“It’s probably necessary to stop here and point out a couple of things. First of all, the fact that free trade is bad policy doesn’t mean that every kind of trade barrier is good policy. The habit of insisting that the only possible points along a spectrum are its two ends, common as it is, is an effective way to make really bad decisions; as in most things, there’s a middle ground that yields better results than either of the two extremes. Finding that middle ground isn’t necessarily easy, but the same thing’s true of most economic and political issues.”
That link was discussed here yesterday. Glad you brought it up again.
Excerpt:
“People who are aligned to the Labour cause actually genuinely take action about improving housing, about lifting incomes, about making sure that schools are properly funded, and our hospitals are properly funded.
“What they don’t do is go around looking for those on the highest incomes to back them – to challenge whoever because that’s all they want. Labour people, passionate Labour in their heart – they stick with Labour, they campaign on Labour issues, and for the Labour Party. Nick’s not one of those people.”
Andrew Little is bang on. Pseudo supporters who are only in the party for what they can get out of it. Having used Labour to its fullest capacity, they then scarper off to greener pastures. I think you could put people like Phil Quin and Josie Pagani into much the same boat.
I note on Q&A today that Pagani has given herself a new title – Public Affairs specialist.
Yeah, Labour can afford to be really picky about who they approve as left wing enough.
Leggett, Pagani, Quin and the other 10-15% of voters that Labour has lost are all dispensable. If they lose some all they need to do is accept their reduced party status and use Greens and maybe NZ First to make up the difference.
Good luck with that one. It’s a strategy that has failed before, but maybe if it’s repeated enough times it will work eventually.
The problem is that Labour seems to expect the non-voters to understand them and support them. They don’t seem to try let alone succeed in understanding the non-voters.
Repeatedly trying to sell a a failed product to very reluctant buyers is a bit of a challenge.
If two terms of key’s government wasn’t enough motivation to get the missing million off their bums on election day and voting for any opposition party to prevent a third, then their hearts, and minds, really can’t be in it.
I wouldn’t advocate writing them off, they’re still a huge potential voting block, but I wouldn’t build a campaign around them or labour under the expectation they’ll all of a sudden engage.
Labour/Greens just need to keep the policy coming.
Oh for fuck’s sake. It’s the “Labour” Party – even for someone as incapable of understanding what people are telling him as you are, that name should be a bit of a giveaway as to whom the part exists for. Just in case you are as obtuse as ever, it’s for people who are on the side of labour – Leggett, Pagani et al are not and should be pissing into someone else’s tent.
Leggett, Pagani, Quin, Shane Jones, the Maori MPs et al are people who helped get Clark’s Labour into Government and stay there for for nine years.
If Labour wants to ditch it’s ‘broad church’ appeal and piss on anyone who won’t accept their narrowing appeal without criticism then they are heading towards voluntary minor party status.
They’ve already ditched ‘Labour’ and replaced it with ‘Labour+Greens’ and expect to appeal to non-voters who don’t even like large and confident parties.
Oh ffs again. Legget is considering standing for National. So unless you think that Labour should be so broad as to also be National, you’re spouting a self-serving, the centre is god mythology that isn’t born out by what is happening in the world.
“They’ve already ditched ‘Labour’ and replaced it with ‘Labour+Greens’ and expect to appeal to non-voters who don’t even like large and confident parties.”
Telling lies this early on a Sunday Pete, really. (that or you simply don’t understand the MoU and what it means).
National and Labour are not mutually exclusive, as has been pointed out here many times. There’s quite an overlap in the centre and has been for a long time.
And get stuffed with your accusing me of lying just because you happen to disagree. Try arguing on the issue, if you have an argument.
Yes, I’ve read it, it’s so vague that you can’t clearly explain it.
It appears to mean that Greens and Labour are open to building relationships with other parties, people and organisations that share their goal but recognise that is a decision for themselves.
Unless Greens and Labour have decided they are from the Maori Party, the Mana Party, or are amongst the 15% of voters who have previously voted for Labour or Greens, but have now been deemed to be RWNJs?
At least we have this though. PG has just admitted he doesn’t understand the MoU, which makes his original statement about Labour having ditched Labour and is not L+G a confirmed idiocy.
I didn’t admit I don’t understand the MoU. I said it appears to be too vague for OAB to explain it, but OAB seems to rarely try and explain anything, they seem more intent on playing dirty.
The way Labour and Greens have worked with each other and not worked with each other suggests to me that it isn’t a hard and fast agreement, it is simply a general understanding that they will try and work together better until the election to present a Labour+Green alternative to voters and to defeat National.
Meanwhile, on Earth, I encouraged this dishonest bore to explain which clauses he can’t understand. It’s written in plain English. Instead, the lying troll puts words in my mouth.
It’s because he’s an astroturfing waste of bandwidth.
There’s nothing vague about agreeing to work together in Parliament and select committees, for example, unless you’re a lying trolling petty poison-pen.
There’s nothing vague about “no surprises”, unless you are pretending to be an illiterate idiot to advance your ongoing unoriginal repetition of right wing smears.
There’s nothing vague about monthly meetings, unless you have no original thoughts of your own and a list of right wing memes to faithfully copy.
No wonder people 🙄 whenever his latest ban expires.
It’s vague where it’s most critical – what Labour and Greens might do after the election.
The MoU seems to be an attempted con, selling Labour+Greens as a viable alternative to National (Labour having conceded they can’t go head to head with National any more) but with no indication what the end coalition would look like.
That’s been Winston’s trick in the past (and still is, the ‘wait until the voters decide’ trick, but the voters don’t know what to base their decision on).
No concession from Labour: a recidivist liar made it up.
No “attempted con” either – the MOU means exactly what it says. Unless you’re determined to bad-mouth the parties in question, that is. Because you’re motivated by hate.
Yes: the reason Petty George runs these plagiarised lies is pure and simple: malice, and a desperate cry for attention.
The comparison with NZF is a lie too, because unlike Peters, L and the G are being very up front about who they will do deals with post-election.
Can’t really fault the rest of your assessments OAB, although I would say the nasty comes from fear of the left and wanting to consolidate power in the centre because that’s the only place he can tolerate.
No, Pete, I’m not going to tell you how I understand the MoU, because you are a troll who looks intent on running attack lines against the left.
“L and the G are being very up front about who they will do deals with post-election.”
The wording of the MOU implies it will run only until the election and it is not being presented as a coalition deal.
Asked about NZ First’s role Little said: “We both agree this is not a monogamous relationship.”
He would welcome any other party committed to changing the government and advancing progressive policies.
But he refused to say whether he would leave the Greens out in the cold and form a government with NZ First if it had the numbers and its leader Winston Peters insisted.
Yes, we’ve already established you either have no idea what is going on or are lying.
I”m not going to show you anything because you are a troll.
Labour and the Greens were explicit that the MoU lasted until the election and that any coalition deals would be negotiated after the election. And they’ve also been explicit that they are willing to work together in government. And they’ve also been explicit that they’re not guaranteeing that, because obviously how the voting goes will have a big impact on who gets to form govt. Duh.
Only a fucking idiot* would criticise them for not having a coalition deal 12 months out from an election.
I haven’t seen anyone say they should have a coalition deal before the election. No one does that, it would be absurd to even suggest it.
Yes Labour and Greens have indicated they would work together in Government – maybe. Greens will almost certainly need Labour if they still won’t work in government with National.
But Andrew Little wouldn’t rule out jilting the Greens and doing a deal with Winston if that allowed him to form a government.
Even this “statement of the bleeding obvious” is barbed with Petty’s feeble smears – “jilting” – seriously? Is Petty George in fact a teenage fashion victim with a very unfortunate skin condition?
I think it would be more useful for New Zealand if Labour and National just went into a long-term coalition. Spare me the tedium of another election.
National under Key have hardly cracked down on social welfare as they have done, accelerated resolution of Maori issues, retained all the Helen Clark government’s innovations and in some places improved them, plus the earthquakes and Auckland’s needs have simply forced Key to become more and more Keynesian as he stays on.
Whereas Labour in policy terms are about the same as when Helen Clark left – even dumping the 90 day fire at will clause was beyond fighting.
Sure, there’s lots to differ on, but it’s too small and country, and our politics overall now too centrist.
Labour and National’s caucuses should simply get together over Christmas, share a good long bong session, and move in together.
We’ve been waiting for a long-term compact that would steady the country and push it along harder. Well, Labour and National, do it.
@ Petey boy:
Leggett, Pagani and Quin are dispensable. No-one in the LP has shed any tears at their loss Pete dear. Labour has not been so unified since the departure of these trouble makers, but we know that is all a bit hard for someone like you to comprehend.
“picky about who they approve as left wing enough”. Right wing is not acting to improve housing, not lifting incomes, not making sure schools and public hospitals are properly funded,
A scab is someone who betrays his or her fellow workers. Nick Leggett has never violated a strike, to my knowledge, so of course Andrew Little would not call him a scab.
Dr Paul Craig Roberts, former Reagan White House official, talks about the state of Anglo-US imperial activities with regards to Syria, Russia and other hot spots around the world.
Russia:
Gangster state led by a KGB dictator where political opponents and non compliant journalists just disappear, get murdered or are jailed.
Initiates an aggressive expansionist policy, which threatens several independent sovereign nation states on it’s borders who commit to and view western Europe as their ally, as is their given right.
Sanctions and tactical slashing of oil prices hit the bank balance of Putin and his crony pet pussy cats, and faced with diminishing wealth, and above all, dents to his ruskie male chauvinist ego, he sets in motion a plan to destabilize.
During the Arab spring, in Syria, instead of supporting the popular people led call for regime change he frustrated attempts in order to protect his energy deals and local influence, which in turn caused the vacuum in which isil filled and has led to propping up a barrel bombing, chlorine gas using murderer who because of this has no hope of ever running a united country, ever, no matter how many hospitals or aid convoys the Russian military can target and destroy.
Best you stick your “anglo-US imperial activities with regards to Syria, Russia and other hot spots around the world” up your agenda motivated cossack.
A perfect summary of false smear focused Anglo-US centric imperial propaganda, thank you.
By the way, do you not understand that Russophobic PR, economic sanctions against Russia and undermining the oil price has finally successfully forced Russia to diversify its economy.
It has become more self reliant on localised manufacturing and technology, accelerate its military modernisation and to seek new ties to India, China and South East Asia.
Who you spin and shill for and why you’ve accepted the mission is your call, but don’t expect all the people all the time to be as dimwitted and gullible as you’ll need them to be to have your version of history regarded as fact. There just isn’t enough RT propaganda around to do it.
So yeah, insert your “false smear focused Anglo-US centric imperial propaganda” up your swollen Gorky.
By the way, do you not understand that Russophobic PR, economic sanctions against Russia and undermining the oil price has finally successfully forced Russia to diversify its economy.
Most of us don’t need “Russophobic PR” to tell us that an authoritarian right-wing kleptocracy in charge a huge military isn’t a good thing. Also, it’s superfluous to say “Russia” has been forced to diversify “its” economy, as though it had some kind of representative democracy running it. Putin and his cronies have been forced to diversify their economy – no need for euphemisms.
You have to recognise that other countries, not just ours, have legitimate national and security interests. With NATO moving more and more forces and bases to within 100km of Russian borders, of course Russia will respond accordingly.
Russia runs a managed democracy just like the USA does, though of course not managed in the same way.
However, Putin has far higher public approval and favourability ratings than either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump – neither of whom the American people would choose if they had a true choice.
In contrast, most Russians would far more enthusiastically vote for Vladimir Putin.
Russia runs a managed democracy just like the USA does, though of course not managed in the same way.
“…not managed in the same way.” Ah, yes – let’s draw a discreet false-equivalence veil over the hugely consequential difference between an actual democracy and a pretend one, because… well, damned if I know why you do it, unless you’re a right-wing authoritarian yourself.
Putin is popular electorally based on his results and his leadership. From failed oligarchic state to prosperous re-emerging super power in under 20 years.
Having said that most Russians do seem to think that the machinery of their government remains bureaucratic, slow and inevitably corrupt to one degree or another.
Putin is popular electorally based on his results and his leadership.
So was Hitler. Which I mention not to compare Putin to Hitler, just to illustrate that a leader’s popularity or lack of it says nothing useful about quality of governance. As a general rule, Big Brother making the trains run on time isn’t a substitute for rule of law, separation of powers, press freedom and a functioning democracy.
Every western country is deteriorating in each one of those counts, while Russia is getting its act together.
Especially compared to the 1990s. When a disastrous US engineered post-Soviet collapse put Russia in the hands of a dozen hand picked oligarchs loyal to foreign powers and criminal ethnic mafias causing havoc in local communities.
And the Russian people credit Putin for putting that disintegrating chaotic country back together.
One more point. I’m quietly confident that the rest of the world has had quite enough of western colonialists trying to tell them how to behave and how to run government.
Especially given the incompetent rigged display of a US democratic debacle this year.
When I was a teenager my day would be given a magazine smuggled out of Czechoslovakia by one of his friends who was a communist. I remember it well, for it contained wonderful descriptions of the superb life the people there enjoyed under the Russian rule. Of course it was all bull shit.
RT delivers much the same now.
You know Macro, I tire of old cold war types and old cold war stereotypes.
If you can’t understand that Putin’s Russia is a completely different nation to Yeltsin’s Russia, which was completely different to the Soviet Union which was a completely different nation to Tsarist Russia, there is no way that you can make sensible judgements on important issues to do with that nation.
Anyway for a laugh, here is Steven Seagal receiving his Russian citizenship from Putin this week.
Every western country is deteriorating in each one of those counts, while Russia is getting its act together.
I’m not sure what you mean by “getting its act together,” since Russia is deteriorating on all those counts a lot faster than any western democracy and from a much lower base.
…western colonialists…
Just for giggles, how do you think the Russian Federation got to be the size it is today? And why do you think it considers various of its neighbours to be part of its “sphere of influence?”
falling apart – ha! the 5 year plan is well above target, everyone is happy and well fed and everyone love vlad oh yes that is the truth I am not being forced to say this…
As I said where? The Russian Federation isn’t falling apart. Russia could continue to deteriorate on those good governance measures to the point where it’s one of the shittiest countries in the world and still not fall apart – in fact, it’s already done that once, as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Putin’s got a long way to go before he could even aspire to the same league as earlier Russian efforts at bad governance.
It’s what Russia always needed, to get out more and smell the roses. Anglo-US centric imperial propaganda aside. Who do think Russia’s new ties with India, China and South East Asia will really benefit ?
Mostly the 50%-60% of the world’s population living right there.
This is an Eurasian 21st Century.
Marked by the return of the old civilisations of the world: Russia 1100 years old, China 3000+ years old, India 3000+ years old, Persia 2500+ years old.
NZ, while remaining aligned with our strong US-Anglo roots, has to realise that we have to be flexible and adaptable to the change at hand.
You really embarrass yourself every time you come on this messageboard. I cannot imagine you spouting such ignorant comments in any half sane work place, so the question arises: Are you a radio talkback host?
You use that ‘you embarrass yourself’ line a lot and, in context, it doesn’t bother me a bit what you think. I can easily live with your fragility.
I’m not the one whose been stalking a radio show for years and years. lol
I guess it would be difficult for anyone to match the breadth of your research on the subject, extending as it does all the way from John Pilger to Russia Today…
The RWNJs go on about the oppression of the USSR, China, DPRK etc and then they go round doing this sort of shit:
Last week, the U.K.’s Parliament approved the Investigatory Powers Bill, dubbed the “Snoopers’ Charter” by critics. The law, which is expected to come into force before the end of the year, was introduced in November 2015 after the fallout from revelations by National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden about extensive British mass surveillance. The Investigatory Powers Bill essentially retroactively legalizes the electronic spying programs exposed in the Snowden documents — and also expands some of the government’s surveillance powers.
And then they wonder why we compare them to Hitler and Stalin.
As Paul Craig Roberts states, the few countries left with independent foreign and monetary policies (Iran, Syria, Russia, China, and formerly Libya and Iraq) must be demonised and destabilised.
But you get a total pass if you are a co-operative part of the Anglo-US empire.
Big business bristles at possible $86m tax crackdown (from Granny Herald)
“Green Party co-leader James Shaw said the delays made it seem that Inland Revenue had double standards in tax enforcement.
“What it looks like is the Government is sending in metaphorical SWAT teams to catch beneficiaries and student loan borrowers, while they’re letting [large taxpayers] not pay millions of dollars in taxes, year after year,” he said.
Labour finance spokesman Grant Robertson said Woodhouse “needs to decide whose side he’s on. Is he on the side of working New Zealanders who pay their PAYE every week and do the right thing, or is he on the side of companies who seek to limit their tax paid in New Zealand?”
On a similar note from Bernard Hickey (also on Granny Herald)
“The default position for many now is to distrust apparently rootless multinational companies who have played countries off against each other to reduce their tax bills and generate ever-bigger profits for their equally rootless investors.
Prime Minister John Key has his ear close to the ground and this week he told Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to win back the trust of the globalised masses by paying its taxes.
“I think if they don’t, the same people who are its users will wake up one day and say, ‘Why do I have to pay my tax if this company is not going to?'” Key said.
It’s a bit late for that now. People are wide awake. Key hopes the social contract supporting globalisation here can be repaired with a few tweaks and some good PR.
The trouble is globalisation is global. It only works when everyone globally believes in that social contract, and that is broken.”
More profiteering on apartments – so helpful for first home buyers (sarc) (from Granny herald)
“At the St James Suites planned for Queen St, a buyer who in 2014 signed a contract to pay $775,000 was stunned last week when that figure escalated to $999,000 for exactly the same two-bedroom place.
Across in Takapuna, one buyer at The Sargeson apartment project told how the price of a unit was rising from $465,000 to $535,000, while at Rose Gardens Apartments in Albany, where work is well advanced, buyers were being asked for 15 per cent more.
Rising construction costs, funding cost hikes and difficulty getting access to funding are some of the issues being mentioned in letters sent to buyers, citing clauses which allow changes, offering to cancel and pay interest on deposits.
Auckland apartment developer Marty Kells said some overseas players were ratcheting up unit prices.”
Those developers are getting screwed by the materials suppliers; in particular Fletchers and its subsidiaries in cement, steel, hardware, and wood.
They are also having their construction workers sucked away by the big public sector infrastructure jobs.
While interest rates stay low, immigration goes high, and demand for housing continues to climb and climb, prices will continue to escalate by the month.
Also it is not just ‘bodies on the build’ – it is the level of building skills that’s lacking – they should never have taken away the apprentices and so forth.
But I think the main factor going up is materials not labour. But MSM does not talk about that as nobody is lobbying for cheaper materials and investigations into building monopolies and price fixing.
It seems that there is price fixing going on at all the major building firms. As soon as one puts up the prices the rest follow.
The Army Corps of Engineers has issued an eviction notice to one of the Standing Rock camps (which is on Indian land, but the govt think it’s theirs). They’re meant to leave by 5th Dec. As far as I can tell the camp is continuing to build in prep for winter.
This impressive rant from a US Navy Vet on what’s going down,
/ In his meetings, Flynn is said to have claimed Trump’s controversial campaign-trail remarks were merely part of the rhetoric needed to secure an election win, according to informed sources. His actual policies after taking office would be different from what he said to galvanize his support base, Flynn predicted.
… Frydl too saw the Trump win in such areas as a vote against the status quo in the same way that a vote for Obama was in 2008. In that way, she thinks Trump’s upset is a “de facto” judgment on Obama’s failure to be the “change agent” many thought they were voting for.
“The people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and the steel belt that voted for Trump were aware that the steel mills closed in 1983,” she said. “They were aware of that in 2012 when they voted for Obama. There is something specific to the opioid crisis in the last four years that is a social policy failure that deserves to be treated as discrete.”
Frydl, who has written a history of the drug war in America, believes that the Obama administration’s response to the opioid crisis signaled to many addiction-ravaged areas that “their suffering was not registering with the Democratic Party establishment.” …
… After decades of systemic economic decline and the government’s failure to address the subsequent public-health crisis, Trump’s outsider campaign was perfectly primed to capitalize on the so-called Oxy electorate’s fears about foreign influence and loss of status.
Every time Trump turned up in New Hampshire he would talk about stopping drugs coming in from Mexico, he would talk about stamping out the heroin/opioid problem, he would talk about getting addicts proper treatment and making sure they get better and that they could get good jobs again, he would meet with public officials and community groups dealing with this problem.
More than 50,000 abusive and offensive tweets were sent celebrating Labour MP Jo Cox’s murder and lauding her killer, Thomas Mair, as a “hero” or “patriot” in the month following her death, prompting calls for the government to do more to tackle hate speech online.
It’s a difficult line to draw but there has to be some limits to free-speech. It’s this type of stuff that leads to stuff like this:
They include the killing of 77 and injuring of 242 people in Norway by Anders Breivik in July 2011 in shooting and bomb attacks fuelled by his rightwing views and belief in the Islamisation of Europe.
If it translates into the voting pattern next year, it will mean more homeless working families and dead children, and you’ll have something to celebrate.
I am not envious of policies that can only achieve economic growth through increasing immigration. Nor do I envy the wealth that goes with crony capitalist corruption: I have enough of my own gained by honest means, thanks.
If you had a rebuttal to my valid criticism you’d have stated it. Instead you chose to attack me.
Thanks for conceding my point so quickly. Console yourself with your feelings for Dear Leader.
Pragmatically speaking that would lead to a Labour/NZF government with the Greens providing confidence and supply. However, I note that you seem much more confident in your opinion of what Winston will or won’t do than I am, so perhaps it is you who needs your head read.
I’d be surprised if National don’t win out right next year.
Apart from the left being a joke, Key has finally realised the jokey jokey stuff with the media isn’t the best idea as he loses control of the narrative so has peeled that right back.
From now on the message will be Key the dependable, the guy you can rely on etc, Angry boy really doesn’t have a chance, if he was honest the best thing he could do is throw the towel in now and save the country quite a few million.
Hey, OAB. Is it true you have hired Dr Death to relieve you of your miserable existence after the next election is won by National? I say that because you seem to be an abusive prick who is exempt from moderation and offers little to a debate. You also make a mockery of the good behaviour rule for this thread. Or doesn’t that apply to you?
Outgoing PMs popularity is trending downwards and has been for some time. JS
Arrogance does not keep a government in power, Northland springs to mind, and if the current government was any good (popular) they would be able to take Mt Roskill, but they won’t because they aren’t.
Don’t rely on the polls, Brexit and Trump should have taught everyone that lesson by now.
But hey if all you want to do is gloat, then gloat away, makes you look foolish considering the information I’ve just provided.
Dude, don’t make fun of suicide, the stats in our country are naught to be proud of, thanks to the current government, taking ones own life has never been more popular.
Key’s Colmar Brunton / Reid Research – combined average is now just under 38% (for 2016)
So he’s Down 15 points on 2011,
11 points on 2010
and 14 points on 2009
His 2/2 of 2016 combined average is now just under 37%
In reality, he’s probably down a little more than that. Key is usually slightly weaker in the Reid Research polls. And an unusually small number of RR polls have been carried out this year (2 to Colmar Brunton’s 5). Usually these 2 Pollsters conduct roughly the same number of polls each year.
Based off what Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s campaign manager, said about Hillary Clinton’s popularity.
Does Labour’s polling appear to be benefitting from Key’s weakening ratings relative to 2011?
Or is Labour’s polling still demonstrating a polling ceiling (that I would place at roughly 28% to 30%) which it cannot seem to break through and stay through, even as Key’s support declines?
And finally – is Little’s numbers going up as Key’s numbers over the last 2 years has been going down?
(2) Da (although has occassionally broken through to 32/33% over last 2 years)
(3) Nyet !!!
You’re quite right, of course, CV. I should point out here that I was simply backing up Cinny’s broad point – largely with a view to irritating our regular Tory chums.
Still looking just a teensy weensy weensy weensy bit grim for Labour and the Left at this juncture.
Kellyanne Conway, who also runs her own polling organisation, said that they noticed every time their candidate Trump got hit hard with a new media revelation his poll numbers would briefly dip.
But those dips almost never translated into boosts for Hillary Clinton who they saw had a pretty hard polling ceiling of 45% to 46%.
So they knew that she was vulnerable to undecideds and wouldn’t tells moving against her.
The big difference is that while Key’s a bit of a dick who harms the country, he’s not quite the same level of racist fascist imbecilic fraudster who makes voters voters ashamed to admit what they intend to do in a secret ballot.
I wonder then why the outgoing government appears to be underfunding our National Parks aka DOC?
No doubt many come here for the scenery.
Government is happy to exploit the tourism income earner, but it appears they are not so happy to keep our parks up to scratch.
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Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathryn Willis, Postdoctoral Researcher, CSIRO Xavier Boulenger/Shutterstock In the two decades to 2019, global plastic production doubled. By 2040, plastic manufacturing and processing could consume as much as 20% of global oil production and use up 15% of the annual carbon ...
With our collective remembrance, and steadfast belief in our common humanity, we strengthen our hope and resolve to do what we can to foster dialogue and understanding, and to heal divisions in our pursuit of peace. ...
Principal reasons for the opposition is the loss of the public’s democratic right to have “a fair say” and the vital need for a government free from corruption, said Casey Cravens of Dunedin, president of the New Zealand Federation of Freshwater ...
Never mind the scoreboard – in the 2000 Bledisloe Cup decider, the real trans-Tasman battle was won before kickoff.First published in 2016. The dawn of the new millennium was a dark time for the All Blacks. Their final game pre-Y2K was a 22-18 loss to South Africa in the ...
I’m on the wrong side of 40, I never pursued creative work and now my job is killing my soul. Help! Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,May I start with the least original conversation opener you’re likely to hear around the motu at the moment, particularly in Wellington: ...
“Never again - No AUKUS” was the message of the wreath laid at this morning’s national ANZAC Day commemorative service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park this morning by the Stop AUKUS group. ...
Until this month, Auckland swimmer Hazel Ouwehand had never met a qualifying time in an Olympic event for a New Zealand team, even as a junior. Now she’s very likely off to the Paris Olympics after swimming well under the qualifying standard in the 100m butterfly twice – both in ...
While Anzac Day has experienced a resurgence in recent years, our other day of remembrance has slowly faded from view.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. Original illustrations by Hope McConnell.First published in 2022.The high school’s head girl and ...
Australian and New Zealand volunteers fought together in the Waikato War, yet still its place in the Anzac tradition is unacknowledged by our defence forces or Returned Services Association.First published in 2018.When I was a boy cub I attended Anzac Day services in the South Auckland suburb of ...
A poem by Wellington writer Tayi Tibble.Hoki Mai She kisses him goodbye with her eyes still wet and alight from their last swim in the Awatere river. At the train station celebration, she leads the Kapa Haka but her voice keeps breaking under and over itself like waves. ...
A poem from Bill Manhire’s 2017 book of verse Some Things to Place in a Coffin.My World War I Poem Inside each trench, the sound of prayer. Inside each prayer, the sound of digging. Image courtesy of Auckland War Memorial Museum. ...
There are three books I have wolfed down in one sitting over the last two years. Colleen Maria Lenihan’s gorgeous and sad debut Kōhine, Noelle McCarthy’s memoir Grand about becoming her mother and then unbecoming her, and now Hine Toa, a staunch yet gentle self-portrait by living legend Ngāhuia te ...
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Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
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The following interview with former Green Party MP Sue Kedgley came about because she features in the new memoir Hine Toa by activist Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku; the two knew each other at the University of Auckland in the early 70s, when they were both took on leadership roles in the ...
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“It’s probably necessary to stop here and point out a couple of things. First of all, the fact that free trade is bad policy doesn’t mean that every kind of trade barrier is good policy. The habit of insisting that the only possible points along a spectrum are its two ends, common as it is, is an effective way to make really bad decisions; as in most things, there’s a middle ground that yields better results than either of the two extremes. Finding that middle ground isn’t necessarily easy, but the same thing’s true of most economic and political issues.”
http://thearchdruidreport.blogspot.co.nz/2016/11/the-free-trade-fallacy.html
deja vu…..plus climate change
Is Seismic blasting a good idea in Napier and Kaikoura?
https://act.greenpeace.org/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1939&ea.campaign.id=58837&ea.tracking.id=facebook_promotion&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=climate&utm_term=fbstatoilchevron03&utm_content=paid_promo
Inside The Invisible Government: John Pilger On War, Propaganda, Clinton And Trump
https://newmatilda.com/2016/10/28/inside-the-invisible-government-john-pilger-on-war-propaganda-clinton-and-trump/
Andrew little showing his class. Might as well have called him a scab.
Makes him look like the “union man” he is.
http://www.newshub.co.nz/politics/nick-leggett-wasnt-true-labour—andrew-little-2016112615
That link was discussed here yesterday. Glad you brought it up again.
Excerpt:
Andrew Little is bang on. Pseudo supporters who are only in the party for what they can get out of it. Having used Labour to its fullest capacity, they then scarper off to greener pastures. I think you could put people like Phil Quin and Josie Pagani into much the same boat.
I note on Q&A today that Pagani has given herself a new title – Public Affairs specialist.
Ah, so she’s gone full RWNJ.
Yeah, Labour can afford to be really picky about who they approve as left wing enough.
Leggett, Pagani, Quin and the other 10-15% of voters that Labour has lost are all dispensable. If they lose some all they need to do is accept their reduced party status and use Greens and maybe NZ First to make up the difference.
Labour moving away from the RWNJ’s (Leggett, Pagani, Quin) will mean the missing millions might feel confident voting for them again..
Good luck with that one. It’s a strategy that has failed before, but maybe if it’s repeated enough times it will work eventually.
The problem is that Labour seems to expect the non-voters to understand them and support them. They don’t seem to try let alone succeed in understanding the non-voters.
Repeatedly trying to sell a a failed product to very reluctant buyers is a bit of a challenge.
Were the Greens not left enough for the missing million, were Internet Mana too right wing?
Its not like there weren’t options for the voters, I think the idea that the missing million are all disaffected Labour voters is pie in the sky stuff
If two terms of key’s government wasn’t enough motivation to get the missing million off their bums on election day and voting for any opposition party to prevent a third, then their hearts, and minds, really can’t be in it.
I wouldn’t advocate writing them off, they’re still a huge potential voting block, but I wouldn’t build a campaign around them or labour under the expectation they’ll all of a sudden engage.
Labour/Greens just need to keep the policy coming.
For a start there aren’t millions of missing voters .
Arrogantly assuming there are and not only that they will vote left is silly.
Are you saying this indolent class of person who can’t get of there arse to vote , ipso facto demonstrating left wing characteristics .
Aren’t there any indolent right wing voters?
Oh for fuck’s sake. It’s the “Labour” Party – even for someone as incapable of understanding what people are telling him as you are, that name should be a bit of a giveaway as to whom the part exists for. Just in case you are as obtuse as ever, it’s for people who are on the side of labour – Leggett, Pagani et al are not and should be pissing into someone else’s tent.
Oh FFS yourself.
Leggett, Pagani, Quin, Shane Jones, the Maori MPs et al are people who helped get Clark’s Labour into Government and stay there for for nine years.
If Labour wants to ditch it’s ‘broad church’ appeal and piss on anyone who won’t accept their narrowing appeal without criticism then they are heading towards voluntary minor party status.
They’ve already ditched ‘Labour’ and replaced it with ‘Labour+Greens’ and expect to appeal to non-voters who don’t even like large and confident parties.
Oh ffs again. Legget is considering standing for National. So unless you think that Labour should be so broad as to also be National, you’re spouting a self-serving, the centre is god mythology that isn’t born out by what is happening in the world.
“They’ve already ditched ‘Labour’ and replaced it with ‘Labour+Greens’ and expect to appeal to non-voters who don’t even like large and confident parties.”
Telling lies this early on a Sunday Pete, really. (that or you simply don’t understand the MoU and what it means).
National and Labour are not mutually exclusive, as has been pointed out here many times. There’s quite an overlap in the centre and has been for a long time.
And get stuffed with your accusing me of lying just because you happen to disagree. Try arguing on the issue, if you have an argument.
🙄
So you don’t understand the MOU or what it means. It’s more charitable to assume you’re a liar instead.
No, you keep calling anyone a liar you try and set up for weka to ban.
Can you clearly explain what the MoU means to the Greens, and to Labour?
Poor little martyr battles evil conspiracy 🙄
Have you even read the MOU (pdf)? I doubt it, because it’s written in plain English.
Which particular clause or clauses are you incapable of grasping?
Yes, I’ve read it, it’s so vague that you can’t clearly explain it.
It appears to mean that Greens and Labour are open to building relationships with other parties, people and organisations that share their goal but recognise that is a decision for themselves.
Unless Greens and Labour have decided they are from the Maori Party, the Mana Party, or are amongst the 15% of voters who have previously voted for Labour or Greens, but have now been deemed to be RWNJs?
3 b) has some points you could learn something from, if you understand it.
“We support each other’s right to express alternate views”. And “we agree to articulate differences in a collegial and respectful manner”.
Incapacity it is then.
Wilful ignorance.
At least we have this though. PG has just admitted he doesn’t understand the MoU, which makes his original statement about Labour having ditched Labour and is not L+G a confirmed idiocy.
I didn’t admit I don’t understand the MoU. I said it appears to be too vague for OAB to explain it, but OAB seems to rarely try and explain anything, they seem more intent on playing dirty.
The way Labour and Greens have worked with each other and not worked with each other suggests to me that it isn’t a hard and fast agreement, it is simply a general understanding that they will try and work together better until the election to present a Labour+Green alternative to voters and to defeat National.
Can you explain what the MoU means to you weka?
Meanwhile, on Earth, I encouraged this dishonest bore to explain which clauses he can’t understand. It’s written in plain English. Instead, the lying troll puts words in my mouth.
It’s because he’s an astroturfing waste of bandwidth.
There’s nothing vague about agreeing to work together in Parliament and select committees, for example, unless you’re a lying trolling petty poison-pen.
There’s nothing vague about “no surprises”, unless you are pretending to be an illiterate idiot to advance your ongoing unoriginal repetition of right wing smears.
There’s nothing vague about monthly meetings, unless you have no original thoughts of your own and a list of right wing memes to faithfully copy.
No wonder people 🙄 whenever his latest ban expires.
It’s vague where it’s most critical – what Labour and Greens might do after the election.
The MoU seems to be an attempted con, selling Labour+Greens as a viable alternative to National (Labour having conceded they can’t go head to head with National any more) but with no indication what the end coalition would look like.
That’s been Winston’s trick in the past (and still is, the ‘wait until the voters decide’ trick, but the voters don’t know what to base their decision on).
More venomous lies then.
No concession from Labour: a recidivist liar made it up.
No “attempted con” either – the MOU means exactly what it says. Unless you’re determined to bad-mouth the parties in question, that is. Because you’re motivated by hate.
Yes: the reason Petty George runs these plagiarised lies is pure and simple: malice, and a desperate cry for attention.
The comparison with NZF is a lie too, because unlike Peters, L and the G are being very up front about who they will do deals with post-election.
Can’t really fault the rest of your assessments OAB, although I would say the nasty comes from fear of the left and wanting to consolidate power in the centre because that’s the only place he can tolerate.
No, Pete, I’m not going to tell you how I understand the MoU, because you are a troll who looks intent on running attack lines against the left.
“L and the G are being very up front about who they will do deals with post-election.”
That doesn’t look up front to me.
Can you show where Labour or Greens have been up front about what they would do after the election?
“That doesn’t look up front to me.”
Yes, we’ve already established you either have no idea what is going on or are lying.
I”m not going to show you anything because you are a troll.
Labour and the Greens were explicit that the MoU lasted until the election and that any coalition deals would be negotiated after the election. And they’ve also been explicit that they are willing to work together in government. And they’ve also been explicit that they’re not guaranteeing that, because obviously how the voting goes will have a big impact on who gets to form govt. Duh.
Only a fucking idiot* would criticise them for not having a coalition deal 12 months out from an election.
*or troll, and round and round we go.
I haven’t seen anyone say they should have a coalition deal before the election. No one does that, it would be absurd to even suggest it.
Yes Labour and Greens have indicated they would work together in Government – maybe. Greens will almost certainly need Labour if they still won’t work in government with National.
But Andrew Little wouldn’t rule out jilting the Greens and doing a deal with Winston if that allowed him to form a government.
🙄
Only you needed half a day to state the bleeding obvious. You just prefer to lie and smear along the way.
Even this “statement of the bleeding obvious” is barbed with Petty’s feeble smears – “jilting” – seriously? Is Petty George in fact a teenage fashion victim with a very unfortunate skin condition?
Blairites.
Power for power’s sake.
Haven’t you learnt from Brexit and Trump yet?
I think it would be more useful for New Zealand if Labour and National just went into a long-term coalition. Spare me the tedium of another election.
National under Key have hardly cracked down on social welfare as they have done, accelerated resolution of Maori issues, retained all the Helen Clark government’s innovations and in some places improved them, plus the earthquakes and Auckland’s needs have simply forced Key to become more and more Keynesian as he stays on.
Whereas Labour in policy terms are about the same as when Helen Clark left – even dumping the 90 day fire at will clause was beyond fighting.
Sure, there’s lots to differ on, but it’s too small and country, and our politics overall now too centrist.
Labour and National’s caucuses should simply get together over Christmas, share a good long bong session, and move in together.
We’ve been waiting for a long-term compact that would steady the country and push it along harder. Well, Labour and National, do it.
@ Petey boy:
Leggett, Pagani and Quin are dispensable. No-one in the LP has shed any tears at their loss Pete dear. Labour has not been so unified since the departure of these trouble makers, but we know that is all a bit hard for someone like you to comprehend.
Unified at 28% support compared to National on 50% (Greens 11%, NZF 10% in the latest Colmar Brunton poll). Labour+Greens are 11% behind.
I guess those left in Labour can rejoice in their unity.
Pete thinks effect = cause. Nothing else has happened since Clark to drop Labour’s vote.
And there it is: Petty’s concern trolling at it’s maximum strength: point two on the Richter scale.
“picky about who they approve as left wing enough”. Right wing is not acting to improve housing, not lifting incomes, not making sure schools and public hospitals are properly funded,
@Anne
James thinks Leggett saying Labour are anti immigration and anti free trade is going to win-over voters.
Like Leggett, he’s out of touch.
http://www.newshub.co.nz/politics/poll-kiwis-want-to-cut-immigration-2016080915
http://www.newshub.co.nz/nznews/kiwis-still-to-be-convinced-on-tpp-2015112017
A scab is someone who betrays his or her fellow workers. Nick Leggett has never violated a strike, to my knowledge, so of course Andrew Little would not call him a scab.
Your comment is ignorant.
Dr Paul Craig Roberts, former Reagan White House official, talks about the state of Anglo-US imperial activities with regards to Syria, Russia and other hot spots around the world.
‘The west is about to devour itself.’
An excellent talk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAPBKWxqlaQ
Russia:
Gangster state led by a KGB dictator where political opponents and non compliant journalists just disappear, get murdered or are jailed.
Initiates an aggressive expansionist policy, which threatens several independent sovereign nation states on it’s borders who commit to and view western Europe as their ally, as is their given right.
Sanctions and tactical slashing of oil prices hit the bank balance of Putin and his crony pet pussy cats, and faced with diminishing wealth, and above all, dents to his ruskie male chauvinist ego, he sets in motion a plan to destabilize.
During the Arab spring, in Syria, instead of supporting the popular people led call for regime change he frustrated attempts in order to protect his energy deals and local influence, which in turn caused the vacuum in which isil filled and has led to propping up a barrel bombing, chlorine gas using murderer who because of this has no hope of ever running a united country, ever, no matter how many hospitals or aid convoys the Russian military can target and destroy.
Best you stick your “anglo-US imperial activities with regards to Syria, Russia and other hot spots around the world” up your agenda motivated cossack.
A perfect summary of false smear focused Anglo-US centric imperial propaganda, thank you.
By the way, do you not understand that Russophobic PR, economic sanctions against Russia and undermining the oil price has finally successfully forced Russia to diversify its economy.
It has become more self reliant on localised manufacturing and technology, accelerate its military modernisation and to seek new ties to India, China and South East Asia.
“By the way” lmfao
Who you spin and shill for and why you’ve accepted the mission is your call, but don’t expect all the people all the time to be as dimwitted and gullible as you’ll need them to be to have your version of history regarded as fact. There just isn’t enough RT propaganda around to do it.
So yeah, insert your “false smear focused Anglo-US centric imperial propaganda” up your swollen Gorky.
You still believe the corporate media after ‘weapons of mass destruction.’
You are either a fool or a shill.
By the way, do you not understand that Russophobic PR, economic sanctions against Russia and undermining the oil price has finally successfully forced Russia to diversify its economy.
Most of us don’t need “Russophobic PR” to tell us that an authoritarian right-wing kleptocracy in charge a huge military isn’t a good thing. Also, it’s superfluous to say “Russia” has been forced to diversify “its” economy, as though it had some kind of representative democracy running it. Putin and his cronies have been forced to diversify their economy – no need for euphemisms.
You have to recognise that other countries, not just ours, have legitimate national and security interests. With NATO moving more and more forces and bases to within 100km of Russian borders, of course Russia will respond accordingly.
Russia runs a managed democracy just like the USA does, though of course not managed in the same way.
However, Putin has far higher public approval and favourability ratings than either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump – neither of whom the American people would choose if they had a true choice.
In contrast, most Russians would far more enthusiastically vote for Vladimir Putin.
Kool-aidski for sale. Who will by my lovely Kool-aidski? Someone please drink the Kool-aidski lol
Who pays you to come on this site?
Who’d pay me to leave? Is the question deserving of an answer.
Russia runs a managed democracy just like the USA does, though of course not managed in the same way.
“…not managed in the same way.” Ah, yes – let’s draw a discreet false-equivalence veil over the hugely consequential difference between an actual democracy and a pretend one, because… well, damned if I know why you do it, unless you’re a right-wing authoritarian yourself.
Putin is popular electorally based on his results and his leadership. From failed oligarchic state to prosperous re-emerging super power in under 20 years.
Having said that most Russians do seem to think that the machinery of their government remains bureaucratic, slow and inevitably corrupt to one degree or another.
Putin is popular electorally based on his results and his leadership.
So was Hitler. Which I mention not to compare Putin to Hitler, just to illustrate that a leader’s popularity or lack of it says nothing useful about quality of governance. As a general rule, Big Brother making the trains run on time isn’t a substitute for rule of law, separation of powers, press freedom and a functioning democracy.
Every western country is deteriorating in each one of those counts, while Russia is getting its act together.
Especially compared to the 1990s. When a disastrous US engineered post-Soviet collapse put Russia in the hands of a dozen hand picked oligarchs loyal to foreign powers and criminal ethnic mafias causing havoc in local communities.
And the Russian people credit Putin for putting that disintegrating chaotic country back together.
One more point. I’m quietly confident that the rest of the world has had quite enough of western colonialists trying to tell them how to behave and how to run government.
Especially given the incompetent rigged display of a US democratic debacle this year.
When I was a teenager my day would be given a magazine smuggled out of Czechoslovakia by one of his friends who was a communist. I remember it well, for it contained wonderful descriptions of the superb life the people there enjoyed under the Russian rule. Of course it was all bull shit.
RT delivers much the same now.
You know Macro, I tire of old cold war types and old cold war stereotypes.
If you can’t understand that Putin’s Russia is a completely different nation to Yeltsin’s Russia, which was completely different to the Soviet Union which was a completely different nation to Tsarist Russia, there is no way that you can make sensible judgements on important issues to do with that nation.
Anyway for a laugh, here is Steven Seagal receiving his Russian citizenship from Putin this week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sytuv0Tr5x0
Every western country is deteriorating in each one of those counts, while Russia is getting its act together.
I’m not sure what you mean by “getting its act together,” since Russia is deteriorating on all those counts a lot faster than any western democracy and from a much lower base.
…western colonialists…
Just for giggles, how do you think the Russian Federation got to be the size it is today? And why do you think it considers various of its neighbours to be part of its “sphere of influence?”
If Russia really is falling apart as you say, then the Anglo-US empire just needs to wait it out.
falling apart – ha! the 5 year plan is well above target, everyone is happy and well fed and everyone love vlad oh yes that is the truth I am not being forced to say this…
If Russia really is falling apart as you say…
As I said where? The Russian Federation isn’t falling apart. Russia could continue to deteriorate on those good governance measures to the point where it’s one of the shittiest countries in the world and still not fall apart – in fact, it’s already done that once, as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Putin’s got a long way to go before he could even aspire to the same league as earlier Russian efforts at bad governance.
It’s what Russia always needed, to get out more and smell the roses. Anglo-US centric imperial propaganda aside. Who do think Russia’s new ties with India, China and South East Asia will really benefit ?
Mostly the 50%-60% of the world’s population living right there.
This is an Eurasian 21st Century.
Marked by the return of the old civilisations of the world: Russia 1100 years old, China 3000+ years old, India 3000+ years old, Persia 2500+ years old.
NZ, while remaining aligned with our strong US-Anglo roots, has to realise that we have to be flexible and adaptable to the change at hand.
You really embarrass yourself every time you come on this messageboard. I cannot imagine you spouting such ignorant comments in any half sane work place, so the question arises: Are you a radio talkback host?
You use that ‘you embarrass yourself’ line a lot and, in context, it doesn’t bother me a bit what you think. I can easily live with your fragility.
I’m not the one whose been stalking a radio show for years and years. lol
But you clearly are not in any way informed on this matter.
Do you read widely on the issue or is ZB your one source on this matter?
I guess it would be difficult for anyone to match the breadth of your research on the subject, extending as it does all the way from John Pilger to Russia Today…
In a nut shell. Narrow world view.
Thanks CV. It was a good listen.
The RWNJs go on about the oppression of the USSR, China, DPRK etc and then they go round doing this sort of shit:
And then they wonder why we compare them to Hitler and Stalin.
As Paul Craig Roberts states, the few countries left with independent foreign and monetary policies (Iran, Syria, Russia, China, and formerly Libya and Iraq) must be demonised and destabilised.
But you get a total pass if you are a co-operative part of the Anglo-US empire.
Well done guys. Only trouble is too many in the west think like Peter Swift does !
Think is not the verb I would use.
Big business bristles at possible $86m tax crackdown (from Granny Herald)
“Green Party co-leader James Shaw said the delays made it seem that Inland Revenue had double standards in tax enforcement.
“What it looks like is the Government is sending in metaphorical SWAT teams to catch beneficiaries and student loan borrowers, while they’re letting [large taxpayers] not pay millions of dollars in taxes, year after year,” he said.
Labour finance spokesman Grant Robertson said Woodhouse “needs to decide whose side he’s on. Is he on the side of working New Zealanders who pay their PAYE every week and do the right thing, or is he on the side of companies who seek to limit their tax paid in New Zealand?”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11754352
On a similar note from Bernard Hickey (also on Granny Herald)
“The default position for many now is to distrust apparently rootless multinational companies who have played countries off against each other to reduce their tax bills and generate ever-bigger profits for their equally rootless investors.
Prime Minister John Key has his ear close to the ground and this week he told Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to win back the trust of the globalised masses by paying its taxes.
“I think if they don’t, the same people who are its users will wake up one day and say, ‘Why do I have to pay my tax if this company is not going to?'” Key said.
It’s a bit late for that now. People are wide awake. Key hopes the social contract supporting globalisation here can be repaired with a few tweaks and some good PR.
The trouble is globalisation is global. It only works when everyone globally believes in that social contract, and that is broken.”
More profiteering on apartments – so helpful for first home buyers (sarc) (from Granny herald)
“At the St James Suites planned for Queen St, a buyer who in 2014 signed a contract to pay $775,000 was stunned last week when that figure escalated to $999,000 for exactly the same two-bedroom place.
Across in Takapuna, one buyer at The Sargeson apartment project told how the price of a unit was rising from $465,000 to $535,000, while at Rose Gardens Apartments in Albany, where work is well advanced, buyers were being asked for 15 per cent more.
Rising construction costs, funding cost hikes and difficulty getting access to funding are some of the issues being mentioned in letters sent to buyers, citing clauses which allow changes, offering to cancel and pay interest on deposits.
Auckland apartment developer Marty Kells said some overseas players were ratcheting up unit prices.”
Those developers are getting screwed by the materials suppliers; in particular Fletchers and its subsidiaries in cement, steel, hardware, and wood.
They are also having their construction workers sucked away by the big public sector infrastructure jobs.
While interest rates stay low, immigration goes high, and demand for housing continues to climb and climb, prices will continue to escalate by the month.
What Ad said. As far as I can tell, “Rising construction costs” = the rort that exists within the materials supply chain.
I heard that the cost per m2 of building has gone up some astronomical amount this year. I tried to find the article but it’s disappeared.
It’s also not the cost of new builds effected, but the costs of upgrading older houses too (aka rentals).
The cost of wool, timber and steel all the raw materials that we produce seem to be rising…
Materials are run by the duopoly. Which is bad.
What is the killer is shortage of staff and hence labour rates going through the roof.
Labour rates are about 20% more than when i was building. Hardly through the roof.
Materials, however, have more than doubled.
Also it is not just ‘bodies on the build’ – it is the level of building skills that’s lacking – they should never have taken away the apprentices and so forth.
But I think the main factor going up is materials not labour. But MSM does not talk about that as nobody is lobbying for cheaper materials and investigations into building monopolies and price fixing.
It seems that there is price fixing going on at all the major building firms. As soon as one puts up the prices the rest follow.
The price of building is lower in Australia, still!
Despite labour costs being much higher in Australia.
The Army Corps of Engineers has issued an eviction notice to one of the Standing Rock camps (which is on Indian land, but the govt think it’s theirs). They’re meant to leave by 5th Dec. As far as I can tell the camp is continuing to build in prep for winter.
This impressive rant from a US Navy Vet on what’s going down,
https://www.facebook.com/kashjackson2016/videos/573518852854067/
Hmmm saw this decision come out last night. The Commander and Chief Barack Obama could of course rescind this order with a phone call. I hope he does.
Was Trump lying then, or is he lying now?.
/
In his meetings, Flynn is said to have claimed Trump’s controversial campaign-trail remarks were merely part of the rhetoric needed to secure an election win, according to informed sources. His actual policies after taking office would be different from what he said to galvanize his support base, Flynn predicted.
http://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/International-Relations/Trump-adviser-meeting-pays-off-for-Suga?
The revenge of ‘the Oxy electorate’ helped fuel Trump’s election upset
http://normanfinkelstein.com/2016/11/25/why-the-deplorables-voted-for-trump/
Every time Trump turned up in New Hampshire he would talk about stopping drugs coming in from Mexico, he would talk about stamping out the heroin/opioid problem, he would talk about getting addicts proper treatment and making sure they get better and that they could get good jobs again, he would meet with public officials and community groups dealing with this problem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJhfXnWxTKE
Jo Cox’s murder was followed by 50,000 tweets celebrating her death
It’s a difficult line to draw but there has to be some limits to free-speech. It’s this type of stuff that leads to stuff like this:
Latest Colmar Brunton poll has Labour at 28% and Andrew Little at 8% as preferred PM. Surely an outlier?
If it translates into the voting pattern next year, it will mean more homeless working families and dead children, and you’ll have something to celebrate.
Just stating the results, OAB. I hope you don’t choke on your own bile.
These sorts of poll results just confirm that your odious politics of envy type of approach can’t get any traction.
I am not envious of policies that can only achieve economic growth through increasing immigration. Nor do I envy the wealth that goes with crony capitalist corruption: I have enough of my own gained by honest means, thanks.
If you had a rebuttal to my valid criticism you’d have stated it. Instead you chose to attack me.
Thanks for conceding my point so quickly. Console yourself with your feelings for Dear Leader.
“I have enough of my own gained by honest means, thanks”.
Get you. The Big Noise!
I note that your feeble and derivative attempt to invoke the politics of envy exposes your bad faith again.
😜
Polls should be a tool, not a a crutch.
However, the outgoing PM appears to be on a downward spiral.
Yep. 36% vs 8% for Andy.
I’m sure the PM will be battling to sleep a wink tonight.
Cue the line about whoever is oppo always having single figure favourability numbers.
It can’t be an outlier, OAB is even more stupid than usual.
Even a complete thicky like me can spot the connection between the National Party and preventable infectious diseases.
Don’t worry, the market will provide for the first time in history: magical thinking is the answer.
Well, I suppose the polls were wrong about Trump, so there may be hope for you yet.
50% playing 28% does seem a tad unfair though.
In fact, 28+10+11=49.
It’s nice that you tried to pretend MMP still exists though. It demonstrates that you are either dishonest or stupid.
I’m going to be charitable and assume you’re dishonest
The last time I checked, MMP does still exist.
28+10+11=49. Go Einstein. And the Nats are on 50 in the latest poll.
You’ve gone full retard OAB.
I’m so retarded, I got you running away from your 28 vs 50 boast in the space of one comment. Thanks for your contribution. It’s so valuable.
What am I running away from? My view hasn’t changed.
If you think you can lock Winnie in to your bloc of lightweight numbers, then Dale Kerrigan would have some advice for you.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jL2DH-nKBeA
🙄
If you think Winston will join a govt with the Greens you need your head read
Pragmatically speaking that would lead to a Labour/NZF government with the Greens providing confidence and supply. However, I note that you seem much more confident in your opinion of what Winston will or won’t do than I am, so perhaps it is you who needs your head read.
I’d be surprised if National don’t win out right next year.
Apart from the left being a joke, Key has finally realised the jokey jokey stuff with the media isn’t the best idea as he loses control of the narrative so has peeled that right back.
From now on the message will be Key the dependable, the guy you can rely on etc, Angry boy really doesn’t have a chance, if he was honest the best thing he could do is throw the towel in now and save the country quite a few million.
Quavering wet says Dear Leader can’t control the narrative.
Keys biggest weakness, far too trusting.
After the soap rape debacle he’s finally realised certain sectors of the media really aren’t his friend and he shouldn’t waste his time with them.
He’s going to be near on impossible to beat next year, tough times being a leftie that’s foe sure.
Not as tough as being a child in a homeless working family. I’m sure he’ll cope somehow. Avoid any substantive long-form interviews is my advice.
It won’t help him though.
Hey, OAB. Is it true you have hired Dr Death to relieve you of your miserable existence after the next election is won by National? I say that because you seem to be an abusive prick who is exempt from moderation and offers little to a debate. You also make a mockery of the good behaviour rule for this thread. Or doesn’t that apply to you?
Your little violent fantasies say something about you, saddo.
I heard he doesn’t trust the treasury, well at least not all their figures, he only trusts the figures that paints the outgoing government in a positive light. As demonstrated on the Nation yesterday morning.
http://www.newshub.co.nz/tvshows/thenation/interview-john-key-2016112611
BM why is Keys popularity on a downward trend?
He’s been around a long time, still light years in front of David Little though.
BM you believe that Keys popularity has been dropping because he has been around for too long?
I do agree with you, he has been around for way to long
Outgoing PMs popularity is trending downwards and has been for some time. JS
Arrogance does not keep a government in power, Northland springs to mind, and if the current government was any good (popular) they would be able to take Mt Roskill, but they won’t because they aren’t.
Don’t rely on the polls, Brexit and Trump should have taught everyone that lesson by now.
But hey if all you want to do is gloat, then gloat away, makes you look foolish considering the information I’ve just provided.
Much love. Cinny x
If those thoughts keep you from dissolving into a weeping suicidal mess, I’m not going to burst your bubble.
Yeah, that David Little, he’s going to be PM and it’s going to be amazing.
Dude, don’t make fun of suicide, the stats in our country are naught to be proud of, thanks to the current government, taking ones own life has never been more popular.
What a douche.
You haven’t provided information, you’ve provided a completely subjective rant.
You must be an MSM journalist!
Keys popularity on a downward trend..
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11643893
http://www.newshub.co.nz/politics/poll-john-key-could-lose-grip-on-power-2016080815
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1609/S00346/rmr-poll-national-415-labour-335-up-8-greens-125.htm
Not to forget the recent poll where he has dropped 2%
Mt Roskill…
http://tvnz.co.nz/q-and-a-news/mt-roskill-election-has-labour-got-video-6505792
Pollsters get it wrong for Trump and Brexit..
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2016/11/donald-trump-win-pollsters-wrong-161109225338646.html
http://www.businessinsider.com.au/pollsters-know-why-they-were-wrong-about-brexit-2016-7?r=UK&IR=T
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-11-09/how-did-media-pollsters-get-election-so-wrong
Colmar Brunton Polls: Key – Preferred PM
2016
Nov 36%
Sep 38%
May 39%
April 39%
Feb 40%
2015
0ct 40%
Sep 40%
July 40%
May 44%
April 42%
Feb 41%
2014
Sep (late) 43%
Sep (mid) 46%
Sep (early) 48%
looking like a trend
For a rough comparison with previous years …
From my comment here in April 2016
Preferred PM Averages – John Key
(Colmar Brunton / Reid Research – combined)
…………………………Average……………High……….Compare 2/2 2015-16
2/2 2015-16………..39………………………40…………………………..-
1/1 2015……………..42………………………44…………………..Down 3 Points
2014…………………. 45………………………48……………………Down 6 Points
2013…………………..41………………………44……………………Down 2 Points
2012…………………..43………………………48……………………Down 4 Points
2011…………………..53………………………59……………………Down 14 Points
2010…………………..49………………………54……………………Down 10 Points
2009…………………..52………………………56……………………Down 13 Points
Key’s Colmar Brunton / Reid Research – combined average is now just under 38% (for 2016)
So he’s Down 15 points on 2011,
11 points on 2010
and 14 points on 2009
His 2/2 of 2016 combined average is now just under 37%
In reality, he’s probably down a little more than that. Key is usually slightly weaker in the Reid Research polls. And an unusually small number of RR polls have been carried out this year (2 to Colmar Brunton’s 5). Usually these 2 Pollsters conduct roughly the same number of polls each year.
Let me ask you a question, swordfish.
Based off what Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s campaign manager, said about Hillary Clinton’s popularity.
Does Labour’s polling appear to be benefitting from Key’s weakening ratings relative to 2011?
Or is Labour’s polling still demonstrating a polling ceiling (that I would place at roughly 28% to 30%) which it cannot seem to break through and stay through, even as Key’s support declines?
And finally – is Little’s numbers going up as Key’s numbers over the last 2 years has been going down?
(1) Nyet !!!
(2) Da (although has occassionally broken through to 32/33% over last 2 years)
(3) Nyet !!!
You’re quite right, of course, CV. I should point out here that I was simply backing up Cinny’s broad point – largely with a view to irritating our regular Tory chums.
Still looking just a teensy weensy weensy weensy bit grim for Labour and the Left at this juncture.
Aaaaah thanks swordfish. That was my gut feeling.
Kellyanne Conway, who also runs her own polling organisation, said that they noticed every time their candidate Trump got hit hard with a new media revelation his poll numbers would briefly dip.
But those dips almost never translated into boosts for Hillary Clinton who they saw had a pretty hard polling ceiling of 45% to 46%.
So they knew that she was vulnerable to undecideds and wouldn’t tells moving against her.
The big difference is that while Key’s a bit of a dick who harms the country, he’s not quite the same level of racist fascist imbecilic fraudster who makes voters voters ashamed to admit what they intend to do in a secret ballot.
Undercover Trump voters had had enough of nasty lefty bullyshaming and condescension.
Bullyshaming and condescension that you still think is quite righteous and justifiable, by the sounds of it.
Undercover trump voters were cowards who knew that they were supporting a fascist idiot and did it anyway.
At least the “red meat” deplorables baying for blood were too dumb to realise how contemptable they were.
Thanks SwordFish, for all those stats, really really appreciate it big time, you’ve put much work into supplying that info. Cheers.
More good news for NZ
For the fourth consecutive year, Telegraph Travel readers named New Zealand their favourite country.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/telegraph-travel-awards-2015-16-winners/
Awesome, tourism is our number one export earner.
I wonder then why the outgoing government appears to be underfunding our National Parks aka DOC?
No doubt many come here for the scenery.
Government is happy to exploit the tourism income earner, but it appears they are not so happy to keep our parks up to scratch.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/86702463/the-price-of-paradise-new-zealands-great-walks-are-losing-millions-of-dollars