Open mike 24/03/2024
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AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...5 days ago - Minimum wage ‘increase’ is an effective cut
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- Thank You
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Returning to the model that was failing for most polytechnics and Institutes of Technology is not the answer. ...2 days ago
- Release: National buries 1019 planned homes
It’s been revealed that National has cancelled 60 percent of its housing projects planned before mid-2025 amidst housing woes. ...2 days ago
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- Release: Why not both? Luxon shuns Waitangi celebrations
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The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...3 days ago - Release: Nicola Willis spirals country deeper into recession
The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willis’ making. ...3 days ago
- Release: Hikes for company directors but not ordinary Kiwis
Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...4 days ago
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- Release: Strengthening Justice Services for New Zealanders
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...4 days ago
- Release: Labour will continue fight against destructive projects
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
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The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...5 days ago
- Government for the wealthy keeps pushing austerity
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...5 days ago
- Release: Visa changes let migrant workers be paid less
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- Release: Nightmare before Christmas for Nicola Willis
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For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...5 days ago
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The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...5 days ago
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All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...5 days ago
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The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...6 days ago
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The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...6 days ago
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The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...6 days ago
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The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...1 week ago
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The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...1 week ago
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New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...1 week ago
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The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
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Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
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Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
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Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...1 week ago
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The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...1 week ago
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Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
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After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...2 weeks ago
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Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour fully supports greyhound racing ban
The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
- Greyhound racing industry ban marks new era for animal welfare
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...2 weeks ago
- Rangatahi voices must be centred in Government’s Relationship and Sexuality Education refresh
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt introduces archaic anti-worker legislation
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...2 weeks ago
- Winston Peters – Kinleith Mill Speech
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...2 weeks ago - Swarbrick calls on Auckland Mayor to end delay of revival of St James Theatre
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- PM appoints business leader to APEC Business Advisory Council
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- New housing developments able to progress more quickly
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- Actions to speed up air travel delivering results
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- Ending contracted emergency housing in Rotorua
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- Vocational education and training decisions support return to regions
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- Reducing the environmental impact of synthetic refrigerants
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- Ngāruawāhia section of Waikato Expressway back to 4 lanes for Christmas
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- Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ
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- More AML relief on the way for Kiwi businesses
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- Government seeks partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned-land
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- Torture redress for survivors of the Lake Alice Unit
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- A busy year in the House
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- Greater reporting on Treaty settlement commitments
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- New appointments to the Charities Registration Board
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- Building consent processing times improve
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- Faster access to support through Innovation Fund
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- New Zealand to assist Vanuatu on earthquake response
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- Government takes steps to reduce card fees for Kiwis
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- Review recommends ECE regulation shakeup
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- New Zealand ratifies AANZFTA Upgrade
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I can’t say how I know but the methane reduction program run by MPI and which is an international obligation and a major part of our climate commitments is being gutted and a large portion of scientists and staff to be given the boot. Who the fuck do these people think they are.?
The threat of M Bovis making a comeback should make any dairy farmers blood run cold. With MPI gutted who’s going to help control it.
WTF Is Andrew Hoggard thinking??
Are there any actual farmers left?
It seems most farm owners are engaged in Capital Gains farming.
"Queen Street farmers?
I wonder how all those farmers, Queen St and real, who vote for anything with a blue ribbon around its neck, will blame when foot and mouth arrives due to the cuts in biosecurity. M bovis will be like a walk in the park.
They will blame
"the Greenies"!
The irony is "anti farmer" Labour has shovelled more funding into farming than any National Government since Muldoons " social welfare for sheep".
Including bio- security, the laughably called "free trade agreements", flood and draught relief, research, and income support.
For actual farmers, it may be a case of "be careful what you wish for"
https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/03/23/kupu-quiz-whats-the-maori-word-for-boy/
Do you know your tane from your tama?
I do, but got the whale and the flour question wrong.
Fluked the flour, flubbed the macron, 7 out of 10
One of the many things the left can do is talk.
Until policy is decided we can talk in general terms.
We need to talk about fairness. Whether it’s decency, equality, a fair go, giving everyone a fair suck of the sav, it doesn’t matter. What must be highlighted is that the left’s aim is to make society a better place for all. We can invoke the ideas of Michael Joseph Savage, Norm Kirk, Helen Clark, Jacinda Ardern, as long as connections are made.
No need to highlight differences between us and them.
Where we do this is also irrelevant. Around the water cooler. In the lunchroom. At the quiz night. In the smoko room.
The more the discussion is reinforcing social equality, but in non threatening non party political terms, the better.
Once the election starts to loom, we can get more specific.
100%
Quick response to the Royal Commission on Covid-19
https://covidaction.nz/en/quickresponsetotheroyalcommissiononcovid-19
This section below is also important. The enquiry is going to become a tool to beat the government response up with.
On twitter the FSU already has a response generator up with loaded questions to frame a critical submission to this enquiry. I refuse to link to it.
“Terms of reference
But PLEASE DON’T STOP NOW! The Government has suggested new topics for the Inquiry – and it wants our views. ACA believes this is no time for playing politics. The Inquiry is already looking at these topics and needs to be allowed to get on with its work.”
I make a point of reading the opinion pieces by right-wing columnists, because I want to hear another viewpoint, where they're coming from, and perhaps even alternatives and new ideas- plus, I don't associate with any in real life that I could have these discussions with.
I'm fully onboard with the MSM giving airtime to both sides (as they should, in most cases), and welcome the opportunity to be challenged. Sometimes I even find myself agreeing with the writer.
But then we have this guy, the poster boy for why ACT and libertarians are such are danger- and incapable of presenting their case without throwing a paddy and having a sulk. At least, this one rarely can.
And are climate change deniers that are still being given airtime with that view
https://www.stuff.co.nz/climate-change/350206075/damien-grant-politicisation-our-response-climate-change-dispiriting
And today's offering, a continuation of the 'Grant was the worst finance minister ever/reckless/irresponsible/usual talking points. Do these people have absolutely nothing original to say?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350222404/how-do-we-judge-6-years-grant-robertsons-ascendancy
I didn't read Damian Grant’s article Kay because I knew that he would say that.
It is all rubbish of course. Robertson did a fantastic job, keeping NZ's government net liabilities well below the OECD average despite the Covid crisis and the Cost of Living crisis, the supply chain problems of which hit far flung-flung NZ particularly hard.
The truth is, as he said in his valedictory speech, that Labour needed to raise government spending from 27% to over 30% to pay for the things that the less well off in society needed, such as restoring benefits to the level before the mother of all governments, building more state houses than any government since the 70's (Key sold them off for tax cuts) and building more classrooms than any other government.
Luxon, Seymour and Damian Grant have portrayed this as reckless-shame on them.
Working in the community with those labelled vulnerable…the rent decreases promised by this government are turning into rent increases. Clients paying $350 a week for a basic place are now getting hikes up to $500..! Ostensibly so it can be written off against the landlords tax bill. So you what..? Borrow more against your investment so called for improvements and then buy yourself another Maserati and hike the rent? We will see a lot more of this.
I'm currently paying $300 per week for what is essentially a one room tin shed out the back of a rental property.
My place is absolutely nowhere near healthy homes compliant and would fail on many things. It is also not compliant under other residential property laws. The list of fails is a long one but includes no insulation, no heating, no extraction fans, dampness, no oven and so on and so on.
The thing is I can't make any complaints for fear of losing the rental. It is almost impossible to find a rental in Auckland now as a single person without forking out huge amounts. I have had to move on average once a year over the last decade due to house being sold, relatives needing to move in, etc and the stress associated with trying to find somewhere and then trying to come up with bond, rent in advance, etc is off the scale.
I can get by like this as I don't have family / kids to worry about but it makes me wonder how many other people are in sub standard accommodation but are too scared to complain.