Another reputable and independent expert, Jomo Kwame Sundaram, gives his opinion of the TPP. Jomo Kwame Sundaram was an Assistant Secretary-General responsible for analysis of economics and development in the United Nations system during 2005-2015, and received the 2007 Wassily Leontief Prize for Advancing the Frontiers of Economic Thought.
The Empire’s New Clothes? Conjuring Growth from the TPP
While the main US motivation for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) has been to counter China’s influence in the region, it has also been used to undermine the Doha ‘Development’ Round of trade negotiations to better advance politically influential US corporate interests. Hence, it has become all the more necessary to legitimize the TPP in terms of its ostensible benefits.
Jomo then discusses the studies.
The only US government study of the TPP’s likely impacts found very modest growth gains from tariff reductions of only 0.1% over a decade. In fact, all studies so far project negligible direct economic growth gains from TPP trade liberalization.
Instead, the Peterson Institute of International Economics (PIIE) has provided the fig-leaf for the empire’s new clothes with far more inflated projections of supposed gains.
….To make the case for the TPP, the PIIE understates costs and risks, while exaggerating benefits. Very diverse TPP provisions were fed into the trade model as simple cost reductions, with little consideration of downside risks and costs. Although such costs and risks are not seriously considered, the projections are nonetheless presented as cost-benefit evaluations.
By understating crucial costs, and exaggerating projected benefits, net gains are overstated. For example, provisions to strengthen, broaden and extend intellectual property rights (IPRs) become simple cost reductions that will increase the trade in services. Such analysis ignores impacts on consumers or on governments subsidizing the prices of medicines to patients.
According to Fran the founder of Alabama Jack Ma said””Trade is a freedom it should not be used by government as a weapon…”
She thinks he meant China. I think he meant the USA and TPPA.
Oh dear. Predictive text strikes again.
Alibaba please. Not Alabama.
The late George Wallace would turn in his grave if he thought a Chinese gentleman had founded the state of which he was so proud.
Around 9:35 am I will be talking to Raglan Radio Host Aaron Mooar about the ongoing saga of the Panama Papers, John Key’s visits to China, Malta and Mexico to name but a few countries.
On Bowalley Road commenter Guerilla Surgeon wrote about the company he used to work for when he made a good basic living for his young family at $1.56 an hour. He visited the town again and his son now works for the company and this is what he found. http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2016/04/raging-against-dying-american-light.html
33 years later I found myself back in Winchester and close to Rubbermaid workers again…… I spent three months living with 34-year-old Tim, who had been pulling rotating shifts at Rubbermaid for five years. What I saw broke my heart. The working class world of my sons Rubbermaid friends was so harsh and insecure and barren of the dignity of labour that I damned near cried.
Some commuted more than 100 miles from West Virginia to work, spending four or five hours a day in transit. One van load of workers commuted almost seven hours a day, taking turns driving while the rest caught up what sleep they could. Some slept on couches and in sleeping bags at Tim’s when the snow was too deep to drive home, which is often enough when you live in the mountains of West Virginia…..
They were decent and quiet men….. All seemed worried to death about a possible plant move overseas and about bills, medical bills in particular. Their wives worked yet they barely kept their heads above water….. Here in Winchester we have been pistol whipped into a proper sense of gratitude so this is considered a good deal.”
When looking at the USA elections we should keep this in mind. When things are so bad and you are just holding on by the skin of your teeth to the dream of a decent life on a secure livable wage how long can you hold your grip. And whicch pollie seems to offer a change at all – hopefully better?
“…Democratic Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny said he is expecting a record turnout, although he acknowledged he’s not sure exactly what the record is.
“All the conditions are right (for a record),” he said. “I think somewhere around 40 percent is a record.”
The polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m. in Central New York and most of the state. In New York City, Long Island, Westchester and Erie counties, the polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
“…. By the time Mossack turned his attention to the South Pacific, the Cook Islands, Vanuatu and Nauru were already in the offshore financial sector business. Nauru had 450 “banks” registered to a single government mailbox through which $70 billion of Russian mafia money passed in 1998, according to statements by the Russian central bank.
Mossack bypassed those islands after reaching a 20-year exclusive deal in 1996 to handle offshore incorporations for Niue, a dependency of New Zealand. “We figured that if we had the exclusivity, we would avoid the price wars because in offshore jurisdictions there is a lot of competition going on,” Mossack said in 2000.
Niue, which has a population of less than 1,600, received $100 a year from each of the 6,000 international business companies set up by Mossack Fonseca over eight years. Local lawyer Peleni Talagi, daughter of the current prime minister, became the firm’s agent, working out of one of the few commercial buildings in Alofi, the capital.
Niue registration offered “total secrecy and anonymity,” with no need to file annual returns, the firm’s web ads bragged.
By the late 1990s, Niue’s activities were attracting attention from bigger economies, represented by the Group of Eight and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The U.S. State Department’s 1999 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report said, “Niue’s thriving offshore financial sector has been linked with the laundering of criminal proceeds from Russia and South America.”
In March 2000, Mossack visited New Zealand, which was trying to close his Niue business down. Foreign Minister Phil Goff refused to meet him.
While on the trip, Mossack denied to this reporter that his Niue companies were laundering criminal receipts, saying his business involved people “trying to avoid paying taxes in their home countries.” Money laundering could not be carried out in Niue, he said, because it did not have a banking system. “Without the banking system, it is impossible to launder money,” he said.
According to data compiled from Mossack Fonseca’s files by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, the firm’s use of Niue as a tax haven peaked in 1999.
International pressure on Niue continued to grow after that, with credit card networks instituting a block on usage on the island, threatening its small tourist industry. In 2004 Mossack Fonseca packed up its operations in Niue, though the island still ranks as the fifth most-used tax haven by the firm since 1977, according to the ICIJ’s calculations.
…..”
___________________________
lprent
My archives aren’t working. The last item that shows is from 18 April
And something that often happens is that when I press on comment list on right wing I don’t get taken to the highlighted comment. I just pressed one in Open Mike and got taken to Panama Papers for instance. When I went back to list, neither of the close comments were on Panama papers so wasn’t a cursor slip.
Heading home now. Last night I didn’t get to any of the niggles (I know what they are now). Went to Lyn’s nieces 5th birthday, ate Cake, felt ill and went to bed early. Might have felt ill prior to cake but it is hard tell when you are in traffic.
I’ll get Lyn to cook to night and have a go at the fix.
Me and Jürgen Mossack: Michael Field on chasing the Panama Papers through the South Pacific in the ’00s
By Michael Field
April 7, 2016
Outside the arcane world of tax havens few had noticed Mossack Fonseca creeping into the South Pacific, but New Zealand journalist Michael Field was one. He recalls how he confronted the co-founder of the law firm at the centre of the Panama Papers data leak.
Jürgen Mossack came to Auckland to shut me up.
For a moment it felt like a war movie cliché. Steely eyed and ramrod straight, Mossack could have clicked his heels just as his German Waffen-SS father had.
It was March 2000 and the 52-year-old co-founder of Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca had already threatened me with legal execution in the form of a libel writ. In a rent-an-office space in Hobson Street, across the road from the Auckland District Court, he wanted a halt to my stories on his firm’s operations in Niue.
Instead, by chance, I got one of the few media interviews he ever gave. I asked him whether his Niue tax haven operation was morally right. He thought a moment and replied: “There is a big grey zone, there is no clear cut area.”
First wave of Exit Polls suggest Clinton 52% / Sanders 48% – far closer than the various pre-Election Polls had it. Probably due to significant under-estimation of both young voter turnout and Upstate turnout in the weighting of most polls (Hillary’s stronger in the five boroughs).
52/48 would be an extraordinary result given that this is a closed primary where only Democrats can vote. Sanders usually blitzes the Independent vote (on average by 2 to 1) and in some States Independents have comprised up to half of his support (which is why he has such crossover appeal and consistently beats Clinton in all of the one-on-one match-ups with various Republican nominees).
The exit polls suggest:
Sanders winning 18-24 year olds by 85% to Clinton’s 15%
Clinton winning the over 65s by 70% to 30%
Sanders carries White voters by 9 points
Clinton takes Latinos by 18 and Blacks by 43 points
Reports of many voters, especially younger ones (including many College/Uni students) being turned away. Could be the winning margin right there.
Not much change I reckon but because I prefer predictions to sitting on the fence I reckon it’ll be something like:
National above 40%,
Labour below 30%,
Greens slightly lower then NZFirst
Preferred PM (I won’t even mention John Key) will be:
Winston second
Little third
The really interesting thing about the last two polls (March Roy Morgan and April Colmar Brunton) is that they both bucked their own trends (at least in terms of the broader Oppo vs Govt results).
All of the Colmar Brunton and Reid Research polls since late May 2015 (excepting the last) have placed the Oppo in front (by an average of almost 4 points in the CBs). The latest has the Govt leading by 5.
By contrast, since the last Election, Two-Thirds of the Roy Morgans (and all of them from September through to February) have had the Govt leading. Whereas the latest put the Oppo ahead by 4.
Looks like the Polls may have been pretty much on the money this time. Probably a Clinton win in the double digits. But, as joe90 suggests – purged electoral rolls and voter suppression. Deep concern expressed by NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio. Significant number of young College students (overwhelmingly Sanders supporters) turned away.
Looks like the Polls might have been on the money this time. Clinton projected to win in the double digits. But, as joe90 implies, purged electoral rolls / voter suppression. NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio has expressed deep concern. Younger College students (overwhelmingly Sanders supporters) appear to have been turned away in big numbers.
I’d very much like to see Sanders win the democratic nomination but you have to face reality that it’s not going to happen…… I wonder if there’s any chance that Clinton would choose him as a VP ?
New Zealand’s 2015 Financial Secrecy Index rating, by the Tax Justice Network.
If Transparency International’s ‘Corruption Perception Index’ also included ‘financial secrecy’ criteria – how different would the former ratings be?
Why DOESN’T Transparency International include ‘financial secrecy’ in their ‘Corruption Perception Index’?
Where do the corrupt hide their bribes and their ill-gotten gains?
Makes rather a farce, in my opinion, of both Transparency International’s ‘Corruption Perception Index’ and New Zealand’s ‘perceived’ status as now the fourth ‘least corrupt country in the world’?
(Mind you – I have been saying this for some time. Perhaps now more people will pay attention?)
The one good thing Sanders is doing for twill put stakes through he inevitable Clinton nomination is keep pulling Clinton leftwards in policy terms, without trashing Obama’s domestic policy achievements.
If both of them can turn the Democratic Convention away from being a nomination contest and towards a policy achievement platform, they will have done the whole electorate some good.
Sanders, like Trump, could still stuff it all up by directing his supporters away from supporting the Democratic Party towards a simple free vote, or going Independent. But I’ll grant Sanders is smarter than Trump politically.
“Lightning effect and duration of the fire ball being suspended in mid air and the very large mushroom cloud is the main give away, that is because it is being hit by neutrons from the nuclear fireball blast. It overloads the ccd’s electronic circuit producing white flashes. If the radiation is too high it will burn out the chip.” ~ Jeff Smith, former IAEA inspector
ok, a couple of questions – how many cases of radiation poisining occurred from this supposeduse of nuclear weapons closeenough to a population base to disrupt electronic devices with its neutron radiation?
Why did the neutron radiation cause damage to the camera, but the EMP emitted by every nuclear blast failed to fry said camera?
Why did the neutron radiation from a source several kilometres away not cause a uniform distribution of interference across the entire surface of a small, two-dimensional CCD/CMOS focal plane?
Are nuclear bombs the only type of big explosion to cause a mushroom cloud?
Unfortunately Clinton winning by 58-42. But Sanders has taken most of the counties; Clinton the metropolitan areas. Still not too bad as the delegates are proportional;104-85.
I’m down for Trump just to light the system on fire and watch all the hysterical reactions from the left. Worst case scenario a Trump presidency ends in impeachment a year in.
If anyone complains about the mess Trump and Cruz are going to make of the GOP Conference, they might want to have a look at what Sanders is going to do to the Democratic Convention. At some point he’s going to actually join the Democratic Party properly rather than masquerading.
Pretty hard to see how Sanders can get the nomination from here.
I am confident that Hillary will beat either Cruz or Trump. She will have a decisive lead among key voter groups. Women, the majority of all voters, surely will mostly vote for Hillary over either Cruz or Trump.
And she will have a lead with Black and Larino voters. Even if white male voters go with either Republican options, there is simply not enough of them.
Hillary will also do impressively well in the debates, especially against Trump. If it is Cruz it will be harder since Cruz is real smart and articulate, but many of his political positions will seem to be extreme for many in middle America. Mind you he could suddenly become a sensible moderate, easpecilly in the debates. Might not be easy to rebut within the tight confines of a debate.
That is pretty much how I read the politics over there as well.
But even that is qualified. Depends how much the Republican party gets behind their final extremist candidate. While Trump thrives as being a demagogue, and Cruz is rightly regarded with suspicion by virtually every member of the Republican congress, there are a lot of very good political managers amongst the Republicans.
Plus of course the reptilian convention may not support either. I haven’t seen what, if any, changes have happened in the rules for this year. If they remove that rule from last time about having to win x states in the primaries, then all hell may break loose.
whether Trump beats Hillary will depend on how much ordinary Americans are fed up with the banksters eg Goldman Sachs and the USA neocon inspired wars in the Middle East
Might be harder, though I think she would still win.
I must say I don’t understand why so many Americans have a negative view of her. I can understand why people may not agree with her (that’s politics) but what has she done that cause people to distrust her?
might have something to do with the fact she is bankrolled by, and supports the status quo as the American middle class watches their hopes of a future for their children (and themselves) disappear into the bank accounts of those that have far more than they could ever possibly need….I believe its called greed
Ok so how many Politicians could give this off the cuff answer on Quantum Computing? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eak_ogYMprk
Not only has he formed an equal gender Cabinet and appointed Ministers who might actually know what they are doing, he is also taking a hard long look at the TPPA.
“After the Panama leaks, the Conservative government is desperately trying to portray itself as the scourge of organised tax avoidance. It is consulting on draft legislation which would introduce a new corporate criminal offence of failure to prevent the criminal facilitation of tax evasion. Such promises have become part of impression management, but have rarely delivered.
A good case study of the smoke and mirrors tax avoidance policies is the government’s much trumpeted Guidance on Promoting Tax Compliance and Procurement. These rules came into effect on 1st April 2013 and were meant to ensure that organisations engaged in tax avoidance/evasion are barred from securing public contracts.
And for Coleman who thinks their meals are fine: the meals on wheels service has lost just under half its clients – amazing what happens when you don’t have a captive audience. Hell, people who can afford it are getting other food delivered to their hospital beds rather than eating the gravy.
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
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Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
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 The Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of something you use breaking and being difficult or expensive to fix. Proposed legislation could change that. It’s been raining on and off all Sunday afternoon but people are lining up outside a building in a corner of Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, Auckland. In ...
What does a forever relationship look like when you don’t believe in marriage? And how do you celebrate it? This essay is part of our Sunday Essay series, made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.I’m going to do it, right now. I’m going to say ...
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You can’t have missed the Gallipoli story as the movies, documentaries, essays and books capture what it was like for New Zealand troops in their eight-month campaign on the Peninsula. But this Anzac Day the Auckland War Memorial Museum has published a book that sheds light on a little-known aspect of the ...
The Prime Minister has committed to resuming direct flights to Thailand. But it’s not a promise he will be able to deliver on anytime soon. The post Prime Minister jumps the gun in Thailand appeared first on Newsroom. ...
It’s not that long ago Eliza McCartney was seriously wondering if the Paris Olympics would be her pole vaulting swansong. After years of being hounded by injury after injury, the Rio Olympics bronze medallist was still confident she would compete at her second Olympics in Paris in July, unless something ...
FICTION 1 Take Two by Danielle Hawkins (Allen & Unwin, $36.99) There’s commercial fiction, like this book, and then there’s quality fiction, quality writers, quality literature; the forthcoming Auckland Writers Festival is full of quality, and ReadingRoom has two tickets to give away to the following events: Paul Lynch (Dublin ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra In the free-for-all between the Australian government and Big Tech boss Elon Musk this week, the government had to be on a winner. Most people would have little sympathy with Musk’s vociferous opposition to ...
Asia Pacific Report Chief Mandla Mandela, a member of the National Assembly of South Africa and Nelson Mandela’s grandson, has joined the Freedom Flotilla in istanbul as the ships prepare to sail for Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. Mandela is also the ambassador for the Global Campaign to Return to ...
Pacific Media Watch Journalists who report on environmental issues are encountering growing difficulties in many parts of the world, reports Reporters Without Borders. According to the tally kept by RSF, 200 journalists have been subjected to threats and physical violence, including murder, in the past 10 years because they were ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
ACT's Rural Communities and Veterans spokesman Mark Cameron responds to cancellations and protests of ANZAC Day commemorations in Wellington. He says, "These pitiful attempts to detract from ANZAC Day are not at all indicative of the feelings of mainstream ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Pōneke based peace activists staged a silent protest at the ANZAC day service to highlight New Zealand’s complicity in war and genocide, and urge the government to take concrete steps to stop the genocide in Palestine. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Magdalena M.E. Bunbury, Postdoctoral Researcher, James Cook University Burial with a horse at the Rákóczifalva site, Hungary (8th century AD).Sándor Hegedűs, Hungarian National Museum, CC BY How do we understand past societies? For centuries, our main sources of information have been ...
Amanda Thompson doesn’t really do Anzac Day. But what she does do is remember the people she knew who had a lifetime to remember stuff they didn’t really want to, because of a war they didn’t ask for. And she does make Anzac biscuits.First published in 2021.All my ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Willis, Postdoctoral Researcher, CSIRO Xavier Boulenger/Shutterstock In the two decades to 2019, global plastic production doubled. By 2040, plastic manufacturing and processing could consume as much as 20% of global oil production and use up 15% of the annual carbon ...
With our collective remembrance, and steadfast belief in our common humanity, we strengthen our hope and resolve to do what we can to foster dialogue and understanding, and to heal divisions in our pursuit of peace. ...
Principal reasons for the opposition is the loss of the public’s democratic right to have “a fair say” and the vital need for a government free from corruption, said Casey Cravens of Dunedin, president of the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater ...
Never mind the scoreboard – in the 2000 Bledisloe Cup decider, the real trans-Tasman battle was won before kickoff.First published in 2016. The dawn of the new millennium was a dark time for the All Blacks. Their final game pre-Y2K was a 22-18 loss to South Africa in the ...
I’m on the wrong side of 40, I never pursued creative work and now my job is killing my soul. Help! Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,May I start with the least original conversation opener you’re likely to hear around the motu at the moment, particularly in Wellington: ...
“Never again - No AUKUS” was the message of the wreath laid at this morning’s national ANZAC Day commemorative service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park this morning by the Stop AUKUS group. ...
Another reputable and independent expert, Jomo Kwame Sundaram, gives his opinion of the TPP.
Jomo Kwame Sundaram was an Assistant Secretary-General responsible for analysis of economics and development in the United Nations system during 2005-2015, and received the 2007 Wassily Leontief Prize for Advancing the Frontiers of Economic Thought.
Jomo then discusses the studies.
http://www.ipsnews.net/2016/04/opinion-the-empires-new-clothes-conjuring-growth-from-the-tpp/
According to Fran the founder of Alabama Jack Ma said””Trade is a freedom it should not be used by government as a weapon…”
She thinks he meant China. I think he meant the USA and TPPA.
I agree with you, Ianmac.
Oh dear. Predictive text strikes again.
Alibaba please. Not Alabama.
The late George Wallace would turn in his grave if he thought a Chinese gentleman had founded the state of which he was so proud.
Who to believe … The patients in Dunedin or Mr Slater in Auckland
Poor quality hospital food ‘a safety issue
vs
DUNEDIN HOSPITAL FOOD PASSES THE COLEMAN TASTE TEST
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11625488
http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2016/04/dunedin-hospital-food-passes-the-coleman-taste-test/
Around 9:35 am I will be talking to Raglan Radio Host Aaron Mooar about the ongoing saga of the Panama Papers, John Key’s visits to China, Malta and Mexico to name but a few countries.
http://www.raglanradio.com/index.php/listen/listen-live
On Bowalley Road commenter Guerilla Surgeon wrote about the company he used to work for when he made a good basic living for his young family at $1.56 an hour. He visited the town again and his son now works for the company and this is what he found.
http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2016/04/raging-against-dying-american-light.html
33 years later I found myself back in Winchester and close to Rubbermaid workers again…… I spent three months living with 34-year-old Tim, who had been pulling rotating shifts at Rubbermaid for five years. What I saw broke my heart. The working class world of my sons Rubbermaid friends was so harsh and insecure and barren of the dignity of labour that I damned near cried.
Some commuted more than 100 miles from West Virginia to work, spending four or five hours a day in transit. One van load of workers commuted almost seven hours a day, taking turns driving while the rest caught up what sleep they could. Some slept on couches and in sleeping bags at Tim’s when the snow was too deep to drive home, which is often enough when you live in the mountains of West Virginia…..
They were decent and quiet men….. All seemed worried to death about a possible plant move overseas and about bills, medical bills in particular. Their wives worked yet they barely kept their heads above water….. Here in Winchester we have been pistol whipped into a proper sense of gratitude so this is considered a good deal.”
When looking at the USA elections we should keep this in mind. When things are so bad and you are just holding on by the skin of your teeth to the dream of a decent life on a secure livable wage how long can you hold your grip. And whicch pollie seems to offer a change at all – hopefully better?
My prediction about a BIG voter turnout for the New York Primary seems to have been correct.
I predict Bernie Sanders will win New York.
http://www.syracuse.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/04/elections_officials_expect_40_percent_of_nys_eligible_voters_to_vote_today.html
“…Democratic Elections Commissioner Dustin Czarny said he is expecting a record turnout, although he acknowledged he’s not sure exactly what the record is.
“All the conditions are right (for a record),” he said. “I think somewhere around 40 percent is a record.”
The polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m. in Central New York and most of the state. In New York City, Long Island, Westchester and Erie counties, the polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
….”
______________
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
So much for that
I must say as this is Samantha Bee, bad language is in this video. Just another example of the why fundamentalism is very bad for society.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-f4vZmsuw2s
Did anyone from New Zealand play any role in 1996 in helping to set up Niue as a tax haven?
Seen this?
http://asia.nikkei.com/print/article/166663
“…. By the time Mossack turned his attention to the South Pacific, the Cook Islands, Vanuatu and Nauru were already in the offshore financial sector business. Nauru had 450 “banks” registered to a single government mailbox through which $70 billion of Russian mafia money passed in 1998, according to statements by the Russian central bank.
Mossack bypassed those islands after reaching a 20-year exclusive deal in 1996 to handle offshore incorporations for Niue, a dependency of New Zealand. “We figured that if we had the exclusivity, we would avoid the price wars because in offshore jurisdictions there is a lot of competition going on,” Mossack said in 2000.
Niue, which has a population of less than 1,600, received $100 a year from each of the 6,000 international business companies set up by Mossack Fonseca over eight years. Local lawyer Peleni Talagi, daughter of the current prime minister, became the firm’s agent, working out of one of the few commercial buildings in Alofi, the capital.
Niue registration offered “total secrecy and anonymity,” with no need to file annual returns, the firm’s web ads bragged.
By the late 1990s, Niue’s activities were attracting attention from bigger economies, represented by the Group of Eight and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The U.S. State Department’s 1999 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report said, “Niue’s thriving offshore financial sector has been linked with the laundering of criminal proceeds from Russia and South America.”
In March 2000, Mossack visited New Zealand, which was trying to close his Niue business down. Foreign Minister Phil Goff refused to meet him.
While on the trip, Mossack denied to this reporter that his Niue companies were laundering criminal receipts, saying his business involved people “trying to avoid paying taxes in their home countries.” Money laundering could not be carried out in Niue, he said, because it did not have a banking system. “Without the banking system, it is impossible to launder money,” he said.
According to data compiled from Mossack Fonseca’s files by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, the firm’s use of Niue as a tax haven peaked in 1999.
International pressure on Niue continued to grow after that, with credit card networks instituting a block on usage on the island, threatening its small tourist industry. In 2004 Mossack Fonseca packed up its operations in Niue, though the island still ranks as the fifth most-used tax haven by the firm since 1977, according to the ICIJ’s calculations.
…..”
___________________________
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
Interesting Penny. Will be watching for future developments.
lprent
My archives aren’t working. The last item that shows is from 18 April
And something that often happens is that when I press on comment list on right wing I don’t get taken to the highlighted comment. I just pressed one in Open Mike and got taken to Panama Papers for instance. When I went back to list, neither of the close comments were on Panama papers so wasn’t a cursor slip.
Heading home now. Last night I didn’t get to any of the niggles (I know what they are now). Went to Lyn’s nieces 5th birthday, ate Cake, felt ill and went to bed early. Might have felt ill prior to cake but it is hard tell when you are in traffic.
I’ll get Lyn to cook to night and have a go at the fix.
How islands in the South Pacific were used as tax havens and for money-laundering.
Fascinating!
http://thespinoff.co.nz/07-04-2016/me-and-jurgen-mossack-how-kiwi-journalist-revealed-mossack-fonsecas-dodgy-pacific-deals/
Me and Jürgen Mossack: Michael Field on chasing the Panama Papers through the South Pacific in the ’00s
By Michael Field
April 7, 2016
Outside the arcane world of tax havens few had noticed Mossack Fonseca creeping into the South Pacific, but New Zealand journalist Michael Field was one. He recalls how he confronted the co-founder of the law firm at the centre of the Panama Papers data leak.
Jürgen Mossack came to Auckland to shut me up.
For a moment it felt like a war movie cliché. Steely eyed and ramrod straight, Mossack could have clicked his heels just as his German Waffen-SS father had.
It was March 2000 and the 52-year-old co-founder of Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca had already threatened me with legal execution in the form of a libel writ. In a rent-an-office space in Hobson Street, across the road from the Auckland District Court, he wanted a halt to my stories on his firm’s operations in Niue.
Instead, by chance, I got one of the few media interviews he ever gave. I asked him whether his Niue tax haven operation was morally right. He thought a moment and replied: “There is a big grey zone, there is no clear cut area.”
…….”
__________________________________
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
First wave of Exit Polls suggest Clinton 52% / Sanders 48% – far closer than the various pre-Election Polls had it. Probably due to significant under-estimation of both young voter turnout and Upstate turnout in the weighting of most polls (Hillary’s stronger in the five boroughs).
52/48 would be an extraordinary result given that this is a closed primary where only Democrats can vote. Sanders usually blitzes the Independent vote (on average by 2 to 1) and in some States Independents have comprised up to half of his support (which is why he has such crossover appeal and consistently beats Clinton in all of the one-on-one match-ups with various Republican nominees).
The exit polls suggest:
Sanders winning 18-24 year olds by 85% to Clinton’s 15%
Clinton winning the over 65s by 70% to 30%
Sanders carries White voters by 9 points
Clinton takes Latinos by 18 and Blacks by 43 points
Reports of many voters, especially younger ones (including many College/Uni students) being turned away. Could be the winning margin right there.
More than a few problems with voter registration rules and purged electoral rolls.
Ezra Koenig Verified account
@arzE
The New York primary is bullshit. Whoever wins – this is garbage. It’s voter suppression.
https://twitter.com/arzE/status/722098749015777282
http://thetab.com/us/2016/04/19/judge-rules-against-opening-the-ny-primary-3593
Nate Silver, however, is speculating that the Exit Polls may be wrong on this occasion.
Clinton had a 10 point lead over Sanders in NYC in the Exit Poll, but currently (from votes counted) she has a much greater 62/38 advantage there.
As an aside, next Roy Morgan is due out on Friday. Any picks?
Not much change I reckon but because I prefer predictions to sitting on the fence I reckon it’ll be something like:
National above 40%,
Labour below 30%,
Greens slightly lower then NZFirst
Preferred PM (I won’t even mention John Key) will be:
Winston second
Little third
RM don’t do Preferred PM ratings, Puckers.
Well if they did that’s the result they’d get 🙂 but whats your prediction then
It’s a pointless measure.
Eagerly anticipated.
The really interesting thing about the last two polls (March Roy Morgan and April Colmar Brunton) is that they both bucked their own trends (at least in terms of the broader Oppo vs Govt results).
All of the Colmar Brunton and Reid Research polls since late May 2015 (excepting the last) have placed the Oppo in front (by an average of almost 4 points in the CBs). The latest has the Govt leading by 5.
By contrast, since the last Election, Two-Thirds of the Roy Morgans (and all of them from September through to February) have had the Govt leading. Whereas the latest put the Oppo ahead by 4.
Looks like the Polls may have been pretty much on the money this time. Probably a Clinton win in the double digits. But, as joe90 suggests – purged electoral rolls and voter suppression. Deep concern expressed by NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio. Significant number of young College students (overwhelmingly Sanders supporters) turned away.
‘New York primary live results: Trump and Clinton win’
https://www.rt.com/usa/340298-primary-results-new-york/
Looks like the Polls might have been on the money this time. Clinton projected to win in the double digits. But, as joe90 implies, purged electoral rolls / voter suppression. NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio has expressed deep concern. Younger College students (overwhelmingly Sanders supporters) appear to have been turned away in big numbers.
How Sanders is screwed: http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/04/losing-primary-is-making-bernie-sanders-crazy.html
It ain’t over till it’s over….
Bernie Sanders has been written off by some punters effectively from day one.
As I keep saying – a year ago – who had even heard of Bernie Sanders?
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
I’d very much like to see Sanders win the democratic nomination but you have to face reality that it’s not going to happen…… I wonder if there’s any chance that Clinton would choose him as a VP ?
Reality – in my view – is it ain’t over till it’s over….
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
With all due respect Penny you and reality don’t often inhabit the same timezone.
You and your evidence-based reasoning. 🙂
Really?
Did you predict that Bernie Sanders would do as well as he has to date?
Who did?
(And – it ain’t over … 🙂
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
And as you said he would win New York. Let’s face it. You have a pretty lousy track record of picking winners.
Seen this?
http://www.financialsecrecyindex.com/PDF/NewZealand.pdf
New Zealand’s 2015 Financial Secrecy Index rating, by the Tax Justice Network.
If Transparency International’s ‘Corruption Perception Index’ also included ‘financial secrecy’ criteria – how different would the former ratings be?
Why DOESN’T Transparency International include ‘financial secrecy’ in their ‘Corruption Perception Index’?
Where do the corrupt hide their bribes and their ill-gotten gains?
Makes rather a farce, in my opinion, of both Transparency International’s ‘Corruption Perception Index’ and New Zealand’s ‘perceived’ status as now the fourth ‘least corrupt country in the world’?
(Mind you – I have been saying this for some time. Perhaps now more people will pay attention?)
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
The one good thing Sanders is doing for twill put stakes through he inevitable Clinton nomination is keep pulling Clinton leftwards in policy terms, without trashing Obama’s domestic policy achievements.
If both of them can turn the Democratic Convention away from being a nomination contest and towards a policy achievement platform, they will have done the whole electorate some good.
Sanders, like Trump, could still stuff it all up by directing his supporters away from supporting the Democratic Party towards a simple free vote, or going Independent. But I’ll grant Sanders is smarter than Trump politically.
It’s an easy to avoid situation; Clinton simply offers Sanders the position of running mate.
100% not going to happen. Hilary is to the right of Obama. She’ll pick some bum from the DNC who’ll cowtow to Wall Street.
Nuking Yemen (2015)
lol
“Lightning effect and duration of the fire ball being suspended in mid air and the very large mushroom cloud is the main give away, that is because it is being hit by neutrons from the nuclear fireball blast. It overloads the ccd’s electronic circuit producing white flashes. If the radiation is too high it will burn out the chip.” ~ Jeff Smith, former IAEA inspector
lol
ok, a couple of questions – how many cases of radiation poisining occurred from this supposeduse of nuclear weapons closeenough to a population base to disrupt electronic devices with its neutron radiation?
Why did the neutron radiation cause damage to the camera, but the EMP emitted by every nuclear blast failed to fry said camera?
Why did the neutron radiation from a source several kilometres away not cause a uniform distribution of interference across the entire surface of a small, two-dimensional CCD/CMOS focal plane?
Are nuclear bombs the only type of big explosion to cause a mushroom cloud?
Lastly, are you aware how fucking stupid you are?
Unfortunately Clinton winning by 58-42. But Sanders has taken most of the counties; Clinton the metropolitan areas. Still not too bad as the delegates are proportional;104-85.
….and the good news is Trump won well
http://www.nytimes.com/elections/results
yes if it is between Trump and Clinton…Trump might just win
I think not Chookyman, that is the wonderful thing about Trump winning. If the Americans elect him over Hillary/Bernie they will be a laughing stock.
The other thing is that if Trump is the candidate this will push some voters to vote for Democrats in the House and the Senate-they might win both!
If Trump secures the republican nomination it will the biggest win for the democrats since Lyndon Johnson swamped Barry Goldwater.
Not a chance.
+1
Hell im a righty – and I’d vote for Clinton over trump. (And I really don’t like Clinton )
I’m down for Trump just to light the system on fire and watch all the hysterical reactions from the left. Worst case scenario a Trump presidency ends in impeachment a year in.
If anyone complains about the mess Trump and Cruz are going to make of the GOP Conference, they might want to have a look at what Sanders is going to do to the Democratic Convention. At some point he’s going to actually join the Democratic Party properly rather than masquerading.
Do you understand any USA politics or history Ad?
How about the new deal, and the deals made with independents to make that happen – know any of that history?
Because if you keep running with a sad talking points from fox news, you should acknowledge your source.
I don’t watch Fox.
If the US elects anyone more left as President than Obama this century, I’ll eat my hat.
Then why are you using fox talking points?
Why are you so scared of the left Ad?
Pretty hard to see how Sanders can get the nomination from here.
I am confident that Hillary will beat either Cruz or Trump. She will have a decisive lead among key voter groups. Women, the majority of all voters, surely will mostly vote for Hillary over either Cruz or Trump.
And she will have a lead with Black and Larino voters. Even if white male voters go with either Republican options, there is simply not enough of them.
Hillary will also do impressively well in the debates, especially against Trump. If it is Cruz it will be harder since Cruz is real smart and articulate, but many of his political positions will seem to be extreme for many in middle America. Mind you he could suddenly become a sensible moderate, easpecilly in the debates. Might not be easy to rebut within the tight confines of a debate.
That is pretty much how I read the politics over there as well.
But even that is qualified. Depends how much the Republican party gets behind their final extremist candidate. While Trump thrives as being a demagogue, and Cruz is rightly regarded with suspicion by virtually every member of the Republican congress, there are a lot of very good political managers amongst the Republicans.
Plus of course the reptilian convention may not support either. I haven’t seen what, if any, changes have happened in the rules for this year. If they remove that rule from last time about having to win x states in the primaries, then all hell may break loose.
Still a chance Trump and team go independent
Trump should pick Sanders as his running mate
That would be the funniest thing ever.
Trump and Sanders certainly agree on some things
Nope; Trump will have it over Hilary every step of the way in the televised debates.
It will be great theatre – no doubt about that.
whether Trump beats Hillary will depend on how much ordinary Americans are fed up with the banksters eg Goldman Sachs and the USA neocon inspired wars in the Middle East
https://www.rt.com/shows/politicking-larry-king/338571-trump-goes-against-foreign-policy/
https://www.rt.com/shows/big-picture/340144-obama-clinton-tolstoy-dickens/
i still hope against hope Bernie Sanders can come through though…he would beat Trump
https://www.rt.com/shows/big-picture/339802-usa-voting-civil-rights/
“I am confident that Hillary will beat either Cruz or Trump.”
How do you see Clinton faring against Kasich, if he turns out to be the brokered candidate?
Might be harder, though I think she would still win.
I must say I don’t understand why so many Americans have a negative view of her. I can understand why people may not agree with her (that’s politics) but what has she done that cause people to distrust her?
might have something to do with the fact she is bankrolled by, and supports the status quo as the American middle class watches their hopes of a future for their children (and themselves) disappear into the bank accounts of those that have far more than they could ever possibly need….I believe its called greed
Ok so how many Politicians could give this off the cuff answer on Quantum Computing?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eak_ogYMprk
Not only has he formed an equal gender Cabinet and appointed Ministers who might actually know what they are doing, he is also taking a hard long look at the TPPA.
Can you imagine our PM giving an answer like this?
Axshully no….but
God defend New Zealand..
Is the UK Government serious in their supposed opposition to tax evasion?
According to Professor Prem Sikka – no.
Seen this?
http://leftfootforward.org/2016/04/smoke-and-mirrors-government-deliberately-sidesteps-effective-tax-avoidance-strategies/
“After the Panama leaks, the Conservative government is desperately trying to portray itself as the scourge of organised tax avoidance. It is consulting on draft legislation which would introduce a new corporate criminal offence of failure to prevent the criminal facilitation of tax evasion. Such promises have become part of impression management, but have rarely delivered.
A good case study of the smoke and mirrors tax avoidance policies is the government’s much trumpeted Guidance on Promoting Tax Compliance and Procurement. These rules came into effect on 1st April 2013 and were meant to ensure that organisations engaged in tax avoidance/evasion are barred from securing public contracts.
… ”
Penny Bright
2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
Good to see the opposition parties cooperating at an electorate level. In this case protesting the abysmal food at SDHB hospitals following outsourcing to Compass group caterers.
And for Coleman who thinks their meals are fine: the meals on wheels service has lost just under half its clients – amazing what happens when you don’t have a captive audience. Hell, people who can afford it are getting other food delivered to their hospital beds rather than eating the gravy.