"Two months on from Labour's election-night shellacking, leader Chris Hipkins still cannot pinpoint what the party could have done differently during the campaign to win."
How about give people hope and a vision and provide a real alternative rather than be National Lite?
I know someone here said post-election interview quotes like this is standard polly-speak and real soul-searching is going on, but no sign of that here.
He is not going to admit that he screwed up big time with his tax call and that, along with their policy bonfire, totally disillusioned a lot of people.
Some hint that he understands why Labour has burnt off support, some of which moved left and will not come back, would be good. (I realise floating voters moving right hurt them more, as the Greens picked up fewer of disillusioned Labourites than I hoped).
The Leader is not expected to win an election solo. The Party is charged with that also. Voters don't just vote for a Leader, they vote for a party and its policies.
Or are you suggesting the Right won because voters wanted Luxon to lead?
I don't need to suggest anything. There are polls that track the comparative popularity of leaders for PM and their relevant weight in voter decisionmaking. Politics really is a popularity contest.
While there is an element of truth in this – I'd argue it's largely because recent NZ history has 'taught' the electorate that the party needs to have a popular leader, in order to win. First Key then Ardern – both with that high level of personal charisma- the rock star prime minister style.
It's made us forget that there is no intrinsic reason for party leaders to have high degrees of personal charisma or popularity, in order to be elected. Clark had low levels of personal popularity prior to being PM.
I don't recall Shipley or Bolger having high degrees of personal popularity either.
It's important for a potential PM to project trustworthiness (someone electors can envision running the country) – but no need for outstanding charisma. [Yes, yes, I know – none of you thought Luxon was 'trustworthy' – but you weren't his target market]. It's much more important to have a coherent message to sell, one which appeals to a large section of the electorate.
Given that the opponent is Luxon – who also suffers from a charisma deficit – I don't think lack of charisma is a reason to ditch Hipkins.
But I don't feel that it is at all clear what Hipkins stands for (if anything, other than being elected).
He's burdened with history (he was a major player in the Ardern government – so has to carefully manage any move away from her core policies). But that's not unique. Clark was part of the 4th Labour government – with much worse history to have to deal with.
While politics is indeed a popularity contest (and part of the ongoing governance issue is that the skill set required to get elected has nothing to do with the skill set require to govern effectively) – very frequently, that contest can be between a package of ideas, rather than an individual person.
… there is no intrinsic reason for party leaders to have high degrees of personal charisma or popularity, in order to be elected. Clark had low levels of personal popularity prior to being PM.
Absolutely true. You mention Bolger, Shipley, Clark and I would add English. Whether you liked their individual policy stances or not, what they did earn among the populace at large was personal respect. As a Labour supporter, it did not stop me having regard for both English and Bolger – Bolger in particular. Politics is a dirty business but somehow those former PMs managed to stay pretty much above the fray. I would also add Ardern but it is probably too soon to make a finite judgement of her term in office.
Perhaps by 2026 people may see reason to change the negative opinion of Ardern so many ended up harbouring towards her – all for the wrong reasons in my view.
I doubt that Hipkins can realistically be blamed for the behaviour of 'his' ministers. The bad behaviour for all, except Allan (who, I would argue, is a different case) – was inherited from Ardern. Who appears to have not managed them at all.
Presenting an inspiring, sound, popular vision is one thing, but in an oppositional framework, the effect of attack, undermining, "bad agents", lies and bribes can sink the best proposals and prospects. Chuck pots money into that and you get … this!
No wonder Hipkins finds it difficult to describe a winning formula.
Do you endorse Hipkins re-election strategy….Robert?
Personally I thought his Capt's call re wealth tax was a mistake and his belated G.S.T and dental policies were tinkering and seen as bribes.Too little…too late.
When he took over from Ardern he had positive momentum….the opposition campaign was not inspiring but prevailed.
Not endorse so much, more accept, perhaps. I don't think he could realistically have done anything that would have won the election for the Left, as Ad has described. Given that, and my supposition that Hipkins was well aware that there wasn't a particular action he could have taken that would guarantee success, I understand why he didn't try to promote a wealth tax, as it would not have done the trick, but instead "parked" it for later, when a campaign on it could be effectively waged.
The gst of food policy was treating the voters as thick, everyone new it would cost to implement and the gains would not make it to the shoppers back pocket. Mind numbingly stupid policy, that made me think he really wasn't clever enough for the job.
There may have been an initial cost in reprogramming the checkout machinery, but after that had been done it shouldn't have cost anything. However, I think it should have included a wider range of products, though there may have been some tricky decisions to make in deciding what to include and what to exclude.
Only because scandalous behavior by many senior cabinet members seriously undermined Labour's credibility. To blame Hipkins is a very Lame argument.If those 5 or 6 Cabinet members had been competent and kept much higher standards then Labour would have been much closer to forming a govt.Plus putting the Petrol tax back on in a period of high inflation was a dumb move.
Way I see it, nat and lab are just different faces of the same neolib coin. Doesn't matter which way you flip it, it's still the same coin.
If lab don't depart from that philosophy and strike out to put people first, equality wise, then we'll all still stay yo-yoing around the centre, no direction, no plan, no progress.
I think it does matter which way you flip it – the difference isn't anywhere near as marked as I (and you, it seems) would like, but there is a difference and if that's all that's on offer, we'd be foolish not to take it. Making the difference greater is our responsibility, I suppose – grass-roots pressure on the parties that could further our aims is the path to take. Remember also, it's not a binary matter; other parties, worse still than the bigger 2, have influence when partnered through an election result.
I would certainly agree with this – not least because the parties of the further left – have made it abundantly clear that they would not work with National (let alone ACT and NZF)
If you want a left(ish) coalition government – then you have to choose Labour, not National, as the centrist party within the coalition
When you are up against determined liars prepared to say anything as the price of power then you are on a hiding to nothing. Hipkins would have had to trump their lies but I think he is a better person than that.
I agree with you Adrian. The treachery and moral bankruptcy of the new government is succinctly described by Paul Molloy, in response to a very informative Newsroom article "Threat to walking and cycling a threat to health" on 21.12.23 by Dr Kirsty Wild and Alistair Woodward. https://newsroom.co.nz/ It starts "Opinion: The new Government is taking a sledgehammer to measures we know protect health, such as drinking-water safety and smoking cessation, and now it’s undermining efforts to reduce harm from transport. The results will be predictable: rates of disease and early death in our communities, and more stress on our already overburdened health care system. Transport Minister Simeon Brown’s letter to councils this week, urging them to scale back walking and cycling projects is the latest blow. ……".
It’s truly heartbreaking to see this new Government set on a path to destroy so many moves that had been started towards improving our society. We’re going to give 2.3 billion dollars back to landlords in tax refunds – not a dollar of which will help tenants. And we’re going to wreck the anti-smoking advances made in recent years, build more roads and encourage more driving at the very time we desperately need to be cutting emissions. We’re going to destroy the advances made in Maori health initiatives, and more. It is so galling to see Stephen Joyce given column space in the media to criticise the Labour Government for leaving hidden deficits to booby-trap the incoming Government when (a) all the fiscal risks had been clearly outlined and National chose to deliberately ignore them, and (b) Joyce constantly trumpeted the $10 billion hole in Labour’s proposed budgets 6 years ago when in fact the 10 billion dollar hole was his Government’s vast underfunding of essential infrastructure such as hospitals and schools. Once again we’re going to pay a heavy price for decades to come for the short-term thinking and gut reactions of a public who blamed a local Labour Government for the world-wide effects of Covid – a situation whose flames were fanned by a Press looking for sensation to sell papers rather than to provoke genuine debate.
You said it all in one sentence. Thank you Adrian. I'm getting a little sick of this Hipkins bashing. He was always on a hiding to nothing and a wealth or CGT tax promise would not have made one iota of difference.
If you need to blame individuals then direct it towards those who were primarily responsible – members of the media gang. By and large they let Luxon and his bunch of like minded crooks get away with the most outlandish of lies and devious political behaviour – the latter which we have come to expect from the Right. The reason why many of them did so was varied, but in some instances at least they were looking to protect their own status within the industry.
It will be interesting to see which of them end up as press secretaries in the new ministerial line-up.
Adrian, the billionaires club sewed up the election. Dirty politics found all of Labour's achilles heel(s) and dealt to them. They then campaigned on crisis in law education and inflation, with pots of money from their friends. They believe in small government. At $9 per vote adverts as against $1.90, odd, they were bound to win, as they had to swing 5% of the electorate to have enough seats. Blaming all that on Hipkins is wet. He is not the leader we needed, and Jacinda read the mood better than he did. However the tax decisions undermined Robertson and Parker's work, and lost him credibility.
When people have had a hard emotional time, and relief is promised through tax cuts Wallah!!
However, many are shocked at the cavalier manner and removal of checks and balances this coalition has employed. With spiteful glee they have begun to dismantle the state. The swing is hard right, and perhaps we will see hard left in the near future.
Hipkins may grow into the role. A thoughtful steady leader who begins to listen more… but I think we have been too methodical, predictable and easily derailed, because we follow the “rules”.
Hipkins is a more than competent leader especially of the opposition.He doesn't whine or get flustered nails the topic on point with out the fluff that Luxon Willis Seymour or Peter's wallow in.people will get tired quickly of Luxon and his Conman talking Willis's whinning,Peter's bully tactics Seymours nonsense.Once the shine goes off their gushing it will expose them as hollow politicians full of it.Luxon and Willis are behaving like a FPP govt no compromise even John Key didn't do massive change he was a pragmatist therefore an incrementalist.Nationals policies will force interest rates up at a time when if there were no tax cuts interest rates and inflation would drop.So over the next 3 years interest rates and inflation will stay stubbornly high.Housing will become more unaffordable with migration at all time highs housing construction declining rapidly rents ,mortgages 'house prices, The cost to businesses of ongoing high interest rates will damage our economy. National never have stable economic growth they always pump tax cuts in just before the elections for the feel good factor then the Reserve bank take all away by controlling inflation with interest rate hikes. Luxon is just a big mouth talking over everyone Willis the Whinging winning cheerleader/doomsayer!
Him personally? He was only in the job a short time – surely his team ought to have done as you suggested, far earlier on. I think Adrian has it right.
The latest Consumer has an article on electric and hybrid cars.
"We tested 88 electric and hybrid cars on practicality, safety and performance. Find the right vehicle for your needs with our test results and buying guide. Our results are from independent testing in Europe. Some models are not available in Europe, so aren’t included in our results."
The top two rated vehicles are BMWs. Can't see anyone giving me one of those for Christmas at $207,000 and $289,000.
These car tests leave so many considerations out. Particularly on the cost of ownership. Reliability, cost of parts, insurance, resale value.
Resale value is particularly important for a small vehicle fleet operator. The economics of fleet operation other than reliability hinges entirely on resale value.
The two year cycle of new cars being sold by fleet operators will be a real test to see if they depreciate steep enough for those who can afford something in the $20-$30k range …
… which will be closely watched by those of us who worry about getting a second =hand car battery costing $30-$40k to replace.
Are there useful examples of secondary markets for EV's or hybrids forming in comparable countries?
I'll be doing some site development work between now and the 8th Jan while I'm off work (I'm on call for much of the remainder of December and January). Most of that will be writing a modernised theme for the site.
In theory it won't affect the site until I get to cleaning up plugins. But much of the theme build will be done on the live system, but under the covers.
Please ignore comments from my alter-ego AncientGeek. I use that login for testing modes other than super-admin.
labour was the most timid government I can remember. had a majority and did nothing with it could have been transformative but wimped out.Now the leader doesn't know why
Except for those in denial, or with vested interests.
I think the Ardern years were a dead cat bounce for Labour, as they say in the markets. They’ve been struggling for decades now, and look to have handed the socialist vote to the Greens long term, so being National-lite is all they can aspire to.
They’re the party for public servants and that’s about it.
Russia playing moral guardian in the ME after bombing the cities of Syria and moving on Ukraine. There are more refugees from Syrian cities they bombed and Ukraine than the number of people in Gaza and the West Bank.
If only Maxwell Smart was there with his Khrushchev era shoe phone.
OK Chief, we agree provided Russian forces withdraw into Russian territory at the same time.
Then maybe Russians can compete under their flag in 2024.
+1 Adrian. I had a look at CHs diary from January on and it was jam packed. All these people lambasting him about what he should have done,not done etc, wouldn’t even go out their front door if they were having to face what he was facing day in day out. And this was after the sterling work over Covid with taking on all those portfolios. After assuming PMship he was straight into Auckland floods, overseas meetings,daily blasting from the COCs hurling abuse, lies and concoctions of the truth smirking safely behind their snarling packs of millionaires and lobbyists and Lo and behold John Key. Chris was on a hiding to nothing and he barely had time to breathe getting (Covid himself didn’t help) . Give him a break.
NZ has moved on from that style of Socialism long ago the Corbin experiment in the UK just handed the Torries another 10 years of power.No one wants to go back to that time it's over cloth cap socialism is over. No young ones want to pay union fees or protest about being left out.Their protest is not voting for those bastards all of them are useless as far as they are concerned.
Labour returning to its roots would be a disaster at the polls.Labour would be a fringe party.People haven't adapted to the reality of the free market and are just hoping for a change back to old school socialism.Which is not going to happen. That's why National voters went with Labour to shut out the greens more progressive agenda. Monied people have way more power than impoverished progressives so no contest. Pragmatic incramentalism is all anyone is going to achieve until more than 50% of the population faces real hardship.Political science 101 reality!
You’re probably right about that. I do try quietly (I’m management, so I shouldn’t) to encourage people who work in my teams to join the union. But the younger ones don’t want to pay union dues, and It’s not really something they think is worthwhile, which is a shame. Many of them think they are up and coming senior managers, so they don’t believe they will benefit.
But the younger ones don’t want to pay union dues, and It’s not really something they think is worthwhile,
This is very true in my experience. I've worked in a range of organizations which were 'traditionally' unionized. There are still union members, but almost entirely at the upper end of the age brackets. And the union appears to have little influence on anything to do with worker conditions – so the younger people think there is little point in membership.
heres7is me thinking I was talking about NZ not our colonial forebears.There are more and better run countries in the world than England.tricledown says it all really.
You are right Robert, adopting a wealth tax that close to the election would have opened Chippie and Labour up to a huge campaign of even more lies and vilification and the loss would have been even greater. No matter that 60% plus may have thought it was a good idea, once posited by a political party it would have been a millstone, as everyone would have a different idea as to who to target, not themselves of course, it would have been disastrous, hence the “ not on my watch “ statement from him. That’s good politics, a CGT or WT will need to be a multi year well sold campaign to be effective.
Winston Peters’ much anticipated foreign policy speech last night was a work of two halves. Much of it was a standard “boilerplate” Foreign Ministry overview of the state of the world. There was some hardening up of rhetoric with talk of “benign” becoming “malign” and old truths giving way to ...
Graham Adams assesses the fallout of the Cass Review — The press release last Thursday from the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls didn’t make the mainstream news in New Zealand but it really should have. The startling title of Reem Alsalem’s statement — “Implementation of ‘Cass ...
This open-for-business, under-new-management cliché-pockmarked government of Christopher Luxon is not the thing of beauty he imagines it to be. It is not the powerful expression of the will of the people that he asserts it to be. It is not a soaring eagle, it is a malodorous vulture. This newest poll should make ...
The latest labour market statistics, showing a rise in unemployment. There are now 134,000 unemployed - 14,000 more than when the National government took office. Which is I guess what happens when the Reserve Bank causes a recession in an effort to Keep Wages Low. The previous government saw a ...
Three opinion polls have been released in the last two days, all showing that the new government is failing to hold their popular support. The usual honeymoon experienced during the first year of a first term government is entirely absent. The political mood is still gloomy and discontented, mainly due ...
National's Finance Minister once met a poor person.A scornful interview with National's finance guru who knows next to nothing about economics or people.There might have been something a bit familiar if that was the headline I’d gone with today. It would of course have been in tribute to the article ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Throughout the pandemic, the new Vice-Chancellor-of-Otago-University-on-$629,000 per annum-Can-you-believe-it-and-Former-Finance-Minister Grant Robertson repeated the mantra over and over that he saved “lives and livelihoods”.As we update how this claim is faring over the course of time, the facts are increasingly speaking differently. NZ ...
Chris Trotter writes – IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in acknowledgement of electoral victory: “We’ll govern for all New Zealanders.” On the face of it, the pledge is a strange one. Why would any political leader govern in ways that advantaged the huge ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 10:06am on Wednesday, May 1:The Lead: Business confidence fell across the board in April, falling in some areas to levels last seen during the lockdowns because of a collapse in ...
Over the past 36 hours, Christopher Luxon has been dong his best to portray the centre-right’s plummeting poll numbers as a mark of virtue. Allegedly, the negative verdicts are the result of hard economic times, and of a government bravely set out on a perilous rescue mission from which not ...
Auckland Transport have started rolling out new HOP card readers around the network and over the next three months, all of them on buses, at train stations and ferry wharves will be replaced. The change itself is not that remarkable, with the new readers looking similar to what is already ...
Completed reads for April: The Difference Engine, by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling Carnival of Saints, by George Herman The Snow Spider, by Jenny Nimmo Emlyn’s Moon, by Jenny Nimmo The Chestnut Soldier, by Jenny Nimmo Death Comes As the End, by Agatha Christie Lord of the Flies, by ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
Have a story to share about St Paul’s, but today just picturesPopular novels written at this desk by a young man who managed to bootstrap himself out of father’s imprisonment and his own young life in a workhouse Read more ...
The list of former National Party Ministers being given plum and important roles got longer this week with the appointment of former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett as the chair of Pharmac. The Christopher Luxon-led Government has now made key appointments to Bill English, Simon Bridges, Steven Joyce, Roger Sowry, ...
Newsroom has a story today about National's (fortunately failed) effort to disestablish the newly-created Inspector-General of Defence. The creation of this agency was the key recommendation of the Inquiry into Operation Burnham, and a vital means of restoring credibility and social licence to an agency which had been caught lying ...
Holding On To The Present:The moment a political movement arises that attacks the whole idea of social progress, and announces its intention to wind back the hands of History’s clock, then democracy, along with its unwritten rules, is in mortal danger.IT’S A COMMONPLACE of political speeches, especially those delivered in ...
Stuck In The Middle With You:As Christopher Luxon feels the hot breath of Act’s and NZ First’s extremists on the back of his neck and, as he reckons with the damage their policies are already inflicting upon a country he’s described as “fragile”, is there not some merit in reaching out ...
The unpopular coalition government is currently rushing to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. The clause is Oranga Tamariki's Treaty clause, and was inserted after its systematic stealing of Māori children became a public scandal and resulted in physical resistance to further abductions. The clause created clear obligations ...
Buzz from the Beehive The government’s official website – which Point of Order monitors daily – not for the first time has nothing much to say today about political happenings that are grabbing media headlines. It makes no mention of the latest 1News-Verian poll, for example. This shows National down ...
It Takes A Train To Cry:Surely, there is nothing lonelier in all this world than the long wail of a distant steam locomotive on a cold Winter’s night.AS A CHILD, I would lie awake in my grandfather’s house and listen to the traffic. The big wooden house was only a ...
Packing A Punch: The election of the present government, including in its ranks politicians dedicated to reasserting the rights of the legislature in shaping and determining the future of Māori and Pakeha in New Zealand, should have alerted the judiciary – including its anomalous appendage, the Waitangi Tribunal – that its ...
Dead Woman Walking: New Zealand’s media industry had been moving steadily towards disaster for all the years Melissa Lee had been National’s media and communications policy spokesperson, and yet, when the crisis finally broke, on her watch, she had nothing intelligent to offer. Christopher Luxon is a patient man - but he’s not ...
Chris Trotter writes – New Zealand politics is remarkably easy-going: dangerously so, one might even say. With the notable exception of John Key’s flat ruling-out of the NZ First Party in 2008, all parties capable of clearing MMP’s five-percent threshold, or winning one or more electorate seats, tend ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is ...
Luxon will no doubt put a brave face on it, but there is no escaping the pressure this latest poll will put on him and the government. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political ...
This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler In the wake of any unusual weather event, someone inevitably asks, “Did climate change cause this?” In the most literal sense, that answer is almost always no. Climate change is never the sole cause of hurricanes, heat waves, droughts, or ...
Something odd happened yesterday, and I’d love to know if there’s more to it. If there was something which preempted what happened, or if it was simply a throwaway line in response to a journalist.Yesterday David Seymour was asked at a press conference what the process would be if the ...
Hi,From time to time, I want to bring Webworm into the real world. We did it last year with the Jurassic Park event in New Zealand — which was a lot of fun!And so on Saturday May 11th, in Los Angeles, I am hosting a lil’ Webworm pop-up! I’ve been ...
Education Minister Erica Standford yesterday unveiled a fundamental reform of the way our school pupils are taught. She would not exactly say so, but she is all but dismantling the so-called “inquiry” “feel good” method of teaching, which has ruled in our classrooms since a major review of the New ...
Exactly where are we seriously going with this government and its policies? That is, apart from following what may as well be a Truss-Lite approach on the purported economic “plan“, and Victorian-era regression when it comes to social policy.Oh it’ll work this time of course, we’re basically assured, “the ...
Hey Uncle Dave, When the Poms joined the EEC, I wasn't one of those defeatists who said, Well, that’s it for the dairy job. And I was right, eh? The Chinese can’t get enough of our milk powder and eventually, the Poms came to their senses and backed up the ute ...
Polling shows that Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has the lowest approval rating of any mayor in the country. Siting at -12 per cent, the proportion of constituents who disapprove of her performance outweighs those who give her the thumbs up. This negative rating is higher than for any other mayor ...
Buzz from the Beehive Pharmac has been given a financial transfusion and a new chair to oversee its spending in the pharmaceutical business. Associate Health Minister David Seymour described the funding for Pharmac as “its largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff”. ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its ...
TL;DR: Here’s my top 10 ‘pick ‘n’ mix of links to news, analysis and opinion articles as of 10:10am on Monday, April 29:Scoop: The children's ward at Rotorua Hospital will be missing a third of its beds as winter hits because Te Whatu Ora halted an upgrade partway through to ...
span class=”dropcap”>As hideous as David Seymour can be, it is worth keeping in mind occasionally that there are even worse political figures (and regimes) out there. Iran for instance, is about to execute the country’s leading hip hop musician Toomaj Salehi, for writing and performing raps that “corrupt” the nation’s ...
Yesterday marked 10 years since the first electric train carried passengers in Auckland so it’s a good time to look back at it and the impact it has had. A brief history The first proposals for rail electrification in Auckland came in the 1920’s alongside the plans for earlier ...
Right now, in Aotearoa-NZ, our ‘animal spirits’ are darkening towards a winter of discontent, thanks at least partly to a chorus of negative comments and actions from the Government Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on ...
You make people evil to punish the paststuck inside a sequel with a rotating castThe following photos haven’t been generated with AI, or modified in any way. They are flesh and blood, human beings. On the left is Galatea Young, a young mum, and her daughter Fiadh who has Angelman ...
April has been a quiet month at A Phuulish Fellow. I have had an exceptionally good reading month, and a decently productive writing month – for original fiction, anyway – but not much has caught my eye that suggested a blog article. It has been vaguely frustrating, to be honest. ...
A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 21, 2024 thru Sat, April 27, 2024. Story of the week Anthropogenic climate change may be the ultimate shaggy dog story— but with a twist, because here ...
Hi,I spent about a year on Webworm reporting on an abusive megachurch called Arise, and it made me want to stab my eyes out with a fork.I don’t regret that reporting in 2022 and 2023 — I am proud of it — but it made me angry.Over three main stories ...
The new Victoria University Vice-Chancellor decided to have a forum at the university about free speech and academic freedom as it is obviously a topical issue, and the Government is looking at legislating some carrots or sticks for universities to uphold their obligations under the Education and Training Act. They ...
Do you remember when Melania Trump got caught out using a speech that sounded awfully like one Michelle Obama had given? Uncannily so.Well it turns out that Abraham Lincoln is to Winston Peters as Michelle was to Melania. With the ANZAC speech Uncle Winston gave at Gallipoli having much in ...
She was born 25 years ago today in North Shore hospital. Her eyes were closed tightly shut, her mouth was silently moving. The whole theatre was all quiet intensity as they marked her a 2 on the APGAR test. A one-minute eternity later, she was an 8. The universe was ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is Antarctica gaining land ice? ...
Images of US students (and others) protesting and setting up tent cities on US university campuses have been broadcast world wide and clearly demonstrate the growing rifts in US society caused by US policy toward Israel and Israel’s prosecution of … Continue reading → ...
Barrie Saunders writes – Dear Paul As the new Minister of Media and Communications, you will be inundated with heaps of free advice and special pleading, all in the national interest of course. For what it’s worth here is my assessment: Traditional broadcasting free to air content through ...
Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government is trying to achieve and its arguments for such a bold reform. ...
Peter Dunne writes – The great nineteenth British Prime Minister, William Gladstone, once observed that “the first essential for a Prime Minister is to be a good butcher.” When a later British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, sacked a third of his Cabinet in July 1962, in what became ...
Ele Ludemann writes – New Zealanders had the OECD’s second highest tax increase last year: New Zealanders faced the second-biggest tax raises in the developed world last year, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says. The intergovernmental agency said the average change in personal income tax ...
We all know something’s not right with our elections. The spread of misinformation, people being targeted with soundbites and emotional triggers that ignore the facts, even the truth, and influence their votes.The use of technology to produce deep fakes. How can you tell if something is real or not? Can ...
This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Simon Clark. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). This year you will be lied to! Simon Clark helps prebunk some misleading statements you'll hear about climate. The video includes ...
It is all very well cutting the backrooms of public agencies but it may compromise the frontlines. One of the frustrations of the Productivity Commission’s 2017 review of universities is that while it observed that their non-academic staff were increasing faster than their academic staff, it did not bother to ...
Buzz from the Beehive Two speeches delivered by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters at Anzac Day ceremonies in Turkey are the only new posts on the government’s official website since the PM announced his Cabinet shake-up. In one of the speeches, Peters stated the obvious: we live in a troubled ...
1. Which of these would you not expect to read in The Waikato Invader?a. Luxon is here to do business, don’t you worry about thatb. Mr KPI expects results, and you better believe itc. This decisive man of action is getting me all hot and excitedd. Melissa Lee is how ...
…it has a restricted jurisdiction which must not be abused: it is not an inquisitionNOTE – this article was published before the High Court ruled that Karen Chhour does not have to appear before the Waitangi Tribunal Gary Judd writes – The High Court ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same?Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children ...
David Farrar writes: Graeme Edgeler wrote in 2017: In the first five years after three strikes came into effect 5248 offenders received a ‘first strike’ (that is, a “stage-1 conviction” under the three strikes sentencing regime), and 68 offenders received a ‘second strike’. In the five years prior to ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has surprised everyone with his ruthlessness in sacking two of his ministers from their crucial portfolios. Removing ministers for poor performance after only five months in the job just doesn’t normally happen in politics. That’s refreshing and will be extremely ...
TL;DR: These are the six things that stood out to me in news and commentary on Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the two days to 6:06am on Thursday, April 25:Politics: PM Christopher Luxon has set up a dual standard for ministerial competence by demoting two National Cabinet ministers while leaving also-struggling ...
Hi,Today I mainly want to share some of your thoughts about the recent piece I wrote about success and failure, and the forces that seemingly guide our lives. But first, a quick bit of housekeeping: I am doing a Webworm popup in Los Angeles on Saturday May 11 at 2pm. ...
It is hard to see what Melissa Lee might have done to “save” the media. National went into the election with no public media policy and appears not to have developed one subsequently. Lee claimed that she had prepared a policy paper before the election but it had been decided ...
Open access notablesIce acceleration and rotation in the Greenland Ice Sheet interior in recent decades, Løkkegaard et al., Communications Earth & Environment:In the past two decades, mass loss from the Greenland ice sheet has accelerated, partly due to the speedup of glaciers. However, uncertainty in speed derived from satellite products ...
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does ...
Mr Bombastic:Ironically, the media the academic experts wanted is, in many ways, the media they got. In place of the tyrannical editors of yesteryear, advancing without fear or favour the interests of the ruling class; the New Zealand news media of today boasts a troop of enlightened journalists dedicated to ...
It's hard times try to make a livingYou wake up every morning in the unforgivingOut there somewhere in the cityThere's people living lives without mercy or pityI feel good, yeah I'm feeling fineI feel better then I have for the longest timeI think these pills have been good for meI ...
In 1974, the US Supreme Court issued its decision in United States v. Nixon, finding that the President was not a King, but was subject to the law and was required to turn over the evidence of his wrongdoing to the courts. It was a landmark decision for the rule ...
Every day now just seems to bring in more fresh meat for the grinder.In their relentlessly ideological drive to cut back on the “excessive bloat” (as they see it) of the previous Labour-led government, on the mountains of evidence accumulated in such a short period of time do not ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Megan Valére SosouMarket gardening site of the Itchèléré de Itagui agricultural cooperative in Dassa-Zoumè (Image credit: Megan Valère Sossou) For the residents of Dassa-Zoumè, a city in the West African country of Benin, choosing between drinking water and having enough ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
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. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
The Government and Rotorua Lakes Council are committed to working closely together to end the use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua. Associate Minister of Housing (Social Housing) Tama Potaka says the Government remains committed to ending the long-term use of contracted emergency housing motels in Rotorua by the ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say. “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
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 ...
Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
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 ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
The Urban Habitat Collective was an attempt to built an innovative new form of apartment building in Wellington. Here’s why it failed, and why the idea could still work, writes co-founder Bronwen Newton. When we started the Urban Habitat Collective in November 2018, we thought we were starting a revolution, ...
Two decades ago this week, a controversial law that attempted to define ownership of the foreshore and seabed prompted a formidable display of outrage and kōtahitanga as 15,000 marched to parliament. Jamie Tahana looks back.‘Hīkoi, hīkoi,” they chanted by the thousands as the biggest Māori march in a generation ...
Why has New Zealand slipped from third to 12th on Quality of Death Indexes over the past decade or so? Hospice New Zealand Chief Executive Wayne Naylor has a list of reasons. “We don’t have a current national strategy – the Government hasn’t renewed our 2001 strategy, so we don’t ...
While women’s sport is exploding in Aotearoa and around the world, you still don’t hear a lot of talk about athletes and their periods, RED-S, breastfeeding and visible panty-lines. SASS (Suze and Sez Sports)Talk isn’t afraid to have that kōrero.LockerRoom founder Suzanne McFadden and Olympian broadcaster Sarah ...
On an unusually hot night in January 2019, a little boy’s lifeless body was found face up in a small town’s sewage oxidation pond. To the police, it was an open and shut case: three-year-old Lachlan Jones had run away from his home in the Southland town of Gore, climbed ...
A Labour Party Member’s Bill aims to plug a culpability gap between manslaughter and health and safety breaches The post New push for corporate killing laws appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Terence O’Brien had the rare and no doubt undesired distinction of rising to one of the most exalted positions in New Zealand diplomacy, then being unceremoniously recalled to Wellington without explanation just when his career was at its zenith. What is perhaps more surprising is that he appears to have ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A,DIV,A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Thursday 2 May appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Rongotai MP Julie Anne Genter has apologised in Parliament after National accused her of intimidating and attacking one of its ministers in the House. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Prime Minister and state and territory leaders met on Wednesday as the national cabinet to discuss a crisis gripping Australia – the horrific number of women murdered this year. The killings have shocked ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Radhika Raghav, Teaching Fellow, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Otago Netflix Indian director Sanjay Leela Bhansali is known for his big-budget Bollywood production, featuring grand sets, star casts, meticulously choreographed dance sequences and lavish costumes, jewellery and furnishings. ...
Sir Robert devoted his life to disability rights after living in institutions in his younger years, says Kaihautū Tika Hauātanga | Disability Rights Commissioner Prudence Walker. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University Violence against women is not a women’s problem to solve, it is a whole of society problem to solve; and men in particular have to take responsibility. Those were the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Allen, Senior Lecturer in Chemical and Renewable Energy Engineering, University of Newcastle Snapshot freddy/ShutterstockPlans to revive an old coal-fired power station using bioenergy are being considered in the Hunter region of New South Wales. Similar plans for the station ...
Responding to the long-awaited release of judges’ special allowances, including free air travel and hotels for spouses, generous sabbaticals, and access to limousines, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Alex Murphy said: “In what world does your employer ...
Analysis - The United States has unveiled plans to boost the weapons trade with Australia and the UK, on the same day that Winston Peters is expected to sketch NZ's position on AUKUS. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrea Carson, Professor of Political Communication, Department of Politics, Media and Philosophy, La Trobe University Since Australia’s First Nations Voice to Parliament referendum in October 2023, diverse commentaries have sought to explain why it failed. But what does an analysis of media ...
Lawyers representing two iwi as well as the Māori Women’s Welfare League on Wednesday asked the Court of Appeal to overturn last week’s High Court decision on the Waitangi Tribunal’s decision to summons Children’s Minister Karen Chhour. The Tribunal is currently investigating the Government’s decision to repeal section 7AA of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Albanese government will introduce legislation to ban deepfake pornography and provide more funding for the eSafety Commission to pilot age-assurance technologies. The contribution of internet sites to gender-based violence was one major issue ...
Average ordinary time hourly earnings, as measured by the Quarterly Employment Survey (QES), increased 5.2 percent in the year to the March 2024 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. Annual wage cost inflation, as measured by the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dimitrios Salampasis, FinTech Capability Lead | Senior Lecturer, Emerging Technologies and FinTech, Swinburne University of Technology Clem Onojeghuo/Unsplash In the digital era, the job market is increasingly becoming a minefield – demanding and difficult to navigate. According to the Australian Bureau ...
As of the March 2024 quarter, we can now look back on 20 years of data related to youth not in employment, education, or training (NEET), as collected by the Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS), according to figures released by Stats NZ today. "The ...
Thousands of workers attended public events in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch today to celebrate International Workers’ Day (May Day), but union representatives are urging caution and vigilance over the Government’s blatantly "anti-worker" ...
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in the March 2024 quarter, compared with 4.0 percent in the previous quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today. ...
The PSA is warning the Government that the sensitive information of New Zealanders held by various agencies will fall into the wrong hands if the latest round of proposed cuts goes ahead. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Talitha Best, Professor of Psychology, CQUniversity Australia Victoria Rodriguez/Unsplash How do sugar rushes work? – W.H, age nine, from Canberra What a terrific question W.H! Let’s explore this, starting with some of the basics. What is sugar? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Karinna Saxby, Research Fellow, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, The University of Melbourne MART PRODUCTION/Pexels Increasing income support could help keep women and children safe according to new work demonstrating strong links between financial insecurity and domestic violence. ...
ANALYSIS:By Olli Hellmann, University of Waikato When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day today on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also to mark a defining event for national identity. The battle of Gallipoli against ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark A Gregory, Associate Professor, School of Engineering, RMIT University The telecommunications industry faces a major shakeup following the release of the post-incident report on last November’s 12-hour Optus outage. Telecommunications companies will have to share more information with customers during future ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Bookseller Confessional, in which we get to know Aotearoa’s booksellers. This week: Eden Denyer, bookseller at Unity Books Auckland.Weirdest question/request you’ve had on the shop floorA mother came in looking for anything we might have on Alaskan bison as that was her little boy’s ...
NZCTU Economist Craig Renney said new data released by Statistics New Zealand shows the need for Government to act now, with unemployment rising from 3.4% to 4.3%. ...
The outpouring of anger over Maiki Sherman’s hyperbolic presentation of this week’s ‘nightmare’ poll is itself an overreaction, argues Stewart Sowman-Lund. Politicians love nothing more than to pretend they don’t care about polls. This week, deputy prime minister Winston Peters said he didn’t give a “rat’s derriere” about a TVNZ ...
Asia Pacific Report Ngāti Kahungunu in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Hawkes Bay region has become the first indigenous Māori iwi (tribe) to sign a resolution calling for a “ceasefire in Palestine”, reports Te Ao Māori News. Reporter Te Aniwaniwa Paterson talked to Te Otāne Huata, who has been organising peace rallies ...
By Dale Luma in Port Moresby “We want grants and not concessional loans,” is the crisp message from Papua New Guinea businesses directly affected by the Black Wednesday looting four months ago. The businesses, which lost millions after the January 10 rioting and looting, say they need grants as part ...
Happy May Day. Join a union. Q: What’s worse than a staff break room where the only place to sit and have a cup of tea is on a teetering stack of old pornography magazines? A: Your boss replacing the magazine stacks with chairs that are “heartily encrusted with ...
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor Former opposition leader Matthew Wale has been announced as the second prime ministerial candidate ahead of the election in Solomon Islands tomorrow. He will face off against former foreign affairs minister Jeremiah Manele, who was announced by the Coalition for National Unity and Transformation ...
We get but one birthday a year – why not make it last as long as possible by scheduling as many meals with friends and family as you can? This is an excerpt from our weekly food newsletter, The Boil Up. How do you celebrate your birthday? Do you celebrate at ...
A Koi Tū discussion paper released today proposes sweeping changes to New Zealand’s media industry. The principal’s key author, Gavin Ellis, explains how journalists have a key role to play in making others value their role in society. This is an abridged version of a piece first published on knightlyviews.com ...
The Government’s spending cuts are again targeting support for Māori with proposed reform of the agency charged with advising on Māori wellbeing and development. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Douglas, Honorary Senior Lecturer, UNSW Aviation., UNSW Sydney The history of budget jet airlines in Australia is a long road littered with broken dreams. New entrants have consistently struggled to get a foothold. Low-cost carrier Bonza has just become the industry’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rosalind Dixon, Director, Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law, UNSW Sydney Australia is finally having a sustained conversation about violence against women and what we can do about it. It is more than time. Australian women and girls continue to experience ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne stockfour/Shutterstock Preliminary bulk billing data released this week shows a 2.1% rise in bulk billing up to March. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Schulz, Senior Lecturer, University of Adelaide Australia is once again grappling with how we can stop gendered violence in our country. Protests over the weekend show there is enormous community anger over the number of women who are dying and National ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University AnastasiaDudka/Shutterstock What if the government was doing everything it could to stop thieves making off with our money, except the one thing that could really work? That’s how it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Harrington, Senior Lecturer in English and Cultural Studies, University of Canterbury The Conversation It seems to be a time of old favourites. This month our experts have recommended two new seasons – the second season of Alone Australia (although ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonti Horner, Professor (Astrophysics), University of Southern Queensland A bright Eta Aquariid meteor photobombed this photo of comet C/2020 F8 (SWAN) in May 2020.Jonti Horner Meteors – commonly known as shooting stars – can be seen on any night of the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Flannery, Honorary fellow, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock Current concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in Earth’s atmosphere are unprecedented in human history. But CO₂ levels today, and those that might occur in coming decades, did occur millions of years ago. ...
Winston Peters has been keen to dismiss speculation on our involvement in Aukus but will give a speech tonight on the direction of our foreign policy, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Usmar, Lecturer in Critical Media Literacies, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images With the coalition government’s ban of student mobile phones in New Zealand schools coming into effect this week, reaction has ranged from the sceptical (kids will just get ...
Hospitals around the country are not allowed to make a single hiring decision without the approval of Te Whatu Ora's head office, including for cleaners and administration staff. ...
A new report on protecting journalism and democracy in New Zealand recommends a levy be charged on global platforms like Facebook and Google to fund media firms undertaking public interest reporting. It also calls for the reinstatement of a powerful Broadcasting Commission to distribute public funding for journalism and other ...
On International Workers' Day, also known as May Day, the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi and the wider union movement are celebrating the proud history of the labour movement during a tough time for working people. ...
From bills to beards, a walk through the former Green co-leader’s time in politics. After close to a decade in politics, James Shaw is preparing to bid farewell to parliament. Tonight will see the former minister deliver his valedictory address, certain to be a speech filled with Shaw’s trademark wit ...
"Two months on from Labour's election-night shellacking, leader Chris Hipkins still cannot pinpoint what the party could have done differently during the campaign to win."
How about give people hope and a vision and provide a real alternative rather than be National Lite?
I know someone here said post-election interview quotes like this is standard polly-speak and real soul-searching is going on, but no sign of that here.
He is not going to admit that he screwed up big time with his tax call and that, along with their policy bonfire, totally disillusioned a lot of people.
Some hint that he understands why Labour has burnt off support, some of which moved left and will not come back, would be good. (I realise floating voters moving right hurt them more, as the Greens picked up fewer of disillusioned Labourites than I hoped).
http://'Sometimes you lose' – Chris Hipkins reflects on 2023 https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/505403/sometimes-you-lose-chris-hipkins-reflects-on-2023
Ardern had pulled Labour into such a steep popularity crash that there was nothing Hipkins could have done.
But Hipkins must go. Had his moment and failed.
If there was nothing he could have done, he can't have failed his "moment".
Chucking him out for failing to do the impossible seems shortsighted.
Baby with the bath-water.
His job description is to win elections.
The electorate could not have been clearer about both baby and bathwater.
The Leader is not expected to win an election solo. The Party is charged with that also. Voters don't just vote for a Leader, they vote for a party and its policies.
Or are you suggesting the Right won because voters wanted Luxon to lead?
I don't think so.
I don't need to suggest anything. There are polls that track the comparative popularity of leaders for PM and their relevant weight in voter decisionmaking. Politics really is a popularity contest.
While there is an element of truth in this – I'd argue it's largely because recent NZ history has 'taught' the electorate that the party needs to have a popular leader, in order to win. First Key then Ardern – both with that high level of personal charisma- the rock star prime minister style.
It's made us forget that there is no intrinsic reason for party leaders to have high degrees of personal charisma or popularity, in order to be elected. Clark had low levels of personal popularity prior to being PM.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_1999_New_Zealand_general_election
I don't recall Shipley or Bolger having high degrees of personal popularity either.
It's important for a potential PM to project trustworthiness (someone electors can envision running the country) – but no need for outstanding charisma. [Yes, yes, I know – none of you thought Luxon was 'trustworthy' – but you weren't his target market]. It's much more important to have a coherent message to sell, one which appeals to a large section of the electorate.
Given that the opponent is Luxon – who also suffers from a charisma deficit – I don't think lack of charisma is a reason to ditch Hipkins.
But I don't feel that it is at all clear what Hipkins stands for (if anything, other than being elected).
He's burdened with history (he was a major player in the Ardern government – so has to carefully manage any move away from her core policies). But that's not unique. Clark was part of the 4th Labour government – with much worse history to have to deal with.
While politics is indeed a popularity contest (and part of the ongoing governance issue is that the skill set required to get elected has nothing to do with the skill set require to govern effectively) – very frequently, that contest can be between a package of ideas, rather than an individual person.
An excellent analysis Belladonna @ 5:45pm.
Absolutely true. You mention Bolger, Shipley, Clark and I would add English. Whether you liked their individual policy stances or not, what they did earn among the populace at large was personal respect. As a Labour supporter, it did not stop me having regard for both English and Bolger – Bolger in particular. Politics is a dirty business but somehow those former PMs managed to stay pretty much above the fray. I would also add Ardern but it is probably too soon to make a finite judgement of her term in office.
Perhaps by 2026 people may see reason to change the negative opinion of Ardern so many ended up harbouring towards her – all for the wrong reasons in my view.
Ad why do you want to change Hipkins if he is so bad if you want National to win the next election you would be demanding labour keep Hipkins .
Over promised under delivered, woeful behavior from his ministers, and yip trying to out national national,
I doubt that Hipkins can realistically be blamed for the behaviour of 'his' ministers. The bad behaviour for all, except Allan (who, I would argue, is a different case) – was inherited from Ardern. Who appears to have not managed them at all.
Was thinking labour in general,
Ebb & flow.
Presenting an inspiring, sound, popular vision is one thing, but in an oppositional framework, the effect of attack, undermining, "bad agents", lies and bribes can sink the best proposals and prospects. Chuck pots money into that and you get … this!
No wonder Hipkins finds it difficult to describe a winning formula.
Do you endorse Hipkins re-election strategy….Robert?
Personally I thought his Capt's call re wealth tax was a mistake and his belated G.S.T and dental policies were tinkering and seen as bribes.Too little…too late.
When he took over from Ardern he had positive momentum….the opposition campaign was not inspiring but prevailed.
Not endorse so much, more accept, perhaps. I don't think he could realistically have done anything that would have won the election for the Left, as Ad has described. Given that, and my supposition that Hipkins was well aware that there wasn't a particular action he could have taken that would guarantee success, I understand why he didn't try to promote a wealth tax, as it would not have done the trick, but instead "parked" it for later, when a campaign on it could be effectively waged.
The gst of food policy was treating the voters as thick, everyone new it would cost to implement and the gains would not make it to the shoppers back pocket. Mind numbingly stupid policy, that made me think he really wasn't clever enough for the job.
everyone new it would cost to implement
There may have been an initial cost in reprogramming the checkout machinery, but after that had been done it shouldn't have cost anything. However, I think it should have included a wider range of products, though there may have been some tricky decisions to make in deciding what to include and what to exclude.
More to the point, I don't think anyone trusted the supermarket duopoly to pass on the savings to customers, at least in the long term.
Only because scandalous behavior by many senior cabinet members seriously undermined Labour's credibility. To blame Hipkins is a very Lame argument.If those 5 or 6 Cabinet members had been competent and kept much higher standards then Labour would have been much closer to forming a govt.Plus putting the Petrol tax back on in a period of high inflation was a dumb move.
Way I see it, nat and lab are just different faces of the same neolib coin. Doesn't matter which way you flip it, it's still the same coin.
If lab don't depart from that philosophy and strike out to put people first, equality wise, then we'll all still stay yo-yoing around the centre, no direction, no plan, no progress.
I think it does matter which way you flip it – the difference isn't anywhere near as marked as I (and you, it seems) would like, but there is a difference and if that's all that's on offer, we'd be foolish not to take it. Making the difference greater is our responsibility, I suppose – grass-roots pressure on the parties that could further our aims is the path to take. Remember also, it's not a binary matter; other parties, worse still than the bigger 2, have influence when partnered through an election result.
I would certainly agree with this – not least because the parties of the further left – have made it abundantly clear that they would not work with National (let alone ACT and NZF)
If you want a left(ish) coalition government – then you have to choose Labour, not National, as the centrist party within the coalition
When you are up against determined liars prepared to say anything as the price of power then you are on a hiding to nothing. Hipkins would have had to trump their lies but I think he is a better person than that.
Na he tried their tactics, every time he used the stolen coalition of chaos line I threw up a little in my mouth,
I agree with you Adrian. The treachery and moral bankruptcy of the new government is succinctly described by Paul Molloy, in response to a very informative Newsroom article "Threat to walking and cycling a threat to health" on 21.12.23 by Dr Kirsty Wild and Alistair Woodward. https://newsroom.co.nz/ It starts "Opinion: The new Government is taking a sledgehammer to measures we know protect health, such as drinking-water safety and smoking cessation, and now it’s undermining efforts to reduce harm from transport. The results will be predictable: rates of disease and early death in our communities, and more stress on our already overburdened health care system. Transport Minister Simeon Brown’s letter to councils this week, urging them to scale back walking and cycling projects is the latest blow. ……".
Paul Molloy says:
21/12/2023 at 9:19 am
It’s truly heartbreaking to see this new Government set on a path to destroy so many moves that had been started towards improving our society. We’re going to give 2.3 billion dollars back to landlords in tax refunds – not a dollar of which will help tenants. And we’re going to wreck the anti-smoking advances made in recent years, build more roads and encourage more driving at the very time we desperately need to be cutting emissions. We’re going to destroy the advances made in Maori health initiatives, and more. It is so galling to see Stephen Joyce given column space in the media to criticise the Labour Government for leaving hidden deficits to booby-trap the incoming Government when (a) all the fiscal risks had been clearly outlined and National chose to deliberately ignore them, and (b) Joyce constantly trumpeted the $10 billion hole in Labour’s proposed budgets 6 years ago when in fact the 10 billion dollar hole was his Government’s vast underfunding of essential infrastructure such as hospitals and schools. Once again we’re going to pay a heavy price for decades to come for the short-term thinking and gut reactions of a public who blamed a local Labour Government for the world-wide effects of Covid – a situation whose flames were fanned by a Press looking for sensation to sell papers rather than to provoke genuine debate.
You said it all in one sentence. Thank you Adrian. I'm getting a little sick of this Hipkins bashing. He was always on a hiding to nothing and a wealth or CGT tax promise would not have made one iota of difference.
If you need to blame individuals then direct it towards those who were primarily responsible – members of the media gang. By and large they let Luxon and his bunch of like minded crooks get away with the most outlandish of lies and devious political behaviour – the latter which we have come to expect from the Right. The reason why many of them did so was varied, but in some instances at least they were looking to protect their own status within the industry.
It will be interesting to see which of them end up as press secretaries in the new ministerial line-up.
Adrian, the billionaires club sewed up the election. Dirty politics found all of Labour's achilles heel(s) and dealt to them. They then campaigned on crisis in law education and inflation, with pots of money from their friends. They believe in small government. At $9 per vote adverts as against $1.90, odd, they were bound to win, as they had to swing 5% of the electorate to have enough seats. Blaming all that on Hipkins is wet. He is not the leader we needed, and Jacinda read the mood better than he did. However the tax decisions undermined Robertson and Parker's work, and lost him credibility.
When people have had a hard emotional time, and relief is promised through tax cuts Wallah!!
However, many are shocked at the cavalier manner and removal of checks and balances this coalition has employed. With spiteful glee they have begun to dismantle the state. The swing is hard right, and perhaps we will see hard left in the near future.
Hipkins may grow into the role. A thoughtful steady leader who begins to listen more… but I think we have been too methodical, predictable and easily derailed, because we follow the “rules”.
Thank you Patricia. Between us I think we laid it out on a platter – sadly not a Xmas platter. The insight of age and experience?
I included "the billionaires" in my "… like minded crooks".
Sadly we have seen it before Anne.
Hipkins is a more than competent leader especially of the opposition.He doesn't whine or get flustered nails the topic on point with out the fluff that Luxon Willis Seymour or Peter's wallow in.people will get tired quickly of Luxon and his Conman talking Willis's whinning,Peter's bully tactics Seymours nonsense.Once the shine goes off their gushing it will expose them as hollow politicians full of it.Luxon and Willis are behaving like a FPP govt no compromise even John Key didn't do massive change he was a pragmatist therefore an incrementalist.Nationals policies will force interest rates up at a time when if there were no tax cuts interest rates and inflation would drop.So over the next 3 years interest rates and inflation will stay stubbornly high.Housing will become more unaffordable with migration at all time highs housing construction declining rapidly rents ,mortgages 'house prices, The cost to businesses of ongoing high interest rates will damage our economy. National never have stable economic growth they always pump tax cuts in just before the elections for the feel good factor then the Reserve bank take all away by controlling inflation with interest rate hikes. Luxon is just a big mouth talking over everyone Willis the Whinging winning cheerleader/doomsayer!
He could have focussed on getting the youth and poor to get out and vote!
Him personally? He was only in the job a short time – surely his team ought to have done as you suggested, far earlier on. I think Adrian has it right.
The latest Consumer has an article on electric and hybrid cars.
"We tested 88 electric and hybrid cars on practicality, safety and performance. Find the right vehicle for your needs with our test results and buying guide. Our results are from independent testing in Europe. Some models are not available in Europe, so aren’t included in our results."
The top two rated vehicles are BMWs. Can't see anyone giving me one of those for Christmas at $207,000 and $289,000.
These car tests leave so many considerations out. Particularly on the cost of ownership. Reliability, cost of parts, insurance, resale value.
Resale value is particularly important for a small vehicle fleet operator. The economics of fleet operation other than reliability hinges entirely on resale value.
The two year cycle of new cars being sold by fleet operators will be a real test to see if they depreciate steep enough for those who can afford something in the $20-$30k range …
… which will be closely watched by those of us who worry about getting a second =hand car battery costing $30-$40k to replace.
Are there useful examples of secondary markets for EV's or hybrids forming in comparable countries?
Yes there's a whole post to write on electric cars and indeed the idea of transition itself as only being affordable by the super-rich.
Only the super-rich can afford brand new cars and brand new solar systems …
… unless they are massively subsidised – perhaps even more than Labour-Greens did.
Nicola Willis.
Show Me The Money!!
Show Me The Money!!
Show Me The Money!!
That cost Labour an election it was said, so what about you?
Christmas joy!
Bowie and Crosby?
I'll be doing some site development work between now and the 8th Jan while I'm off work (I'm on call for much of the remainder of December and January). Most of that will be writing a modernised theme for the site.
In theory it won't affect the site until I get to cleaning up plugins. But much of the theme build will be done on the live system, but under the covers.
Please ignore comments from my alter-ego AncientGeek. I use that login for testing modes other than super-admin.
And this is me – currently as a Subscriber.
labour was the most timid government I can remember. had a majority and did nothing with it could have been transformative but wimped out.Now the leader doesn't know why
look in the mirror
Yep, and so obvious.
Except for those in denial, or with vested interests.
I think the Ardern years were a dead cat bounce for Labour, as they say in the markets. They’ve been struggling for decades now, and look to have handed the socialist vote to the Greens long term, so being National-lite is all they can aspire to.
They’re the party for public servants and that’s about it.
Russia playing moral guardian in the ME after bombing the cities of Syria and moving on Ukraine. There are more refugees from Syrian cities they bombed and Ukraine than the number of people in Gaza and the West Bank.
If only Maxwell Smart was there with his Khrushchev era shoe phone.
OK Chief, we agree provided Russian forces withdraw into Russian territory at the same time.
Then maybe Russians can compete under their flag in 2024.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/middle-east/301032014/us-avoids-three-un-vetoes-in-a-row-with-abstention-on-passing-gaza-aid-resolution
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/8/russians-belarusians-to-compete-as-neutrals-at-2024-paris-olympics-ioc
+1 Adrian. I had a look at CHs diary from January on and it was jam packed. All these people lambasting him about what he should have done,not done etc, wouldn’t even go out their front door if they were having to face what he was facing day in day out. And this was after the sterling work over Covid with taking on all those portfolios. After assuming PMship he was straight into Auckland floods, overseas meetings,daily blasting from the COCs hurling abuse, lies and concoctions of the truth smirking safely behind their snarling packs of millionaires and lobbyists and Lo and behold John Key. Chris was on a hiding to nothing and he barely had time to breathe getting (Covid himself didn’t help) . Give him a break.
the only break he needs is from parliment
labour doesn't respect the working class thats why they never pick any as candidates norm kirk was probably the last one
NZ has moved on from that style of Socialism long ago the Corbin experiment in the UK just handed the Torries another 10 years of power.No one wants to go back to that time it's over cloth cap socialism is over. No young ones want to pay union fees or protest about being left out.Their protest is not voting for those bastards all of them are useless as far as they are concerned.
Labour returning to its roots would be a disaster at the polls.Labour would be a fringe party.People haven't adapted to the reality of the free market and are just hoping for a change back to old school socialism.Which is not going to happen. That's why National voters went with Labour to shut out the greens more progressive agenda. Monied people have way more power than impoverished progressives so no contest. Pragmatic incramentalism is all anyone is going to achieve until more than 50% of the population faces real hardship.Political science 101 reality!
" Pragmatic incramentalism is all anyone is going to achieve until more than 50% of the population faces real hardship.Political science 101 reality!"
Unless it all goes down in a screaming heap of conflict beforehand.
You’re probably right about that. I do try quietly (I’m management, so I shouldn’t) to encourage people who work in my teams to join the union. But the younger ones don’t want to pay union dues, and It’s not really something they think is worthwhile, which is a shame. Many of them think they are up and coming senior managers, so they don’t believe they will benefit.
This is very true in my experience. I've worked in a range of organizations which were 'traditionally' unionized. There are still union members, but almost entirely at the upper end of the age brackets. And the union appears to have little influence on anything to do with worker conditions – so the younger people think there is little point in membership.
Be very interested to know what …'the reality of the free market'…actually is.
heres7is me thinking I was talking about NZ not our colonial forebears.There are more and better run countries in the world than England.tricledown says it all really.
Ickey. You sound very much like your name. Have a lovely Christmas.🎅
[Please fix your email address in your next comment, thanks – Incognito]
Mod note
You are right Robert, adopting a wealth tax that close to the election would have opened Chippie and Labour up to a huge campaign of even more lies and vilification and the loss would have been even greater. No matter that 60% plus may have thought it was a good idea, once posited by a political party it would have been a millstone, as everyone would have a different idea as to who to target, not themselves of course, it would have been disastrous, hence the “ not on my watch “ statement from him. That’s good politics, a CGT or WT will need to be a multi year well sold campaign to be effective.