Open mike 25/12/2013
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7:11 am, December 25th, 2013 - 19 comments
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- More public service contempt of parliament
Back in 2023 the New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties raised concerns about the inherent conflict of interest involved in public service agencies supporting parliamentary select committees. Our parliament is run on a shoestring, so depends on the public service for advice. But public service agencies work for Ministers, not ...7 hours ago - If There Is A God
And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...12 hours ago - A Lipstick Government
Here’s a quick round up of today’s political news:1. MORE FOOD BANKS, CHARITIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS AND YOUTH SOCIAL SERVICES SET TO CLOSE OR SCALE BACK AROUND THE COUNTRY AS GOVT CUTS FUNDINGSome of Auckland's largest foodbanks are warning they may need to close or significantly reduce food parcels after ...12 hours ago - NZCTU open letter to Treasury on undue restrictions on restricted briefings
Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...12 hours ago - Why you won’t hear me advocate for electric cars
This is a guest post by Tim Adriaansen, a community, climate, and accessibility advocate. I won’t shut up about climate breakdown, and whenever possible I try to shift the focus of a climate conversation towards solutions. But you’ll almost never hear me give more than a passing nod to ...16 hours ago - Coalition forced to back down on tolling Pahiatua track
A grassroots backlash has forced a backdown from Brown, but he is still eyeing up plenty of tolls for other new roads. And the pressure is on Willis to ramp up the Government’s austerity strategy. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy ...16 hours ago - Thank You
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...1 day ago - 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #50
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- Come Undone?
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More public service job cuts are on the way, with hundreds more jobs set to be axed at Health NZ, and close to 50 jobs at Te Arawhiti. Winston Peters is saying Nicola Willis’ ferry proposal is now dead in the water and that he is going back to the ...4 days ago
- Govt cancels Tauranga housing expansion
Mōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, December 12 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus above and the daily Pick ‘n’ Mix below are:The National-ACT-NZ First Government, which has a ‘Going for Housing Growth’ policy designed to massively ...4 days ago
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- A bad joke
That's the only way to describe National's announcement today on replacement Cook Strait ferries. A year ago they cancelled iRex, which would have given us two new, rail-enabled ferries in January 2026 for $551 million (plus port costs). Today, they're promising two smaller, non-rail enabled ferries sometime in 2029, and ...5 days ago
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The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...10 hours ago - Greens call for end to subsidies for Methanex
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- Release: Four weeks annual leave under threat
The Government’s attack on workers continues with news it is scrapping work on the Holidays Act. ...3 days ago
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New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...4 days ago
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- Sanctions regime to create more hardship for families
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...4 days ago
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- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...5 days ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...5 days ago
- One year on, still no progress on new ferries
Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...5 days ago
- Release: Nicola Willis’ smaller ferries will cost more
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...5 days ago
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The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...6 days ago
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After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...6 days ago
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Housing Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed National has broken yet another election promise. ...2 weeks ago
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Health New Zealand has exaggerated its deficit to justify job cuts. ...2 weeks ago
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The Government’s latest round of cuts to research and innovation targets the long-established and successful Marsden Fund. ...2 weeks ago
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The Government’s decision to axe all Humanities and Social Science research funding through the Marsden Fund is a massive step backwards. ...2 weeks ago
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Today’s Government announcement to limit farm forestry conversions tinkers around the edges, instead of focusing on the real problem and stopping pollution at the source. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Nicola Willis being sneaky with new taxes
Nicola Willis is refusing to rule out putting sneaky new taxes on Kiwi households. ...2 weeks ago
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Christopher Luxon has once again failed to read the room and claimed success while life gets harder for everyday Kiwis. ...2 weeks ago
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The Government’s new initiative to get people off the benefit won’t address the core drivers of poverty such as low incomes, lack of access to adequate housing and lack of employment opportunities. ...2 weeks ago
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Labour is urging ACC to divest from companies identified by the United Nations as complicit in the building and maintenance of Israel’s illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Further evidence to stop school lunch cuts
A new report provides further proof that David Seymour should not be messing with the free school lunch programme. ...2 weeks ago
- Jamie Arbuckle: Inquiry into Banking Competition
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- Casey Costello: What Once Was…
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- Casey Costello: International Day of Older Persons
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- NZ First Member’s Bill To Disestablish Auckland Transport
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- New plan for reducing family and sexual violence
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- Speech – Launch of the Second Te Aorerekura Action Plan
Welcome everyone, thank you for joining us today for the launch of the Second Te Aorerekura Action Plan - Breaking the cycle of violence. My name is Karen Chhour – I am the Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence and Minister for Children. This is a big ...1 day ago
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- Trade Minister to visit India
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- Modernising dietary supplement regulations
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- Therapeutic Products Act repeal bill passed
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- New Zealand and Thailand make progress towards strategic partnership
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- Government delivers standardised emissions measurement tool
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- New appointments to the Sport NZ board
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- Government sets target to reduce persistent poverty
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- Next phase of Whangārei Hospital development underway
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- Judicial appointments announced
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- Government to enable tolling to accelerate investment in roads
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- Sue Brake appointed to Guardians NZ board
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- TIPENE to open in term 1 2025
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- Invigorating New Zealand’s capital markets
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- Welcome progress on youth vaping
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- Consultation opens on fisheries sustainability
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- Gravy train well and truly over for consultants
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- Speech to Employment and Manufacturers Association on Holidays Act
Good morning everyone, and thank you for the kind introduction, Alan. As always, it is a pleasure to be here, and I appreciate the time you’ve all taken to come out during what is undoubtedly the busiest season of the year for some of you. It has certainly felt ...4 days ago
- Minister response to consultation on Holidays Act replacement
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says she has directed her officials to change the proposed direction of Holidays Act reform. “The Government recently conducted targeted consultation on an exposure draft Bill which built on work that had started under the previous Government. The feedback I have seen ...4 days ago
- Stalking legislation takes first step
Legislation that will make stalking illegal with a maximum penalty of up to five years in prison has been introduced and passed through first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Existing harassment laws haven’t kept pace with trends in this dangerous area. Since I announced this Bill, ...4 days ago
- New tools to be added to Traffic Light System
Legislation that will introduce new non-financial benefit sanctions into the welfare Traffic Light System and require people on Jobseeker Support to reapply every six months has passed its first reading in Parliament today. “The Social Security Amendment Bill expands the welfare Traffic Light System that launched in August with new ...4 days ago
- Changes to encourage more rental homes passed into law
The Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill has passed its third reading, delivering on the coalition Government’s commitment to deliver sensible changes to tenancy laws, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The previous Government’s war on landlords ultimately caused worse outcomes for tenants: rents up by $170 per week from 2017 to 2023, ...4 days ago
- Second RMA Amendment Bill introduced to Parliament
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- NZGIF update
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- Speech to the New Zealand China Council
It is a pleasure to be here this afternoon and thank you to John McKinnon and the New Zealand-China Council for the invitation. New Zealand greatly values its long-standing relationship with China. The connections between our two countries are strong, although recovering after being deeply affected by the impacts of ...4 days ago
- Hairdressers and barbers to receive a regulatory clean shave
Minister for Regulation David Seymour has today announced that the third sector review, led by the Ministry for Regulation, will cut red tape for the hairdresser and barber industry. “Hairdressers and barbers provide a valuable service in every community. They make up a billion-dollar industry of more than 5000 mostly ...4 days ago
- Aucklanders save $899 million in water charges with Local Water Done Well
The Government has approved the Watercare Charter to keep Auckland’s water services affordable, saving households about $899 million over four years while ensuring improved service quality and record infrastructure investment to unlock housing growth in Auckland says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown.Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says the Watercare Charter which was ...4 days ago
- Fintech innovation to boost consumer competition
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A leaked report authored by the government's expert ministerial advisory group warns the Aratere should be retired as early as next year. ...4 hours ago
- Government Washes Its Hands Of “Unethical” Plastic Waste Exports
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra A person with long experience in the financial services sector, Marnie Baker, and a distinguished academic economist, Renée Fry-McKibbin, have been appointed to serve on the Reserve Bank’s new monetary policy board: Treasurer Jim Chalmers ...9 hours ago
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The server will be getting hardware changes this evening starting at 10pm NZDT.
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Merry Christmas everyone.
If you are thinking of spreading the love around and donating to a food bank today here is a list of things to consider giving:
“1. Spices.
Think about it. People who rely on the food bank eat a lot of canned food, rice, oatmeal, white bread, etc. They love spices. Seasoned salt, cayenne pepper, chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, oregano, basil and so on.
2. Feminine Products.
Can you imagine being worried about affording these? Pads, tampons, panty liners, etc. Recommended: Buy in bulk at Costco for donating.
3. Chocolate.
People don’t need it, but think about being in their shoes and how nice it would be to be given a chocolate bar or brownie mix along with your essentials.
4. Toiletries.
Grocery stores are great about donating surplus or unsold food, but they have no reason to donate toilet paper, tooth paste, soap, deodorant, shampoo, etc. Food stamps often don’t cover these.
5. Canned meats and jerky.
This isn’t true of all food banks, but some struggle to give users enough protein.
6. Crackers and tortillas.
They don’t spoil and everybody likes them.
7. Baby toiletries.
Diapers, baby wipes, baby formula, baby shampoo, baby soap, baby food, bottles, etc.
8. Soup packets.
Sometimes you look at rice, beans, instant potatoes, and cans of vegetable and think, “What do I make with this?” Hearty soup is a complete meal.
9. Socks.
From a former homeless person: “Socks mean the world to you. They keep you warm, make you feel like you have something new, and just comfort you.”
10. Canned fruit other than pineapple.
Food banks get a lot of pineapple donated. Their clients love it when other kinds of fruit are available.
And remember! Food banks love cash donations because it allows them to buy whatever they need!”
Thanks, micky. Have a great summer season. Hope you get time for some R & R.
Good on ya MS. Merry Christmas.
Cheers CV and same to you.
platitude..platitude..platitude..
..bah humbug..!
..have fun..eh..?
phillip ure..
Merry Christmas, Happy midsummer festival ( For the non religious).
Merry christmas and remember the gcsb is the only govt dept that listens to the people.
lolz that’s funny!
Great line Tracey. Hoots!
That is a great line, Tracey – want to see it widely used next year!
I wonder if you can trade mark that line – what a money spinner that would be. Would really brass the P.M. off if you could – LOL. Definitely needs to be widely used.
Classic, gotta go viral with this one
@ tracey..
..hate to be a grinch..
..but maybe that (very witty) spook-one-liner deserved to be bracketed by speech-marks..?
phillip ure..
A merry Xmas to my friends and may the your deity of choice shine upon you and your whanau.
Aroha nui.
A merry Xmas to the Standardistas!
Thanks blue leopard thought you woukd enjoy that
Xox
Thanks Tracey
Yup
GCSB for God.
Omniscient and omnipotent.
Can’t wait to vote for a change of dictatorship.
an american paula bennett..
..but one who did not become an apostate…
http://whoar.co.nz/2013/the-real-war-on-christmas-the-war-on-the-poor-comment-an-american-paula-bennett-go-figure-but-the-american-one-has-not-become-an-apostate-eh/
phillip ure
Hope Christmas was a great time together with your people and that New Year and all 2014 brings what we all want. I am just watching the Muppet Telethon where they got together for a show to raise big money. How about a Left telethon for 2014! Let’s all be winning Muppets.