Open mike 20/08/2010
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6:00 am, August 20th, 2010 - 35 comments
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The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
- Greyhound racing industry ban marks new era for animal welfare
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...2 weeks ago
- Rangatahi voices must be centred in Government’s Relationship and Sexuality Education refresh
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt introduces archaic anti-worker legislation
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...2 weeks ago
- Winston Peters – Kinleith Mill Speech
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...2 weeks ago - Swarbrick calls on Auckland Mayor to end delay of revival of St James Theatre
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- He Ara Anamata: Greens launch Emissions Reduction Plan
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- Internationally-trained doctors jump at chance to boost health workforce
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...3 days ago
- New intelligence oversight appointments
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- New housing developments able to progress more quickly
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- Actions to speed up air travel delivering results
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- Ending contracted emergency housing in Rotorua
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...3 days ago
- Vocational education and training decisions support return to regions
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- Reducing the environmental impact of synthetic refrigerants
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...3 days ago
- Ngāruawāhia section of Waikato Expressway back to 4 lanes for Christmas
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- Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ
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- Funding confirmed for second Ashburton Bridge
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- Fire and Emergency New Zealand final levy rates confirmed
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- More AML relief on the way for Kiwi businesses
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- Hawke’s Bay Expressway moving at pace
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- Government seeks partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned-land
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- Wide ranging legislation to make justice system more efficient
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- Torture redress for survivors of the Lake Alice Unit
The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...5 days ago
- A busy year in the House
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- Consultation opens on working with engineered stone
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- Greater reporting on Treaty settlement commitments
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...5 days ago
- New appointments to the Charities Registration Board
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...5 days ago
- Building consent processing times improve
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- Faster access to support through Innovation Fund
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...5 days ago
- New Zealand to assist Vanuatu on earthquake response
New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...5 days ago
- Government takes steps to reduce card fees for Kiwis
The Government welcomes the Commerce Commission’s plan to reduce card fees for Kiwis by an estimated $260 million a year, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.“The Government is relentlessly focused on reducing the cost of living, so Kiwis can keep more of their hard-earned income and live a ...5 days ago
- Review recommends ECE regulation shakeup
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- Offshore Renewable Energy Bill passes first reading
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- Local Government (Water Services) Bill passes first reading
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The government has quietly cancelled plans to improve recycling and roll out a kerbside food scraps composting scheme. ...2 days ago
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Blog headline of the week had to be all round genius David Farrar’s “Experts Don’t Understand…”
Sums him up totally IMHO.
Newspaper headline of the week has to be The Press and Sam Mahon.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4042595/Sculptor-delves-inside-ministers-head
Totally completely 100% accurate on the spot hitting the mark pen mightier than the sword etc etc etc.
Yesterday I called bullshit on Key (who hasn’t?). Today its cowshit on Smith. “The bullshit government”
Brilliant
Hell yeah, I was just about to post the link myself. Brilliant way to protest.
Well done Sam Mahon, keep up the good work. Great line VTO, the “bullshit government”.
MPs to disclose shareholdings
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4042617/MPs-to-disclose-shareholdings
Interesting how Bollard has singled out local authorities and power companies and told them not to use the coming GST-induced inflation spike as an excuse to put up prices.
Why would he do that I wonder? Is it because neither of them are subject to stringent market forces? i.e. they have a monopoly type position that they have abused in the past?
Perhaps it is worthy of a question to Brownlee along the lines.. “Why does the Minister continue to insist that power companies are subject to competitive market forces when the Governor of the Reserve Bank does not? Who is right – the Reserve Bank or the Minister?”
A representative of the power companies was on morning report saying he had no idea what Bollard was talking about, and that obviously costs have been rising over this period.
So it isn’t necessarily a clear-cut jibe to take to Brownlee.
Greetings
For all those westies there is a new political grouping formed for the local body elections. We are called Future West. We are a coalition of Labour, Greens and independents with Alliance support.
We are contesting the Waitakere Ranges, Whau and Henderson Massey local boards as well as the Licensing Trusts. We support Len Brown for Mayor.
Our website is at http://www.futurewest.org.nz
Long live the progressive movement!
huzzah
Nice one Greg, love the line “A coalition of westie progressives formed to campaign for the 2010 Local Body elections in West Auckland – representing your street, not Queen Street.”
You should paste those words on Michael Bassetts fence, given he was the architect of the local body legislation that started the bigger is better drive, and our change of status from electors to ratepayers. Subtle difference but a very important one.
Thanks for the link. Like the site. Tweeted the link. Some web design consultant I don’t know has picked up on my tweet and keeps tweeting me about how most people have zero comprehension of white print on black. She seems to have assumed I’m responsible for the Future West site. She is:
http://twitter.com/Wordsontheweb/
From Granny Herald today:
The National Party has received $200,000 from a wealthy Chinese New Zealand couple linked to the businessman behind the foreign bid for the Crafar dairy-farm empire.
The sum is one of a number of large donations to the party’s campaign war chest, which has swelled by $355,000 in recent weeks.
Auckland woman Susan Chou donated $150,000 last month on top of $50,000 the month before.
The war chest gets bigger. Early election?
Foreign interests dictate…are the Nats selling us off to the highest bidder?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10667439
Yes, but we already knew that from their words (Blinglish telling us that they would sell Kiwibank) and actions (Privatising ACC after making false excuses to do so).
The private sector looks set to gain influence over Government departments
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10667437
Two fairly nasty implications in the article…..
Aside from reducing the extent to which the public sector “can crowd out private-sector activity that generates jobs and wealth”,
This translated into common parlance is “the private sector wants to reduce the footprint of government services, and supply them themselves at a profit with lower paid workers”.
The Treasury planned to subject itself to additional scrutiny with the establishment of a “governance-focused board”, he said. “The Treasury board will bring expertise, experience and viewpoints from outside the public sector that provide additional discipline and challenge for the Treasury’s senior leadership.”
Again translated ” the private sector, as opposed to politicians will get to say how the public sector (government) spends the taxpayers money”.
I would describe this as creeping corporatism.Labour should be jumping up and down. The silence is deafening.
Indeed
Make that-
Again translated “the private sector, as opposed to politicians will get to say how the private sector ( ie government’s friends) spends taxpayers money.”
Amazes me that the Treasury people did not just tell business to piss off, after all it is what business tell government all the time. Demonstrates what a pack of neo liberal ideological turkeys run Treasury, when the left get elected perhaps they need to reinforce the message of political / ideological neutrality for public servants.
It’s not really surprising that Treasury is run by a bunch of neo-liberal ideologues – it’s what they were taught at university. They don’t seem to be able to see beyond that and they certainly can’t see that it’s a theory that just doesn’t work.
Oh the irony.
Despite 2,000 years of post -Christian history and evidence?
A Friday morning relaxant for all you strung out pollie watchers. Get out on Wellington harbour in this and lose yourself ……………….
That looks like the Police launch in a Lyall Bay southerly, good fun.
WTF are our media up to at the moment. Brownlee deserves to be nailed for this
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1008/S00301/oil-gas-safety-environment-protection-critical.htm
Abbott Family video from across the Tasman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BcZdzD6-aw
I’m happy to start a book on the Aussie election. My pick is Labour by 3 seats, Greens to win their first ever lower house seat in Melbourne, Abbott to refuse to resign afterwards on the grounds that, just like with climate change, you shouldn’t blindly trust facts.
Peter Beinart:
“Once upon a time, Republicans were so confident that the vast majority of Muslims preferred freedom to jihad that they believed the U.S. could install democracy in Iraq within months. Now, confronted with a group of Muslim Americans who want to build a cultural center that includes Jews and Christians on the board (how many churches and synagogues do that?), GOP leaders call them terrorists because they don’t share Benjamin Netanyahu’s view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Once upon a time, the “war on terror’ was supposed to bring American values to Saudi Arabia. Now Newt Gingrich says we shouldn’t build a mosque in Lower Manhattan until the Saudis build churches and synagogues in Mecca—which is to say, we’re bringing Saudi values to the United States. I wonder how David Petraeus feels about all this. There he is, slogging away in the Hindu Kush, desperately trying to be culturally sensitive, watching GIs get killed because Afghans believe the U.S. is waging a war on Islam, and back home, the super-patriots on Fox News have declared war on Islam.”
Read the rest
Brainless.
Why do those in power not follow the example of those most successful and admired such as Mahatma Ghandi, Nelson Mandela and the like. Even their own religious leaders (as portrayed in their ‘bibles’) such as Jesus and Buddha etc.
Peace and tolerance by these true leaders has been their hallmark. They are the ones truly admired in history – not bloody aggro warmonger murderers such as Bush. Brainless.
This Esquire piece on Newt Gingrich reveals the man as an odious piece of shit.
Never was a man so well named.
For a laugh and a half have a look at this clip from the daily show
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-august-16-2010/mosque-erade
Hat tip: Gordon Cambell at scoop
Pacific Economic Development Agency Ltd funding is now going out to tender. Funny that. But didn’t the budget already say who is going to get the money?
Sssshhh … somebody might hear. Bill English is busy deleting a fat file of his own quotes, don’t wake the media.
Right on cue – if it’s Friday afternoon, it must be backdown time.
Predatory Habits.
No one could suspect that times were coming when the man who did not gamble would lose all the time, even more surely than he who gambled.
—Charles Péguy
For them that of heard of him, ‘Jesus General’ is organising a wee protest thingie in the US to coincide with some Tea Party events…
http://sites.google.com/site/burnrebelflagday/
FTW.