Calling all supporters of the campaigns to stop state assets sales!
It will be a huge boost to the People’s Power Ohariu campaign to stop the asset sales by getting numbers along to the oral hearings of the Ohariu Citizens’ Select Committee this Thursday.
Anyone from any electorate is welcome:
Ohariu Citizens’ Select Committee
Johnsonville Community Centre
Cnr Moorefield Road and Frankmoore Ave
7.30pm
Thursday 22 March
If you wish to present an oral submission or simply join the audience for this short but important meeting your very presence will be an significant contribution to the continuing action to get Ohariu MP and United Future leader Peter Dunne to withdraw his support for the partial sale of state assets.
The news statement below sets out the basis of the People’s Power Ohariu’s case to get Peter Dunne to withdraw his support of the partial sale of power companies.
If you are outside Wellington in other parts of the country please forward this email to anyone you think may want to make the meeting on Thursday.
Thank you.
John Maynard
For
People’s Power Ohariu
027 220 7903
News media statement 19 March 2011
Ohariu MP Peter Dunne challenged to revoke his confidence and supply agreement
over secret international investment negotiations
“The Government’s secret Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement negotiations are expected to allow overseas shareholders in state owned power companies to be able to sue the New Zealand Government”, says People’s Power Ohariu spokesperson John Maynard.
“A state/investor disputes procedure is provided for in the negotiations of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) currently involving New Zealand, the USA and seven other countries.
“During last year’s election campaign there appeared to be no knowledge at the top level of Peter Dunne’s own United Future Party of the proposed state/investor dispute process of the TPPA. If Peter Dunne himself was also unaware of the state/investor disputes procedure he now has an opportunity to revoke his confidence and supply agreement with the Key Government over the sale of state assets.
“New Zealanders’ opposition to the state asset sales has remained solidly between 65% and 80%. It’s not the mums and dads who want the state assets put on the block but the merchant bankers, who will collect hundreds of millions of dollars in fees and the stockbrokers, who will clip the ticket on every share trade.
“Peter Dunne has the deciding vote in the 61 to 60 voting split. Without his vote there can be no sale of state assets.
“Under the TPPA an overseas investor from one of the TPPA countries could act to protect its own interests in a power company by using what in effect would be a veto power over the Government’s law-making and administrative decision-making authority. It could happen if a future government decided the company was not acting in the public interest and required it to do so, or increased regulation of the sector, or tried to reverse the sale if it failed as privatisations have failed in the past. Legal challenges would not be heard in a New Zealand court but in a secret international tribunal.
“Last year the Government refused to have a Parliamentary Select Committee hearing on the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement.
“An Ohariu Citizens’ Select Committee set up at a public meeting in Johnsonville earlier in the month is now collecting submissions on the state asset sales and the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement. The Committee will hear oral submissions at the Johnsonville Community Centre at 7.30pm on 22 March”.
Contact:
John Maynard
Spokesperson
People’s Power Ohariu
027 220 7903
I’ll be working that time tommorow, but my mother lives in Ohariu so maybe I’ll let her know if she wants to show up, she’d be all about putting pressure on Dunne and stopping asset sales.
Show John Key Your Opposition To Coal Mining On Conservation Land!
Today, at 5 pm, 1 Willeston Street, Downtown Wellington, John Key will officially open Bathurst Resources’ new New Zealand office. Bathurst Resources plan to develop New Zealand’s largest open-cast coal mine on conservation land and we must oppose it every step of the way.
Coal Action Network Aotearoa,
Forest and Bird,
Greenpeace,
350,
Ora Taiao,
Generation Zero,
And other concerned groups and individuals from around the country say;
‘NO Mining Pure NZ’.
In May 2010, over 50 000 people marched up Queen Street in Auckland to protest the Government’s proposal to open up National Parks and other protected areas, after which the government executed a remarkable backdown and committed not to mine in National Parks and other significant conservation areas protected under Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act.
They also stated that “significant applications to mine on public conservation land should be notified”. In November 2011, Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson advised that the application for Australian-owned Bathurst Resources to have access to mine the fragile and unique Denniston Plateau will not be publicly notified.
Bathurst’s proposal for a resource consent to mine coal on the Denniston Plateau on the West Coast is currently under appeal to the Environment Court. This proposal is the thin edge of Bathurst’s wedge which would see a unique ecosystem destroyed and the volume of coal exported by New Zealand increase by 40% and more in the future if we don’t stop this.
So bring your placards and help give John Key and Bathurst Resources our simple message: “Keep the coal in the hole”.
I watched the Queen’s speech at the UK parliament on her 60th jubilee today (I know… I was bored and just happened to see it). Lovely lady it seems, but what struck me was the utter irrelevance to New Zealand now. I will be very happy indeed when New Zealand becomes a republic.
My husband and I find this manner of response from our imperial …ummhhh sorry dominion….commonwealth servants rather disconcerting. It upsets the corgis you know, just as much as the nasty man with the grass skirt and tattos did that horrid dance that scared poor Tiddles last time…put him off his food for a week. To question my relevance what what??? Don’t you colonials realise how we prop up your women’s magazine industry?
Would it make as much difference as the average temperature rises to 25C and the sea level is 1m higher?
It is to laugh, honestly! 😀 (As I sit here freezing. Guess how many mosquitoes I’ve seen/heard in 2012? Two of them, both at midday.) Five years ago, the pests were everywhere all night. I find it so hard to believe in global warming, and impossible to care, when every year, right here in Auckland, the temperature goes down…
I believe it has been said many times in the past that the decison is one for New Zealand to take. I would believe that the Monarchy has no feeling one way or the other.
How would you handle the Treaty of Waitangi, which would be nullified with no reference to the Crown. Do you invent a new Crown ?
Australia’s recent referendum on the subject was overwhelming in favour of retention.
Do you believe that it would be different in New Zealand ?
– Absolutely it is for New Zealand to decide.
– Part of the reason the Australian monarchy referendum was lost was that there was no agreement on how to select/elect a president.
– The government already acts for the Crown. There would have to be a way of legitimising this (probably the most difficult task in setting up a republic).
– It very much depends on the transfer of the Treaty of Waitangi to government, agreement on the form and function of a republican parliament and the referendum questions.
What predictions? That there might be earthquakes in some places of the world sometimes, especially along the perimeter of tectonic plates?
There could be times they are slightly more likely to hit than others – even tidal movements could be an influence, but general guesses are not predictions.
Yep, he totally nailed both Smith and Key. Smith for his totally inappropriate interference in Pullar’s case, Key for not sacking Smith for that misbehaviour. It’s pretty easy to tell how bad this is for National; they are refusing to talk about it!
One interesting sidebar. Little commented about how Winston has ‘sources of information’ (a reference to Winnie’s veiled claim that there is a sexual relationship between Pullar and Smith). I’m starting to get the feeling that there is a high level of cooperation between NZF and Labour in a bad cop, good cop style.
Shonkey is clearly no Helen: he promised to raise the bar on ministerial accountability….ask Dalziel, Dyson, etc etc what happened when you were not squeaky clean under her regime. Clearly Key is a powder puff.
Having listened to Little interview this morning it is sad that he lost his rag as I could not hear what he was saying over Laws.
He kept shouting Laws down, and it would appear he went right off subject.
Very poor interview, Andrew should learn to breath through his nose first. He is a first term list MP and obviously has not found his position in the affairs of the Parliamentary Labour Party. He is no longer a Union Leader, but a member of the Parliamentary Labour Party.
… couldn’t comment on other interviews. I was referring to RNZ interview. I Don’t bother with sewer radio, bit like the blogs so will have to defer to your judgement. I thought Little handled the interview with aplomb and sounds like a person who is not afraid of his own shadow. Refreshing.
LOL, the CIA thinks green movements are dangerous extremists, (which is ironic given that the CIA is operating illegally in their own country) that’s the stupidest conspiracy theory in a long time, and I’m including lizard people in that list. 😛
The worrying aspect of this lunacy is that Clive Palmer is a massive donor to the Liberal Party at both State and Federal level.
Big mining state Queensland goes to the polls shortly, with the Libs likely to win easily, and federally, the Liberals are lead by a belligerently sceptical climate change denier, Tony Abbott. Palmer will be expecting a quick payoff from his donations locally and nationally, which is bad news for environmentalists and the indigenous peoples of Australia, whose land he likes digging up.
One of the women accused in the Urewera case used $35,000 of Legal aid to get ready to defend herself.
The case against her was dropped (along with many others.)
She has a good job.
Now she has to repay the $35,000.
That doesn’t seem right. I suppose it happens elsewhere but to defend against a case that never happened seems wrong?
Yeah it’s a real travesty. Legal aid has the discretion to lower, or wipe-out such a debt (and I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that they do), but sadly, they won’t.
I hope someone sets up some kind of an official whip-round for her.
The rightwing bloggers who’ve been foaming at the mouth about somebody who does not deserve their various unfounded accusations and bullying can now STFU.
In the policy area Shonkey shows the same slavish adherence to the NeoLiberal Washington Consensus. It’s painful but New Zealand must stand on its own feet. The first thing to do is to listen to all the people. The U$$$ no longer leads in anyplace except it’s massive destructive military capability, without that it’s just the Banana republic of America.
This is so embarrassing – Cameron was acting like a little toy boy trying to please his Dad when he was there, beaming with red faced pleasure every time he got a pat on the head and Obama seems to be continuing to take the rise out of him. The whole visit made Britain look weak and silly. Not exactly like Churchill and Roosevelt’s meeting, was it?
Gee, kinda reminds us of Michael Jackson and his affinity for naive little boys!
Anyone else think it laudable of Smith to resign his Ministerial positions?
He is personally taking cuts in line with the local government realignments he hoped to put in place.
Well done Nick. Leading by example. Unfortunately, of course, someone else in your party will step up to take your old salary perks.
Now who have NACT got in their ranks with experience in local politics? Ah yes, Rodney’s replacement in Epsom. (No doubt Key is making a decision as I write this …)
This is completely and utterly appropriate and expected. Nick Smith gave us complete and utter bullshit and lies over the sacking of Ecan and I have zero sympathy for him and his type. None. Nada. Zip. He can go evaporate for all I care.
And I agree that this government is starting to teeter. Key is not up to being a PM. He is a money-changer and he should go back to that fine and upstanding trade…
What with the mfat breakdown, the POAL backdown, the Nick Smith get down, and the PM getting a throw down from hundreds of protesters at Denniston; reckon a certaim smiley waver might be about ready for an early beddy-bies.
Sorry about the lack of links, but it’s all out there, easy to find.
Not the answer to our pub transport woes, but still cool imo. It all helps (assuming it goes ahead) towards a more efficient/effective bus service. And it reminds me of London 🙂
New Zealand’s top brains spring into action following Super 15 disaster
Radio Sport, Sunday 10 July 2011 3.30 p.m.
The Canterbury Crusaders lost the Super 15 final on Saturday night. That means New Zealand’s best intellects will be working hard to work out the reason for the calamity….
MURRAY DEAKER: Plenty of spare lines, you’ll get straight through if you ring now. Phil, your thoughts? CALLER PHIL: I want to talk about the All Black squad. Murray, I am very, very concerned. I think we will have a lack of intelligence, once the ball goes past Daniel Carter. DEAKER:[long, thoughtful pause] Conrad Smith? PHIL: Yes, but what if he’s injured, Murray? DEAKER:[long, thoughtful pause] I know what you’re getting at, Phil. PHIL: Yes, well, it needs to be said, Murray. DEAKER:[with utmost gravitas] A lot of people talk about this in private, but are not prepared to talk about it in public. But I don’t give a TOSS about that! The problem is that in this country we have a lot of boys that are EARLY MATURERS. PHIL: Yes, oh yes. DEAKER: These guys haven’t got the slender build of, say, a Dan Carter, or a Jeff Wilson, or an Andrew Mehrtens. PHIL: That’s right, Murray. DEAKER: So they’ve never had to jink, or sidestep, or run around any opponents. They are so HUGE that all they have ever had to do is barge past them. They’ve never had to THINK! Because they’re early maturers! PHIL: It’s a worry. Because these overseas teams, they’re THINKERS, Murray! They’re private school boys, and they’re thinkers.! The Australians, Murray, they’re just so EDUCATED! I remember once when the lowest-qualified player in the team was a chartered accountant, Murray! DEAKER: Yes, but we’ll not see the likes of Nick Farr-Jones, David Kirk, Sir John Graham and Sir Wilson Whineray again. They were very bright guys! PHIL: I’m so worried, Murray….
…ad absurdum, ad nauseam, ad infinitum….
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
DEAKER-WATCH is a series dedicated to highlighting the contributions of Murray Deaker to New Zealand public life.
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This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
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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. ...
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Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff. “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
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Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
A Waitangi Tribunal inquiry report has warned government that a repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act could cause harm to children in care. ...
The Treasury has published today three new papers covering government consumption multipliers, automatic stabilisers and the impacts of global shocks on New Zealand’s economy. ...
Asia Pacific Report The Pacific state of Hawai’i’s House of Representatives has joined the state’s Senate in calling for a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza, becoming the first state to pass such a resolution, reports Hawaii News Now. In March, the Senate passed a ceasefire resolution with a 24–1 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Ferrie, A/Prof, UTS Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research and ARC DECRA Fellow, University of Technology Sydney PsiQuantum The Australian government has announced a pledge of approximately A$940 million (US$617 million) to PsiQuantum, a quantum computing start-up company based in Silicon Valley. Half ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hunter Bennett, Lecturer in Exercise Science, University of South Australia Cameron Prins/Shutterstock If you spend a lot of time exploring fitness content online, you might have come across the concept of heart rate zones. Heart rate zone training has become more ...
SPECIAL REPORT:By Eugene Doyle He is the most popular Palestinian leader alive today — and yet few people in the West even know his name. Absolutely no one in Gaza or the West Bank does not know him. That difference speaks volumes about who dominates the media narrative that ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Will McCallum, PhD Candidate – School of Communication and Creative Arts, Deakin University Earlier this year, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of not supporting Operation Sovereign Borders – the military-led border security operation that has “closed Australia’s borders ...
By Melyne Baroi in Port Moresby A Papua New Guinea MP, Peter Isoaimo, who had been ousted by the National Court in an alleged bribery case, has been reinstated by the Supreme Court on appeal. A three-member Supreme Court bench found that the National Court had erred in finding that ...
Publisher Chris Holdaway reflects on the unique project of collecting the work of the late, terrific poet Schaeffer Lemalu. One of the nice things you can do as a truly independent publisher is to make the books that writers want to make, whatever they happen to be. That’s how I’ve ...
Those profiled in the stamp series served on overseas deployments from 1995 onwards, and all have been awarded theNew Zealand Operational Service Medal. ...
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Explainer - What will a ban on cellphones in schools achieve? Can students use them during lunch breaks? And what happens if you need to contact your child? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jodi Rowley, Curator, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Biology, Australian Museum, UNSW Sydney Jodi Rowley, CC BY-NC-ND In winter 2021, Australia’s frogs started dropping dead. People began posting images of dead frogs on social media. Unable to travel to investigate the deaths ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wasay Majid, Research Assistant , University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau New Zealand’s accommodation supplement scheme is facing scrutiny, with Social Development Minister Louise Upston recently saying “there is merit in considering whether the current settings are fair and sustainable long-term”. The ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor The first prime ministerial candidate has been announced in Solomon Islands and it is not Manasseh Sogavare. The man of the hour is Jeremiah Manele, the MP for Hograno/Kia/Havulei constituency in Isabel Province, who served as minister of foreign affairs in the last government. ...
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Above the Fold: On Monday, the biggest Māori screen production company faced down the biggest funder of Māori content at the High Court. It was an incredibly tense moment – then, just as quickly, it resolved. Duncan Greive breaks down a strange day in the screen sector.Yesterday morning, Māori ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rick Sarre, Emeritus Professor of Law and Criminal Justice, University of South Australia The rate of women killed by their partners in Australia grew by 28% from 2021–22 to 2022–23, according to new statistics released today by the Australian Institute of Criminology ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Blakers, Professor of Engineering, Australian National University Clean Energy Council / Neoen As Australia’s rapid renewable energy rollout continues, so too does debate over land use. Nationals Leader David Littleproud, for example, claimed regional areas had reached “saturation point” and ...
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http://peoplespowernz.wordpress.com/have-your-say/
Calling all supporters of the campaigns to stop state assets sales!
It will be a huge boost to the People’s Power Ohariu campaign to stop the asset sales by getting numbers along to the oral hearings of the Ohariu Citizens’ Select Committee this Thursday.
Anyone from any electorate is welcome:
Ohariu Citizens’ Select Committee
Johnsonville Community Centre
Cnr Moorefield Road and Frankmoore Ave
7.30pm
Thursday 22 March
If you wish to present an oral submission or simply join the audience for this short but important meeting your very presence will be an significant contribution to the continuing action to get Ohariu MP and United Future leader Peter Dunne to withdraw his support for the partial sale of state assets.
The news statement below sets out the basis of the People’s Power Ohariu’s case to get Peter Dunne to withdraw his support of the partial sale of power companies.
If you are outside Wellington in other parts of the country please forward this email to anyone you think may want to make the meeting on Thursday.
Thank you.
John Maynard
For
People’s Power Ohariu
027 220 7903
News media statement 19 March 2011
Ohariu MP Peter Dunne challenged to revoke his confidence and supply agreement
over secret international investment negotiations
“The Government’s secret Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement negotiations are expected to allow overseas shareholders in state owned power companies to be able to sue the New Zealand Government”, says People’s Power Ohariu spokesperson John Maynard.
“A state/investor disputes procedure is provided for in the negotiations of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) currently involving New Zealand, the USA and seven other countries.
“During last year’s election campaign there appeared to be no knowledge at the top level of Peter Dunne’s own United Future Party of the proposed state/investor dispute process of the TPPA. If Peter Dunne himself was also unaware of the state/investor disputes procedure he now has an opportunity to revoke his confidence and supply agreement with the Key Government over the sale of state assets.
“New Zealanders’ opposition to the state asset sales has remained solidly between 65% and 80%. It’s not the mums and dads who want the state assets put on the block but the merchant bankers, who will collect hundreds of millions of dollars in fees and the stockbrokers, who will clip the ticket on every share trade.
“Peter Dunne has the deciding vote in the 61 to 60 voting split. Without his vote there can be no sale of state assets.
“Under the TPPA an overseas investor from one of the TPPA countries could act to protect its own interests in a power company by using what in effect would be a veto power over the Government’s law-making and administrative decision-making authority. It could happen if a future government decided the company was not acting in the public interest and required it to do so, or increased regulation of the sector, or tried to reverse the sale if it failed as privatisations have failed in the past. Legal challenges would not be heard in a New Zealand court but in a secret international tribunal.
“Last year the Government refused to have a Parliamentary Select Committee hearing on the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement.
“An Ohariu Citizens’ Select Committee set up at a public meeting in Johnsonville earlier in the month is now collecting submissions on the state asset sales and the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement. The Committee will hear oral submissions at the Johnsonville Community Centre at 7.30pm on 22 March”.
Contact:
John Maynard
Spokesperson
People’s Power Ohariu
027 220 7903
I’ll be working that time tommorow, but my mother lives in Ohariu so maybe I’ll let her know if she wants to show up, she’d be all about putting pressure on Dunne and stopping asset sales.
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Show John Key Your Opposition To Coal Mining On Conservation Land!
Today, at 5 pm, 1 Willeston Street, Downtown Wellington, John Key will officially open Bathurst Resources’ new New Zealand office. Bathurst Resources plan to develop New Zealand’s largest open-cast coal mine on conservation land and we must oppose it every step of the way.
Coal Action Network Aotearoa,
Forest and Bird,
Greenpeace,
350,
Ora Taiao,
Generation Zero,
And other concerned groups and individuals from around the country say;
‘NO Mining Pure NZ’.
In May 2010, over 50 000 people marched up Queen Street in Auckland to protest the Government’s proposal to open up National Parks and other protected areas, after which the government executed a remarkable backdown and committed not to mine in National Parks and other significant conservation areas protected under Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act.
They also stated that “significant applications to mine on public conservation land should be notified”. In November 2011, Conservation Minister Kate Wilkinson advised that the application for Australian-owned Bathurst Resources to have access to mine the fragile and unique Denniston Plateau will not be publicly notified.
Bathurst’s proposal for a resource consent to mine coal on the Denniston Plateau on the West Coast is currently under appeal to the Environment Court. This proposal is the thin edge of Bathurst’s wedge which would see a unique ecosystem destroyed and the volume of coal exported by New Zealand increase by 40% and more in the future if we don’t stop this.
So bring your placards and help give John Key and Bathurst Resources our simple message: “Keep the coal in the hole”.
Find out more here
Or email: coalactionnetwork@gmail.com
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Unprecedented, “Eye-Popping” Temperatures Soar, Highs Continue
And still we do nothing
Meanwhile……back in New Zealand…….
I watched the Queen’s speech at the UK parliament on her 60th jubilee today (I know… I was bored and just happened to see it). Lovely lady it seems, but what struck me was the utter irrelevance to New Zealand now. I will be very happy indeed when New Zealand becomes a republic.
+ 1
My husband and I find this manner of response from our imperial …ummhhh sorry dominion….commonwealth servants rather disconcerting. It upsets the corgis you know, just as much as the nasty man with the grass skirt and tattos did that horrid dance that scared poor Tiddles last time…put him off his food for a week. To question my relevance what what??? Don’t you colonials realise how we prop up your women’s magazine industry?
Funny but true Bored! 🙂
Kingdom or Republic?
Would it make as much difference as the average temperature rises to 25C and the sea level is 1m higher?
It is to laugh, honestly! 😀 (As I sit here freezing. Guess how many mosquitoes I’ve seen/heard in 2012? Two of them, both at midday.) Five years ago, the pests were everywhere all night. I find it so hard to believe in global warming, and impossible to care, when every year, right here in Auckland, the temperature goes down…
Interesting, most of my family have been complaining that Auckland is now too damn hot.
Anecdotes do not a science make.
I believe it has been said many times in the past that the decison is one for New Zealand to take. I would believe that the Monarchy has no feeling one way or the other.
How would you handle the Treaty of Waitangi, which would be nullified with no reference to the Crown. Do you invent a new Crown ?
Australia’s recent referendum on the subject was overwhelming in favour of retention.
Do you believe that it would be different in New Zealand ?
Would it matter?
Yes, I think it would. Symbolically more than anything else, the step away from being a child.
– Absolutely it is for New Zealand to decide.
– Part of the reason the Australian monarchy referendum was lost was that there was no agreement on how to select/elect a president.
– The government already acts for the Crown. There would have to be a way of legitimising this (probably the most difficult task in setting up a republic).
– It very much depends on the transfer of the Treaty of Waitangi to government, agreement on the form and function of a republican parliament and the referendum questions.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10793489
Looks like the predictions were right then…..shakes in NZ and Peru also.
Next predicted September 20/21
What predictions? That there might be earthquakes in some places of the world sometimes, especially along the perimeter of tectonic plates?
There could be times they are slightly more likely to hit than others – even tidal movements could be an influence, but general guesses are not predictions.
At last Labour has found a straight talker in Andrew Little.
Listen to his interview on Morning Report this morning at 7:25
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport
Yep, he totally nailed both Smith and Key. Smith for his totally inappropriate interference in Pullar’s case, Key for not sacking Smith for that misbehaviour. It’s pretty easy to tell how bad this is for National; they are refusing to talk about it!
One interesting sidebar. Little commented about how Winston has ‘sources of information’ (a reference to Winnie’s veiled claim that there is a sexual relationship between Pullar and Smith). I’m starting to get the feeling that there is a high level of cooperation between NZF and Labour in a bad cop, good cop style.
Tracey Watkins is scathing, too.
Shonkey is clearly no Helen: he promised to raise the bar on ministerial accountability….ask Dalziel, Dyson, etc etc what happened when you were not squeaky clean under her regime. Clearly Key is a powder puff.
What is the exact heading for this link?
Here ya go, Jenny:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2513316/opposition-mps-say-smith-should-be-sacked-over-letter.asx
I think this may be the full interview with Little:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2513321/labour-puts-pressure-on-nick-smith-over-acc-letter.asx
That isn’t the link for Little. Am interested so will go hunting.
Little is interviewed in the later part of the audio for the link provided.
Ta Carol,
I flicked ahead when Bennett was declaring her wonderfulness and obviously went too far.
Be careful about going too far with Bennett.
Logic
Having listened to Little interview this morning it is sad that he lost his rag as I could not hear what he was saying over Laws.
He kept shouting Laws down, and it would appear he went right off subject.
Very poor interview, Andrew should learn to breath through his nose first. He is a first term list MP and obviously has not found his position in the affairs of the Parliamentary Labour Party. He is no longer a Union Leader, but a member of the Parliamentary Labour Party.
… couldn’t comment on other interviews. I was referring to RNZ interview. I Don’t bother with sewer radio, bit like the blogs so will have to defer to your judgement. I thought Little handled the interview with aplomb and sounds like a person who is not afraid of his own shadow. Refreshing.
And in a late breaking conspiracy theory madness update, here’s the skinny on the CIA’s funding of Greenpeace.
LOL, the CIA thinks green movements are dangerous extremists, (which is ironic given that the CIA is operating illegally in their own country) that’s the stupidest conspiracy theory in a long time, and I’m including lizard people in that list. 😛
The worrying aspect of this lunacy is that Clive Palmer is a massive donor to the Liberal Party at both State and Federal level.
Big mining state Queensland goes to the polls shortly, with the Libs likely to win easily, and federally, the Liberals are lead by a belligerently sceptical climate change denier, Tony Abbott. Palmer will be expecting a quick payoff from his donations locally and nationally, which is bad news for environmentalists and the indigenous peoples of Australia, whose land he likes digging up.
One of the women accused in the Urewera case used $35,000 of Legal aid to get ready to defend herself.
The case against her was dropped (along with many others.)
She has a good job.
Now she has to repay the $35,000.
That doesn’t seem right. I suppose it happens elsewhere but to defend against a case that never happened seems wrong?
Yeah it’s a real travesty. Legal aid has the discretion to lower, or wipe-out such a debt (and I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that they do), but sadly, they won’t.
I hope someone sets up some kind of an official whip-round for her.
She could have bought some really nice guns for that money…….
The real nasty bloggers
The rightwing bloggers who’ve been foaming at the mouth about somebody who does not deserve their various unfounded accusations and bullying can now STFU.
How come you distorted the pictures of Farrar and the old drunk lady but not Slater?
Look again… the Slater pic is distorted….
Sorry I’m not seeing it.
Me neither. That’s just his face, isn’t it?
I gave him a mono.
key’s brighter future clearly is in Australia
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10793539
Another record exodus to their shores!! Can the last out please switch off the lights…
Time for a short break! Let’s have some humour no matter how pathetic!
Shonkey is missing something in his life? Bromance (Romance between bros)
Camoron and Obamageddon are cosying up in true Bromance style check this out and John eat your heart out bro!
“A very special relationship: Cameron claims he was tucked up in the President’s bed by Obama on Air Force One”
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2117730/David-Cameron-tucked-Presidents-bed-Obama-Air-Force-One.html#ixzz1phpMuSuv
In the policy area Shonkey shows the same slavish adherence to the NeoLiberal Washington Consensus. It’s painful but New Zealand must stand on its own feet. The first thing to do is to listen to all the people. The U$$$ no longer leads in anyplace except it’s massive destructive military capability, without that it’s just the Banana republic of America.
This is so embarrassing – Cameron was acting like a little toy boy trying to please his Dad when he was there, beaming with red faced pleasure every time he got a pat on the head and Obama seems to be continuing to take the rise out of him. The whole visit made Britain look weak and silly. Not exactly like Churchill and Roosevelt’s meeting, was it?
Gee, kinda reminds us of Michael Jackson and his affinity for naive little boys!
Well who would have thought the Herald would headline that the National Govern is one of shame. Bloody hell perhaps pigs can fly.
Anyone else think it laudable of Smith to resign his Ministerial positions?
He is personally taking cuts in line with the local government realignments he hoped to put in place.
Well done Nick. Leading by example. Unfortunately, of course, someone else in your party will step up to take your old salary perks.
Now who have NACT got in their ranks with experience in local politics? Ah yes, Rodney’s replacement in Epsom. (No doubt Key is making a decision as I write this …)
This is completely and utterly appropriate and expected. Nick Smith gave us complete and utter bullshit and lies over the sacking of Ecan and I have zero sympathy for him and his type. None. Nada. Zip. He can go evaporate for all I care.
And I agree that this government is starting to teeter. Key is not up to being a PM. He is a money-changer and he should go back to that fine and upstanding trade…
What with the mfat breakdown, the POAL backdown, the Nick Smith get down, and the PM getting a throw down from hundreds of protesters at Denniston; reckon a certaim smiley waver might be about ready for an early beddy-bies.
Sorry about the lack of links, but it’s all out there, easy to find.
Hundreds of protestors at Denniston? Nobody lives there!!!
I know!
The dead be rising from their graves to give ‘im a piece o’ their minds.
Fair play to them I say. The man’s a dick
No graveyard there either, that I know of…..
All right then:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/101462/prime-minister-greeted-by-anti-mining-protesters
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/101463/ports-of-auckland-re-enters-collective-bargaining
And yes, POAL management ‘denies a U-turn’, but they are entering the bargaining they said was done and dusted and over finis.
So U-turn it is.
Auckland to get double decker buses
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10793562
Not the answer to our pub transport woes, but still cool imo. It all helps (assuming it goes ahead) towards a more efficient/effective bus service. And it reminds me of London 🙂
All we need is for Auckland Transport to run the buses themselves…
DEAKER-WATCH No. 4
New Zealand’s top brains spring into action following Super 15 disaster
Radio Sport, Sunday 10 July 2011 3.30 p.m.
The Canterbury Crusaders lost the Super 15 final on Saturday night. That means New Zealand’s best intellects will be working hard to work out the reason for the calamity….
MURRAY DEAKER: Plenty of spare lines, you’ll get straight through if you ring now. Phil, your thoughts?
CALLER PHIL: I want to talk about the All Black squad. Murray, I am very, very concerned. I think we will have a lack of intelligence, once the ball goes past Daniel Carter.
DEAKER: [long, thoughtful pause] Conrad Smith?
PHIL: Yes, but what if he’s injured, Murray?
DEAKER: [long, thoughtful pause] I know what you’re getting at, Phil.
PHIL: Yes, well, it needs to be said, Murray.
DEAKER: [with utmost gravitas] A lot of people talk about this in private, but are not prepared to talk about it in public. But I don’t give a TOSS about that! The problem is that in this country we have a lot of boys that are EARLY MATURERS.
PHIL: Yes, oh yes.
DEAKER: These guys haven’t got the slender build of, say, a Dan Carter, or a Jeff Wilson, or an Andrew Mehrtens.
PHIL: That’s right, Murray.
DEAKER: So they’ve never had to jink, or sidestep, or run around any opponents. They are so HUGE that all they have ever had to do is barge past them. They’ve never had to THINK! Because they’re early maturers!
PHIL: It’s a worry. Because these overseas teams, they’re THINKERS, Murray! They’re private school boys, and they’re thinkers.! The Australians, Murray, they’re just so EDUCATED! I remember once when the lowest-qualified player in the team was a chartered accountant, Murray!
DEAKER: Yes, but we’ll not see the likes of Nick Farr-Jones, David Kirk, Sir John Graham and Sir Wilson Whineray again. They were very bright guys!
PHIL: I’m so worried, Murray….
…ad absurdum, ad nauseam, ad infinitum….
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
DEAKER-WATCH is a series dedicated to highlighting the contributions of Murray Deaker to New Zealand public life.
DEAKER-WATCH No.1…
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-13032012/#comment-446445
DEAKER-WATCH No. 2…
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-14032012/#comment-447110
DEAKER-WATCH No. 3…
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-15032012/#comment-447518
Love the “(With utmost gravitas)” !!!
I love the “Plenty of spare lines” refrain, which is, encouragingly, the most common thing Deaker says on his show.
Deaker’s an idiot, why I wasted my teen years listening to him I will never know.
Don’t just listen, Millsy, fight back! Like these guys are doing…
A few new labels for a few politicians
Mr Slash and Burn-the PM
Mr Power Hungry- No3
Ballooning Debt -No2
Small Man Syndrome No1-Power of Attorney
Small Man Syndrome No 2 – the other lawyer
Cruising on the Share-market -The ultimate corrections minister
Black Knight Dame-The Police
Latest manifesto blue print for the national party
How to wreck a country in 2 terms without trying
Can it get any worse ?