Open mike 23/08/2023
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6:00 am, August 23rd, 2023 - 48 comments
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- Treasury warns deeper recession worsening Budget deficit
The gift that keeps giving: David Seymour has now opened a split in the coalition over the future of National’s promise to build a new medical school. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / TheKakaKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and ...2 hours ago - Weekly Roundup 22-November-2024
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Record Numbers: The Hīkoi mō te Tiriti, which began at the tip of the North, and the tail of the South, on 11 November, culminated outside Parliament on Tuesday, 19 November 2024, in one of the largest demonstrations in New Zealand’s political history.ACCORDING TO TE ARA, the Ministry of Culture ...3 hours ago - The Rush To Blame “The Activists”
Activists are such easy scapegoats. The right and center have been conditioned for decades to roll their eyes at all protests. The left are easily aggravated over students leading movements they see as belonging to grownups, who have more important concerns like the economy and whether the trains come on ...3 hours ago - Cutting Through An Inundation of Dipshit Racists
Hi,Watching New Zealand from afar offers a strange perspective. It can be a good thing — distance from Aotearoa helped keep me sane while I reported on abuse at New Zealand’s biggest megachurch over the course of a year. It helps fuel my silly podcast. But it can also be ...4 hours ago - This is bad news
The speech yesterday by Treasury’s Chief Economic Advisor warning that the books are in worse shape than forecasted looks like it’s part of a softening-up process for either more cuts or a longer wait to get back into surplus. The speech was a highly unusual public preview of Treasury’s Half-Yearly ...5 hours ago - Skeptical Science New Research for Week #47 2024
Open access notables Projected increase in the frequency of extremely active Atlantic hurricane seasons, Lopez et al., Science Advances: Future changes to the year-to-year swings between active and inactive North Atlantic tropical cyclone (TC) seasons have received little attention, yet may have great societal implications in areas prone to hurricane ...14 hours ago - Chicken Kiev
Chatting in the supermarket this morning, I found I needed to lunge for the chicken drumsticks.Coping mechanisms: who hasn’t felt a greater need for them lately?When it all gets too much, I turn to demonstrating handy butchery hacks.It wasn’t that she’d said anything wrong, our friend, not at all. We ...18 hours ago - The year is 2024 and it’s 1984
This is written in response to the highly significant open letter from a group of economists that was today addressed to Christopher Luxon. The year is 2024, and it’s 1984. The country is reeling from a record Olympic medal gold haul, while the globe grapples with the choice of the ...18 hours ago - The IPCA has failed
Back in 2022, RNZ took an in-depth look at the "Independent" Police Conduct Authority and its handling of killings by police. These are the most serious test of oversight, and you would expect the police's use of lethal force to receive the most severe scrutiny. But despite the police regularly ...22 hours ago - Thursday 21 November 2024
The Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti arrived at Parliament on Tuesday – the size is being debated but estimates range from 42,000 to 100,000. The Prime Minister is defending not attending due to some of the organisers being affiliated with Te Pāti Māori. The national gang patch ban came into force ...23 hours ago - ‘These budget cuts are counter-productive and make no sense’
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Unity on the Streets / Unity at the TableAfter the Hīkoi, all three right wing Coalition leaders came together to push the idea that the 42,000 - 50,000 + strong Hikoi was somehow less potent and brave, and more illegitimate than the energy and crowd displayed.Prime Minister Christopher Luxon 20-November: ...1 day ago - Durability of carbon dioxide removal is critical for stabilizing temperatures
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Nicola Willis’ budget cuts are under fire from economists for having no clear rationale and worsening the recession. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, November 21: The news at ...1 day ago
- The end of policing by consent
National has appointed a new police commissioner. And he explicitly rejects policing by consent: Asked if he subscribed to policing by consent, he said he did not. “I don’t talk about policing by consent. I talk about trust and confidence, and it is fundamentally important that the police have ...2 days ago
- The Treaty Principles Bill: A Who’s Who
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- 27% of kids going hungry, up from 21% in a year
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- Young Maori take over
Neither Wellington nor Parliament has ever seen anything like it before. The Police said there were more than 40,000 but however many there were, yesterday’s Hikoi to Parliament was a monumental event. It was almost three times the Foreshore and Seabed martch of 2004 and many,many times bigger than ...2 days ago
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Like everyone else (everyone who wasn't there, anyway), I've spent the morning watching the hikoi march on Parliament. The pictures are astounding: parliament grounds and the surrounding streets are full, and there are still people backed up along Lambton Quay. The police are estimating 35,000 people, and that's a floor ...3 days ago
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There were urgent moves yesterday at Parliament to try and defuse the tension building up over ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill. The Bill’s author, ACT leader David Seymour, told reporters that he understood the Justice Select Committee met yesterday to discuss how long it should take to consider submissions on the ...3 days ago
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On Tuesday, sick of government stonewalling, the Waitangi Tribunal issued a rare court order, ordering the Minister of Health to release unredacted documents within 48 hours showing its reasoning for disestablishing Te Aka Whai Ora, the Māori Health Authority. The government's response to the lawful order of a court? Yeah, ...7 days ago
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Day One of the Treaty Principles Bill…and everyone got what they wanted, and did what they liked. Heated words were exchanged. Culturally appropriate acts of outrage were performed. David Seymour got to play the victim card. Willie Jackson got kicked out of class. A comically red-faced Mr Speaker bellowed “Order, ...1 week ago
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The government's Treaty Principles Bill is up for its first reading today - bought forward in a rush in a desperate effort to avoid the hikoi which is currently marching on Wellington. But the Prime Minister won’t be there for it – he’s literally running away to Peru! But he ...1 week ago
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Good morning, and I’m sorry I’ve been away for a couple of days.I’ve been focusing on the Hikoi, and also testing out sentiment on the Treaty Principles Bill. It’s complicated, and the Treaty Principles Bill will be debated in the House today. The Government’s own lawyers have told them the ...1 week ago - Government must vote down ACT Members Bill that would undermine workers’ rights
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The Treaty Principles Bill is set to have its First Reading in the House today, as the Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti continues. More than 40 KCs have written to the Prime Minister and Attorney-General outlining their “grave concerns” about the substance of the Treaty Principles Bill, while an academic and ...1 week ago
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National Government’s backward-looking climate policy has seen New Zealand fall seven places on the Climate Change Performance Index to 41 out of 63 countries measured. ...21 hours ago
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When the Government says it has reduced the number of people in emergency housing, what it means is it is stopping people from accessing it in the first place. ...24 hours ago
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The Government is turning its back on children by not only weakening child poverty reduction targets, but also removing child mental wellbeing as a priority focus in their Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy. ...1 day ago
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- Release: Call for Palestine recognition by NZ, Australian and Canadian MPs
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Today, Hīkoi mō te Tiriti arrived in Wellington, with thousands gathering to march in unity against the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
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...1 week ago
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Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...2 weeks ago
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The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ must pursue independent foreign policy
The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...2 weeks ago
- New facility in Christchurch will improve the lives of young New Zealanders
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey today opened Kahurangi, an innovative and much-needed facility for Canterbury’s Child, Adolescent, and Family Mental Health Services. “The new state of the art outpatient facility opened today will be a gamechanger for the way mental health is delivered for young people in Canterbury,” says Mr ...26 minutes ago - Driver safety screens to be installed on Auckland buses
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news from the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) that bus driver protection screens will be installed across Auckland’s bus fleet by 2026.“The Government is committed to improving the safety of working environments for bus drivers, and Budget 2024 allocated $15 million of Crown funding over ...56 minutes ago
- Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements
The Government is taking action to ensure Southland farmers and growers are not affected by unreasonable regional farm plan deadlines, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.“Cabinet has agreed to provide more time for farmers and growers to comply with regional rules ...18 hours ago
- Bill reaffirms Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending
The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “In recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. “This Bill makes ...18 hours ago
- Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review
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- State of the art radiology machine for Auckland
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- Foreign Minister to visit Europe
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- First arrests made under gang patch ban
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- Better support for victims of sexual violence
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- MSA pilot participant update
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Delivered at Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School Good morning and thank you Deputy Vice Chancellor Lithander for your warm welcome and for inviting me to open Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School today. A Special thanks to the University of Auckland, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and ...24 hours ago
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- Improving the lives of young New Zealanders
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Tēnā koutou katoa – it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...2 days ago
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- Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight
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Legislation that will specifically criminalise foreign interference and strengthen espionage offences has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “It is normal and appropriate for states to interact and work to influence one another. This encourages cooperation and can have mutually beneficial outcomes. “However, the reality ...3 days ago
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- Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill
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- Youth Parliament 2025 announced
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- Police stats show promising change
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- Better coordination of anti-scam efforts
With the launch of Fraud Awareness Week, the Government is committing to new coordination efforts across industry and government to combat online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Online financial scams are a growing problem for New Zealand. New data released today shows that Kiwis lost nearly ...4 days ago
- Minister to consider 7AA select committee report
Minister for Children Karen Chhour will consider the recommendations made by the Social Services and Community Committee in its report back to Parliament on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill. “I want to thank the people who made submissions and those who appeared before the committee in ...4 days ago
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- Launching the White Ribbon Ride
The Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour, was on hand to wish riders well at the start of the North Island leg of the White Ribbon Ride in Whakatāne this morning. The ride helps mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, ...5 days ago
- Construction to begin on next stage of Papakura to Drury
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- NZ signs trade deal with Costa Rica, Iceland and Switzerland
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has signed a pioneering trade agreement that prioritises New Zealand’s sustainable exports at a ceremony during APEC in Peru today. “The Agreement on Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS), between Costa Rica, Iceland, and Switzerland was concluded in July of this year and opens up significant ...6 days ago
- Government and iwi work together on aquaculture
Five new Aquaculture Settlement Areas will help ensure Ngāi Tahu shares in the opportunities aquaculture offers for Southland’s economy, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. “The Aquaculture Settlement Areas (ASAs) I’m announcing today set aside space so the Crown and Ngāi Tahu can assess their potential for aquaculture development. ...7 days ago
- Government launches review to ensure electricity market is fit-for-purpose
The terms of reference for a review of the performance of the electricity market have been released. The review, initiated by the Coalition Government during the power crisis in winter will look at whether current regulations and market design support economic growth and access to reliable and affordable electricity, Energy Minister ...7 days ago
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Labour claims Government is ‘cherry-picking’ smoking trends data to hide decade-first increase in daily smokers The post Smoke and mirrors in heated tobacco debate appeared first on Newsroom. ...5 hours ago
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Our, and IMO, NZ's enemy… are being hugely funded by our enemies.
Very similar to when MMP was first promulgated….the uber rich were very vocal against, and put huge resource into stopping it.
To me, we must get all who dont want NActfrst in "power", to vote..and get like minds to vote.
For NZ's Future.
The donation figures tell the story, the parasite class are terrified of a wealth tax–“it burnses usss…” but seem to have enough loot sloshing around to fund Natzos/Act/NZ First in the 2023 election campaign, for rather obvious reasons.
Even Chris Hipkins tried referring in a veiled way to capital flight when questioned on TVNZ last night on a wealth tax and free dental that have increasing support–up to 70%–from all sides of the political spectrum.
The Greens and TPM are fronting up well now, and NZ Labour needs to join them in informing voters what they are in for. If NACTfirst as PsyclingLeft succinctly puts it, attain office, working class people are going to lose a lot more than free prescriptions.
I am pleased Labour's last call to members has passed the goal set, and shows members and the public are beginning to recognise what is at stake. Most raised in six years. $413 000 in 4 days. $5 to $5000 put up by members, doubled by supporters. So we are growing a fighting fund which is open to further donations.
We should stop "buying into" National's "They have done nothing", and list the real meaningful gains for people. There are many. Start lauding the progress made in spite of the opposition, who have already "walked back" support they offered formerly.
The constant comparison of Aotearoa NZ with Aussie.
They have assets we don't, but they also have some huge issues with collapsing big businesses, growing unemployment, falling house prices, wilder weather, and wild fires are already a worry with the change in weather patterns. Plus pests at higher levels. Pest plagues actually.
I have family in three states. They have family renting and paying in excess of $700+ a week for houses. Granted pay levels are better, but not that much better as at one point a cauliflower was $13.00
They are now entering the "contracted/part time" unprotected work in many places, as businesses shed staff and then take people on in a temporary way.
If you are injured at work, you have to rely on insurances to help you.
They do have more sunshine hours, but more roads showing flood signs 2meters+.
We are more community minded, and admire Ed Hillary for his humanitarian work in Nepal, rather than the glitz of New York, a place many Australians aspire to visit.
My grand niece was shocked at the rows of tents housing homeless in New York city. Dislocation and hardship caused by covid is everywhere. A huge change from her prior visit a few years previously.
We are told this is a disorganised bad government. Really? They have managed six+ major crises while bringing forward changes.
Not at the speed we had hoped, and at greater debt levels than we hoped, but they have kept employment high, tried to improve work conditions and pay, provide the services in a world competing for skilled people.
In a pandemic which has now settled to infecting 4 to 5 thousand each week and hospitalising 200 odd and killing 12 to 20 we complain about the "inefficiency" of our hospital systems, as we have longer waits for other procedures and treatments.
Our systems strained but never broke under the load. We have been fortunate, but to hear National and a few of our own you could be led to believe it is "all bad"
Come on the Left, donate and believe we can do even better, because becoming despondent means they win as our voters fail to get out and vote. What we want fixed won’t be fixed by National and Act.
Excellent comment, Patricia. Hubby and I have a monthly automatic payment set up to donate to Labour, but we have scraped up an extra $100 following the email from Helen Clark and I'm delighted the plea for funds has brought in some much needed funding for the campaign – heaven only knows it is sorely needed. In the immortal words of Fred Dagg – 'we don't know how lucky we are', which reminds me of the campaign when Bill Rowling was running for PM – there was a TV advert where he ran into Fred Dagg, they had a short conversation and if I recall, Fred finished up with those words. Sadly – Rob's mob won the day.
Thanks Jilly Bee and Hubby.
Sometimes I wonder if I am shouting at the moon!
But like you I donate fortnightly, and because I have a modest pension from 21 years of saving ( GSF )
I am able to give fortnightly, and Norm agreed twice to $500 gifts for their funds. I am awaiting a board in front of our place, but guess Hayden got busy.
The money that Paula Bennett has raised for National is so over the top, it is like they are trying to buy the election.
If we don't win we still need a strong opposition, but by working together we may pull this off. Every dollar counts.
Thank you for your kind words. Let us hope our PM's daughter is out of hospital soon and he can campaign.
And therein lies a major problem – one that I have banged on about for years:
Labour over-estimates the ability of the public in general to see through the sycophantic NActoids who suck up to the big money boys and girls at the expense of the rest of us. Add to that a noisy, dishonest bunch of tabloid journos who are more than happy to enable them because they know some of the spoils will trickle down to them by way of perks and positions.
Labour are way too timid when it comes to stepping up and calling them out at every opportunity. That includes the tabloid rats. Too late now. The government of chaos meme is fully entrenched.
Being nice and kind does not cut it in a political climate like we have now. The old truism 'fight fire with fire' is as true today as it ever was.
PS. Anyone who was part of the political scene in the Muldoon days will know what I am talking about. He rode roughshod over his 'enemies' and few had the guts to stand up to him. He brought the country to the brink of bankruptcy and paved the way for neo-liberalism.
Was thinking just yesterday what my retirement might have looked like if the super scheme he killed off would have looked like after 35 years of working life so far.
The government put a loaded gun to it's head when during the pandemic it did the most unforgiveable thing in contemporary neoliberal capitalism – it briefly prioritised the public good over private profit and became hugely popular as a result. Such contagion of the proper order of things had to be stopped, and all it took after that was for big money to come along and pull the trigger.
Agree AB, for a glorious few months Public Health was put ahead of Capital accumulation. In retrospect also Robbo should have ensured COVID payments were made direct via IRD rather than through employers, but hey, too late now.
What's Labour's excuse for no CGT?
The so called transformational Govt's deeds did not match their words.
When people are looking for meat and potato policy,they come up with no GST on fresh/frozen fruit and veges and restricting vape shops to 600!
Underwhelming strategy and a squandering of political capital that has defeat staring them in the face.
The Capt and his call is sinking beneath the deep,blue …sea.
That call was earlier made by Ardern.
They worked around that by having he bright-line test going to 5, then 10 years and the end of mortgage cost deduction against rent income for existing property. This to incentivise sale of rental property and to collect some bright-line test CG tax revenue – and move the landlord capital into new builds to increase supply.
That issue had moved onto either an estate tax or a wealth tax (2/3rd of nations have an estate tax and some have a CG that includes the family homes of the wealthy elite).
You can always vote Green.
https://thestandard.org.nz/fifteen-green-mps-or-more/
There is now no combination of Parliament that will support a Capital Gains Tax.
Time to let it go.
Agree. if we need new or different targetted taxes we need to be thinking of taxes other than a weath tax or CGT.
Land tax is simplest albeit still requiring some nuance.
Yes indeed, also death duties could be renovated into something that will work better. I think part of the reason it fell into disfavour in the past was that the levels were not regularly reviewed.
I personally think all but say very small estates under say $5000 (might be too low) could be caught, then a low percentage or several flat rates until it got to levels such as the Labour Government was thinking of using in its wealth tax ideas.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2023-chris-hipkins-confirms-he-killed-wealth-tax-capital-gains-tax-in-budget/LZNZMSBEBNEQFHUSJKP4637TIA/
https://www.treasury.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2023-07/b23-tax-4796987.pdf
Because everyone knows the Greens will just roll over and do what the blue-reds say?
Shaw has said clearly that the cross benches are an option this election and that Labour can't take the Greens' support for granted.
Dead right, they gambled on luxon's buffoonery to see them through so decided holding the line was the best bet after realising the surprising level of support Hipkins had after Ardern's departure. What they didn't gamble on were ministers getting up-ended following the handy work of the right's black ops, which made quick work of their strategy to sit tight and has made them look like not only a shell of a party with no policies, but a shell of a party with stupid policies. The rest will be history…
The latest coverage (Newshub, Herald and now Stuff) on the new visa for migrant workers.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/132784074/the-system-is-f-immigration-staff-say-bosses-knew-visa-system-didnt-work-and-ignored-it
Origin
New Minister Wood July 2022 (Faafoi retired in June)
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/applications-now-open-new-work-visa-holders-offshore
Policy declared May 2022
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/fully-open-border-and-immigration-changes-speed-economic-growth
Nat MP Woodhouse denies….
Earlier..
They, Nats, may have wanted to clear the lists of the last of the types of creeps like those who made Hon Clare Curran's political life a misery.
Michael Woodhouse presents a divisive figure and thinking Nats, and there are some, probably thought someone like MW was no longer wanted on the journey.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/07/ex-national-mp-apologises-for-savage-attacks-on-outgoing-labour-mp-clare-curran.html
Something about that guy always gave me the creeps, glad he's going.
I think it's more that he's been a list-only MP since 2008, and had several ministerial portfolios (Immigration, Police, etc.) without exactly setting the world on fire – either in Government or in Opposition.
I expect that there was a feeling that it was time for him to move on, and leave the more winnable list places to new talent.
However, if that was the case, I don't feel that it was handled at all well by the National Party and leadership. An honest conversation over his chances of Ministerial roles (should National/ACT win the election), giving him the chance to bow out gracefully – would have been a far better outcome for everyone concerned.
Yes there is alot to be said for good manners and kindness and thinking of the feelings of others. I was deeply affected by seeing how hurt a health sector board chair was when he got no letter of thanks let alone one that said he was not going to be re-appointed. His appointment was thought by the Nats to be a political appointment, it wasn't, and that was the rationale apparently for no reappointment and no letter of thanks.
Good manners and thanks costs nothing.
They need to try harder. Chris Bishop Tobacco and Barbara Kuriger who used her position to try to influence a court case against her son for animal cruelty.
On yer bike moran:
"Elaine Naidu Franz, who was ACT's candidate for Rangitata and ranked 29th on its list, resigned after 1 News questioned ACT about her comments comparing vaccine mandates to Nazi concentration camps."
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300955677/nz-election-2023-live-act-candidate-quits-after-comparing-vaccine-mandates-to-concentration-camps
It took no time at all to discover what ACT candidates really believe, once they came under scrutiny.
Unfortunately, the free ride for Seymour's followers has gone on far too long, with the media finally waking up only weeks from an election. It was always obvious who ACT were attracting from the fringes.
The extraordinary lack of curiosity about the alternative government has been worse than in any previous MMP election campaign. Vote "Other" but don't ask who they are and what they stand for. And if Labour/Greens point this out … they are called "negative"!
It's a weird way for a democracy to function. Don't ask, don't tell.
Sssssh Labour is the stupidest, stupidest, dumbest thicky thicky Blackadder!
Oh well any nutter candidates that ACT kick out will likely find open arms in New Zealand First.
Creating news for mainstream media to report.
A Curia-Taxpayers Union electorate poll, then the Taxpayer Union hosts a candidates debate. With The Platform (Wright family) show hosts as MC and debate moderator.
It could have been worse, with ZB show hosts and Cameron Slater there (with Simon Lusk and Jason Ede) I suppose.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300955583/national-leads-polling-in-bellwether-napier-but-23-per-cent-of-voters-undecided
It surprises me with not many people posting this close to the election looks like the left are giving up.
No Tricledrown, the young are working out door knocking fund raising putting up signs.
We're now up to 3 ACT candidates who have either been dumped or had to apologise for their recent past. That's in just one day, who's next?
It's not an investigation by Woodward and Bernstein. These people have been caught simply by looking at the internet. David Seymour has only one job – to be in charge of his party. So let's get him to run a Ministry, he won't make any mistakes at all.
I some how doubt you could rely on that……there are ever so many more people in a Ministry he could blame.
But seriously, he must be about the worst at the sustained bad mouthing of the entire Public Service over his entire time in Parliament and it will take some big boy pants wearing to be able to make a transition to being a Minister should this horrible prospect arise.
Who ever said that the Labour Government couldn't get anything done?
At the last moment they introduced 286 pages of amendments to a 300 page ill and then whipped them through the house. Apart from the Minister answering questions during the Committee stages the only contribution from the Government appears to have been regular contributions from the Junior whip wanting to put the question so that all debate could be stopped.
The Bill was the Water Services Legislation. What a bloody shambles. Even the Green and Maori Parties seem to be embarrassed. They didn't contribute to the debate but they at least voted against the bulldozing going on.
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/combined/HansDeb_20230822_20230823_02
Maybe KN can have another go.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-government/300439606/three-waters-an-idiots-guide-to-the-massive-water-fight
Well the first couple of lines were accurate.
The reporter's Editor thought he was an idiot and so he proved to be. Meanwhile, are you impressed with Chippies’ demonstration of what he thinks is a preferable alternative to Democracy?
Classless misunderstanding of the term “idiots guide” – maybe he needed to dumb it down a tad further … to reach all of the target audience.
When someone starts a story with the following statement I know exactly what he is saying, and what he suggests the Editor meant.
"When the editor asked for an Idiot’s Guide to Three Waters I suspected nothing, naively. “You’d be perfect,” she said, with what might have been a smirk."
This article is paywalled I'm afraid but the headline says it all really. The story says billion, not pc by the way.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/government-expected-to-borrow-35pc-more-than-planned-eight-months-ago/VNDWOLXR6VD7DPFHJW7A3LATPQ/
Who is willing to step up and explain what a fantastic Finance Minister Robbo has been? A $35 billion dollar mistake (or hole if you prefer). What is a word for a very, very, very big hole? Whatever it is it is what Labour are leaving New Zealand in.
This is even more spectacular than the stinking mess Palmer and Clark left us in when they got the boot.
Moore led Labour into the 1990 election.
Afterward Richardson slashed benefits – crisis crisis. Then removed estate tax – what crisis …
Clark led Labour into the 2008 election.
Afterward National said they could not afford their promised tax cuts without increasing GST, so they increased GST.
"Moore led Labour into the 1990 election."
Yes technically true. He was Prime Minister for 60 days and saved them a fair number of seats. Gosh, Labour could help their cause by dumping Hipkins tomorrow and they might save some of their MPs.
Let's face it. Labour left the country in the shit in 1990. The did just the same thing in 2008 and are leaving an even worse situation this year.
Nationals cutting the prescriptions for free or for several million New Zealanders or 1,000 people get very expensive treatment just like John Key did in the 2008 election but by 2017 Keys National Government cut healthfunding by more than 20% to give tax cuts to the rich.Nationals tough on Crime same story National under Key cut police numbers by 20% plus for tax cuts for the wealthy.National can't help themselves conning enough poor people so they can make the already rich richer hoarding property money and resources.Dickensian days are here to stay.National put just enough on the table to tug the heart strings.while free prescriptions help millions tens of thousands avoiding complications over loading hospitals getting their medications.
"National under Key cut police numbers by 20%"
That statement is total rubbish. The Police numbers did not drop during the time that Key was PM. You are simply making that statement up.
Here are the police numbers each year for the bulk of Key's time as PM. It is on page 125 of this document.
https://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/files/publications/annual-report-2016-2017.pdf
"Lies, damned lies, and statistics"
https://www.aap.com.au/factcheck/nz-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-says-police-numbers-declined-under-nationals-leader/
There are many things that Tricledrown could have said that would have been correct. He could have said that Gang numbers had risen markedly during the Ardern/Hipkins led Government for example.
What he did say was that "National under Key cut police numbers by 20%".
That statement was, as I showed, simply not true. Trying to demonstrate that some other statement that he might have said, but didn't, could have been true doesn't somehow miraculously make this false statement true.