The previous Government swept through a decision to return to the Open Plan classrooms of the 80s. As classrooms were opened up the classes of 40+ with say 2 teachers became the norm. Doesn't suit all kids. Has your school just caught up?
If it has failed before, or elsewhere, in education, as in so many other things, National is all for it.
National likes “evidence based policy” so they can do the opposite,
It will take decades to recover the ground lost in education, due to National's, back to the 1880's. Never mind the 80's.
Maybe comprehend what he said, "at the expense of the gentle children", not quite what you implied James, unless you're shit stirring? People get a little sensitive and personal when it comes to their kids.
Whatever the spin, the basic aim of all neo-liberal 'reforms' in education is cost-cutting: fitting more students into less space for less expense. I would say that was the main reason for 'Mainstreaming' as well, vociferously though its proponents will deny it.
One of the factors apparently is that children are separated from their friends that have been made and with whom they have formed a learning pair or group.
You'll get a balanced appraisal of Muller out of it. Turns out Judith Collins did the numbers for him. Last weekend, if I heard Harman aright, before the polls. So the thing was up & running on the basis that the two polls would confirm what they already knew?
The bit I heard he referred to making the decision to launch it after the poll results. So it's the difference between contingency plan and activation of that plan that we're looking at…
And then later on Niall Ferguson (if you're into the occasional bit of earache).
When listening to Ferguson's wisdom as an 'Historian' – you really need to preface the title with "Neo-liberal Economic'. Just as well Fukuyama's original predictions didn't come to pass or Ferguson would be out of a job
Coupla media pros with lengthy personal experience of dispassionate political commentary sharing their insights after having talked with him personally often enough through past years. No revelations – just a healthy antidote to the biased views expressed onsite here from a position of total ignorance since he won the battle…
Do you happen to have any conflicts of interest that should be declared?
I only ask because the only previous dude I heard who went out of his way to praise provide a balanced view of Who-ller had some 'splaining to do after he quit Twitter the other day.
No. I'm retired, my membership of the Green Party (second time round) is current at 5.5 years. I'm typical of a large swathe of humanity in preferring balanced views on anything contentious – due to it being an essential pre-condition for peaceful co-existence. 😇
Mullers very first speech after he gained the leadership, included the oft repeated lying memes that have been endlessly repeated by the usual suspects, this month. https://www.facebook.com/gerard.otto
Just another who is happy to join in National's one of two standard propaganda approaches to get power. Othering and repetitive lying.
Repeating the same bs on every occasion, until repetition persuades even the people who should know better.
“Meet the new boss, same as the old boss”.
Does National have a clone factory for these people?
CIA or CCP run. LOLZ
I don't disagree that he is likely to pitch to those he represents – every politician must to be successful. Lying is a subjective judgment. Usually used without any evidence to validate it. I suspect he is unlike Trump and not inclined to do it. However I do have an open mind on the issue so will consider evidence.
He was objectively lying. As Otto showed in the link I included.
Lying about their economic and social record, misusing statistics, and, and bashing an, "other" are their standard methods, when they are lagging in the polls.
Muller is totally following the script.
The occasional original thought, from people who think they are competent to run the country, would be good.
Didn't you get the sub text in Mullers speech. The lines we will hear endlessly until the election, in various guises. "The girl did a good job with the virus. Now it is time for the serious, men, in National, to sort the economy".
In offering to refund firms' GST, the National Party appears to misunderstand the GST system. Firms, in theory, don't pay GST since any GST that they do pay is recouped from their customers. It is the customers, ultimately, who pay GST. A better plan would be to abolish GST altogether.
Any refund would merely be a subsidy masquerading as a GST refund. Subsidizing small firms which find themselves in difficulties due to COVID-19 may well be a good policy, but there is no reason to suppose that the GST that they have paid is the appropriate amount that that subsidy should take.
You only pay gst on profit? This statement makes you unqualified to have any public comment or position on tax.
Businesses pay the difference between gst collected and gst paid. Abolishing gst would be the best tax cut for poor people and the best way to reduce business compliance costs. It’ll also help our local councils as all the rates collected will go to them. They won’t have to pay 15% to central government.
Which isn’t a valid reason not to do it. I don’t expect councils for instance to lower rates 15%
companies, however, work out there margins then add gst on top. So some might make supernormal profits. Those in competitive industries would struggle to retain customers if they didn’t.
there was a lot of teeth gnashing and doom predicting for the less than top bracket earners when gst went up 2.5% Under national round here. Why the reluctance to abolish gst altogether just because someone may profit? Abolishing it now would be the best move the government could make. Give poor consumers 15% more bang for their buck at least.
National will have to return to power to see calls for gst to be cut to return to the standard
On profit plus labour costs and other non GSTaxable costs. With depreciation GST will have been refunded at the time a depreciable asset was purchased.
At a macro level GST is paid to the government by those not registered collected by those who are registered. Companies are only collecting it on the behalf of the govt and passing on the payment to the Govt. i.e. people pay the GST, companies do not.
I thought it was a very simplistic sound bite designed to appeal to very simplistic small business owners who see GST as a cost like power or rent.
Offering a rebate based on the GST you've paid is good for business selling into the NZ market who are doing ok, so probably don't need it, hopeless for the businesses that aren't doing too well, hence not paying much GST because expenses exceed income, and bloody offensive to businesses who export, because export receipts are zero rated for GST.
Coming from Muller, who's worked for export businesses and I'd expect knows how this works, is just poorly thought out survival politics.
I had a Nat candidate rock into the shop one election saying that National's tax cuts were going to make my business thrive. I replied that it would be nice to be making a profit for tax to be an issue (it was in the middle of the late 90's recession / austerity). The look was priceless
Muller wants trans-tasman travel to resume as a matter of priority, but Australia has 16 new cases today so this would be a risk to New Zealand and will remain so until Australia can get their new cases to zero.
The article is by Luke Malpass and Tracey Watkins. Interesting because Watkins was the National Party reporter and head of politics at Stuff but retired/moved-on after the 2017 defeat. Mr Malpass obviously doesn't have the ear of the important people in National's caucus so had to get Watkins in the work the phones for him!
I clocked Watkins name on the article too Muttonbird and it piqued my interest. Didn’t she have an article up recently bemoaning the loss of controlling the narrative? Media get two polls up in quick succession facilitating a leadership challenge, nek minnit, wall to wall national party coverage. There’s even a bloody opinion piece on stuff by Paul Goldsmith.
Trans tasman travel could be a while away given Victoria’s inability to get control of the virus. The states won’t even allow travel between each other. Queensland border might not open till September.
Pretty clear to me the comment in question is about if the Herald want a 50m handout, they have to do the bidding of the pm and earn it, probably like the accusations thrown from the left when tv3 got bailed out, even though it completely ignores two days of puff pieces on Mulder and kayley.
There is no way trans travel will start for a very long time as they said in Melbourne today we are finding more because we are testing more. so community cases are most of their cases .also Queensland will not open their border before September. and the NZ public will not want it to until all these issues are cleared up. Best he shuts up about that for a while
Mr Muller has been so busy developing his plan (not for NZ , but to roll Simon Bridges) that he seems to has missed that the trans Tasman bubble is well under way after Australia invited Jacinda to attend then cabinet meeting and that work is being done on it already on this. It is not his call to make on this in isolation. Actually Australia has a say in this too. Given his haste on this does that mean he would have left the lockdown sooner, or even kept the economy going in a partial lockdown.
Does Muller not understand gst? Small business owners collect the tax, but get a rebate of the gst they pay.
" The Herald on Sunday has since been told by a reliable source that Muller won the leadership by just one vote, although that may never be known for certain. "
Now that his old friend Todd Muller is National leader, Matthew Hooton is pulling back from political commentary. His critics say he should have done so before the contest kicked off, writes Colin Peacock for RNZ.
It was yet another example of control from the centre; funding for a while was only provided for classrooms that met the large 2 classes to a room model. Many are now being ''renovated"" to put a large divider down the middle so teachers can be heard by their class . . .
Sadly the primary school closest to me had their renovation approved pre-2017 election – as a ""Normal"" school some new teachers will know what schools to avoid . . .
I can only base this on a half-remembered presentation from an MoE guy early last year (during which I might have been busy or dozed off), but ISTR that was some of the point of the design approach they were going for – it could be adapted for different school needs.
If you could do group learning or needed lots of space for an art or drama class, open it up. If you need separated class rooms, the adaptation isn't structural.
Biden gets tough: "In a recent campaign ad, Joe Biden accused the president of being too soft on China over COVID-19. This decision to criticize Donald Trump on China and subsequent signals that Biden will take a tough approach toward Beijing have made some progressives nervous." https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/05/how-should-biden-handle-china/612052/
"Writing in The Atlantic, Peter Beinart called Biden’s ad “a jingoistic fantasy” that may put Asian Americans in the crosshairs of racist attacks, “hastening a geopolitical confrontation that threatens progressive goals.” In The New York Times, the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft scholars Rachel Esplin Odell and Stephen Wertheim warned Biden about following Trump into a new cold war with China and argued that the United States should seek to work with Beijing on shared challenges such as pandemics and climate change."
"Critics of Biden’s China policy are proposing far-reaching U.S.-China cooperation that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent diplomatic record suggests is chimerical at best." You bet. Attempts to cooperate with emperors seem sadly lacking in the historical record. My way or the highway.
Completely understand what the government is trying to do with repealing the requirement for certain consents and think it's a reasonable thing to do…. however the law of unexpected consequences may come into play.
It's building consents not resource or planning consents? The district plan about the size and placement of buildings will still need to be followed I assume.? I can't see us being able to build 4 car garages with kerb crossings onto a major arterial route under this scheme if we couldn't before.
yes know who it went to but would suggest their input will be minimal on the outcome…i.e.their thoughts will be largely irrelevant to the implementation or not…and frankly its just as well.
Not a bad list. Agree with the need to check the priority of shovel ready projects so that we don't build too many more unneeded road tunnels.
I also though that the projects grouped:
Restoration- undoing past sins like restoring wetlands
Repurpose & resilience- electric rail not fossil fuel. 3 waters
Redirected- future facing projects like individual generation of electricity
I would add a few other screens too apart from going for a decent geographic spread of jobs and money.
– Can the investment be easily sold or reversed for gain by an incoming RW government. Individual power generation maybe not others yes
– does the investment promote the interests of for profit groupings (neo lib) or is a for community/ widespread individual benefit and with decision making at the lowest viable level.
-Is it progressive or regressive. Better power generation could be tied to the provision of universal basic services – improving lives and reducing community costs rather than high power company salaries and overseas dividends
-Does it embed a future economic low carbon approach that RW governments would struggle to undo.
Lastly, I see some of yesterday's ideas never sleep. Fran Wilde and another mayor trying again to amalgamate all the wellington councils. Pity she can't distingush between representation which does not need to be amalgamated and joint projects.
Banks and other entities trying to us the crisis to shove everything on line or into their preferred models of RW gouging.
Forest & Bird has laid an urgent complaint with the Chief Ombudsman, after MBIE officials took 30 days to refuse a request to release information on how the decisions are being weighted on nearly 2000 ‘shovel-ready’ project proposals.
Documents, including Forest & Bird’s complaint letter, are available here.
That would figure The government urgently needs to revamp the public service. Mobie according to the local scuttle still thinks it in the JK era. thank goodness the health dept had had it's refresh
From since when did Stuff allow party political broadcasts to masquerade as opinion?
Perhaps Stuff should publish an expose on how National steered NZ out of the GFC on the back of the economic legacy left by the previous Labour-led government? And that traditionally it’s National that sucks money away from the economy into the pockets of the rich, then leaves it to Labour to cop the blame and do all the fixing until the next change of government when the whole cycle starts over?
The general population needs to know this. National knows about money, but being good at manipulating the economy for the benefit of a few is not the same as being good economic managers. The myth rests on seeing National as a party for the wealthy, "so maybe if I vote for them I'll get rich, too". This thinking needs to be attacked head on and destroyed.
and important enough for you to link to, you know it's called "clickbait" for a reason (I couldn't be bothered reading it myself, too busy watching the latest Tory debacle over in the UK).
The Herald only published the story to trigger right-wing nut jobs. After all, they need something to talk about because the new Nats leader is less charismatic than a block of wood.
I'm hoping Herr Muller will appoint Mathew Hooten minister of propaganda. Mathew is of that age that requires a 911 Menoporsche and God knows he's earned it.
I went and saw Aussie author Bryce Courtney speak, changed my life.
He had a big corporate job, key player in a fabulous Sydney ad agency. He got a bonus, went and bought a sick 911. Just after taking delivery, sitting at the lights, he overheard the very type of human he was keen to attract. "Look at the desperate silver-fox in his Menoporsche."
He resigned and talked to a publisher about the practice book he had been working on: "The Power of One."
Throw a few sunflower seeds about this autumn. Easy.
Come spring your grandchildren will be amazed by the giant flowers and when they ask why you grew sunflowers you'll be able to say "I did it for you. You remind me of Sunflowers."
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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 ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
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. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
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 ...
RNZ News A group of academic staff at New Zealand’s largest university have expressed concern at the administration’s move to block a protest encampment that was planned to take place on campus calling for support for the rights of Palestinians. This week, the University of Auckland warned that while it ...
Genterwocky After a hard days marching, Sir Doocey calls in at the Village Tavern For a pint of ale and a pork pie. The grim villagers stare at him. “Do not be travelling on the forest road,” warns a crusty old beak. “And why is that, antique peasant?” Grins Sir ...
Political conferences after a party returns to power are usually a chance for some healthy, even unhealthy backslapping. Yet National Party president Sylvia Wood’s address to its mainland representatives on Saturday hardly contained the unalloyed delight that one might have expected following National’s escape from the wilderness of opposition. Yes, ...
Comment: Almost half the world is voting in national elections this year and artificial intelligence is the elephant in the room. There are genuine fears AI-generated or AI-edited deepfakes will potentially manipulate election outcomes not just in the US and UK, but critically in countries such as India. For that ...
Ahead of the reality franchise’s return to New Zealand, allow us to introduce the eight brides and grooms. Chuck on a veil and tie back your man bun, because it’s time to say “I do” to a new season of Married at First Sight NZ. The reality TV “social experiment” ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Norton, Professor in the Practice of Higher Education Policy, Australian National University Every year on June 1, student debt in Australia is indexed to inflation. In 2023, high inflation pushed the indexation rate to 7.1%, the highest since 1990. This ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Changes in the May 14 budget will cut the student debt of more than three million people, wiping more than $3 billion from what people owe. The government will cap the HELP indexation rate ...
Asia Pacific Report The prosecutor’s office at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has appealed for an end to what it calls intimidation of its staff, saying such threats could constitute an offence against the “administration of justice” by the world’s permanent war crimes court. The Hague-based office of ICC Prosecutor ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk A women’s union in New Caledonia has staged a sit-in protest this week to support senior Kanak indigenous journalist Thérèse Waia, who works for public broadcaster Nouvelle-Calédonie la Première, after a smear attack by critics. The peaceful demonstration was held on ...
New Zealand Food Safety is monitoring overseas recalls of Indian packaged spice products manufactured by MDH and Everest due to concerns over a cancer-causing pesticide. ...
By Stephen Wright and Stefan Armbruster of BenarNews Fiji’s ranking in a global press freedom index has jumped into the top tier of countries with free or mostly free media after its government last year repealed a draconian law that threatened journalists with prison for doing their jobs. Fiji’s improvement ...
We might be in Invercargill but all anyone can talk about is Gore. Specifically, Salford Street. That’s where three-year-old Lachlan Jones lived, south of the centre of town, between the A&P Showgrounds and the Mataura River. Roughly 1.2 km away from the single level home he lived in with his ...
MONDAY I lined up the latest round of civil servants from city hall against the wall, and signalled for the firing squad to drop their rifles. I stepped up onto a wooden crate to look at the office workers in the eye. But that didn’t feel right, so I found ...
Keen hiker and second-year MSc student Liam Hewson wears two hats when he’s in the great outdoors. “The scientist in me appreciates nature and goes, ‘Oh, there’s that thing and there’s another thing,’ but then the tramper and the outdoorsy person in me thinks, ‘Cool bush.’” Born and bred in ...
After a long and illustrious career as a goal kicker, Dan Carter’s favourite way to unwind is… kicking goals. Why can’t he get enough of it? And what it’s like to watch him do it for an hour straight? A semicircle of people wielding cameras and phones has formed in ...
Dame Susan Devoy takes us through her life in television, including late night ER debriefs, her proudest CTI moment and the show she watches in secret. Quite aside from her four world champion squash titles, Dame Susan Devoy will likely go down in history as one of the best Celebrity ...
Hera Lindsay Bird reveals the best places in Ōtepoti to score more for your apocalypse-prep book hoard.Sometimes I get the feeling I’ve been killed in a car crash, and this second half of my life is just the brain unspooling itself, like one of those episodes of a hospital ...
ThreeNow’s new murder mystery series takes us on a dark, damp journey into the Australian wilderness.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. High Country is ThreeNow’s new Australian eight-part crime drama, set in a remote part of the Victorian highlands. It tells ...
Introducing a new way to read The Spinoff every weekend. After nearly 10 years of being an online magazine, we’re finally embracing the weekend liftout. Despite our best efforts to convince you otherwise, writers and editors at The Spinoff don’t work weekend. It is through the sheer power of technology ...
Tip one: let yourself be nurtured by this big old man. Tip two: don’t ask him to adopt you. So, you’ve arrived at your first session with a new therapist. He tells you to make yourself comfortable and you opt for the tweed armchair, hoping it makes you look like ...
I didn’t know books could open you back up; that there were books that stayed with you, where reading was like a chemical event. I knew nothing.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.Not too long ago, I was listening to the American ...
Former Olympic swimmer James Magnussen has already started training for the Enhanced games, though says he won’t start taking performance enhancing substances until about nine months out from the competition. The Australian world champion was the first athlete to be announced by Enhanced, but he says the organisation has had ...
Everyone thinks he’s dead. Every day they expect his body to be washed up along the coast. Most likely up Karitane way, the way the tide’s running. But nobody’ll be too surprised if his body’s never found. Even in death he wouldn’t have wished for such attention. He would have ...
Council members voted 21 to 4 in favour of Ahluwalia returning to the Laucala campus following a much-awaited meeting in Vanuatu this week. It comes as USP and its two unions — the Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff (AUSPS) and the Administration and Support Staff Union ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicola Henry, Professor & Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Social and Global Studies Centre, RMIT University Shutterstock Following an emergency meeting of the National Cabinet this week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a raft of measures to tackle the problem ...
Analysis - A poll showing the opposition is more popular than the government raises questions, politicians go through their 'trial by pay rise' and a Green MP loses her cool in the debating chamber. ...
The entire stretch of Tokomaru Bay on the East Coast will be subject to a joint customary marine title for two hapū, and extending up to four miles out to sea. A High Court judge has found the two groups, who during the case settled a dispute over boundaries for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Hall, Lecturer, Media & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University A longstanding feud between TikTok and Universal Music Group seems to have finally reached an end, with both parties signing a deal that will see Universal-backed music returned to the social media ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Siobhan O’Dean, Postdoctoral Research Associate, The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney After several highly publicised alleged murders of women in Australia, the Albanese government this week pledged more than A$925 million over five years ...
Political parties have now fully disclosed the donations they received last year - with National getting more than double the cash of any other party. ...
A Pacific regionalism expert has called out New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters for withholding information from the public on AUKUS military pact. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard de Grijs, Professor of Astrophysics, Macquarie University Bruno Scramgnon/Pexels All systems are “go” for tonight’s launch of China’s next step in a carefully planned lunar exploration program. Placed on top of a powerful Long March 5 rocket, the Chang’e 6 ...
National returned a massive donation the day after a Newsroom story linked the donors to a property being investigated for operating unlawfully as a migrant workers’ hostel. The party’s 2023 donation filings, released on Friday, show it returned a $200,000 donation from Buen Holdings on August 23. That was the ...
Pacific Media Watch New Zealand has slumped to an unprecedented 19th place in the annual Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index survey released today on World Press Freedom Day — May 3. This was a drop of six places from 13th last year when it slipped out of its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua Black, Political Historian and Administrator Officer, Australian Historical Association, Australian National University Australia has had its fair share of public record-keeping controversies in recent years. Some have been mere farce, as in the case of two formerly government-owned filing cabinets (containing ...
Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), a United Nations-affiliated organization dedicated to fostering peace through civilian-led initiatives, has issued a statement in response to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. ...
A poem by Tessa Keenan, from AUP New Poets 10. Mātou These days we are a photograph; one of a farm strewn with cows that used to be bright harakeke or swamp. The kids point at it and say the sun sits behind a smudge (left by someone at Christmas); ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (Faber & Faber, $25)The masterful Irish writer ...
Marriage and civil union statistics record the number of marriages and civil unions registered in New Zealand each year, and divorce statistics record the number of divorces granted in New Zealand each year. Key facts Marriages and civil unions In ...
Marriage and civil union statistics record the number of marriages and civil unions registered in New Zealand each year, and divorce statistics record the number of divorces granted in New Zealand each year. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lennon Y.C. Chang, Associate Professor of Cyber Risk and Policy, Deakin University Taiwan stands out as a beacon of democracy, innovation and resilience in an increasingly autocratic region. But this is under growing threat. In recent years, China has used a variety ...
In this excerpt from her new memoir, Dame Susan Devoy remembers her turn as star contestant on the 2022 season of Celebrity Treasure Island. The most anxious time of every day was pre-elimination, when you knew this could be your final day on the show. I felt such contradictory emotions, ...
A week that began in triumph ended in an all-too-familiar disaster for the Green Party. Duncan Greive asks if there’s something in the mission that breaks its best and brightest. A long, strange week for the Green party began with a fantastic poll result. On one level this is hardly ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist Vanuatu’s former prime minister and opposition MP Ishmael Kalsakau has stepped down — just two days after he confirmed he was the rightful opposition leader. Kalsakau, MP for Port Vila, confirmed to ABC’s Pacific Beat, and the Vanuatu Daily Post on Thursday that he ...
What’s to blame for the coalition’s choppy start? Six months in, and the mojo meter is in the doldrums. A new poll would put National out of power and sees its leader, Chris Luxon, sliding in popularity. How much is it about policy, how much coalition management and a perception ...
The striking report goes far beyond the proposed repeal of the Oranga Tamariki Act’s Treaty of Waitangi provision, and its impact should be felt far beyond the unique circumstances of the claim it addresses. Earlier this week, the Waitangi Tribunal released an interim report on the government’s proposed repeal of ...
The world has been experiencing a productivity slowdown, from which New Zealand has not been exempt. COVID-19 temporarily boosted labour productivity, but more recently, productivity has retreated. The overall trend since 2007 has been one of slow productivity ...
What’s more wasteful than spending $315k on syrup and machine maintenance? Trying to drum up a controversy about it.Cast your mind back to the pre-pandemic idylls of 2019. A “rat” was a disgusting rodent and not a self-administered plague test; the sixth Labour government was in power; and the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Fitz-Gibbon, Professor of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Monash University, Monash University Ken stocker/Shutterstock In the wake of numerous killings of women allegedly by men’s violence in 2024, thousands of Australians have joined rallies across the country to demand action ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Henry Cutler, Professor and Director, Macquarie University Centre for the Health Economy, Macquarie University Oleg Ivanov IL/Shutterstock Waiting times for public hospital elective surgery have been in the news ahead of this year’s federal budget. That’s the type of non-emergency surgery ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Konstantine Panegyres, McKenzie Postdoctoral Fellow, Historical and Philosophical Studies, The University of Melbourne Amna Artist/Shutterstock One of the earliest descriptions of someone with cancer comes from the fourth century BC. Satyrus, tyrant of the city of Heracleia on the Black Sea, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Rose, Professor of Sustainable Future Transport, University of Sydney LanaElcova/Shutterstock Electric vehicles are often seen as the panacea to cutting emissions – and air pollution – from transport. Is this view correct? Yes – but only once uptake accelerates. Despite the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giselle Natassia Woodley, Researcher and Phd Candidate, Edith Cowan University There is widespread agreement Australia needs to do better when it comes to gender-based violence. Anger and frustration at the numbers of women being killed saw national rallies over the weekend and ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Graham, Lecturer in Economics, University of Sydney Mark and Anna Photography/Shutterstock As home ownership moves further out of reach for many Australians, “rentvesting” is being touted as a lifesaver. Rentvesting is the practice of renting one property to live ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sukhmani Khorana, Associate Professor, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture, UNSW Sydney Netflix The new season of Heartbreak High is garnering mixed reviews. Critics are writing about the racy story lines, comparing it to other coming-of-age series about teenage relationships and ...
Bob Carr intends to launch legal action against Winston Peters and Julie Anne Genter is facing a second allegation of bullying. Both sucked the air out of an announcement on education, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in ...
In 1995, Sally Clark went out on her own in a bold and unorthodox attempt to join an illustrious group of equestrian riders conquering the world. In the days of glovebox road maps, brick cell phones, and the hit song How Bizarre, Clark refused to follow Sir Mark Todd, Blyth ...
Who are the fools that decided to experiment with kids education buy making classes into hubs with 40 kids in them??
My kids gone from loving school to dreading it in 1 term .
Please explain??
Ask your local Principal to explain. Perhaps 4 groups of 10 to limit covid-19 contacts?
It was done pre covid.
Unfortunately the principle is a lovely lady who thinks the trouble makers should be given multiple chances at the expense of the gentle children.
The previous Government swept through a decision to return to the Open Plan classrooms of the 80s. As classrooms were opened up the classes of 40+ with say 2 teachers became the norm. Doesn't suit all kids. Has your school just caught up?
Open Plan failed in the 80s.
If it has failed before, or elsewhere, in education, as in so many other things, National is all for it.
National likes “evidence based policy” so they can do the opposite,
It will take decades to recover the ground lost in education, due to National's, back to the 1880's. Never mind the 80's.
Ianmac ,, the school started bringing kids out from town to boost the roll and its become a runaway train ( possible wreck) .
We weren't consulted in any way about the expansion into hub systems or my child being 1 of 6 put up into a hub with the two years ahead.
You don’t think that the trouble makers should be given a chances?
why are they being like they are ? No breakfast? Problems at home ? But as soon as it impacts you – off they go.
god forbid your kids play up and become the trouble maker – I assume you would want them to be given chances and hep then?
Maybe comprehend what he said, "at the expense of the gentle children", not quite what you implied James, unless you're shit stirring? People get a little sensitive and personal when it comes to their kids.
And you can be certain James is a massive Nimby in all other respects so his comment is particularly at odds with what you would expect from him.
This added nothing to the conversation, did it? Just pointing it out for you. You can do so much better.
We don't comment in a bubble.
'You can do so much better.'
Can he though ?
What did this add to the conversation?
Both wasting oxygen. Grow up.
Do you want to be me today?
If you give him a chance, yes.
Feeling lucky today, do you?
You still interacting with James? He knows how to rile.
Do you think expanding classes to 40 helps the kids with behavioral issues??
Whatever the spin, the basic aim of all neo-liberal 'reforms' in education is cost-cutting: fitting more students into less space for less expense. I would say that was the main reason for 'Mainstreaming' as well, vociferously though its proponents will deny it.
Exactly right.
One of the factors apparently is that children are separated from their friends that have been made and with whom they have formed a learning pair or group.
Worth a listen: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/2018747729/linda-clark-and-richard-harman-discuss-politics-and-progress
You'll get a balanced appraisal of Muller out of it. Turns out Judith Collins did the numbers for him. Last weekend, if I heard Harman aright, before the polls. So the thing was up & running on the basis that the two polls would confirm what they already knew?
But when asked by a journalist at his first interview after gaining Leadership, Muller said he thought about going for Leader on Wednesday.
The bit I heard he referred to making the decision to launch it after the poll results. So it's the difference between contingency plan and activation of that plan that we're looking at…
And then later on Niall Ferguson (if you're into the occasional bit of earache).
When listening to Ferguson's wisdom as an 'Historian' – you really need to preface the title with "Neo-liberal Economic'. Just as well Fukuyama's original predictions didn't come to pass or Ferguson would be out of a job
Complete with denigrating governments for temporarily thwarting the free market's glorious destruction of businesses.
20’ 54”; yeah, nah.
What was the “balanced appraisal of Muller”, in a nutshell, and what did you think of it?
Coupla media pros with lengthy personal experience of dispassionate political commentary sharing their insights after having talked with him personally often enough through past years. No revelations – just a healthy antidote to the biased views expressed onsite here from a position of total ignorance since he won the battle…
Do you happen to have any conflicts of interest that should be declared?
I only ask because the only previous dude I heard who went out of his way to
praiseprovide a balanced view of Who-ller had some 'splaining to do after he quit Twitter the other day.No. I'm retired, my membership of the Green Party (second time round) is current at 5.5 years. I'm typical of a large swathe of humanity in preferring balanced views on anything contentious – due to it being an essential pre-condition for peaceful co-existence. 😇
Mullers very first speech after he gained the leadership, included the oft repeated lying memes that have been endlessly repeated by the usual suspects, this month.
https://www.facebook.com/gerard.otto
Just another who is happy to join in National's one of two standard propaganda approaches to get power. Othering and repetitive lying.
Repeating the same bs on every occasion, until repetition persuades even the people who should know better.
“Meet the new boss, same as the old boss”.
Does National have a clone factory for these people?
CIA or CCP run. LOLZ
I don't disagree that he is likely to pitch to those he represents – every politician must to be successful. Lying is a subjective judgment. Usually used without any evidence to validate it. I suspect he is unlike Trump and not inclined to do it. However I do have an open mind on the issue so will consider evidence.
He was objectively lying. As Otto showed in the link I included.
Lying about their economic and social record, misusing statistics, and, and bashing an, "other" are their standard methods, when they are lagging in the polls.
Muller is totally following the script.
The occasional original thought, from people who think they are competent to run the country, would be good.
Didn't you get the sub text in Mullers speech. The lines we will hear endlessly until the election, in various guises. "The girl did a good job with the virus. Now it is time for the serious, men, in National, to sort the economy".
Collins merely told Bridges that the numbers were being done against him. Please get the basics right.
Validate such truth claims via actual quotes lest you seem frivolous. 🙄
It is from the audio you incorrectly characterised.
In offering to refund firms' GST, the National Party appears to misunderstand the GST system. Firms, in theory, don't pay GST since any GST that they do pay is recouped from their customers. It is the customers, ultimately, who pay GST. A better plan would be to abolish GST altogether.
Makes a good headline for the nats though, same shit different day
Any refund would merely be a subsidy masquerading as a GST refund. Subsidizing small firms which find themselves in difficulties due to COVID-19 may well be a good policy, but there is no reason to suppose that the GST that they have paid is the appropriate amount that that subsidy should take.
Yes, just corporate welfare and using GST payable as a (misleading) proxy for business scale. Lazy.
Should be in relation to business income tax paid.
However that would mean the many National supporters businesses, that are tax dodgers, would lose out.
And you only pay GST on profit. The balance is rebated so the strugglers don't get the steam off a turd, typical Nats.
You only pay gst on profit? This statement makes you unqualified to have any public comment or position on tax.
Businesses pay the difference between gst collected and gst paid. Abolishing gst would be the best tax cut for poor people and the best way to reduce business compliance costs. It’ll also help our local councils as all the rates collected will go to them. They won’t have to pay 15% to central government.
If we abolish GST we can't assume that everyone will automatically reduce their prices by 15% unfortunately.
Which isn’t a valid reason not to do it. I don’t expect councils for instance to lower rates 15%
companies, however, work out there margins then add gst on top. So some might make supernormal profits. Those in competitive industries would struggle to retain customers if they didn’t.
there was a lot of teeth gnashing and doom predicting for the less than top bracket earners when gst went up 2.5% Under national round here. Why the reluctance to abolish gst altogether just because someone may profit? Abolishing it now would be the best move the government could make. Give poor consumers 15% more bang for their buck at least.
National will have to return to power to see calls for gst to be cut to return to the standard
On profit plus labour costs and other non GSTaxable costs. With depreciation GST will have been refunded at the time a depreciable asset was purchased.
At a macro level GST is paid to the government by those not registered collected by those who are registered. Companies are only collecting it on the behalf of the govt and passing on the payment to the Govt. i.e. people pay the GST, companies do not.
I thought it was a very simplistic sound bite designed to appeal to very simplistic small business owners who see GST as a cost like power or rent.
Offering a rebate based on the GST you've paid is good for business selling into the NZ market who are doing ok, so probably don't need it, hopeless for the businesses that aren't doing too well, hence not paying much GST because expenses exceed income, and bloody offensive to businesses who export, because export receipts are zero rated for GST.
Coming from Muller, who's worked for export businesses and I'd expect knows how this works, is just poorly thought out survival politics.
Can see this blowing up in his face.
Is simply another variation of 'tax cuts'….and fully in line with the narrative National will continue to play.
Never mind that it doesn't work, it makes the right noises.
I had a Nat candidate rock into the shop one election saying that National's tax cuts were going to make my business thrive. I replied that it would be nice to be making a profit for tax to be an issue (it was in the middle of the late 90's recession / austerity). The look was priceless
Muller wants trans-tasman travel to resume as a matter of priority, but Australia has 16 new cases today so this would be a risk to New Zealand and will remain so until Australia can get their new cases to zero.
The article is by Luke Malpass and Tracey Watkins. Interesting because Watkins was the National Party reporter and head of politics at Stuff but retired/moved-on after the 2017 defeat. Mr Malpass obviously doesn't have the ear of the important people in National's caucus so had to get Watkins in the work the phones for him!
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/121607160/how-todd-muller-took-simon-bridges-by-surprise
I clocked Watkins name on the article too Muttonbird and it piqued my interest. Didn’t she have an article up recently bemoaning the loss of controlling the narrative? Media get two polls up in quick succession facilitating a leadership challenge, nek minnit, wall to wall national party coverage. There’s even a bloody opinion piece on stuff by Paul Goldsmith.
Trans tasman travel could be a while away given Victoria’s inability to get control of the virus. The states won’t even allow travel between each other. Queensland border might not open till September.
There's always Tasmania 🙂
You forgot the sarc tag.
https://covidlive.com.au/
Total Active Cases
NSW 385
Vic 99
Qld 13
WA 2
SA 0
Tas 16
ACT 0
NT 0
Total 515
Nice one Damien Venuto:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12334259
“Todd Muller’s MAGA hat is not okay.”
Well for a 50M handout, they have to do something.
The NZ Herald got a $50M handout? Pray tell.
Your comprehension skills are a bit down today anonymous one.
I didn't say the Herald had received a 50m handout.
What did you say then?
Perhaps go and play Revolution 9 backwards for some clues..
[Your luck is about to run out. Please clarify what you meant @ 5.1 and don’t be a dick today because you can do better too, thanks – Incognito]
See my Moderation note @ 11:31 AM.
Ha Ha no thanks OAB…
[No worries. Have four days off instead plus another two for calling me OAB – Incognito]
See my Moderation note @ 12:16 PM.
Pretty clear to me the comment in question is about if the Herald want a 50m handout, they have to do the bidding of the pm and earn it, probably like the accusations thrown from the left when tv3 got bailed out, even though it completely ignores two days of puff pieces on Mulder and kayley.
The commenter was asked to clarify but chose not to and has been given some time off.
The only $50m bailout announced so far was mainly for broadcasters rather than print media in any case. Throwaway line.
There is no way trans travel will start for a very long time as they said in Melbourne today we are finding more because we are testing more. so community cases are most of their cases .also Queensland will not open their border before September. and the NZ public will not want it to until all these issues are cleared up. Best he shuts up about that for a while
This. Muller is blurting before thinking. Not a good sign for the Nats.
He seems your usual, arrogant born-to-rule tory.
Tory? Really?
Its like calling Labour Communist, just a load of crap. Come on Mutton you can do better!
small tee tory.
"small 't' Tory" Perfectly captured, weka and exquisitely true!
I doubt many Labour MPs are fans of the Communist Manifesto, true.
But I suspect many nats would be great fans of Thatcher's policies, if they bothered to read anything about her.
Mr Muller has been so busy developing his plan (not for NZ , but to roll Simon Bridges) that he seems to has missed that the trans Tasman bubble is well under way after Australia invited Jacinda to attend then cabinet meeting and that work is being done on it already on this. It is not his call to make on this in isolation. Actually Australia has a say in this too. Given his haste on this does that mean he would have left the lockdown sooner, or even kept the economy going in a partial lockdown.
Does Muller not understand gst? Small business owners collect the tax, but get a rebate of the gst they pay.
" The Herald on Sunday has since been told by a reliable source that Muller won the leadership by just one vote, although that may never be known for certain. "
from Claire Trevett
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12334244
Exploring the potential conflicts of interest in Mr Hooton's advocacy of Muller on RNZ (9min), including their Head of News' view of it: https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/2018747708/prominent-pundit-pulls-back-over-muller-link
Hooton has deleted his Twitter account? Things are getting serious.
And:
Oh dear, poor Matt, the victim now!
He has temporarily deleted his account in the past.
You'd assume if his role with the National Party has been/is being resumed, it'll be more than a temporary deletion?
Perhaps it is temporary until he has had time to clean up any incriminating evidence.
Is it possible that Hooton has a new job? Muller might need a Campaign Manager perhaps.
Very possible…one things for sure, Paula Bennet isn't going to have that role.
What has happened to Paula? I rated her for the top-job, but she's been buried…somewhere…for sometime…Paula? Paula?
You rated Paula?…methinks you're being facetious
The same Mediawatch story in text form: https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/24-05-2020/hooton-is-withdrawing-from-punditry-critics-say-hes-at-least-a-week-late/
I did wonder what Matthew’s Magic Numbers were all about …
It’s pretty legal, isn’t it? But is it Dirty Politics? Nek minit …
Hey someone had to leak the Curia internal polling to the Nat caucus who were being denied them by Simon's bunch. Wonder where he got them from..?
We’ll never know for certain but my guess is Christopher.
Has to be someone who was either trusted with them by the Bridges cabal or was getting them slipped via Farrar, I guess.
Suthers seems to have been comfortable in a ponyboy kinda way.
Hooton's company website has disappeared as well – Exceltium Corporate & Public Affairs Ltd.
It was yet another example of control from the centre; funding for a while was only provided for classrooms that met the large 2 classes to a room model. Many are now being ''renovated"" to put a large divider down the middle so teachers can be heard by their class . . .
Sadly the primary school closest to me had their renovation approved pre-2017 election – as a ""Normal"" school some new teachers will know what schools to avoid . . .
I can only base this on a half-remembered presentation from an MoE guy early last year (during which I might have been busy or dozed off), but ISTR that was some of the point of the design approach they were going for – it could be adapted for different school needs.
If you could do group learning or needed lots of space for an art or drama class, open it up. If you need separated class rooms, the adaptation isn't structural.
Biden gets tough: "In a recent campaign ad, Joe Biden accused the president of being too soft on China over COVID-19. This decision to criticize Donald Trump on China and subsequent signals that Biden will take a tough approach toward Beijing have made some progressives nervous." https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/05/how-should-biden-handle-china/612052/
"Writing in The Atlantic, Peter Beinart called Biden’s ad “a jingoistic fantasy” that may put Asian Americans in the crosshairs of racist attacks, “hastening a geopolitical confrontation that threatens progressive goals.” In The New York Times, the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft scholars Rachel Esplin Odell and Stephen Wertheim warned Biden about following Trump into a new cold war with China and argued that the United States should seek to work with Beijing on shared challenges such as pandemics and climate change."
"Critics of Biden’s China policy are proposing far-reaching U.S.-China cooperation that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent diplomatic record suggests is chimerical at best." You bet. Attempts to cooperate with emperors seem sadly lacking in the historical record. My way or the highway.
Not quite sure about this
There seems to have been a great deal of scientific collaboration for quite some years between the US, France ,Uk and China
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236629065_The_role_of_Chinese-American_scientists_in_China-US_scientific_collaboration_A_study_in_nanotechnology
https://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2019/11/11/study-quantifies-benefits-us-china-scientific-collaboration
https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/ce/ceindo/eng/whjy/kjjl/P020180115591904368673.pdf
Could be his advisors want him to out-macho Trump. 🙄 Yeah, I know. It's a male thing. Only works if in character, I suspect.
I agree that collaboration is, in principle, what we need in geopolitics. We're all up against primate internal wiring…
Completely understand what the government is trying to do with repealing the requirement for certain consents and think it's a reasonable thing to do…. however the law of unexpected consequences may come into play.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/121606376/diy-dream-come-true-building-consents-for-low-risk-projects-scrapped
A flood of granny-flat collapses in a decade's time. And backyard slum-lords across poor suburbs in the meantime.
I doubt granny-flats will be exempt, and everything will still need to be built to code.
It's building consents not resource or planning consents? The district plan about the size and placement of buildings will still need to be followed I assume.? I can't see us being able to build 4 car garages with kerb crossings onto a major arterial route under this scheme if we couldn't before.
Better or BAU?
https://mcusercontent.com/056bc28505444958c9358e331/files/909aa867-cb50-48a7-93c3-0b433650dcad/Letter_to_PM_from_ENGOs_Restoring_Aotearoa.pdf
My script-blocker has blanked that out.
Didn't expect the content to load, thought only the link would
All pretty sound suggestions.
Certainly a move in the right direction
It is. Surprising that Salmon is aboard (bluegreen). Hefty consensus. Shane & Phil will have to seek advice on how think about it…
Shane and Phil?
Check out who those copies went to…
yes know who it went to but would suggest their input will be minimal on the outcome…i.e.their thoughts will be largely irrelevant to the implementation or not…and frankly its just as well.
That is an excellent list of job-rich priorities.
Of course, only if you Party Vote Green you get most of them.
Not a bad list. Agree with the need to check the priority of shovel ready projects so that we don't build too many more unneeded road tunnels.
I also though that the projects grouped:
Restoration- undoing past sins like restoring wetlands
Repurpose & resilience- electric rail not fossil fuel. 3 waters
Redirected- future facing projects like individual generation of electricity
I would add a few other screens too apart from going for a decent geographic spread of jobs and money.
– Can the investment be easily sold or reversed for gain by an incoming RW government. Individual power generation maybe not others yes
– does the investment promote the interests of for profit groupings (neo lib) or is a for community/ widespread individual benefit and with decision making at the lowest viable level.
-Is it progressive or regressive. Better power generation could be tied to the provision of universal basic services – improving lives and reducing community costs rather than high power company salaries and overseas dividends
-Does it embed a future economic low carbon approach that RW governments would struggle to undo.
Lastly, I see some of yesterday's ideas never sleep. Fran Wilde and another mayor trying again to amalgamate all the wellington councils. Pity she can't distingush between representation which does not need to be amalgamated and joint projects.
Banks and other entities trying to us the crisis to shove everything on line or into their preferred models of RW gouging.
This from TDB. May.24/20
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2020/05/24/mbie-secrecy-not-how-democracy-should-function-forest-and-bird/#comment-507677
That would figure The government urgently needs to revamp the public service. Mobie according to the local scuttle still thinks it in the JK era. thank goodness the health dept had had it's refresh
7am tomorrow.
https://twitter.com/YoYo_Ma/status/1264220735066853376
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/300019211/its-been-a-tough-week-for-simon-bridges–but-this-isnt-tiddlywinks
From since when did Stuff allow party political broadcasts to masquerade as opinion?
Perhaps Stuff should publish an expose on how National steered NZ out of the GFC on the back of the economic legacy left by the previous Labour-led government? And that traditionally it’s National that sucks money away from the economy into the pockets of the rich, then leaves it to Labour to cop the blame and do all the fixing until the next change of government when the whole cycle starts over?
The general population needs to know this. National knows about money, but being good at manipulating the economy for the benefit of a few is not the same as being good economic managers. The myth rests on seeing National as a party for the wealthy, "so maybe if I vote for them I'll get rich, too". This thinking needs to be attacked head on and destroyed.
Jacinda Ardern realising she forgot to ditch the milk in her fridge makes national news.
Great to see our intrepid media keeping up the real important stories.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=12334283
and important enough for you to link to, you know it's called "clickbait" for a reason (I couldn't be bothered reading it myself, too busy watching the latest Tory debacle over in the UK).
The Herald only published the story to trigger right-wing nut jobs. After all, they need something to talk about because the new Nats leader is less charismatic than a block of wood.
Remarkable gaffe from Todd Muller on TV1 news tonight. He calls for NZ to re-open the borders, and specifically to arrivals from China.
If he thinks that's a vote-winner, he reads the room as badly as Bridges.
I'm hoping Herr Muller will appoint Mathew Hooten minister of propaganda. Mathew is of that age that requires a 911 Menoporsche and God knows he's earned it.
I went and saw Aussie author Bryce Courtney speak, changed my life.
He had a big corporate job, key player in a fabulous Sydney ad agency. He got a bonus, went and bought a sick 911. Just after taking delivery, sitting at the lights, he overheard the very type of human he was keen to attract. "Look at the desperate silver-fox in his Menoporsche."
He resigned and talked to a publisher about the practice book he had been working on: "The Power of One."
Great book, and surprisingly really funny, bet he's a hoot to hear talking.
Yes, the thought of an orphaned boy befriending a chicken lacks credibility. Bryce made us fall in love with that chook.
Yes, I'm sure we all left his talk thinking, 'Gee I like that guy.'
Quality person.
Throw a few sunflower seeds about this autumn. Easy.
Come spring your grandchildren will be amazed by the giant flowers and when they ask why you grew sunflowers you'll be able to say "I did it for you. You remind me of Sunflowers."
Kia Ora The Am Show.
That's great local sports being able to start up with health and safety hygiene plans in place.
Buy New Zealand made is great.
I read some lines of a person Im quite glad that his opinions are not appropriate in the year 2020.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Newshub.
The tax free payment is a payment design to keep tangata afloat and Aotearoa afloat during these unusual times.
Congratulations on the new baby.
Ka kite Ano.
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
Funny. I know A few Goldsmiths.
Ka pai using Pepe mail to teach our tamariki about our environment.
Ka kite Ano.
Kia Ora Newshub.
It great that Aotearoa has invested funds into vax research.
Jender equality at the Japanese bank is awesome the first Wahine CEO.
Ka kite Ano.
Kia Ora Newshub.
Shocking behaviour.
Shows how the tech industry has changed the World the Ion Age.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora Te Ao Maori News.
Move your butt looks like a great cause rasing funding for bowel cancer.
Te Papa opening is great there is some amazing things help by the Museum.
The Hangi pit makes me hungry.
A 4 day work week will save our environment and give people more time to live a good life.
Ka kite Ano
Kia Ora The Am Show.
Its great that teachers aids are getting paid equally as men based industry’s.
Papatuanuku is paradise that needs to be respected.
Great the person giving free dental service for the poor common people.
Ka kite Ano