,they have no natural resistance , the most successful ones i’ve heard of have two blocks ,one organic one not so they can transfer the weaker stock that need help to the chemical farm

            • weka 8.2.1.1.1.1
              20 March 2017 at 2:55 pm

              Are you saying that parasite management is the stumbling block?

              People raised sheep and other stock for thousands of years before the invention of chemical farming 😉

              • bwaghorn …
                20 March 2017 at 4:17 pm

                yep that would be the biggy , some ram breeders are working on worm resistance , as drench resistance is becoming more of a problem we may be forced to go drench free at some point down the track, unless they come up with a new one.
                fly strike would be a hard one too, and with things getting warmer that is a problem that will only grow. on the bright side the new dips are a lot less toxic than the old ones

              • greywarshark …
                20 March 2017 at 10:55 pm

                Vaccines have been the saviour of us and animals though.

                I read in a series of novels set in the 18th century that there had been a bad cattle plague. It certainly was a doozy.
                Wikipedia:
                Cattle plagues recurred throughout history, often accompanying wars and military campaigns. They hit Europe especially hard in the 18th century, with three long panzootics which, although varying in intensity and duration from region to region, took place in the periods of 1709–1720, 1742–1760, and 1768–1786.[14]

                There was a major outbreak covering the whole of Britain in 1865/66. Later in history, an outbreak in the 1890s killed 80 to 90% of all cattle in southern Africa, as well as in the Horn of Africa. Sir Arnold Theiler was instrumental in developing a vaccine that curbed the epizootic. More recently, a rinderpest outbreak raged across much of Africa in 1982–1984, costing at least an estimated US$500 million in stock losses.

                But good news!
                On 14 October 2010, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced that field activities in the decades-long, worldwide campaign to eradicate the disease were ending, paving the way for a formal declaration in June 2011 of the global eradication of rinderpest.[5]

                On 25 May 2011, the World Organisation for Animal Health announced the free status of the last eight countries not yet recognized (a total of 198 countries were now free of the disease), officially declaring the eradication of the disease.[6]

                In June 2011, the United Nations FAO confirmed the disease was eradicated, making rinderpest only the second disease in history to be fully wiped out, following smallpox.[7]

          • Rightly or Wrongly 8.2.1.1.2
            20 March 2017 at 3:49 pm

            In relation to Organic Dairy Farming the limited amount of supply was reduced further 2-3 years ago by incompetence (a particular manager) at a mid-management level in Fonterra when their dedicated group of organic suppliers around the Manawatu and Wanganui regions were told that their Organic premiums were going to cease and their organic milk would be pumped in with the regular milk supply.

            After a couple of years many of the suppliers forwent their Organic status as the low payout meant their farms lost much of their profitability.

            Role on a couple more years and the incompetent had been fired and then Fontera were begging for Organic supply again – not so easy to regain your organic status.

      • weka 8.2.2
        20 March 2017 at 1:24 pm

        “there have been some horror stories about animals suffering under people that have tried and failed.”

        Such as?

        • bwaghorn 8.2.2.1
          20 March 2017 at 2:49 pm

          only anicdata but sheep dying in numbers from worms and fly strike.

          • weka 8.2.2.1.1
            20 March 2017 at 2:50 pm

            How many farms? That sounds like someone who doesn’t know what they are doing rather than being about organics. What kinds of farmer would let their animals get in that state?

            • bwaghorn 8.2.2.1.1.1
              20 March 2017 at 4:21 pm

              ”What kinds of farmer would let their animals get in that state?”
              a useless one and as there is no licence to farm there is no way of stopping his type,
              although a bad outbreak can catch out even the good cockies.

  9. Sabine 9
    20 March 2017 at 12:30 pm

    did anyone read this? what do they make of it?

    http://www.wakeupnz.net/link-dairy-farming-crohns-disease-nz/

    “The reported incidence of Crohn’s disease in Canterbury, New Zealand has doubled over the past decade, crowning the region with the highest reported incidence globally. Scientists around the world believe environmental factors are contributing to this disconcerting rise. In this investigation, we present the research on a disease found primarily in dairy cattle called Johne’s disease, which has the same symptoms as Crohn’s disease and is recognised on over half of all dairy farms in New Zealand. If the MAP bacteria which causes the immune responses in dairy cattle is tested and found in our local drinking water supplies, our air and our dairy products, we could be facing a public health issue of massive proportions.

    Johne’s (“Yo-nees”) disease is a contagious, chronic and sometimes fatal infection caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP). Johne’s disease is found primarily in agricultural ruminants such as cattle and sheep, and is an immune system response following MAP infection which leads to deteriorated bowels. This inability to process nutrients leads to the most obvious signs an animal may have contracted Johne’s such as weakening, weight loss and even death. Most animals are infected during the first months of their life, yet signs of the infection can take years to show.”

    • greywarshark 9.1
      20 March 2017 at 12:58 pm

      Sabine thanks for that heads up.
      That is really interesting. And it might be one of those illnesses that faecal implants are able to help. I’ve heard Crohn’s is horrible. A real kick in the guts.

      It sounds similar to leptospirosis, which is passed on from animals.

      http://www.medicinenet.com/leptospirosis/page2.htm
      What causes leptospirosis?
      The cause of leptospirosis is bacteria, Leptospira interrogans, a Gram-negative spirochete (spiral-shaped bacteria). The bacteria infect many types of animals (many wild animals, rodents, dogs, cats, pigs, horses, cattle, for example) that subsequently contaminate water, lakes, rivers, soil, and crops when they urinate because the bacteria are present in urine.

      The bacteria then infect humans when they invade through breaks in the skin or mucus membranes or when people ingest them. The bacteria multiply in the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. Person-to-person transfer of this disease is rare.

      That too leaves a person weaker and vulnerable to illness and seems chronic.

    • adam 9.2
      20 March 2017 at 4:46 pm

      So on top of all the other factors which make dairy farming bad economically.

      Now it would appear, that those with a predisposition to catching Crohn’s disease (which we have no idea of those numbers) are catching the disease because it is a zoonotic (transferable from animals to humans) in nature. And our dairy heard is full of the disease.

      This national government, does nothing beyond short term – at the expense of the long term health of the population. What else will we learn that their shortsightedness has done to hurt the population I wonder.

  10. bwaghorn 10
    20 March 2017 at 1:00 pm

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/90610222/no-charge-put-on-water-before-the-election-because-its-too-hard–bill-english

    ”If the government put a charge on water it was inevitable Maori would make a claim and English said that would be “pretty hard to resolve”. ”

    it’s all the maoris fault we can’t charge for water according to english

  11. Sabine 11
    20 March 2017 at 1:50 pm

    interesting.

    we shifted house 8 weeks ago, but because of our chinese landlord not being here in nz and not having signed the form we must wait 31 working day for a time out and then we will be re-funded our bond.

    Now luckily we are not too poor and moved into our own pad, so did not need the bond to be returned in time to pay for another bond (or pay back any advances from the bank).

    I wonder how standard this is, how much interest people loose on their bond money, and how many overseas landlord make it hard fro people to get their money back.

    Also, can someone explain to me why bond money that is held for years is refunded without interest?

    the reason i am asking is simple, the government holds the bonds paid by people. It would be fair to assume that the money held is accruing interest. where does that interest go?

    again boring but, in Germany the bond (kaution) is held in an savings account on behalf of the tenant by the landlord and when both parties sign to release the bond, the amount plus interest is paid back to the tenant as it is their money security to save keep the house/flat. Right?

    http://www.toytowngermany.com/lofi/index.php/t97250.html
    “The fairest way to deal with the Kaution is to put it in a savings book. This is held in the tenants name, the landlord looks after the book. The cash can only be withdrawn when both parties sign at the end of the tenancy so landlord and tenant have to agree any deductions before either get the cash. This is called a Bankburgschaft. As it is a savings account it collects interest and the tenant will recieve this.”

  12. Poission 12
    20 March 2017 at 2:30 pm

    NYT Russia conspiracy “expert”

    Health warning may contain nut.

    http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-39250257

  13. halfcrown 13
    20 March 2017 at 3:12 pm

    Another benefit of the intensive dairying in NZ
    No doubt the scientist have got it all wrong just like the scientist who warn us about global warming sarc/

    http://www.wakeupnz.net/link-dairy-farming-crohns-disease-nz/

  14. Jilly Bee 14
    20 March 2017 at 4:04 pm

    A thoughtful piece by the President of the PPTA and a totally predictable reply by Alan Price – National Party’s Kaikohe Chair. “It’s abundantly clear that the last 32 years haven’t seen teachers wishing to turn back the clock. Unless Alan Price was willing to staff schools with National Party branch chairs and members of Family First, it’s hard to see how reintroducing corporal punishment could happen.” http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/327017/why-corporal-punishment-doesn't-work

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    National finally admits there’s a housing crisis, but today’s belated announcement is simply not a credible response to the problem it’s been in denial about for so long, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. “National can’t now credibly claim ...
    Labour
    1 week ago

  • Nats lay the ground for housing bust
    Goldman Sachs’ warning that New Zealand has the developed world’s most over-priced housing market, with a 40 per cent chance of a bust within two years, shows the consequences of National’s nine years of housing neglect, says Labour Housing spokesperson ...
    Labour
    1 week ago

  • Well they would say that, wouldn’t they?
    Property investors’ lobby groups have been up in arms this week about Labour and Green parties’ plans to close tax loopholes and fix the housing market. That’s probably a good thing. Like an investor in any other sector, they expect ...
    GreensBy James Shaw
    1 week ago

  • Alfred Ngaro reflects National’s culture of silencing debate
    Image from Getty Images Community groups must be free to advocate for the people they serve. It’s these people who see first-hand if ideas dreamt up in Wellington actually work on the ground. It’s essential that they can speak freely ...
    GreensBy Jan Logie
    1 week ago

  • Bill English must reassure community organisations
    The Prime Minister must do more to reassure community organisations after Cabinet Minister Alfred Ngaro's apparent threats to their funding if they criticise government policy which has left a born-to-rule perception amongst many, says Labour Leader Andrew Little. “Alfred Ngaro ...
    Labour
    1 week ago

  • Extremism and its discontents
    Another scar on global democracy appeared recently, this time in Germany.It seems that the number of soldiers on duty with extremist political leanings has become a concern to the military leadership in that country. Soldiers were found openly possessing ...
    GreensBy Kennedy Graham
    1 week ago

  • Government’s suicide approach disappoints
    Mike King’s sudden departure from the Government’s suicide prevention panel, amid claims the Government’s approach is ‘deeply flawed’, is further evidence National is failing on mental health, says Labour’s Deputy Leader Jacinda Ardern. “Mental health is reaching crisis point in ...
    Labour
    1 week ago

  • National backs speculators, fails first home buyers
    National is showing its true colours and backing speculators who are driving first home buyers out of the market, says Labour Leader Andrew Little. “By defending a $150m a year hand-out to property speculators, Bill English is turning his back ...
    Labour
    1 week ago

  • More oversight by Children’s Commissioner needed
    More funding and more independence is required for the Children’s Commissioner to function more effectively in the best interests of Kiwi kids in State care, says Labour’s spokesperson for children Jacinda Ardern. ...
    Labour
    1 week ago

  • Labour to end tax breaks for speculators; invest in warm, healthy homes
    Labour will shut down tax breaks for speculators and use the savings to help make 600,000 homes warmer and healthier over the next ten years, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. “It’s time for fresh thinking to tackle the ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Health of young people a priority for Labour
    Labour will ensure all young people have access to a range of health care services on-site at their local secondary school, says Labour’s deputy leader Jacinda Ardern. “Our policy will see School Based Health Services extended to all public secondary ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Ratifying the TPPA makes no sense
    The recent high-fiving between the government and agricultural exporters over ratification of the TPPA (Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement) is empty gesture politics in an election year. Ratification by New Zealand means nothing. New Zealand law changes are not implemented unless the ...
    GreensBy Barry Coates
    2 weeks ago

  • NIWA report proves National’s trickery re swimmable rivers
    National have a slacker standard for swimmable rivers than was the case prior to their recent so-called Clean Water amendment to the National Policy Statement (NPS), says Labour’s Water spokesperson David Parker. “The table 11 on page 25 of the ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • MPS shows new approach needed on housing
    The Reserve Bank’s latest Monetary Policy Statement provides further evidence that only a change in government will start to fix the housing crisis, says Labour Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson. “It is more evident than ever that only a Labour-led government ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Fresh approach on mental health
    Labour will introduce a pilot scheme of specialist mental health teams across the country in government to ensure swifter and more effective treatment for those who need urgent help, says Labour’s Leader Andrew Little. “Mental health is in crisis. It ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Sallies back Labour’s plan for affordable homes
    The country’s most respected social agency has endorsed Labour’s KiwiBuild plan to build homes that families can afford to buy, and delivered a withering assessment of the National Government’s housing record, says Labour’s housing spokesperson Phil Twyford. ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Education is for everyone, not just the elite
    Proposals by the National Party to ration access to higher education will once again make it a privilege only available to the elite, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says. “Speaking at the Education Select Committee, Maurice Williamson let the National ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Cancer support changes far too little, certainly late
    Anne Tolley’s belated backtrack to finally allow Jobseeker clients suffering from cancer to submit only one medical certificate to prove their illness fails to adequately provide temporary support for people too sick to work, says Labour’s Social Development spokesperson Carmel ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Kids must come first in enrolment debate
    The best interests of children should be the major driver of any change to policies around initial school enrolments, not cost cutting or administrative simplicity, Labour’s Education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says.   “The introduction of school cohort entry is ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Feed the Kids
    While in Whangarei last week, I had the pleasure of meeting Buddhi Manta from the Hare Krishna movement whose cafe is making lunch for some schools in Whangarei. His group have been feeding up to 1,000 primary school kids at local ...
    GreensBy Catherine Delahunty
    2 weeks ago

  • DHBs’ big budget blowout
    New Zealand’s District Health Boards are now facing a budget deficit of nearly $90 million dollars, a significant blowout on what was forecast, says Labour’s Health spokesperson David Clark.   “Labour believes health funding must grow to avoid further cuts ...
    Labour
    2 weeks ago

  • Govt plays catch up on drug funding
    The Government's backdown on Pharmac is welcomed because previous rhetoric around the agency being adequately funded was just nonsense, says Labour's Health spokesperson David Clark. ...
    Labour
    3 weeks ago

  • Labour to build affordable homes in Hamilton
    Labour will build 200 affordable KiwiBuild houses and state houses on unused government-owned land as the first steps in our plan to fix Hamilton’s housing crisis, says Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little. “We will build new houses to replace ...
    Labour
    3 weeks ago

  • Mental Health waiting times a growing concern
    There is new evidence that the Mental Health system is under increasing strain with waiting times for young people to be seen by mental health and addiction services lengthening says Labour’s Health spokesperson David Clark.   “Following yesterday’s seat of ...
    Labour
    3 weeks ago

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