“Shane Jones’ partner, Dot Pumipi, says the MP’s greatest fear in making the decision to resign was that his phone would stop ringing and he would get withdrawal symptoms from the sudden lack of attention.”
And this question says so much about the quality of journalism in 2014 New Zealand.
“Asked whether she was to Mr Jones’ career what Yoko Ono was to John Lennon’s, she laughed and said she had told him she’d support him whatever he did.”
Oh well, if Shane isn’t challenging the supermarkets, its o.k. To shop there again.
Doesn’t matter if nothing about their practices has actually changed or not.
“She said there was a further upside to his decision: “I can go back to Countdown.””
How exactly is that narcissim, im sure that would be a natural reaction for most people leaving a high profile job, how about instead of crying on here you go read Claire Trevetts article r.e Jones and the Toxic Greens not only is it highly accurate you might actually learn something about the man you have dedicated 5 posts to this morning
What you will not hear is the evidence he possessed on the supermarkets which has vanished along with what little credibility he had with all those working class folks the jonolists allege he was looking out for.
Well played national and progressive but it’s a double edged sword especially when meddling McCully is involved.
When is Claire Trevell going move jobs to the print media she is most suited to? I.e., for the Women’s Weekly. Apologies to the Woman’s Weekly. Claire with her puff pieces really belongs with the WW, not as the Deputy Political Editor of the country major newspaper.
I think her content is entirely in keeping with the trivial propaganda sheet that the Herald has become in the past few years. It’s always been a right wing rag, but recently it has descended further into a tabloid telling tales of celebrities and sport.
The only think toxic is the waste that will be kept out of our rivers when the Greens get into power.
When your kids are swimming in that nice clean river and breathing clean air, you will have the Greens to thank. They will introduce regulation that stop profit making companies from dumping toxic waste into our rivers and making us all sick.
The only think toxic is the waste that will be kept out of our rivers when the Greens get into power.
When your kids are swimming in that nice clean river and breathing clean air, you will have the Greens to thank. They will introduce regulation that stop profit making companies from dumping toxic waste into our rivers and making us all sick.
“When your kids are swimming ……you will have the Greens to thank. They will introduce regulation that stop profit making companies from dumping toxic waste into our rivers and making us all sick.”
Does that mean that the Greens now think its okay for non-profit making companies to dump toxic waste into our rivers……?
Why are the Greens so upset that some companies make profits?
The only think toxic is the waste that will be kept out of our rivers when the Greens get into power.
When your kids are swimming in that nice clean river and breathing clean air, you will have the Greens to thank. They will introduce regulation that stop profit making companies from dumping toxic waste into our rivers and making us all sick.
Did you used to swim in the river when you were a kid? Why do you want to deprive kids today of what you had?
If you go to the back country the rivers are pristine. Plus most kids swim in aquatic centres and urban pools. How about some cost-benefit analysis of what you are proposing?
Srylands knows of all of this, I sense.
Comments made to be provocative in the way some kids do whose social skills have a way to go.
He craves attention.
You have no problem with cattle shit and other toxins being dumped into the rivers?
Would you advocate the nuclear power possessing countries to dump their spent nuclear wastes into their water ways? It is cheaper!
“How exactly is that narcissim, im sure that would be a natural reaction for most people leaving a high profile job, how about instead of crying on here you go read Claire Trevetts article r.e Jones and the Toxic Greens not only is it highly accurate you might actually learn something about the man you have dedicated 5 posts to this morning”
Of course Trevett didn’t even impy that the GP was toxic. She did report that the reasons Jones was leaving were because he wasn’t going to be PM or Finance Minister, and he could earn more money in another job. So yes, thank-you, I have learned something about the man – that he is self-centred and self-serving (which makes for a shitty MP).
When is Claire Trevell going move jobs to the print media she is most suited to? I.e., for the Women’s Weekly. Apologies to the Woman’s Weekly, nothing too much wrong there. Claire with her puff pieces really belongs with you, not as the Deputy Political Editor of the country major newspaper.
The right wing contributors on this site rant and rave about how the Greens will destroy NZ’s economy.
I’d be more worried by the present jokers remaining in power.
Gradually indebting the country to foreign interests.
And yet pr, BM, fisiani and others slavishly support them.
Pathetic, really.
“Government debt has reached $60 billion, having climbed $27 million a day since John Key became prime minister – and forecasts show it will rise for years to come.
Despite tax revenue being higher than expected and expenses lower in recent months, Treasury figures show net Crown debt reached the highest yet at $60,015,000,000 at the end of September.
It already equates to 28 per cent of New Zealand’s economic output, is more than $13,000 for every person in New Zealand and is forecast to climb by another $10b by 2017.
When National took control of the Beehive in 2008, debt was just over $10b.”
..it’s been so long since i’ve done/dismissed them..
..i really can’t see the point of all those bullshit capital letters/sentence-structures/paragraphs..etc..
..they seem as archaic/arcane as all those swirls/whorls from previous superseded versions of the ‘right’ way to write..why don’t you still do/bend the knee to them..?
..and despite yr last line..
..i now find my way ‘clearer’/easier to read/more flowing…..
All those ‘arcane swirls/whorls’ you are so dismissive of are an extra layer of texture and context for your readers.
You may know exactly what you intend to say phil – in your own head. But you depend on all these written symbols to convey that meaning to your readers.
By ignoring the textural conventions that most people are familiar with you make it harder for us to decode your meaning. Quite necessarily so. It’s directly analogous to someone whose verbal speech is mumbled and mangled.
After a while people get the sense that you just can’t be bothered respecting your readers enough to communicate clearly. And they just stop reading.
I write using conventional grammar and sentence structure that other people are familiar with.
I make some effort to clean it up before I hit ‘submit’ and quite frequently go back to edit out mistakes as well. I do this out of respect for other people who may chose to read me.
By contrast your ‘stream of consciousness’ style makes no such effort. It stinks of an ‘all about me’ attitude.
But if your best argument is to dismissively invite us all to ‘scroll on by’, would it then be logical to save pixels by simply deleting all your posts ?
Because when you choose to write in a lazy, disrespectful style that few people can be bothered reading, it’s the equivalent of self-censoring mumbling. Yet oddly enough censorship is one thing that gets you very agitated.
+1 Deliberately makes his communication harder to understand (as a point of vanity as far as I can tell), and then expects everyone else to make extra effort to make sense of what he is saying. Then has the gall to tell other people that they don’t know whether something is garbled or not to them. It’s all about phil.
Lolz…Phillip…understands His…Babble…every word…even the … …some obscure poet… long ago…penned a few poems…in the same lack of style…don’t you know…its Phill’s ‘art’…
Just makes it harder to follow.
As long as Phil realise that and doesn’t mind, that’s ok.
At least his comments don’t swamp this site with monotony – in the form of Pete g.
pretty much the same here, unless a meaningful phrase jumps out. Those are few and far between. Often read the people who argue with him, though, just to get a gist of what’s going on.
People who are too prosaic miss a lot that can be learned from poetry and the non literal and the non verbal and the aesthetic and the psychic and the mystical and the allusional….(helped occasionally with a little you know what)
…in other words the glasses and focus of Yang Scientism and literalism has brought about an ecological crisis…the world is too Yang and unbalanced…….in the mind and spirit…. …lol…lol ( and dont eat the little critters or you will have a bad reincarnation)
@ Phil ….
let’s pretend NuZulls a cumpinny en Jawnkey’s running it!
Please don’t ask = its probably on the agenda already!
.
There’s already a hijeckd meedya masquerading as a 4th Estate that’s too lazy to get off its arse and delve into his years as the “smoilung asessun” working in Ayezzzha!.
Most of them, whilst goan beart their daily buzzniss, couldin unna Sten the goi. They did when skeweritty garz were loinung up ta scort thin off the premizzizz
Watch and wait Phull
Their lazinusses are really going to claim integrity in Jonolustuk velyas when the shut hitsth fen. Watch em all…. even the ones fresh from Media Studies papuzz en gradjatshum hired by 3 (based on essays and Lecturers pets, that were completely and utterly plagiarised and/or written for them).
(Btw …. As a former tutor, I’m still trying to understand why a decent enough lecturer/researcher – and a hierarchy that was fairly on to it – could fail to see the bleeding obvious) – but there ya go – bay-sick-ly tik-a-box commercialoizayshun of the tertiary sektah – of which there’s a Heck Yea and a choyce-Jorrrrrse leading the charge).
[….Phil, and perhaps Rhino: watch tonights “tree Newz” – did I hear Nukki kay say something like “biggerings” relating to the Chinese ban on infant formyilla?. I think oi dud – but maybe not – it’s hard to woch the likes of Nukki sometimes. “What I would say – is ….. me mate Nafe Goi hes been skolling me and praviding me with ‘learnings’ of the subjek]
Sometimes I really wonder why the trolls keep it up – but we can rest assured they’ll be the first to squeal like stuffed pigs when it all happens (if it happens, though I’m not that confident given how long its taken thus far to realoise the Empra hes nah closthes) ….. but I reckon they’ve allowed their inflated egos to get in the way of logic.
It’s all a but like Fairfecks subbies; ‘Hubs’; destruction of that 4th as a konsquince of what’s deemed to be corporate sense; a misunderstanding of journalistic values (kind of like that new slogan “Miss Selling”); make me a star ….. you get the idea.
Anyway – this is turning into a bit of a rave.
Preps oi shid jess get Pedey Jorge to go do sim Fek Chuckin.
The con-machine sure as hell is working overtime this week though!
….. Oh – btw Phil – should I call you Phil or Phylis? Bad 12 calls you that often, and baby …. I jisss lerv BOTH yer work! :p
But, but, but, its the RockStar economy don’t you know, by the time the IMF gets in on the act there will be little left to sell off and the real fun will have begun…
b12
It’s not Rockstar..with yet another NZ company dismissing 79 workers in Dunedin it’s more of a Wagnerian economy, but who in Epsom or Helensville gives a hoot about those sawmillers down there.
Anzac Day. Red poppies everywhere. Whichever muppet decided to give a white poppy equal prominence on the banner headline above has a viewpoint that is not shared by the majority. Fair enough. Your decision. A picture is worth more than a thousand words.
[lprent: probably the difference between this who have actually served in the army like myself and the idle armchair warriors like yourself with their mindless romanticism. ]
I don’t think I ever met so many fervent believers in peace in civilian life as I did inside the army. Due to the range clearing philosophy at Waiouru when I did my training, I rapidly became a believer myself.
A friendly advice for you : Whatever war you support, make sure you don’t say anything against uncle Tom anymore unless you wish for a drone to hover over your head. The price of freedom, justice and fair play. Collateral damage justified by lies and spin.
Uncle Tom???, you are thinking of ”Uncle Sam” are you not, the same ”Uncle Sam” that is now dropping US troops in to places like Poland and the Ukraine in the hope? that the pro-Russian militias will find cause to harm some of them perhaps…
“old ex-soldiers tend to be somewhat more reflective and self-aware.”
This is true, am I still banned?
[lprent: Yes. I have a vague idea about doing another general amnesty while I have the time to deal with the idiots next week. However the time is being rapidly sucked up with things to do.
The trick is generally not to get banned in the first place. ]
Fisiani and his fellow right wingers go on about how they are off to the dawn parade to “remember the fallen” who died fighting tyrannical governments, but I wager that if the Chinese decided to take this country by force, they would be down by Queen Street waving their little Chinese flags as the PLA marches up the street..
… idle armchair warriors like yourself with their mindless romanticism.
Now, be fair. If mental midgets can’t think of Anzac Day in terms of mindless romanticism, how are they going to think of it? You can’t put a quart in a pint pot.
“probably the difference between this [those?] who have actually served in the army like myself and the idle armchair warriors like yourself with their mindless romanticism.”
PLUS [+] (any number) doesn’t seem to cut it! – but +1
@ Fizz – have you ever?
btw …. Probably also those in the military who’ve climbed the ladder by arse-licking, and who’re expecting dizzy heights – perhaps a serial gummint departmint CEOze appointment, or even a guv genrill appointment. Prolly Shane will arrange the next one – preferably one that can use a bit of holdtight on the partial plate when delivering the honours.
(Christ I can be a bitch I know – but these munters and their cronyism – really ARE becoming quite pathetic!)
A Harley Davidson at the Tex Payuzz xpense would probably be a damn sight cheaper for all concerned – we could get Chris Finlayson to bestow the honours too without all the ‘kerfuffle’
Personally I’D RATHER we honour the deserving – and there are quite a few. There really IS a hierarchy that lets them down though.
wew were discussing something yesterday that got lost in the old maelstrom a bit, so I’ll just cut iand pastes it over here, as I’m keen to hear your reckon.
As I noted, the data isn’t as good as we might like it, but it’s what we have, unless you have better data to share of course.
Give that, as you said:
“Fact checking isn’t a waste of time – it can help people perceive more accurately and not get fooled by party propaganda and ignorance.”
Could you have a quick look at the following statements, and see if the facts revealed by that polling data can help clear up any propaganda or ignorance regarding what people think:
1) “Labour looks out of touch with people and out of touch with reality. If they don’t turn this around very soon it could be terminal.”
2) ” The perception of the party is tending towards pathetic.”
3) “Ex Labour minister Michael Bassett may not be a party favourite but what he said on Radio New Zealand half an hour ago about Labour now are common sentiments”
Perhaps you’re trying to be too clever for me. What point are you trying to make? That any opinion expressed here should be supported by an opinion poll? I’ll try polling your opinion.
1) Do you think Labour looks in touch with people and in touch with reality?
2) Do you think there are no perceptions the party is tending towards pathetic?
3) Do you think what Michael Basset expressed are not common sentiments?
I’m not trying be clever at all Pete. Nor am I suggesting that all opinions should be supported by polling.
I am saying that the data in that reid polling contradicts your statements about what people think.
In particular, the polling shows that Key is seen as being out of touch with normal kiwis far more than the Labour leader has been, for quite some time.
For the last year, a majority in the poll has said that Key is ‘out of touch’.
The following statement is about something that we can only know from polling:
“Labour looks out of touch with people and out of touch with reality.”
It’s talking about what the electorate thinks, and the evidence we have about what the electorate thinks on that particular question doesn’t really support it.
And yet it is something pundits talk about a lot, and you repeat seemingly without thinking about whether or not you have any evidence for it.
Even when presented with the evidence we have, you can’t bring yourself to talk about it.
So,
“Fact checking isn’t a waste of time – it can help people perceive more accurately and not get fooled by party propaganda and ignorance.”
The talking point in the media by various pundits and analysts, which is repeated by you in various statements, that ‘Labour is dangerously out of touch especially in comparison to the down to earth Key led national party’, seems to be “party propaganda and ignorance” that could be assisted by a bit of fact checking, no?
The talking point in the media by various pundits and analysts, which is repeated by you in various statements, that ‘Labour is dangerously out of touch especially in comparison to the down to earth Key led national party’, seems to be “party propaganda and ignorance” that could be assisted by a bit of fact checking, no?
Do you have poll to back your “party propaganda and ignorance” claim?
I haven’t compared Labour to National on down to earthiness.
“Do you have poll to back your “party propaganda and ignorance” claim?”
That reid one is what makes it seem to be so Pete. It strongly suggests the majority of people do not think labour is out of touch. Whatever problems Labour has, it isn’t that. So people who are claiming otherwise, are wrong. This might be because of ignorance, or for propaganda reasons
This is very simple.
You made claims that labour is seen as being out of touch.
The best available data that I’m aware of suggests that isn’t the case.
Maybe you have other data that suggests it is the case, which supports your statements. If so you should share it.
Your wriggling is giving me the impression that you are more interested in something other than fact checking to assist people to “perceive more accurately and not get fooled by party propaganda and ignorance.”
That depends on the media to a large extent. Our media has shown to be personality and sensation driven and has come across so far as pretty inept and useless fourth estate, instead of being a responsible and unbiased pillar of democracy in informing the public on policy issues.
the gap will narrow, I burst out laughing. what wishful thinking. This has eerie similarities of 2002 with the how low can you go limbo dance of political demise.
You really think that policies bribes or any dodgy offer will make a difference when the economy is booming, wages are rising, employment is ring and 1,600 a week are coming off benefits? I have a bridge to sell you.
I think it’s important to figure out the difference between opinions – ‘I think Labour looks out of touch’ – and provable statements – ‘The majority of people think Labour looks out of touch.’
Statement 1 is a little bit in-between, but statements 2 and 3 above are provable (not perfectly, because there are always questions around polling methods etc. and how we define whether a sentiment is ‘common’ could be argued, but nevertheless.)
They can’t however be proved by ‘polling’ one commenter on a blog site, and I have to say, Pete, that this kind of tactic is something I’ve seen several people call you out on. You have made statements and, although I respect that you generally comment here in a personal capacity, and not as editor of Politicheck, you aren’t showing willing to back those statements up, and are avoiding having to answer them with a silly little charade of a one-man opinion poll.
Unfortunately, Pete George has indicated in previous comments that he does not understand statistics. He does not consider them to be facts and instead believes that because one can misrepresent statistics to ‘prove’ a certain point (e.g. by cherry picking data points), then the entire field of statistics is completely arbitrary. His comments regarding the “statistical poverty line” also show that he has a poor understanding of averages (either the median or the mean) and he does not understand the effects that changes in the underlying distribution of a parameter would have on these averages.
I really have no idea how he can be qualified to be a “fact-checker”, let alone a “fact-checking editor”.
That’s a very good point, wtl. Of course it’s good for a fact-checker to be aware of the ways statistics can be misused – it’s probably a prerequisite for the job – but that level of ignorance is just embarrassing.
I’ve always thought, and I’ve seen others here comment, that a basic grounding in concepts like mean vs. median would raise the level of political debate in NZ. And I did hope when I saw Politicheck getting launched that it could be a vehicle for that kind of thing. I guess not!
Thanks Pascal. The “experts” like Bassett certainly paint a dismal picture, which is not borne out by the Reid Polls. With more exposure later this year people will be able to compare and contrast. And maybe those little comments like trucks on motorways and trailer registrations etc serve the purpose of being known by thousands who have yet to notice David or the serious life affecting policies yet to be delivered.
Thanks for the link. Have Bookmarked it.
1 Yes
2 Wrong
3 Bassett is a very nasty malicious animal
(Note Pete is away with the fairies @ 5.1?)
The link to 3News was distorted but FPP suggested one thing but MMP showed that: “Support for the National Party has dipped in the latest political opinion poll and the Greens have jumped.
The Roy Morgan poll released yesterday showed National down three points to 45.5 percent. Labour rose a point to 31.5 percent and the Greens jumped 3.5 points to 14 percent.
If a national election were held now it would be too close to call, pollster Gary Morgan said.
So what was your point Petey lad?
Not only that there is also NO mention of David Cunliffe in any of the charts. His name is nowhere to be found. So that makes it a Shearer poll. One which has me in a quandary, because Cunliffe won the Leadership in sept 2013, and these polls are supposedly up till Jan 2014.
So the question is this: Is the whole lot just reid research just making up numbers? because it just don’t make sense.
I haven’t commented so far on Shane Jones’ departure from Labour and Parliament and will not do so other than saying that after my initial shock, IMO it is the best thing he could do. He was never an easy fit in Labour. While in his first term, I thought he did well, thereafter until the leadership contest and since, he was a non-entity apart from the ‘occasional incident’. If I was in Cunliffe’s shoes, I think I would be sighing a sigh of relief that the ‘loose cannon’ is going.
On this day when we remember those who fought, and died, for our freedom and democracy, we need to also look forward to hopefully strengthen our resolve to protect these.
So, in my opinion, it is time to put Shane Jones behind us – and look forward to, and be thankful that his going means that Kelvin Davis is coming back.
I was impressed by the way that he handled the situation and media within a very short time of the announcement of Jones’ decision.
But I am even more impressed by his Facebook post setting out his first four priorities – posted yesterday. –
It is a definite must read in full, so I am not going to give a summary.
Apologies if this has already been posted (and I think it is well worth a full post), but it gave me a real surge of positivity at a time when all around seemed to be negativity.
Seeing as you said that Kelvin Davis’s Facebook page was a must read, i did, to be kind, Kelvin will be a perfect fit into middle class Labour and should represent the interests of that middle class really well,
Education, education, education, if this were to be the solution then WHAT has gone so seriously wrong with the education system in Te Tai Tokerau for so long,
Kelvin managed to have me seeing RED with His little allusion to ‘Nutters’ in His opening remarks, ‘Nutters’ have become thus for a reason and far from the snide inferences their way Davis would far better serve His electorate to avail Himself of the causes rather than poke the iron at the symptoms,
Am unimpressed, another business as usual candidate for Labour…
I wish I hadn’t read that bad12. I agree entirely with your conclusions.
He either doesn’t get it or he doesn’t want to, (and they both merge into a giant ‘I’m alright Jack,’ anyway.)
Davis wants to get to feel like one of the good guys as he props up the mythology that is destroying so many of us. Pagani must love him.
A complete denial of the structural causes of the woes faced by Maaori, denial of patriarchy in sexual and physical abuse (man-up ffs!) and airbrushing the poverty, structural inequality and racism that underpin both in the community he hopes to represent.
Nothing major needs to change, the barriers can be overcome by a bit of elbow-grease and a particular (still patriarchal) definition of a “real man”. As you were etc.
Can you be more specific as to where you see actual denial?
You might be right, but it’s also possible that as a politician in a mainstream party he talks in ways that his constituents will understand, or he is pragmatic enough to understand where he has power and where he doesn’t. It’s not like he can talk about the patriarchy or colonisation outright and still be an electable Labour MP.
I would be very surprised if he was unaware of colonisation and its impact on Māori, or unaware of the structural issues.
What do you think he meant by this?
Te Tai Tokerau has endured it’s own tragedy, but it happened over 40 years not 40 seconds. The effects on our people have been equally devastating in the long run.
“a particular (still patriarchal) definition of a “real man”. As you were etc.”
Hardly as you were. He makes a long, explicit statement to men that being a man includes respect for women and children. This is consistent with Māori kaupapa and is something I would like to see within Pākehā culture, esp politicians.
His statement about te reo is radical and one I wholeheartedly support.
His statement about te reo is radical and one I wholeheartedly support.
Apart from the word ‘radical’ we are agreed about this.
I could go into more detail but I don’t think any good would come of it. The way I see it, he fits perfectly with the current Labour Party. No challenge, no change, just more of the same. I’m sure he sincerely hopes that he can push a few more kids into ‘real person’ (middle-class) status through the power of education, which is nice I guess. But in desperate times, with the scale of need, and the crises we have breathing down our necks, the kids that don’t “make it” are bound for under the bus, and it’s brutal.
Just now the future seems unremittingly grim for more and more people and I just wonder who has to be affected for it to start mattering.
Davis does seem pretty moderate to me – but an improvement on Jones. I think if the Labor caucus shift more strongly towards founding Labour principles, Davis will most likely go with it.
…from Kelvin Davis not a word on Charter Schools and Standards testing
….this is a worry, because he comes out of a hopelessly compromised Ministry of Education…. which is following an ACT agenda …..espoused by private PR companies working on the advice of USA Charter School business ( which in orientation is right wing and religious fundamentalist)
….where is Labour’s Education policy?
…like the retirement age issue….full employment for youth …raised minimum incomes for workers……Education is an important issue for Labour .
…Labour should be for State Education and equality of opportunity …not Private education
I want to hear Kelvin Davis’s views on education ….and Labour’s policies on Education
I am sure you are and I am sure you will. There are still 5 months till the lection. Surely, would you want want Labour to announce all their important policies now so
that
(a) the media give it some publicity now rather than close to the election?
(b) the nasty Nats can go on spinning about all kinds of exaggerated faults?
(c) the notorious Nats can copy some aspects of the policies to pretend it is theirs?
(d) the voters not have them fresh in their minds just before they cast their votes?
Hey people, give the guy a break. It was a facebook posting.
His priorities are right on. Education, well that’s appropriate given he’s a teacher, he’s going to be concerned about this. His electorate. Te Reo. Violence against women and children.
Can anyone really argue with these four priorities?????
I agree with Weka, I can’t see him denying structural causes. He didn’t mention them as he needs to keep it succinct. Labour get criticized on this site, for their media stuff and not doing sound bites.
Labour haven’t released their education policy yet.
I didn’t like the nutter comments but I am not going to right the guy off for them. I am not sure who he means, maybe some of the right wing people posting on TS.
+1 It’s his first statement about his intentions as an MP. They seem appropriate to the party he is in and assume that he wants to work towards something achievable. If we want something more radical try Mana or the GP.
“Apart from the word ‘radical’ we are agreed about this.”
He’s basically saying that we should take action to make conversational reo normal in NZ. How is that not radical?
“The way I see it, he fits perfectly with the current Labour Party. No challenge, no change, just more of the same”
I don’t see Labour doing any of the things he talks about. How is it more of the same? I think what you perhaps mean is that he’s not an obvious shift left for Labour. I don’t know, I’m just going on what I read on the FB page. But I do think that we need solid, mainstream MPs in Labour, because so much of the country is mainstream in their politics.
The best criticism that’s been made is that Pagani will like him. That makes me worry.
Wow now that’s what’s needed from a Labour Politician. And yep the Nutters probably those of Fishy and Petey George to name but a couple But reading down I’ll add Bad 12 and Just saying to that list of T 🙄 s and Nutters too judging by their comments.
I decided to place this link here and not in the Anzac post from MS. It is not my intention to cause upset but to add some thoughts to ANZAC day I felt would be misunderstood in that post’s comment section. So here goes:
A word of warning to all well meaning Kiwi’s honoring their ancestors and the recent young man and women who died in wars we where dragged into by our “leaders.
Will we be doing this for people dying in more wars in the future and if so will those wars be remembered through the same patriotic glasses without a shred of criticism for those sending the brave men and women to their deaths in them?
“A word of warning to all well meaning Kiwi’s honoring their ancestors and the recent young man and women who died in wars we where dragged into by our “leaders.”
Which wars are you talking about that we were ‘dragged into by our leaders’ ?
So glad you asked. How about every war financed by and for the bankers for starters. Oh oops, that would be as far back as the Napoleonic wars and counting.
US involvement in WWI was driven by the Wall St banking fraternity who did not want to see France and England lose the war against Germany – which would have resulted in massive Wall St loan losses as France and England would never have paid back the loans that Wall St had made to them.
Yep and apart from the PTB behind the throne the Bush family made quite a bundle from Auschwitz after they helped to finance Hitler to get him into power
It’s well known that the Bush family was trading with Germany well into 1942. In fact, if the US hadn’t invented the law about war profiteering Prescott Bush would have been hung as a traitor.
I’ve no idea if this has been covered before, but…polls.
Strikes me that a majority of ‘undecideds’ are probably left bloc voters who haven’t decided which party of the left will get their vote, rather than people wavering between left and right. So on that basis, if these ‘undecideds’ aren’t factored into poll results, then of course the right wing vote will be over reported. Polls that present percentages based on only those who state preferences (adding the decideds up to a 100%) are of no more use than soggy loo paper, no…unless your looking to generate a self fulfilling prophesy?
So anyway, why is the publication of such skewed nonsense acceptable?
Good point Bill about just who the undecided are. I vacillate between Labour/Green but last time nearly considered NZF strategically.
But 20% undecided leaves the field ripe for persuasion.
I don’t even know the %age of undecideds ianmac, (is it 20% or is that just a number you threw out there?) but I’m definitely picking it’s predominantly made up of left wing voters.
One of the polls definitely said 20% undecided. An earlier one was 11%. But I can’t find the source. It seemed by my dodgy memory for a year or two back further back the undecided was about 5%.
However Paddy and others are reluctant to quote say 20% undecided, as it would mock the usefulness of the polls especially with the dodgy use of FPP seats in parliament line.
And I wonder if the Labour Green being apparently behind will spur the efforts of we mortals?
So okay…what that could suggest is that the vote for Labour is dropping as the number of undecideds rises. A pile of formerly Labour voters thinking of going with the Greens? Definitely possible. Meanwhile, the actual left vote is being under-reported by dint of the way polling results are formulated.
Strikes me that a majority of ‘undecideds’ are probably left bloc voters who haven’t decided which party of the left will get their vote, rather than people wavering between left and right.
That’s a bold claim Bill, but I don’t think it’s supported by evidence.
I’ve seen some pollster analysis that claims undecideds are about as spread as the decideds. But they are the hardest to get a preference from – they are pushed to make a decision, so a guess like your’s is just a guess.
And undecideds are less likely to decide at election time and vote so less of a factor.
So Pete, the fact (yes, it’s a fact) that there are more parties on the left competing more evenly for left votes than the fewer and more clearly delineated parties on the right, has no impact on the likely voting intentions of those polling as ‘undecided’. Seriously!?
Try applying some fcking logic sometime Pete…..actually, just any degree of thought would be an improvement for you.
You might find it illustrative to peruse ‘ts’ comments re voting intentions. Right wing votes are set. They’re voting National. (A wee few for ACT). The left wing votes on the other hand are much more fluid and constantly moving between Labour, the Greens and Mana. Just read the comments over time.
Meanwhile, a bit of a bold ( and not entirely free from stupid) claim there Petey about ‘undecideds’ being less likely to vote. Not voting and undecided as who to vote for are actually markedly different things
Well said Bill. And Pete saying,”I’ve seen some pollster analysis that claims undecideds are about as spread as the decideds.”
If undecided, that might mean ummm Undecided. It does seem more likely that so far the likely Left voter would be waiting to get a handle on just what Labour/Green would bring, whereas the writing is on the wall by the performance of the current lot.
We therefore know most of what Nats are offering, so what alternative do we have? Persuade me (but not too soon with policy as it gives Key’s monstrous huge team of researchers and PR people time to negate and undermine and pinch good policy, like parental leave for instance.)
Yes, National are shameless thieves who steal from the services for the poor and the less well off in society and help the wealthy instead, and steal Labour’s past and present social policies to steal some potentially left wing votes.
There’s nothing set looking about that. Other polls have had a similar degree of variation.
You may be correct that right wing votes are set, but there’s a lot in the centre sloshing about. Most of the uncertainty and undecided is with swing voters who could go any of several ways.
Asking you a favour Pete. Please don’t respond to any of my comments in future. The reason? Disagreement and debate is fine by me and even potentially informative. But you’re comments tend to be blithering wastes of space that, while devoid of intelligence, are unfortunately and routinely pregnant with unpleasantly dead shit that serves to choke debate/discussion.
Pete. I’ve no problem with criticism. Thing is, criticism requires a modicum of intelligence. Criticism in no way comprises of the tangential or irrelevant nonsense that marks the bulk of your comments. Your nonsense (as I’ve commented above but that you appear to have been incapable of grasping first time around) is effectively dead shit that chokes up any flow of critical (or otherwise) debate and discussion.
Don’t respond to this and never again question my desire to have critical and/or intelligent debate when my core point (How often would I have to repeat this before your obstinate levels of comprehension stopped looking upwards in bewildered blankness at the point?) is that you kill the potential for critical and/or intelligent exchanges with your rubbish.
At those levels, the margin for error is 3%. Look at that jump from the low of 43 to the high of 48.5%. The first could be as high as 46%, the second as low as 45.5%.
And that’s without looking at vacillating undecideds bouncing between left and DNR.
You comprehensively failed to support your assertion that there’s a lot in the centre sloshing about. You might well just be grasping at an artifact in sampling.
I agree. I am not sure why the poll companies do not state the % of voters who are undecided. Such a poll is more accurate and meaningful.
Another point I wonder is why don’t the four or five main polling companies stagger their polls weekly, one after the other? Surely, they could come to a mutual agreement on that? What stops them from doing that?
I could be generous and suggest that polling companies are running polls better suited to the ‘either/or’ scenario of FPP elections. But having said that, even the Scottish independence polls (which is a straight binary choice) incorporate the undecideds into their results and state when they have stripped the undecideds out for the sake of % age comparisons of those who have decided which way they intend to vote.
Maybe in NZ a clearer picture would emerge if people were asked which bloc they were going to vote for alongside or instead of which party. Slight problems in designating some parties to a left or right bloc, but as long as the make up of each was consistent over time….
Last Roy Morgan Poll showed only 5% did not name a Party (Undecided?). And that was the 48% for National one. Be interesting for the next poll, away from that Princeling fellow and his celebrity wifey.
Strikes me that a majority of ‘undecideds’ are probably left bloc voters who haven’t decided which party of the left will get their vote, rather than people wavering between left and right. So on that basis, if these ‘undecideds’ aren’t factored into poll results, then of course the right wing vote will be over reported.
How can you factor ‘undecideds’ into poll results?
Gavin White of UMR claims (via research) that since 1999 polls have tended to have National and Greens too high, they are up and down on Labour, and have NZ First too low. That doesn’t fit with right being over-reported and left being under-reported.
Hmm am not that impressed with iPredict, however found this press release on ‘It’s Our Future’ website which contains an interesting analysis:
“National’s chances of leading the next government have eased from 74% to 70% over the last week, compared with 87% at the same point in the 2011 election cycle, according to the combined wisdom of the 7000 registered traders on New Zealand’s online predictions market…”
A good opening comment from Kelvin Davis in the Herald ex Northern Advocate – Mike Dinsdale.
“Mr Davis, who spent one term as a Labour list MP, said he would push several key issues when back in the House – Maori education, regional development, improving the number of people speaking te reo Maori, and “being the male in Parliament who stands up and says enough is enough over domestic violence”.
And “…after missing out by 832 votes to Hone Harawira in the Te Tai Tokerau electorate race in the 2011 election …”
Do I barrack for Hone or for Kelvin? Aye. There’s the rub. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11244080
Wait for the Labour list to come out and if Davis is high enough, electorate vote Mana. And give your party vote to the GP 😉 Win, win, win, for the left.
The Greens already have their core about 10-12% support from around the country.
I would like the Mana.Com alliance (if in action) to clear the 5% threshold.
So, it would make more sense for the left voters THERE to give the electorate vote to Hone (if Kelvin is fairly guaranteed a list position under 25th) and party vote to Mana.Com alliance (to help the 5% clearance) or Labour (to ensure more Labour Reps than other lefties) or the Greens(if you wish Greens to wield extra power over Labour) or NZF (for super gold card and things) or National (if one is silly to boost Key’s ego during his retirement troty in Hawaii) or ACT (if you love insects and the rich) or UF (if you like ex Labour party turn coats and hairdos)
Labour say they will win Napier and Christchurch Central so do you really think a hetero sensible bloke like Kelvin will be placed higher in the list than the sisterhood.
The ACT Party and other Right Wingers often claim that people are poor and/or criminal because they choose to be, through a lack of will power, and/or moral fibre.
The strangest things often cause me to ponder this assumption.
Yesterday I went to the supermarket to get some paper vacuum cleaner bags for my vacuum, they come in a slim pack of five for $11.
On approaching the check out I noticed that the bottom of the packet had a neat slit cut in it and instead of having five vacuum liner bags there were only four. The check out operator said she would not let me have the packet for less than the full $11, so I had to walk back down the aisle to get a new complete intact pack.
While I was making this long walk, it occurred to me that there must be some very house proud poor person moved to steal just one vacuum bag. Since the pack of five was hardly much bigger than one single bag, this person would have taken a greater risk of being found out by slitting open the packet and removing one liner, than just concealing the whole pack.
I wondered, was this house proud shoplifter having some sort of moral debate with themselves that it would be less of crime if they took just one bag? Did they balance this crime against the moral dilemma of leaving their house dirty?
Should the members of ACT be worried that there are house proud poor people with moral scruples driven to wandering the aisles of New Zealand’s supermarkets armed with sharp knives?
In west Auckland supermarkets, we now have to ask the checkout operator if we want to pr=urchase council rubbish bags. This is because too many were being stolen. But, waht do poor people do if they can’t affford the bags needed to dispose of their rubbish?
That’s the nature of private sector efficiency – they just price a large proportion of people out of the market so that it’s easier, and thus more profitable, to supply the service.
In Marlborough the rubbish bags are still part of rates. Each house gets 52 bags per year. And nearly all of my bag contents are disposed packaging.
(We get one knee-high bin for recyclable and my compost gets the rest.)
Having saved the $23 for a miniscule tube of zovirax a young solo parent I know arrived home and found the blister pack had been sliced open and the tube replaced with an empty one. When she returned the packaging and empty tube the supermarket accused her of trying to scam them and denied her a replacement leaving her out of pocket, wearing the two 20Km return trips and forced to suffer miserably for another week while an easily treated flare-up rampaged on.
Sometimes you gotta fight for your rights. And unfortunately that means escalating the noise level at the service desk until they take you seriously. Or finding a friend who can dress up all prim and proper so that the service desk takes you seriously.
Hint – if you want to go drug free find some high quality Vitamin E nutritional supplement capsules. When you feel the very start of a cold sore attack coming on break into the capsule and smear the vitamin E gel around the affected area of the lips. The same capsule will have enough for a few applications in a day. Keep using for a couple of days even after the symptoms go away. Usually holds off or minimises the cold sore outbreak (in my personal experience).
I use L-Lysine. That is an amino acid. 1 gr in the morning, one in the evening for a couple of days when the burning starts and you won’t even get to the blister stage. The amino acid interferes with the virus’s ability to procreate and it will go back to dormant again.
I used to carry a notebook and pen. When anything like that happened, I’d ask for a replacement and write down everything the person said. When they asked why, I’d say I had a poor memory. I usually got a replacement fairly quickly, including a front wheel, tyre, and disc brakes for a bike I’d bought, then later found a crack in the wheel.
Another option is to write up what happened and print out a few copies, then stand outside the shop handing them out. That worked once when a friend of mine had worked a week for a café, with the owner then deciding he wouldn’t pay because it was a trial. In the end, he paid for the week, and the extra hour while she stood outside his shop handing out the leaflets. We’re not as helpless as we’re taught to be.
Yes, it is petty politicking and nasty, but Cunliffe needs to be on guard as he is constantly in the gaze of the media and the right wing nasties and anti Labour spies. If Key had taken that photo, they would have give it a different favourable spin.
If Key had taken that photo, they would have give it a different favourable spin.
Yes, and if Key had been the one responding to an (urgent?) message he would not have been photographed because it would have been regarded as acceptable. Cunliffe does it and there is the usual puerile attempt to paint it as “disrespectful”.
Under duress I went to look at WO. I suppose the proNAT/ACT are bound to make something out of nothing. After all they have reason to be afraid of David. I read all the comments, (yes I know) and wondered about the endless repetitions. I suppose it is like Captions on the Standard but here it is often meant to be funny. Over there it sounds like a dirge. Is that the best that they can do?
I went too. But unlike you I gave up after 1 page of ‘comments’. Now I am off to have a bath and scrub myself clean. Shudder.. They should use WO as a punishment for prisoners.
1) It’s on whaleoil, a site run by a boy who has openly admitted that he edits video to change the meaning of things people say, and who has said at various times that truth is not important and that truth is whatever he says it is at the time.
2) No-one knows what David was doing. In one pic he seems to be taking a photo, so it’s not a huge leap to suggest that he might have been turning on a camera app rather than checking messages or tweeting or whatever terrible crime Cameron is charging him with.
3) No-one knows what was happening at the time. I’m going to take a stab and say it wasn’t during The Ode.
Is it worse than time the PM skipped out a military funeral to watch his kid play rounders, coincidentally meaning the GCSB had to get the Acting PM to sign a warrant in an attempt to keep the fact they illegally spied on someone from being exposed in court? And then when the PM got back in the country after the rounders expedition everyone ‘forgot’ to mention anything to him.
But the soldiers at least got their funeral. But not with the PM there.
Occasionally I think that he’s someone who can think at least as well as a five year old but most of the time I figure sorrylands is just a well programmed bot.
Paul
You must be forgetting that the vast majority of the shares are New Zealand owned, so the reality is
New Zealand will benefit when the left doesn’t win the election. The truth is the left is bad for business confidence and bad for employment. I guess this is just another one of your lame attempts to spin bullshit
to karol.
in some middle eastern countries there are whole apartmentblocks that hve been abandoned because no infrastructure was ever put in place to take out the trash and the inhabitants just stored it all in the spare rooms until if became to foul to tolerate anymore.
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Buzz from the Beehive Two ministerial press statements today draw attention to the Government’s incorporation of mātauranga Māori in its science policies and programmes. One of these announced the launch of the national space policy, which will oblige our space boffins to bring indigenous knowledge into their considerations. The ...
The Stations of the Cross, as all of us know from our devout and Godly ways, is a series of fourteen stations that depict the final hours in the story of Christ our Lord - appearing before Pilate, shouldering the wooden cross, whistling the Monty Python tune, so on and ...
The Stations of the Cross, as all of us know from our devout and Godly ways, is a series of fourteen stations that depict the final hours in the story of Christ our Lord - appearing before Pilate, shouldering the wooden cross, whistling the Monty Python tune, so on and ...
The Herald reports on a trivial but telling incident from Parliament: Labour Cabinet Minister Kiri Allan read the wrong speech at the third reading of a freedom camping bill in Parliament last night. She re-read almost word for word a speech given at the Self-contained Motor Vehicles Legislation bill’s ...
The Green Party are today launching a campaign asking for people to submit their stories of subpar, substandard and downright awful experiences of renting in Aotearoa. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the draft report of the Independent Electoral Review and challenging all political parties to commit to implementing its final recommendations after the 2023 general election. ...
Today, Te Pāti Māori announce Takuta Ferris will contest the Te Tai Tonga seat at this year’s General Election. “Takura ran for the Te Tai Tonga seat for Te Pāti Māori in 2020. It takes tremendous courage and commitment to put your hand up for another round in the ring ...
Focussed immigration has always been essential to our future, but New Zealanders need to be aware of the immediate dire situation our government is putting us in with a predicted record of one hundred thousand new immigrants moving to New Zealand in this year alone. That means we will have ...
Today, President of Te Pāti Māori, John Tamihere has confirmed that Heather Te-Au Skipworth will stand for Te Pāti Māori in the Tukituki electorate this election. ...
During New Zealand First coalition negotiations our policy was to train and resource 1800 new frontline police. We secured this coalition policy win to ensure our streets had a police force that could tackle crime - after years of neglect. Remember those previous nine years of neglect saw a ‘tag ...
Katie Kenny from Stuff published an article today with a lazy attempt at so-called ‘fact checking’ my recent comments on the World Health Organisation’s concerning new regulations being developed. What is most surprising is that throughout this entire ‘fact checking’ process, Kenny never once rang me asking for my side ...
The National Party has released another confused and rushed policy that will only further worsen the inequality that is driven by unaffordable housing. ...
Welcome to sunny and calm Wellington, which I know those of you who are visiting would of course expect to be the case. It’s been a busy week since we put forward the 2023 Budget. Labour MPs have been out across the motu giving the good oil on the Budget. ...
Kia orana, Talofa lava, Mālo e lelei, Taloha ni, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Noa’ia e mauri, Ni sa bula vinaka, Kia ora, Tena Koutou Katoa. Labour Party President Jill Day, Prime Minister Hipkins, Party faithful, delegates and comrades, whānau and friends, it’s a privilege to be here today. I begin my ...
One of my kaumātua up North stood before the Waitangi Tribunal and said: ‘He aha kē ahau, te tangata kore hara i mua i te Atua, e tu nei kia whakawaatia e koe, te tangata tāhae, te tangata hara, te tangata kore tikanga?Ko koe kē te tika, kia tū ...
New Zealanders will be highly concerned that the World Health Organisation proposes to effectively take control of independent decision making away from sovereign countries and place control with the Director General. W.H.O International Health Regulations on future outbreaks of disease aim to give the Director General extraordinary and wide-sweeping powers. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to take responsibility for reducing inflation by taxing wealth instead of leaving RBNZ to continue hiking the Official Cash Rate. ...
The Green Party has released its list of candidates for the 2023 election. With a mix of familiar faces, fresh new talent, and strong tangata whenua voices, this exceptional group of candidates are ready to set the direction of the next Government. ...
Thank you for your invitation to be here, after yesterday's budget, and for the opportunity to talk with you. In the economic and social turmoil following the arrival of COVID 19 in New Zealand many concerns emerged. How would we keep our economy going and maintain our exports which are ...
At the heart of Budget 2023 is a cost of living package, designed to ease the pressure on New Zealanders in the face of global inflation and the challenges of rebuilding from extreme weather events. It provides practical cost of living relief across some of the core expenses facing Kiwis ...
A long standing Green Party policy has been extended yet again in this year’s Budget. This will deliver warmer homes for thousands of people, lower power bills, and cut climate pollution. ...
The Green Party is fully on board with free bus and train travel for under 12s and half price travel for under 25s - next stop, free travel for all under 18s, students, and apprentices. ...
A proposed temporary law change would enable rural Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti landowners dealing with masses of cyclone and flood debris to burn mixed waste so they can replant and return their land to productivity, Environment Minister David Parker said today. The proposed short-term law change would ensure that any ...
Legislation introduced in Parliament today will ensure New Zealand’s emergency management system learns the lessons of recent and previous responses to natural disasters, including severe weather events and other emergencies. The Emergency Management Bill replaces the two decades old Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002. “The strength of our emergency ...
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka met in Wellington this morning, reaffirming the strength and spirit of New Zealand and Fiji’s relationship, as outlined in the Duavata Relationship Statement of Partnership. “New Zealand and Fiji are connected by a kinship forged in Pacific culture, identity and interests, ...
Primary teachers have agreed to the Government’s pay offer which will see the top base salary step rise to $100,000 by December next year. The settlement will also see a number of improvements to primary teachers’ conditions, including more than double the classroom release time they currently have to ...
Associate Transport Minister Kiri Allan has announced the construction plan for the bridge on State Highway 25A that will reconnect the Coromandel peninsula, bringing more certainty to the region’s recovery efforts. “The Government is committed to reconnecting Coromandel communities quickly, and this plan to repair the damage along the highway ...
Tena koutou katoa and welcome to Parliament. It is a great pleasure for me to host you here today, for the second New Zealand Seafood Sustainability Awards. The awards started in 2020 and officially, are to be held every two years. But as with so many things, COVID got in the ...
Representation for women on public sector boards and committees is the highest it’s ever been with wāhine now making up 53.1 percent of public board and committee members,” Minister for Women Jan Tinetti said. Manatū Wāhine Ministry for Women’s 2022 stocktake of public sector boards and committees shows for the ...
A new law enabling sole parents on a benefit to receive child support payments for their tamariki was passed in Parliament today. “This change is estimated to lift as many as 14,000 children out of poverty and give families a median of $20 extra a week,” said Social Development and ...
Crack down on disposable vapes No new vape shops near schools or marae Restricted descriptions for product flavours The Government is taking action to reduce the number of young people taking up vaping, Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall has announced. “Too many young people are vaping, which is why we’re ...
Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will visit New Zealand this week, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. “Prime Minister Rabuka officially visited New Zealand in 1998, over 25 years ago, and we look forward to welcoming him here once again,” Chris Hipkins said. “New Zealand and Fiji have a long ...
The King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours List 2023 includes sporting stars and administrators who reflect the best of New Zealand’s sporting community. Sir Wayne Smith has been knighted for services to rugby. Sir Wayne was Assistant Coach of the All Blacks at the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups and ...
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa taki tini ‘My success is not mine alone, but that of the people” The King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours list 2023 celebrates Māori from all walks of life, reflecting the achievements of those who have made a significant contribution to ...
The strength and diversity of service in New Zealand is a standout feature of today’s King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours list, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said. “Each of today’s 182 recipients has contributed individually to our country. Viewed collectively, their efforts reflect an overwhelming commitment to service.” Chris Hipkins said. ...
The Defence Ministers of New Zealand and Japan have signed a statement of intent for closer defence cooperation between the two Pacific regional partners. Andrew Little and H. E. Yasukazu Hamada met to sign the ‘Statement of Intent on Defence Cooperation in Maritime Security, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and ...
New Zealand’s most recent defence assessment identified climate change and geostrategic competition as the two greatest security challenges to our place in the South Pacific. To the first issue, partners engaging and re-engaging with Pacific Island Countries are finding that climate change is a security and existential threat in our ...
The government is continuing to support rangatahi in providing more funding into Maori Trades training and new He Poutama Rangatahi programmes across Aotearoa. “We’re backing 30 new by Māori for Māori Kaupapa employment and training programmes, which will help iwi into sustainable employment or progress within their chosen careers” says ...
Murihiku Marae was officially reopened today, setting a gold standard in sustainable building practices as well as social outcomes for the people of Waihōpai Invercargill, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan says. “The marae has been a central hub for this community since the 1980’s. With the support of $9.65 million ...
The first major public housing development in Whangārei for decades has reached completion, with 37 new homes opened in the suburb of Maunu today. The project on Tapatahi Crescent and Puriri Park Road, consists of 15 one-bedroom, 4 two-bedroom, 7 three-bedroom, 8 four-bedroom and 3 five-bedroom homes, as well as ...
Trade and Export Growth Minister Damen O’Connor will depart tomorrow for London to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Trade Ministers’ Meeting and then to Paris to vice-chair the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting. “My travel to the United Kingdom is well-timed, with the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (UK FTA) ...
The Fuel Industry (Improving Fuel Resilience) Amendment Bill would: boost New Zealand’s fuel supply resilience and economic security enable the minimum stockholding obligation regulations to be adapted as the energy and transport environment evolves. “Last November, I announced a six-point plan to improve the resiliency of our fuel supply from ...
The Government is making sure those on low incomes will no longer have to wait five weeks to get the minimum weekly rate of ACC, and improving the data collected to make the system fairer, Minister for ACC Peeni Henare said today. The Accident Compensation (Access Reporting and Other Matters) ...
A compulsory code of conduct will ensure school board members are crystal clear on their responsibilities and expected standard of behaviour, Minister of Education Jan Tinetti said. It’s the first time a compulsory code of conduct has been published for state and state-integrated school boards and comes into effect on ...
Tena koutou katoa and thank you, Mayor Nadine Taylor, for your welcome to Marlborough. Thanks also Doug Saunders-Loder and all of you for inviting me to your annual conference. As you might know, I’m quite new to this job – and I’m particularly pleased that the first organisation I’m giving a ...
The Government will enter into a funding arrangement with councils in cyclone and flood affected regions to support them to offer a voluntary buyout for owners of Category 3 designated residential properties. It will also co-fund work needed to protect Category 2 designated properties. “From the beginning of this process ...
The Government has announced changes to strengthen requirements in venues with pokie (gambling) machines will come into effect from 15 June. “Pokies are one of the most harmful forms of gambling. They can have a detrimental impact on individuals, their friends, whānau and communities,” Internal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds said. ...
The total Police workforce is now the largest it has ever been. Police constabulary stands at 10,700 officers – an increase of 21% since 2017 Māori officers have increased 40%, Pasifika 83%, Asian 157%, Women 61% Every district has got more Police under this Government The Government has delivered on ...
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Nanaia Mahuta met with Korea President Yoon, as well as Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna, during her recent visit to Korea. “It was an honour to represent Aotearoa New Zealand at the first Korea – Pacific Leaders’ Summit. We discussed Pacific ambitions under the ...
The Government’s Research and Development Tax Incentive has supported more than $2 billion of New Zealand business innovation – an increase of around $1 billion in less than nine months. "Research and innovation are essential in helping us meet the biggest challenges and seize opportunities facing New Zealand. It’s fantastic ...
The next ‘giant leap’ in New Zealand’s space journey has been taken today with the launch of the National Space Policy, Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds announced. “Our space sector is growing rapidly. Each year New Zealand is becoming a more and more attractive place for launches, manufacturing space-related technology ...
A new Year 7-13 designated character wharekura will be built in Pāpāmoa, Associate Minister of Education Kelvin Davis has announced. The wharekura will focus on science, mathematics and creative technologies while connecting ākonga to the whakapapa of the area. The decision follows an application by the Ngā Pōtiki ā Tamapahore ...
Protecting the environment by establishing a stronger, more consistent system for freedom camping Supporting councils to better manage freedom camping in their region and reduce the financial and social impacts on communities Ensuring that self-contained vehicle owners have time to prepare for the new system The Self-Contained Motor Vehicle ...
A new law passed last night could see up to 25 percent of Family Court judges’ workload freed up in order to reduce delays, Minister of Justice Kiri Allan said. The Family Court (Family Court Associates) Legislation Bill will establish a new role known as the Family Court Associate. The ...
New Zealand businesses will begin reaping the rewards of our gold-standard free trade agreement with the United Kingdom (UK FTA) from today. “The New Zealand UK FTA enters into force from today, and is one of the seven new or upgraded Free Trade Agreements negotiated by Labour to date,” Prime ...
The Government will reform outdated surrogacy laws to improve the experiences of children, surrogates, and the growing number of families formed through surrogacy, by adopting Labour MP Tāmati Coffey’s Member’s Bill as a Government Bill, Minister Kiri Allan has announced. “Surrogacy has become an established method of forming a family ...
Defence Minister Andrew Little departs for Singapore tomorrow to attend the 20th annual Shangri-La Dialogue for Defence Ministers from the Indo-Pacific region. “Shangri-La brings together many countries to speak frankly and express views about defence issues that could affect us all,” Andrew Little said. “New Zealand is a long-standing participant ...
Research, Science and Innovation Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall and the Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang met in Wellington today and affirmed the two countries’ long-standing science relationship. Minister Wang was in New Zealand for the 6th New Zealand-China Joint Commission Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation. Following ...
5 percent uplift clearer and simpler to navigate Domestic productions can access more funding sources 20 percent rebate confirmed for post-production, digital and visual effects Qualifying expenditure for post-production, digital and visual effects rebate dropped to $250,000 to encourage more smaller productions The Government is making it easier for the ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs (Pacific Region) Carmel Sepuloni will represent New Zealand at Samoa’s 61st Anniversary of Independence commemorations in Apia. “Aotearoa New Zealand is pleased to share in this significant occasion, alongside other invited Pacific leaders, and congratulates Samoa on the milestone of 61 ...
The Government is continuing to support retailers with additional funding for the highly popular Fog Cannon Subsidy Scheme, Police and Small Business Minister Ginny Andersen announced today. “The Government is committed to improving retailers’ safety,” Ginny Andersen said. “I’ve seen first-hand the difference fog cannons are making. Not only do ...
The Government has received the first independent review of the Intelligence and Security Act 2017, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says. The review, considered by the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee, was presented to the House of Representatives today. “Ensuring the safety and security of New Zealanders is of the utmost ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gavin Prideaux, Professor, Flinders University Dendrolagus ursinus, or Goodfellow’s tree-kangaroo.Shutterstock Kangaroos are an enduring symbol of Australia’s uniqueness. To move, they do what no other large mammals do: they hop along on oversized hind legs. So you may be surprised to ...
Xiaole Zhan’s vivid, award-winning essay about how music can shape the perception of one’s own body was originally published in Landfall 245. I am seventeen with naked knees hacking into the trachea of a dead sheep. The smell will stain me, like bloodshot snow, or the taste of cigarettes and ...
Chris Hipkins has met with his Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka in Wellington, offering financial support to the Pacific nation as it addresses the impacts of climate change. In a statement, Hipkins said he had an “inspired discussion” with Rabuka on how our two countries can further cooperate to combat climate ...
The Chairperson of the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee is calling for public submissions on the Fuel Industry (Improving Fuel Resilience) Amendment Bill. The bill aims to ensure that New Zealand has adequate fuel stocks to mitigate ...
This week on our pop culture podcast we talk Tina from Turners, Pete Evans’ new ‘do and the secrets of the Love Island villa from Iain Stirling himself. Eat, sleep, crack on, repeat – It’s Love Island week and we could not be more excited to return to ...
“Common sense, driven by Groundswell NZ, seems to be finally permeating the He Waka Eke Noa space. A tax on the world’s most efficient farmers is counterproductive to food security, pricing, and would drive emissions offshore and in greater volume ...
A Malaysian lawyer who petitioned for New Zealand to stop sending plastic recycling to developing countries will be facing off against industry groups in Parliament tomorrow. This Thursday morning, petition leader Lydia Chai will argue for a ban ...
Homelessness is traumatic for young people, with potentially lifelong impacts on their mental, physical, and emotional well-being. According to data by STATS NZ, almost 50% of all those experiencing homelessness in Aotearoa are tamariki and rangatahi. ...
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has released its most recent report on the use of animals in science , stating that 308,872 animals were used for research, testing and teaching in NZ that year, and nearly half (47%) of these animals were ...
Alex Casey chats to Love Island UK narrator Iain Stirling about creating voiceover magic, smoking around the firepit and the fatal flaw in Love Island NZ.Iain Stirling is holding up a small black case like a Deal or No Deal lady. He’s in his spare room in North London, ...
Leading road transport body Transporting New Zealand is calling on all political parties to make transport a top priority in this year’s election. The organisation has released the Road Transport Industry Platform for the 2023 General Election. ...
The Chairperson of the Justice Committee is calling for submissions on the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Rugby World Cup 2023 Extended Trading Hours) Amendment Bill. The 2023 men’s Rugby World Cup will take place from 9 September 2023 to 29 October ...
National’s unveiled a new election year policy dubbed “infrastructure for the future”, which the party said will address the country’s “yawning” infrastructure deficit. It includes a new National Infrastructure Agency that would help coordinate government funding and improve delivery, new partnership deals between the government and local councils to create ...
New Zealand Politics Daily is a collation of the most prominent issues being discussed in New Zealand. It is edited by Dr Bryce Edwards of The Democracy Project. Today’s contentMICHAEL WOOD AUCKLAND AIRPORT SHARES CONFLICT OF INTEREST Luke Malpass (Stuff): Michael Wood, the shares, and the taint of incompetence Thomas Coughlan ...
Duncan Greive has a story on The Spinoff this morning on the awards designed to recognise the service of frontline workers during the pandemic. A year on from the announcement of the awards, hundreds of seemingly eligible people and organisations have been turned down, while around 50,000 awards remain unclaimed. Greive spoke ...
In 2003, a crew member on a New Zealand research vessel snapped a photo of a funny-looking fish. This is the story of how ‘Mr Blobby’ became a deep-sea icon.With its slimy pink skin, bulbous nose and downturned mouth, Mr Blobby is one of the world’s most famous fish. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David King, Senior Lecturer in General Practice, The University of Queensland Pexels/Cottonbro Studio, CC BY Our noses perform important functions every day of our lives, but we often only notice when disease changes how they work. Our sense of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Cardilini, Lecturer, Environmental Science, School of Life and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University Gajus, Shutterstock Use of sodium fluoroacetate poison baits – commonly known as 1080 – to kill unwanted animals is widespread ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lucinda McKnight, Senior Lecturer in Pedagogy and Curriculum, Deakin University Shutterstock The world of writing is changing. Things have moved very quickly from keyboards and predictive text. The rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) means bots can now write ...
Primary teachers have accepted the latest collective agreement put forward by the education ministry – the fourth offer proposed following lengthy negotiations and strike action. In a statement, the head of the education union NZEI, Mark Potter, said the new agreement included significant wins for teachers. “The biggest win was ...
Fuel companies are preparing marketing campaigns to sheet home the blame for next month's rise in fuel prices – and controversially, to show motorists how to avoid paying ...
The National Party is standing by its call for Michael Wood to be sacked from all his ministerial posts. Wood, who retains his roles in the immigration and Auckland portfolio, was stood down as transport minister yesterday after it emerged he had continued to hold undeclared shares in Auckland Airport. ...
Michael Wood got parked as transport minister yesterday, his explanation about not selling airport shares found wanting. He’s the fifth minister to cause the prime minister problems since January, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grant Duncan, Associate Professor, School of People, Environment and Planning, Massey University Getty Images Among a host of other recommendations, the Independent Electoral Review has proposed a referendum on extending the term of parliament to four years (from the current ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grant Duncan, Associate Professor, School of People, Environment and Planning, Massey University Getty Images Among a host of other recommendations, the Independent Electoral Review has proposed a referendum on extending the term of parliament to four years (from the current ...
Jacinda Ardern announced military-style awards to formally acknowledge the pandemic’s frontline workers. But a year on, hundreds of seemingly eligible people and organisations have been turned down, while around 50,000 awards remain unclaimed.The early days of the pandemic were a blur for Terry Taylor. The president of the New ...
They’re fielding candidates in the Māori seats for the first time in more than 20 years, but the question has to be asked – why? The National Party made headlines when it was announced they would field Māori electorate candidates in the upcoming election for the first time since 2002. ...
From riding in her Dad's rally car aged 12, school girl Bella Haggarty is now co-driving in some of the country's biggest events. Bella Haggarty is on a fast track to success. The 15-year-old from Rangiora is a Year 11 student at St Margaret’s College in Christchurch, but away from that, ...
A proposal to put te reo Māori on New Zealand's road signs has sparked outcries at the cost and the confusion bilingual signage could bring. But as The Detail finds out, bilingual signage has been around for decades — and it works. In Wales, bilingual signage is everywhere. "You've got road signs ...
There are useful models to follow, particularly from many European cities where outdoor space is prioritised and urban character is considered in planning decisionsOpinion: Many aspiring Kiwi homeowners long ago abandoned the quarter acre dream. But should they have to face the prospect of living in inhospitable urban centres ...
As New Zealand reviews its surrogacy and adoption laws, Dr Anne Else argues that fertility is another area we are falling short Comment: This term Labour set out to tackle the urgent, long-delayed tasks of reforming surrogacy and adoption law. But both projects have become bogged down. The Law Commission's extremely ...
If Wayne Brown’s full selldown of airport shares doesn’t get off the ground, will Auckland’s councillors find a compromise? After months of consultation and policy pruning, Auckland’s councillors will gather tomorrow to vote on Mayor Wayne Brown’s budget proposal - and it looks like it will come down to each ...
A tramper who fell 16m from a Department of Conservation swing bridge was a victim of mismanagement, a former ranger claims A senior DoC ranger who threw in his job over lax safety standards says the department is playing down the seriousness of an accident in which a tramper fell ...
A small Canterbury community claims victory after a David and Goliath battle. David Williams reports. Plans to build a cattle feedlot in a tiny Canterbury valley, near one of the country’s most polluted lakes, have been pulled. Farm company Wongan Hills had been granted city council consent to build massive ...
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By Alice Lolohea of Tagata Pasifika Twenty five broadcasters from 13 Pacific countries touched down in Auckland recently for the Pacific Broadcasters conference. A meet and greet filled with lots of talanoa, networking and healthy debate, the conference was a welcome change from a typical Zoom meeting. Natasha Meleisea, chief ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe and his board have pushed up interest rates yet again – for the twelfth time in 14 months – because they want to damage the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Longstaff, Honorary Professor, Australian National University Shutterstock The unfolding PwC scandal could be considered nothing more than an especially egregious example of ethical failure with dire consequences. However, there are deeper issues to be examined. The most obvious concerns ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liam Byrne, Honorary Fellow, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, The University of Melbourne Luong Thai Linh/ AAP Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s recent trip to Vietnam is a recognition that Australia’s relationship with the Southeast Asian nation is important ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Liza Lim, Professor, Sculthorpe Chair of Australian Music, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney The Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho passed away Friday at the age of 70. There’s been an outpouring of grief, sadness and love on social media and ...
Maxim Institute respectfully disagrees with He Arotake Potitanga Motuhake – Independent Electoral Review’s interim report insofar as it advocates for lowering the minimum voting age from 18 to 16 years. There are indeed many decisions made by Parliament ...
The political radar has been switched off for some in Labour and it's Chris Hipkins’ political capital taking the hit, writes political editor Jo MoirComment: Even if the Prime Minister had wanted to act quickly to deal with his Transport Minister’s conflicts of interest, he couldn’t because he was ...
The prime minister has faced further questions on Michael Wood’s failure to properly disclose his Auckland Airport shares, saying the transport minister himself “didn’t really have an adequate explanation” for the oversight. Speaking at this afternoon’s post-cabinet press conference, Chris Hipkins said he trusted that Wood, who was earlier today ...
Asia Pacific Report The self-styled provisional government of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua“with the people” of the Melanesian region have declared political support for full West Papuan membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). In a statement issued in the Vanuatu capital of Port Vila after a meeting ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ozan Isler, Research Fellow, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Bao Truong / Unsplash Many of our economic and even social interactions are competitive. We use markets to find jobs, but also dates. What does this mean for our ...
The government has announced new vaping restrictions aimed at reducing the number of young people who take up the habit, with a crackdown on cheap disposable vapes, bans on new vape shops near schools and rules around how vaping products can be named. “From August this year, all vaping devices ...
The government has announced new vaping restrictions aimed at reducing the number of young people who take up the habit, with a crackdown on cheap disposable vapes, bans on new vape shops near schools and rules around how vaping products can be named. “From August this year, all vaping devices ...
The traditional and contemporary intertwine at the first Pacific Dance Festival in three years.After a pandemic-induced absence of three years, Pacific Dance New Zealand’s annual Pacific Dance Festival has returned to Auckland. Opening the three week-long festival last week was Manu Malo by Aloali’i Tapu, with the highly anticipated ...
The traditional and contemporary intertwine at the first Pacific Dance Festival in three years.After a pandemic-induced absence of three years, Pacific Dance New Zealand’s annual Pacific Dance Festival has returned to Auckland. Opening the three week-long festival last week was Manu Malo by Aloali’i Tapu, with the highly anticipated ...
“A very special day for Ngati Porou”, was the reaction of Rei Kohere, Deputy Chairman of Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou, on the announcement of the Knighthood bestowed on Selwyn Tanetoa Parata in this year’s King’s Birthday honours. “The KCNZM, ...
A visit by officials from the Thai Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) is being welcomed as an opportunity to strengthen a key bilateral relationship and support ongoing work to combat the illicit transnational narcotics trade in the Asia-Pacific ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kali Marnane, Honorary Associate Lecturer in Architecture and Urban Design, The University of Queensland Kali Marnane (2023), Author provided I’m in Ahmedabad, India, standing where families once built their homes under the shade of large trees. Today, those houses are ...
How a few basic rules can help get the balance right. Anyone trying to follow the latest political debate over housing, urban intensification and development can be forgiven for feeling confused. The National Party’s newly announced housing policy would allow local councils to opt out of the Medium ...
How a few basic rules can help get the balance right. Anyone trying to follow the latest political debate over housing, urban intensification and development can be forgiven for feeling confused. The National Party’s newly announced housing policy would allow local councils to opt out of the Medium ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Petraglia, Director, Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Griffith University Wikimedia, CC BY-SA On September 13 2013, speleologists Rick Hunter and Steven Tucker descended deep into South Africa’s Rising Star cave system and discovered the first evidence of an ...
A key reason for standing down Michael Wood as transport minister was the fact he had told the Cabinet Office his shares in Auckland Airport would be sold, but then they weren’t, Chris Hipkins has said. On his way to question time in parliament this afternoon, soon after he announced ...
A key reason for standing down Michael Wood as transport minister was the fact he had told the Cabinet Office his shares in Auckland Airport would be sold, but then they weren’t, Chris Hipkins has said. On his way to question time in parliament this afternoon, soon after he announced ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By M. Reza Hosseini, Senior Lecturer in Construction, Deputy Director, Mediated Intelligence in Design (MInD) Research Lab, Deakin University Shutterstock Architecture, engineering and construction employ 1.2 million people in Australia and account for 9% of GDP. But our biggest services sector ...
SAFE has been notified today that the resource consent application to build four composting barns/feedlots in Kaituna Valley has been withdrawn. The feedlots would have confined 2,200 cows permanently indoors. The controversial proposal faced substantial ...
New Zealand still has much more to do to support poorer countries adapt and respond to the climate crisis. Oxfam Aotearoa’s Climate Justice Lead Nick Henry said: “Oxfam’s report reveals that as governments around the world begin negotiations of a new global ...
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Wow. Jones’ partner tells it!
Narcissism.
“Shane Jones’ partner, Dot Pumipi, says the MP’s greatest fear in making the decision to resign was that his phone would stop ringing and he would get withdrawal symptoms from the sudden lack of attention.”
And this question says so much about the quality of journalism in 2014 New Zealand.
“Asked whether she was to Mr Jones’ career what Yoko Ono was to John Lennon’s, she laughed and said she had told him she’d support him whatever he did.”
Jones isn’t nearly as interesting as he thinks he is.
Oh well, if Shane isn’t challenging the supermarkets, its o.k. To shop there again.
Doesn’t matter if nothing about their practices has actually changed or not.
“She said there was a further upside to his decision: “I can go back to Countdown.””
How exactly is that narcissim, im sure that would be a natural reaction for most people leaving a high profile job, how about instead of crying on here you go read Claire Trevetts article r.e Jones and the Toxic Greens not only is it highly accurate you might actually learn something about the man you have dedicated 5 posts to this morning
Still waiting to hear what Jones had hoped to achieve for the working and unemployed classes – or even for a better NZ generally.
What you will not hear is the evidence he possessed on the supermarkets which has vanished along with what little credibility he had with all those working class folks the jonolists allege he was looking out for.
Well played national and progressive but it’s a double edged sword especially when meddling McCully is involved.
Greatest fear..the lack of attention.
That’s narcissism
When is Claire Trevell going move jobs to the print media she is most suited to? I.e., for the Women’s Weekly. Apologies to the Woman’s Weekly. Claire with her puff pieces really belongs with the WW, not as the Deputy Political Editor of the country major newspaper.
I think her content is entirely in keeping with the trivial propaganda sheet that the Herald has become in the past few years. It’s always been a right wing rag, but recently it has descended further into a tabloid telling tales of celebrities and sport.
The only think toxic is the waste that will be kept out of our rivers when the Greens get into power.
When your kids are swimming in that nice clean river and breathing clean air, you will have the Greens to thank. They will introduce regulation that stop profit making companies from dumping toxic waste into our rivers and making us all sick.
The only think toxic is the waste that will be kept out of our rivers when the Greens get into power.
When your kids are swimming in that nice clean river and breathing clean air, you will have the Greens to thank. They will introduce regulation that stop profit making companies from dumping toxic waste into our rivers and making us all sick.
“When your kids are swimming ……you will have the Greens to thank. They will introduce regulation that stop profit making companies from dumping toxic waste into our rivers and making us all sick.”
Does that mean that the Greens now think its okay for non-profit making companies to dump toxic waste into our rivers……?
Why are the Greens so upset that some companies make profits?
These companies make private profits for a few, while pushing the costs of their dirty business on to the local community.
So you are happy with that situation, but many including the Greens are not.
The only think toxic is the waste that will be kept out of our rivers when the Greens get into power.
When your kids are swimming in that nice clean river and breathing clean air, you will have the Greens to thank. They will introduce regulation that stop profit making companies from dumping toxic waste into our rivers and making us all sick.
Did you used to swim in the river when you were a kid? Why do you want to deprive kids today of what you had?
Where is your decency?
If you go to the back country the rivers are pristine. Plus most kids swim in aquatic centres and urban pools. How about some cost-benefit analysis of what you are proposing?
Im sure the good people of West Virginia would see the fact that they have to boil their drinking water as a big cost.
CBA?
“100% pure”: $15bn per year
When you hit that in costs of not putting shit in our rivers, get back to us.
Srylands knows of all of this, I sense.
Comments made to be provocative in the way some kids do whose social skills have a way to go.
He craves attention.
@ srylands
….how do you factor in the costs to tourism and our overseas branding of ‘NZ Pure’….people like you don’t factor them in…but overseas visitors notice
….many down stream rivers I swam in as a child are a trickle and a contaminated trickle compared with what they once were
You have no problem with cattle shit and other toxins being dumped into the rivers?
Would you advocate the nuclear power possessing countries to dump their spent nuclear wastes into their water ways? It is cheaper!
“How exactly is that narcissim, im sure that would be a natural reaction for most people leaving a high profile job, how about instead of crying on here you go read Claire Trevetts article r.e Jones and the Toxic Greens not only is it highly accurate you might actually learn something about the man you have dedicated 5 posts to this morning”
Of course Trevett didn’t even impy that the GP was toxic. She did report that the reasons Jones was leaving were because he wasn’t going to be PM or Finance Minister, and he could earn more money in another job. So yes, thank-you, I have learned something about the man – that he is self-centred and self-serving (which makes for a shitty MP).
I thought he was married with 9 kids? Partner? confused.
Did have – separated.
Google.co.nz
7 Kids, separated, new partner…
Calling Pete George, fact check required in aisle 9..
[RL: Deleted. Sneering, sexist, homophobic and plain wrong. Too far.]
Is that the most mature point you are capable of?
You need to return to the sandpit, young lad.
Shane Who???, a regular Kiwi bloke, Ha ha ha that just shows us all that if you are not a fool you easily are, fooled that is…
Great article from Glucina
When is Claire Trevell going move jobs to the print media she is most suited to? I.e., for the Women’s Weekly. Apologies to the Woman’s Weekly, nothing too much wrong there. Claire with her puff pieces really belongs with you, not as the Deputy Political Editor of the country major newspaper.
Claire Triffid is nothing but a gossip columnist. Forty years ago the Herald wouldn’t have considered running such rubbish stories.
Says about the editorial team at the Herald…
The right wing contributors on this site rant and rave about how the Greens will destroy NZ’s economy.
I’d be more worried by the present jokers remaining in power.
Gradually indebting the country to foreign interests.
And yet pr, BM, fisiani and others slavishly support them.
Pathetic, really.
“Government debt has reached $60 billion, having climbed $27 million a day since John Key became prime minister – and forecasts show it will rise for years to come.
Despite tax revenue being higher than expected and expenses lower in recent months, Treasury figures show net Crown debt reached the highest yet at $60,015,000,000 at the end of September.
It already equates to 28 per cent of New Zealand’s economic output, is more than $13,000 for every person in New Zealand and is forecast to climb by another $10b by 2017.
When National took control of the Beehive in 2008, debt was just over $10b.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9380846/Public-debt-climbs-by-27m-a-day
let’s pretend nz is a company/corporation..
..and john key is running it..
..now..when key yook over control of the company..
..the extenal debt held by the company was $10 billion..
..under keys’ stewardship of the company..
..that external debt has blown out to $60 billion..
..now..if you were one of the owners/shareholders of this company called nz that is under the aegis/care of key..
..around about now..wouldn’t you be going:
..’w.t.f are doing..?..mr key..?…why have you run up such a horrendous level of debt..?
..you have been telling us that you had to have a firesale of the assets held by the company/country..
..because you ‘didn’t want to run to the foreign bankers..like labour/the greens want to do..’
..wasn’t that the story you have been spinning us..?
..so/but not only have you sold off our energy-assets at firesale pieces..(to raise in total some $5 billion..?)
..all the time you were saying/preaching this…you increased our debts to those foreign banks you were telling scary stories about..
..from $10 billion..
..to $60 billion..
..please explain..!
Is it possible you could write without all those gaps, dots and question marks?
It would make your pints easy to grasp.
yeah.! .nah..! eh..?
..and i don’t really ‘grasp pints’ these days..eh..?..
It was just a suggestion.
I think more people would read your comments if they were clearer.
i can’t write yr way anymore..
..it’s been so long since i’ve done/dismissed them..
..i really can’t see the point of all those bullshit capital letters/sentence-structures/paragraphs..etc..
..they seem as archaic/arcane as all those swirls/whorls from previous superseded versions of the ‘right’ way to write..why don’t you still do/bend the knee to them..?
..and despite yr last line..
..i now find my way ‘clearer’/easier to read/more flowing…..
All those ‘arcane swirls/whorls’ you are so dismissive of are an extra layer of texture and context for your readers.
You may know exactly what you intend to say phil – in your own head. But you depend on all these written symbols to convey that meaning to your readers.
By ignoring the textural conventions that most people are familiar with you make it harder for us to decode your meaning. Quite necessarily so. It’s directly analogous to someone whose verbal speech is mumbled and mangled.
After a while people get the sense that you just can’t be bothered respecting your readers enough to communicate clearly. And they just stop reading.
c’mon..!..get a grip..!
..it’s not that hard to read..
..i’m not using hieroglyphics/cryptic-codes..
..yr fretting/insistances have all the tone/timbre of a first world linguistic-problem..
..and reading it isn’t compulsory..
..surely i’m just making it easier for you to know when to scroll on by..
I write using conventional grammar and sentence structure that other people are familiar with.
I make some effort to clean it up before I hit ‘submit’ and quite frequently go back to edit out mistakes as well. I do this out of respect for other people who may chose to read me.
By contrast your ‘stream of consciousness’ style makes no such effort. It stinks of an ‘all about me’ attitude.
But if your best argument is to dismissively invite us all to ‘scroll on by’, would it then be logical to save pixels by simply deleting all your posts ?
Because when you choose to write in a lazy, disrespectful style that few people can be bothered reading, it’s the equivalent of self-censoring mumbling. Yet oddly enough censorship is one thing that gets you very agitated.
Why do you do it to yourself then?
+1 Deliberately makes his communication harder to understand (as a point of vanity as far as I can tell), and then expects everyone else to make extra effort to make sense of what he is saying. Then has the gall to tell other people that they don’t know whether something is garbled or not to them. It’s all about phil.
“.. It’s all about phil…”
heh..!
chrs 4 the guffaw..!
I agree.
Phil, your style sucks dog dicks, it’s got no redeeming features, do every one a favor and write like every one else.
“..By contrast your ‘stream of consciousness’ style makes no such effort..”
i actually do ‘make such effort’..
..the pale imitations others try should make that clear..
[@Philp ure]
..Yeah?..
..How about this imitation then, ye?..
..given the increasingly proven cancer/premature-death etc.-causing properties of our main exports..
..(animal bits/bye-products..)
.(we really..as a country..are the merchants of death..eh..?..)
..hand in hand with the soon-to-be production of lab/warehouse grown meat..(with no animals/cruelties involved..in countries of consumption…)
..wouldn’t it make some sense to flog all the meat-farms off to foreigners..?
..and then to sit back and watch/wait for them to go (inevitably) broke..
..then we can buy the farms back cheap..
..and start growing real food on them..?
..(just saying..!
..it’s a plan..!..)
the alternative of course is to start switching to growing real food now..eh..?..)
..pale..ye?..
..nah..!..
i like your writing style Phil !
..i really can’t see the point of all those bullshit capital letters/sentence-structures/paragraphs..etc..
Yes – what has legibility ever done for written communication, eh? Totally overrated…
Lolz…Phillip…understands His…Babble…every word…even the … …some obscure poet… long ago…penned a few poems…in the same lack of style…don’t you know…its Phill’s ‘art’…
Just makes it harder to follow.
As long as Phil realise that and doesn’t mind, that’s ok.
At least his comments don’t swamp this site with monotony – in the form of Pete g.
yup…and us Chooks like it ….so there!…we like poetry
I just don’t bother reading it Paul
pretty much the same here, unless a meaningful phrase jumps out. Those are few and far between. Often read the people who argue with him, though, just to get a gist of what’s going on.
Ditto.
In defence of Philip Ure and his Odes
People who are too prosaic miss a lot that can be learned from poetry and the non literal and the non verbal and the aesthetic and the psychic and the mystical and the allusional….(helped occasionally with a little you know what)
…in other words the glasses and focus of Yang Scientism and literalism has brought about an ecological crisis…the world is too Yang and unbalanced…….in the mind and spirit…. …lol…lol ( and dont eat the little critters or you will have a bad reincarnation)
LOOSEN UP YOU BASTARDS and STAY COOL
If one wishes to communicate with the prosaic, one should use conventional prose…
@ Phil ….
let’s pretend NuZulls a cumpinny en Jawnkey’s running it!
Please don’t ask = its probably on the agenda already!
.
There’s already a hijeckd meedya masquerading as a 4th Estate that’s too lazy to get off its arse and delve into his years as the “smoilung asessun” working in Ayezzzha!.
Most of them, whilst goan beart their daily buzzniss, couldin unna Sten the goi. They did when skeweritty garz were loinung up ta scort thin off the premizzizz
Watch and wait Phull
Their lazinusses are really going to claim integrity in Jonolustuk velyas when the shut hitsth fen. Watch em all…. even the ones fresh from Media Studies papuzz en gradjatshum hired by 3 (based on essays and Lecturers pets, that were completely and utterly plagiarised and/or written for them).
(Btw …. As a former tutor, I’m still trying to understand why a decent enough lecturer/researcher – and a hierarchy that was fairly on to it – could fail to see the bleeding obvious) – but there ya go – bay-sick-ly tik-a-box commercialoizayshun of the tertiary sektah – of which there’s a Heck Yea and a choyce-Jorrrrrse leading the charge).
[….Phil, and perhaps Rhino: watch tonights “tree Newz” – did I hear Nukki kay say something like “biggerings” relating to the Chinese ban on infant formyilla?. I think oi dud – but maybe not – it’s hard to woch the likes of Nukki sometimes. “What I would say – is ….. me mate Nafe Goi hes been skolling me and praviding me with ‘learnings’ of the subjek]
Sometimes I really wonder why the trolls keep it up – but we can rest assured they’ll be the first to squeal like stuffed pigs when it all happens (if it happens, though I’m not that confident given how long its taken thus far to realoise the Empra hes nah closthes) ….. but I reckon they’ve allowed their inflated egos to get in the way of logic.
It’s all a but like Fairfecks subbies; ‘Hubs’; destruction of that 4th as a konsquince of what’s deemed to be corporate sense; a misunderstanding of journalistic values (kind of like that new slogan “Miss Selling”); make me a star ….. you get the idea.
Anyway – this is turning into a bit of a rave.
Preps oi shid jess get Pedey Jorge to go do sim Fek Chuckin.
The con-machine sure as hell is working overtime this week though!
….. Oh – btw Phil – should I call you Phil or Phylis? Bad 12 calls you that often, and baby …. I jisss lerv BOTH yer work! :p
But, but, but, its the RockStar economy don’t you know, by the time the IMF gets in on the act there will be little left to sell off and the real fun will have begun…
b12
It’s not Rockstar..with yet another NZ company dismissing 79 workers in Dunedin it’s more of a Wagnerian economy, but who in Epsom or Helensville gives a hoot about those sawmillers down there.
As if i do not fully understand where Rock Bottom is as far as the economy goes, ever heard of being ironic…
More “Air Guitar” economy Then Rock Star
Yea. I did get your irony ( and thought i was supporting it).
Isn’t Rockstar Games the company behind Grand Theft Auto?
Maybe that’s the society the nats are after – gated comunities for the ultra-rich, techno-Hobbesian violence for the rest.
Rock star economy for multinational investments banks.
Anzac Day. Red poppies everywhere. Whichever muppet decided to give a white poppy equal prominence on the banner headline above has a viewpoint that is not shared by the majority. Fair enough. Your decision. A picture is worth more than a thousand words.
[lprent: probably the difference between this who have actually served in the army like myself and the idle armchair warriors like yourself with their mindless romanticism. ]
Fish head isn’t there a war someplace you can go and volunteer to be a hero in…
This is his war, alot safer and probably better paid.
“has a viewpoint that is not shared by the majority”
This coming from an ACT supporter who thinks National is a left wing organisation.
🙄
Armchair warriors…always the most ferocious….
Oh the irony
That reminds me, really appreciate seeing the white poppy in the banner…
+1
That was rocky. I used to just put the red poppy up. One year she asked if it could be used. I looked at it and decided it was a good complement.
i like the white poppy too….as i suspect would have many a returned serviceman and airman….a white poppy for Peace is what they believed in
I don’t think I ever met so many fervent believers in peace in civilian life as I did inside the army. Due to the range clearing philosophy at Waiouru when I did my training, I rapidly became a believer myself.
A friendly advice for you : Whatever war you support, make sure you don’t say anything against uncle Tom anymore unless you wish for a drone to hover over your head. The price of freedom, justice and fair play. Collateral damage justified by lies and spin.
Uncle Tom???, you are thinking of ”Uncle Sam” are you not, the same ”Uncle Sam” that is now dropping US troops in to places like Poland and the Ukraine in the hope? that the pro-Russian militias will find cause to harm some of them perhaps…
oops, yes, Sam.
US foreign policy has created more problems than helped in world peace. Diplomacy is a far better weapon than weapons.
Ummm. I do it every year.
I suspect that my years of service in both the army and this site give me the right to do whatever I feel like.
Unlike idle munters like yourself, old ex-soldiers tend to be somewhat more reflective and self-aware.
But hey, we also provide the space for you to make a fool of yourself.
“old ex-soldiers tend to be somewhat more reflective and self-aware.”
This is true, am I still banned?
[lprent: Yes. I have a vague idea about doing another general amnesty while I have the time to deal with the idiots next week. However the time is being rapidly sucked up with things to do.
The trick is generally not to get banned in the first place. ]
Fisiani and his fellow right wingers go on about how they are off to the dawn parade to “remember the fallen” who died fighting tyrannical governments, but I wager that if the Chinese decided to take this country by force, they would be down by Queen Street waving their little Chinese flags as the PLA marches up the street..
… idle armchair warriors like yourself with their mindless romanticism.
Now, be fair. If mental midgets can’t think of Anzac Day in terms of mindless romanticism, how are they going to think of it? You can’t put a quart in a pint pot.
Indeed. I couldn’t have put it better myself.
“probably the difference between this [those?] who have actually served in the army like myself and the idle armchair warriors like yourself with their mindless romanticism.”
PLUS [+] (any number) doesn’t seem to cut it! – but +1
@ Fizz – have you ever?
btw …. Probably also those in the military who’ve climbed the ladder by arse-licking, and who’re expecting dizzy heights – perhaps a serial gummint departmint CEOze appointment, or even a guv genrill appointment. Prolly Shane will arrange the next one – preferably one that can use a bit of holdtight on the partial plate when delivering the honours.
(Christ I can be a bitch I know – but these munters and their cronyism – really ARE becoming quite pathetic!)
A Harley Davidson at the Tex Payuzz xpense would probably be a damn sight cheaper for all concerned – we could get Chris Finlayson to bestow the honours too without all the ‘kerfuffle’
Personally I’D RATHER we honour the deserving – and there are quite a few. There really IS a hierarchy that lets them down though.
Hi Pete,
wew were discussing something yesterday that got lost in the old maelstrom a bit, so I’ll just cut iand pastes it over here, as I’m keen to hear your reckon.
It was about these poll results:
http://www.reidresearch.co.nz/TV3+POLL+RESULTS.html
As I noted, the data isn’t as good as we might like it, but it’s what we have, unless you have better data to share of course.
Give that, as you said:
“Fact checking isn’t a waste of time – it can help people perceive more accurately and not get fooled by party propaganda and ignorance.”
Could you have a quick look at the following statements, and see if the facts revealed by that polling data can help clear up any propaganda or ignorance regarding what people think:
1) “Labour looks out of touch with people and out of touch with reality. If they don’t turn this around very soon it could be terminal.”
2) ” The perception of the party is tending towards pathetic.”
3) “Ex Labour minister Michael Bassett may not be a party favourite but what he said on Radio New Zealand half an hour ago about Labour now are common sentiments”
cheers.
Hi Pascal’s bookie
Perhaps you’re trying to be too clever for me. What point are you trying to make? That any opinion expressed here should be supported by an opinion poll? I’ll try polling your opinion.
1) Do you think Labour looks in touch with people and in touch with reality?
2) Do you think there are no perceptions the party is tending towards pathetic?
3) Do you think what Michael Basset expressed are not common sentiments?
I’m not trying be clever at all Pete. Nor am I suggesting that all opinions should be supported by polling.
I am saying that the data in that reid polling contradicts your statements about what people think.
In particular, the polling shows that Key is seen as being out of touch with normal kiwis far more than the Labour leader has been, for quite some time.
For the last year, a majority in the poll has said that Key is ‘out of touch’.
The following statement is about something that we can only know from polling:
“Labour looks out of touch with people and out of touch with reality.”
It’s talking about what the electorate thinks, and the evidence we have about what the electorate thinks on that particular question doesn’t really support it.
And yet it is something pundits talk about a lot, and you repeat seemingly without thinking about whether or not you have any evidence for it.
Even when presented with the evidence we have, you can’t bring yourself to talk about it.
So,
“Fact checking isn’t a waste of time – it can help people perceive more accurately and not get fooled by party propaganda and ignorance.”
The talking point in the media by various pundits and analysts, which is repeated by you in various statements, that ‘Labour is dangerously out of touch especially in comparison to the down to earth Key led national party’, seems to be “party propaganda and ignorance” that could be assisted by a bit of fact checking, no?
Do you have poll to back your “party propaganda and ignorance” claim?
I haven’t compared Labour to National on down to earthiness.
“Do you have poll to back your “party propaganda and ignorance” claim?”
That reid one is what makes it seem to be so Pete. It strongly suggests the majority of people do not think labour is out of touch. Whatever problems Labour has, it isn’t that. So people who are claiming otherwise, are wrong. This might be because of ignorance, or for propaganda reasons
This is very simple.
You made claims that labour is seen as being out of touch.
The best available data that I’m aware of suggests that isn’t the case.
Maybe you have other data that suggests it is the case, which supports your statements. If so you should share it.
Your wriggling is giving me the impression that you are more interested in something other than fact checking to assist people to “perceive more accurately and not get fooled by party propaganda and ignorance.”
And as the Election year progresses and David and Labour policy is better known, the gap will narrow.
That depends on the media to a large extent. Our media has shown to be personality and sensation driven and has come across so far as pretty inept and useless fourth estate, instead of being a responsible and unbiased pillar of democracy in informing the public on policy issues.
the gap will narrow, I burst out laughing. what wishful thinking. This has eerie similarities of 2002 with the how low can you go limbo dance of political demise.
How do you know? There are still 5 months to go for the elections and all policies are not yet announced. Are you coming across as Ken’s ring.
You really think that policies bribes or any dodgy offer will make a difference when the economy is booming, wages are rising, employment is ring and 1,600 a week are coming off benefits? I have a bridge to sell you.
I think it’s important to figure out the difference between opinions – ‘I think Labour looks out of touch’ – and provable statements – ‘The majority of people think Labour looks out of touch.’
Statement 1 is a little bit in-between, but statements 2 and 3 above are provable (not perfectly, because there are always questions around polling methods etc. and how we define whether a sentiment is ‘common’ could be argued, but nevertheless.)
They can’t however be proved by ‘polling’ one commenter on a blog site, and I have to say, Pete, that this kind of tactic is something I’ve seen several people call you out on. You have made statements and, although I respect that you generally comment here in a personal capacity, and not as editor of Politicheck, you aren’t showing willing to back those statements up, and are avoiding having to answer them with a silly little charade of a one-man opinion poll.
PG’s inability to grasp such basic concepts does suggest that he is impaired for the job at politicheck.
Unfortunately, Pete George has indicated in previous comments that he does not understand statistics. He does not consider them to be facts and instead believes that because one can misrepresent statistics to ‘prove’ a certain point (e.g. by cherry picking data points), then the entire field of statistics is completely arbitrary. His comments regarding the “statistical poverty line” also show that he has a poor understanding of averages (either the median or the mean) and he does not understand the effects that changes in the underlying distribution of a parameter would have on these averages.
I really have no idea how he can be qualified to be a “fact-checker”, let alone a “fact-checking editor”.
That’s a very good point, wtl. Of course it’s good for a fact-checker to be aware of the ways statistics can be misused – it’s probably a prerequisite for the job – but that level of ignorance is just embarrassing.
I’ve always thought, and I’ve seen others here comment, that a basic grounding in concepts like mean vs. median would raise the level of political debate in NZ. And I did hope when I saw Politicheck getting launched that it could be a vehicle for that kind of thing. I guess not!
“(either the median or the mean)”
and then there is the mode,
a deliberately overlooked statistic when averages + wages are discussed in the same breath
Thanks Pascal. The “experts” like Bassett certainly paint a dismal picture, which is not borne out by the Reid Polls. With more exposure later this year people will be able to compare and contrast. And maybe those little comments like trucks on motorways and trailer registrations etc serve the purpose of being known by thousands who have yet to notice David or the serious life affecting policies yet to be delivered.
Thanks for the link. Have Bookmarked it.
1 Yes
2 Wrong
3 Bassett is a very nasty malicious animal
(Note Pete is away with the fairies @ 5.1?)
I don’t think RR polling is particularly good but don’t you think you should put up the most recent results (still a month out of date) ?
https://www.3news.co.nz/Politics/3NewsReidResearchPoll.aspx
Those are the results for different questions, Not Petey.
If you want to find out what people think about who is more “in touch”, you have to ask them that question.
You’re welcome.
The link to 3News was distorted but FPP suggested one thing but MMP showed that:
“Support for the National Party has dipped in the latest political opinion poll and the Greens have jumped.
The Roy Morgan poll released yesterday showed National down three points to 45.5 percent. Labour rose a point to 31.5 percent and the Greens jumped 3.5 points to 14 percent.
If a national election were held now it would be too close to call, pollster Gary Morgan said.
So what was your point Petey lad?
I looked at the TV3 Poll and I understand that its considered to be the most accurate one by those to the Left. (Do correct me if Im wrong there tho)
So is the “fact” that Cunliffe cant even get to 0% in the “preferred PM” poll of any concern to you?
Not only that there is also NO mention of David Cunliffe in any of the charts. His name is nowhere to be found. So that makes it a Shearer poll. One which has me in a quandary, because Cunliffe won the Leadership in sept 2013, and these polls are supposedly up till Jan 2014.
So the question is this: Is the whole lot just reid research just making up numbers? because it just don’t make sense.
There you go Petey. Fact check that!
I haven’t commented so far on Shane Jones’ departure from Labour and Parliament and will not do so other than saying that after my initial shock, IMO it is the best thing he could do. He was never an easy fit in Labour. While in his first term, I thought he did well, thereafter until the leadership contest and since, he was a non-entity apart from the ‘occasional incident’. If I was in Cunliffe’s shoes, I think I would be sighing a sigh of relief that the ‘loose cannon’ is going.
On this day when we remember those who fought, and died, for our freedom and democracy, we need to also look forward to hopefully strengthen our resolve to protect these.
So, in my opinion, it is time to put Shane Jones behind us – and look forward to, and be thankful that his going means that Kelvin Davis is coming back.
I was impressed by the way that he handled the situation and media within a very short time of the announcement of Jones’ decision.
But I am even more impressed by his Facebook post setting out his first four priorities – posted yesterday. –
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelvin-Davis/776784779020038?fref=nf
It is a definite must read in full, so I am not going to give a summary.
Apologies if this has already been posted (and I think it is well worth a full post), but it gave me a real surge of positivity at a time when all around seemed to be negativity.
Seeing as you said that Kelvin Davis’s Facebook page was a must read, i did, to be kind, Kelvin will be a perfect fit into middle class Labour and should represent the interests of that middle class really well,
Education, education, education, if this were to be the solution then WHAT has gone so seriously wrong with the education system in Te Tai Tokerau for so long,
Kelvin managed to have me seeing RED with His little allusion to ‘Nutters’ in His opening remarks, ‘Nutters’ have become thus for a reason and far from the snide inferences their way Davis would far better serve His electorate to avail Himself of the causes rather than poke the iron at the symptoms,
Am unimpressed, another business as usual candidate for Labour…
I wish I hadn’t read that bad12. I agree entirely with your conclusions.
He either doesn’t get it or he doesn’t want to, (and they both merge into a giant ‘I’m alright Jack,’ anyway.)
Davis wants to get to feel like one of the good guys as he props up the mythology that is destroying so many of us. Pagani must love him.
Can you explain that js? On the face of it I can’t see much wrong with his priorities.
A complete denial of the structural causes of the woes faced by Maaori, denial of patriarchy in sexual and physical abuse (man-up ffs!) and airbrushing the poverty, structural inequality and racism that underpin both in the community he hopes to represent.
Nothing major needs to change, the barriers can be overcome by a bit of elbow-grease and a particular (still patriarchal) definition of a “real man”. As you were etc.
Sounds like bollocks to me.
Can you be more specific as to where you see actual denial?
You might be right, but it’s also possible that as a politician in a mainstream party he talks in ways that his constituents will understand, or he is pragmatic enough to understand where he has power and where he doesn’t. It’s not like he can talk about the patriarchy or colonisation outright and still be an electable Labour MP.
I would be very surprised if he was unaware of colonisation and its impact on Māori, or unaware of the structural issues.
What do you think he meant by this?
Te Tai Tokerau has endured it’s own tragedy, but it happened over 40 years not 40 seconds. The effects on our people have been equally devastating in the long run.
“a particular (still patriarchal) definition of a “real man”. As you were etc.”
Hardly as you were. He makes a long, explicit statement to men that being a man includes respect for women and children. This is consistent with Māori kaupapa and is something I would like to see within Pākehā culture, esp politicians.
His statement about te reo is radical and one I wholeheartedly support.
His statement about te reo is radical and one I wholeheartedly support.
Apart from the word ‘radical’ we are agreed about this.
I could go into more detail but I don’t think any good would come of it. The way I see it, he fits perfectly with the current Labour Party. No challenge, no change, just more of the same. I’m sure he sincerely hopes that he can push a few more kids into ‘real person’ (middle-class) status through the power of education, which is nice I guess. But in desperate times, with the scale of need, and the crises we have breathing down our necks, the kids that don’t “make it” are bound for under the bus, and it’s brutal.
Just now the future seems unremittingly grim for more and more people and I just wonder who has to be affected for it to start mattering.
Davis does seem pretty moderate to me – but an improvement on Jones. I think if the Labor caucus shift more strongly towards founding Labour principles, Davis will most likely go with it.
I felt that his ‘main sincere priority aims’ are primarily geared towards his election platform to get more votes.
…from Kelvin Davis not a word on Charter Schools and Standards testing
….this is a worry, because he comes out of a hopelessly compromised Ministry of Education…. which is following an ACT agenda …..espoused by private PR companies working on the advice of USA Charter School business ( which in orientation is right wing and religious fundamentalist)
….where is Labour’s Education policy?
…like the retirement age issue….full employment for youth …raised minimum incomes for workers……Education is an important issue for Labour .
…Labour should be for State Education and equality of opportunity …not Private education
I want to hear Kelvin Davis’s views on education ….and Labour’s policies on Education
I am sure you are and I am sure you will. There are still 5 months till the lection. Surely, would you want want Labour to announce all their important policies now so
that
(a) the media give it some publicity now rather than close to the election?
(b) the nasty Nats can go on spinning about all kinds of exaggerated faults?
(c) the notorious Nats can copy some aspects of the policies to pretend it is theirs?
(d) the voters not have them fresh in their minds just before they cast their votes?
Clemgeopin….lets hope Labour is keeping its powder dry then …I hope this is the case
I hope so too!…The powder will be dry as long as disloyal incontinental turncoats like Jones don’t uncontrollably cough over it.
Hey people, give the guy a break. It was a facebook posting.
His priorities are right on. Education, well that’s appropriate given he’s a teacher, he’s going to be concerned about this. His electorate. Te Reo. Violence against women and children.
Can anyone really argue with these four priorities?????
I agree with Weka, I can’t see him denying structural causes. He didn’t mention them as he needs to keep it succinct. Labour get criticized on this site, for their media stuff and not doing sound bites.
Labour haven’t released their education policy yet.
I didn’t like the nutter comments but I am not going to right the guy off for them. I am not sure who he means, maybe some of the right wing people posting on TS.
+1 It’s his first statement about his intentions as an MP. They seem appropriate to the party he is in and assume that he wants to work towards something achievable. If we want something more radical try Mana or the GP.
“Apart from the word ‘radical’ we are agreed about this.”
He’s basically saying that we should take action to make conversational reo normal in NZ. How is that not radical?
“The way I see it, he fits perfectly with the current Labour Party. No challenge, no change, just more of the same”
I don’t see Labour doing any of the things he talks about. How is it more of the same? I think what you perhaps mean is that he’s not an obvious shift left for Labour. I don’t know, I’m just going on what I read on the FB page. But I do think that we need solid, mainstream MPs in Labour, because so much of the country is mainstream in their politics.
The best criticism that’s been made is that Pagani will like him. That makes me worry.
Wow now that’s what’s needed from a Labour Politician. And yep the Nutters probably those of Fishy and Petey George to name but a couple But reading down I’ll add Bad 12 and Just saying to that list of T 🙄 s and Nutters too judging by their comments.
I decided to place this link here and not in the Anzac post from MS. It is not my intention to cause upset but to add some thoughts to ANZAC day I felt would be misunderstood in that post’s comment section. So here goes:
A word of warning to all well meaning Kiwi’s honoring their ancestors and the recent young man and women who died in wars we where dragged into by our “leaders.
Will we be doing this for people dying in more wars in the future and if so will those wars be remembered through the same patriotic glasses without a shred of criticism for those sending the brave men and women to their deaths in them?
“A word of warning to all well meaning Kiwi’s honoring their ancestors and the recent young man and women who died in wars we where dragged into by our “leaders.”
Which wars are you talking about that we were ‘dragged into by our leaders’ ?
So glad you asked. How about every war financed by and for the bankers for starters. Oh oops, that would be as far back as the Napoleonic wars and counting.
Nuts
….monkey thinking about its next meal, I presume.
US involvement in WWI was driven by the Wall St banking fraternity who did not want to see France and England lose the war against Germany – which would have resulted in massive Wall St loan losses as France and England would never have paid back the loans that Wall St had made to them.
Yep and apart from the PTB behind the throne the Bush family made quite a bundle from Auschwitz after they helped to finance Hitler to get him into power
🙄
Oh P, that’s OK with you?
It’s well known that the Bush family was trading with Germany well into 1942. In fact, if the US hadn’t invented the law about war profiteering Prescott Bush would have been hung as a traitor.
And here is why John “We should have been in Iraq” Key can can get away with murder.
I’ve no idea if this has been covered before, but…polls.
Strikes me that a majority of ‘undecideds’ are probably left bloc voters who haven’t decided which party of the left will get their vote, rather than people wavering between left and right. So on that basis, if these ‘undecideds’ aren’t factored into poll results, then of course the right wing vote will be over reported. Polls that present percentages based on only those who state preferences (adding the decideds up to a 100%) are of no more use than soggy loo paper, no…unless your looking to generate a self fulfilling prophesy?
So anyway, why is the publication of such skewed nonsense acceptable?
Good point Bill about just who the undecided are. I vacillate between Labour/Green but last time nearly considered NZF strategically.
But 20% undecided leaves the field ripe for persuasion.
I don’t even know the %age of undecideds ianmac, (is it 20% or is that just a number you threw out there?) but I’m definitely picking it’s predominantly made up of left wing voters.
One of the polls definitely said 20% undecided. An earlier one was 11%. But I can’t find the source. It seemed by my dodgy memory for a year or two back further back the undecided was about 5%.
However Paddy and others are reluctant to quote say 20% undecided, as it would mock the usefulness of the polls especially with the dodgy use of FPP seats in parliament line.
And I wonder if the Labour Green being apparently behind will spur the efforts of we mortals?
So okay…what that could suggest is that the vote for Labour is dropping as the number of undecideds rises. A pile of formerly Labour voters thinking of going with the Greens? Definitely possible. Meanwhile, the actual left vote is being under-reported by dint of the way polling results are formulated.
Although I suspect a respectable portion of those undecided voters never quite ‘decide’ and dont make it to the booth.
That’s a bold claim Bill, but I don’t think it’s supported by evidence.
I’ve seen some pollster analysis that claims undecideds are about as spread as the decideds. But they are the hardest to get a preference from – they are pushed to make a decision, so a guess like your’s is just a guess.
And undecideds are less likely to decide at election time and vote so less of a factor.
So Pete, the fact (yes, it’s a fact) that there are more parties on the left competing more evenly for left votes than the fewer and more clearly delineated parties on the right, has no impact on the likely voting intentions of those polling as ‘undecided’. Seriously!?
Try applying some fcking logic sometime Pete…..actually, just any degree of thought would be an improvement for you.
You might find it illustrative to peruse ‘ts’ comments re voting intentions. Right wing votes are set. They’re voting National. (A wee few for ACT). The left wing votes on the other hand are much more fluid and constantly moving between Labour, the Greens and Mana. Just read the comments over time.
Meanwhile, a bit of a bold ( and not entirely free from stupid) claim there Petey about ‘undecideds’ being less likely to vote. Not voting and undecided as who to vote for are actually markedly different things
Well said Bill. And Pete saying,”I’ve seen some pollster analysis that claims undecideds are about as spread as the decideds.”
If undecided, that might mean ummm Undecided. It does seem more likely that so far the likely Left voter would be waiting to get a handle on just what Labour/Green would bring, whereas the writing is on the wall by the performance of the current lot.
We therefore know most of what Nats are offering, so what alternative do we have? Persuade me (but not too soon with policy as it gives Key’s monstrous huge team of researchers and PR people time to negate and undermine and pinch good policy, like parental leave for instance.)
Yes, National are shameless thieves who steal from the services for the poor and the less well off in society and help the wealthy instead, and steal Labour’s past and present social policies to steal some potentially left wing votes.
You’re making a lot of calls there Bill, unsupported by facts.
National support has been all over the place. Take the Roy Morgan results this year:
43.5
47
48
48.5
45.5
43
48.5
There’s nothing set looking about that. Other polls have had a similar degree of variation.
You may be correct that right wing votes are set, but there’s a lot in the centre sloshing about. Most of the uncertainty and undecided is with swing voters who could go any of several ways.
Asking you a favour Pete. Please don’t respond to any of my comments in future. The reason? Disagreement and debate is fine by me and even potentially informative. But you’re comments tend to be blithering wastes of space that, while devoid of intelligence, are unfortunately and routinely pregnant with unpleasantly dead shit that serves to choke debate/discussion.
Asking you a favour Bill. If you post questionable claims be big enough to accept some criticism.
You seem to be trying to “choke debate/discussion” by your “asking a favour”.
Pete. I’ve no problem with criticism. Thing is, criticism requires a modicum of intelligence. Criticism in no way comprises of the tangential or irrelevant nonsense that marks the bulk of your comments. Your nonsense (as I’ve commented above but that you appear to have been incapable of grasping first time around) is effectively dead shit that chokes up any flow of critical (or otherwise) debate and discussion.
Don’t respond to this and never again question my desire to have critical and/or intelligent debate when my core point (How often would I have to repeat this before your obstinate levels of comprehension stopped looking upwards in bewildered blankness at the point?) is that you kill the potential for critical and/or intelligent exchanges with your rubbish.
pete, that was meaningless.
At those levels, the margin for error is 3%. Look at that jump from the low of 43 to the high of 48.5%. The first could be as high as 46%, the second as low as 45.5%.
And that’s without looking at vacillating undecideds bouncing between left and DNR.
You comprehensively failed to support your assertion that there’s a lot in the centre sloshing about. You might well just be grasping at an artifact in sampling.
I agree. I am not sure why the poll companies do not state the % of voters who are undecided. Such a poll is more accurate and meaningful.
Another point I wonder is why don’t the four or five main polling companies stagger their polls weekly, one after the other? Surely, they could come to a mutual agreement on that? What stops them from doing that?
I could be generous and suggest that polling companies are running polls better suited to the ‘either/or’ scenario of FPP elections. But having said that, even the Scottish independence polls (which is a straight binary choice) incorporate the undecideds into their results and state when they have stripped the undecideds out for the sake of % age comparisons of those who have decided which way they intend to vote.
Maybe in NZ a clearer picture would emerge if people were asked which bloc they were going to vote for alongside or instead of which party. Slight problems in designating some parties to a left or right bloc, but as long as the make up of each was consistent over time….
Last Roy Morgan Poll showed only 5% did not name a Party (Undecided?). And that was the 48% for National one. Be interesting for the next poll, away from that Princeling fellow and his celebrity wifey.
Clemgeopin
Also why don’t they mention the percent of awful respondents (like me who say.’Oh F**k off)?
Bugger the polls I say..or has that already been said?
How can you factor ‘undecideds’ into poll results?
Gavin White of UMR claims (via research) that since 1999 polls have tended to have National and Greens too high, they are up and down on Labour, and have NZ First too low. That doesn’t fit with right being over-reported and left being under-reported.
http://sayit.co.nz/blog/what-political-polls-tell-us
If there is evidence that things are different right now I’d be (genuinely) interested to see it.
Hmm am not that impressed with iPredict, however found this press release on ‘It’s Our Future’ website which contains an interesting analysis:
http://www.itsourfuture.org.nz/ipredict-2014-election-update-14-labour-makes-gains/
A good opening comment from Kelvin Davis in the Herald ex Northern Advocate – Mike Dinsdale.
“Mr Davis, who spent one term as a Labour list MP, said he would push several key issues when back in the House – Maori education, regional development, improving the number of people speaking te reo Maori, and “being the male in Parliament who stands up and says enough is enough over domestic violence”.
And “…after missing out by 832 votes to Hone Harawira in the Te Tai Tokerau electorate race in the 2011 election …”
Do I barrack for Hone or for Kelvin? Aye. There’s the rub.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11244080
Davis will probably be given a high enough list placing in order to ensure Labour has a Maori MP in the far North.
It is a real dilemma for the voters there!
I wonder what is the best way to ensure both Labour and Mana pareties benefit to the maximum extent?
Wait for the Labour list to come out and if Davis is high enough, electorate vote Mana. And give your party vote to the GP 😉 Win, win, win, for the left.
The Greens already have their core about 10-12% support from around the country.
I would like the Mana.Com alliance (if in action) to clear the 5% threshold.
So, it would make more sense for the left voters THERE to give the electorate vote to Hone (if Kelvin is fairly guaranteed a list position under 25th) and party vote to Mana.Com alliance (to help the 5% clearance) or Labour (to ensure more Labour Reps than other lefties) or the Greens(if you wish Greens to wield extra power over Labour) or NZF (for super gold card and things) or National (if one is silly to boost Key’s ego during his retirement troty in Hawaii) or ACT (if you love insects and the rich) or UF (if you like ex Labour party turn coats and hairdos)
No? Why not!
….Just musing…..
“Davis will probably be given a high enough list placing in order to ensure Labour has a Maori MP in the far North.”
Let us hope so.
Labour say they will win Napier and Christchurch Central so do you really think a hetero sensible bloke like Kelvin will be placed higher in the list than the sisterhood.
I hope this is the case. I think Parliament would be better for having both of them in it.
The philosophy of poverty.
The ACT Party and other Right Wingers often claim that people are poor and/or criminal because they choose to be, through a lack of will power, and/or moral fibre.
The strangest things often cause me to ponder this assumption.
Yesterday I went to the supermarket to get some paper vacuum cleaner bags for my vacuum, they come in a slim pack of five for $11.
On approaching the check out I noticed that the bottom of the packet had a neat slit cut in it and instead of having five vacuum liner bags there were only four. The check out operator said she would not let me have the packet for less than the full $11, so I had to walk back down the aisle to get a new complete intact pack.
While I was making this long walk, it occurred to me that there must be some very house proud poor person moved to steal just one vacuum bag. Since the pack of five was hardly much bigger than one single bag, this person would have taken a greater risk of being found out by slitting open the packet and removing one liner, than just concealing the whole pack.
I wondered, was this house proud shoplifter having some sort of moral debate with themselves that it would be less of crime if they took just one bag? Did they balance this crime against the moral dilemma of leaving their house dirty?
Should the members of ACT be worried that there are house proud poor people with moral scruples driven to wandering the aisles of New Zealand’s supermarkets armed with sharp knives?
In west Auckland supermarkets, we now have to ask the checkout operator if we want to pr=urchase council rubbish bags. This is because too many were being stolen. But, waht do poor people do if they can’t affford the bags needed to dispose of their rubbish?
Society is now user pays.
If you can’t pay, sorry, you are now out of society.
That’s the nature of private sector efficiency – they just price a large proportion of people out of the market so that it’s easier, and thus more profitable, to supply the service.
In Marlborough the rubbish bags are still part of rates. Each house gets 52 bags per year. And nearly all of my bag contents are disposed packaging.
(We get one knee-high bin for recyclable and my compost gets the rest.)
And in Wellington Supermarkets including the ones serving the well off areas. In Dunedin the students were burying the rubbish in their gardens.
Having saved the $23 for a miniscule tube of zovirax a young solo parent I know arrived home and found the blister pack had been sliced open and the tube replaced with an empty one. When she returned the packaging and empty tube the supermarket accused her of trying to scam them and denied her a replacement leaving her out of pocket, wearing the two 20Km return trips and forced to suffer miserably for another week while an easily treated flare-up rampaged on.
Sometimes you gotta fight for your rights. And unfortunately that means escalating the noise level at the service desk until they take you seriously. Or finding a friend who can dress up all prim and proper so that the service desk takes you seriously.
Hint – if you want to go drug free find some high quality Vitamin E nutritional supplement capsules. When you feel the very start of a cold sore attack coming on break into the capsule and smear the vitamin E gel around the affected area of the lips. The same capsule will have enough for a few applications in a day. Keep using for a couple of days even after the symptoms go away. Usually holds off or minimises the cold sore outbreak (in my personal experience).
I use L-Lysine. That is an amino acid. 1 gr in the morning, one in the evening for a couple of days when the burning starts and you won’t even get to the blister stage. The amino acid interferes with the virus’s ability to procreate and it will go back to dormant again.
nice. better than feeding Big Pharma your money.
I used to carry a notebook and pen. When anything like that happened, I’d ask for a replacement and write down everything the person said. When they asked why, I’d say I had a poor memory. I usually got a replacement fairly quickly, including a front wheel, tyre, and disc brakes for a bike I’d bought, then later found a crack in the wheel.
Another option is to write up what happened and print out a few copies, then stand outside the shop handing them out. That worked once when a friend of mine had worked a week for a café, with the owner then deciding he wouldn’t pay because it was a trial. In the end, he paid for the week, and the extra hour while she stood outside his shop handing out the leaflets. We’re not as helpless as we’re taught to be.
What makes you think it was a customer?
Good to see David Cunliffe paying his respects on ANZAC morning.
http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2014/04/youd-expect-prime-minister/
Not the greatest look from the Leader of the Opposition – why not just not go if it bores you silly?
Put up a real link and we might take a look at it (WO spew doesn’t count as meaningful commentary on anything).
Petty modern days politicising on ANZAC Day.
My you RWNJs go low.
Sociopath.
Yes, it is petty politicking and nasty, but Cunliffe needs to be on guard as he is constantly in the gaze of the media and the right wing nasties and anti Labour spies. If Key had taken that photo, they would have give it a different favourable spin.
Yup….progressive parties must be aware of how low some in the right will go to win.
Yes, and if Key had been the one responding to an (urgent?) message he would not have been photographed because it would have been regarded as acceptable. Cunliffe does it and there is the usual puerile attempt to paint it as “disrespectful”.
It is puerile.
Reminds of some kids we had to tolerate when I was a teenager.
Still, it’s good to see how scared Cameron – and therefore the PM’s office – is of Cunliffe.
Under duress I went to look at WO. I suppose the proNAT/ACT are bound to make something out of nothing. After all they have reason to be afraid of David. I read all the comments, (yes I know) and wondered about the endless repetitions. I suppose it is like Captions on the Standard but here it is often meant to be funny. Over there it sounds like a dirge. Is that the best that they can do?
I went too. But unlike you I gave up after 1 page of ‘comments’. Now I am off to have a bath and scrub myself clean. Shudder.. They should use WO as a punishment for prisoners.
Meh Jimmie, what a boring story.
1) It’s on whaleoil, a site run by a boy who has openly admitted that he edits video to change the meaning of things people say, and who has said at various times that truth is not important and that truth is whatever he says it is at the time.
2) No-one knows what David was doing. In one pic he seems to be taking a photo, so it’s not a huge leap to suggest that he might have been turning on a camera app rather than checking messages or tweeting or whatever terrible crime Cameron is charging him with.
3) No-one knows what was happening at the time. I’m going to take a stab and say it wasn’t during The Ode.
haven’t looked.
Is it worse than time the PM skipped out a military funeral to watch his kid play rounders, coincidentally meaning the GCSB had to get the Acting PM to sign a warrant in an attempt to keep the fact they illegally spied on someone from being exposed in court? And then when the PM got back in the country after the rounders expedition everyone ‘forgot’ to mention anything to him.
But the soldiers at least got their funeral. But not with the PM there.
I’m guessing, ‘not worse’.
Nah that was ok ‘cos as Key said at the time – actual words* – his kid “makes lots of sacrifices”.
*close enough, happy to be corrected.
how much is whale boil paying jimmie to shiil his blog here?
oh I forgot.
Jimmie is just another of the fat ones aliases anyway.
nothing to see here.
How many aliases do you think he has?
Better heading.
‘Wealthy overseas interests will benefit if the left doesn’t win election.’
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11243535
The left will win the election. There are no right wing parties contesting it.
The Tories under Thatcher were too centrist for you
The nonsense you speak is not worth responding to, apart from a request that you don’t bother engaging. Thank you
Occasionally I think that he’s someone who can think at least as well as a five year old but most of the time I figure sorrylands is just a well programmed bot.
This idiot, like Hooton, probably thinks that he can convince us by his right wing lies and propaganda.
Paul
You must be forgetting that the vast majority of the shares are New Zealand owned, so the reality is
New Zealand will benefit when the left doesn’t win the election. The truth is the left is bad for business confidence and bad for employment. I guess this is just another one of your lame attempts to spin bullshit
The point that you don’t understand is that that that’s not a bad thing.
Whenever a rwnj says “the reality is” you can be sure you’re about to hear a description of a parallel universe.
No, “NZ” doesn’t benefit. A tiny amount of already wealthy NZers do.
+1
The nonsense you speak is not worth responding to, apart from a request that you don’t bother engaging.
to karol.
in some middle eastern countries there are whole apartmentblocks that hve been abandoned because no infrastructure was ever put in place to take out the trash and the inhabitants just stored it all in the spare rooms until if became to foul to tolerate anymore.