Yeah, ummmm. Sorry, how would they have changed the paradigm? Seriously, I’m keen to hear solutions, cause with the feed back I’m getting from the Bots around here, seems my plans where deluded.
Please correct me, but I thought orthodox-economic-norms where set in stone from several decades of entrenched financial regulations, both internal and external.
Must add that Winnie always has a pair of rose smelling underpants up the sleeve, he’ll some how come out of this smelling ok.
Which way forward, Mr Ed?
(Eco-Maori, the invite is open. Bright ideas? Could we innovate with a little Babylonian Banking Number?)
Let’s all come together to rally for our communities that have been at the forefront on the fight to end poverty. Now, more than ever, we need to continue the conversation that Metiria started. We know that an Aotearoa where no one lives in poverty is possible. Where Government serves the interests of people, not big business. Where everyone has access to a warm, dry, healthy home and beneficiaries aren’t treated as second class citizens.
Metiria will be joining me, because we must continue to speak the truth about poverty.
More than ever, New Zealanders living below the breadline need a voice. For too long they have been ignored and sidelined in our communities. For too long, privilege and money have determined who can have a say and it’s time to say enough.
Thursday 31st August 2017, 7pm, Cardboard Cathedral, Latimer Square
Meeting organised by the Christchurch Progressive Network.
NOTE: The Christchurch Progressive Network is not a party-political organisation but we have taken the step of inviting a Green MP and local election candidate for Te Tai Tonga electorate to speak at this public meeting because the issues at the heart of her personal experiences on a benefit are of critical national importance – and no better time for them to be discussed that in the heart of an election campaign.
The media may have hounded her out of her co-leadership of the Greens but we refuse to allow the issues she raised to be swept aside. This will be a meeting not to be missed. A poster to circulate will be sent out later today.
This is where positive change will come from for those suffering most from poverty and inequality: from the flax roots.
Join the rally, or remain door-knocking locally, good options.
Hey the Green policy you link is adequate to stabilise short term. And yes, it’s the only politically speakable alternative. But the Greens would also do govt funded research into the TOP strategies around tax and UBI for medium term solutions. Plus research into Financial Innovation for sustainable funding during the transition/national-rehabilition. Agreed, Greens will get the job do.
“but I thought orthodox-economic-norms where set in stone from several decades of entrenched financial regulations”
This is entirely voluntary. Sovereign nations have lost none of their ability to regulate big (multinational) businesses. All that has changed is the norms by which they typically do so.
The biggest change under the neo liberal era has been the deregulation (see above) and the abandonment of full employment as a policy goal (presently unemployment is a policy tool). Both changes were voluntary, drive inequality and should be reversed to a great extent.
In turn the neo liberal era has been a slow growth era which is why house and asset prices have been so out of whack.
“This is entirely voluntary. Sovereign nations have lost none of their ability to regulate big (multinational) businesses. All that has changed is the norms by which they typically do so.”
thats true, however consider the constituent response should the likes of Apple, or big oil et al remove or price themselves out of the local market…..the ability to regulate such entities is effectively determined by the size of the market….and NZ is a very small market.
Your saying these industries would leave a safe stable profitable market like NZ on the table? I think thats highly unlikely and I can’t think of any examples of it happening either.
Im saying depending on the level of enforcement /cost that some would determine the trouble was not worth it and note i also said price themselves into a position where they may still remain but accessibility (to the wider populace) would be greatly reduced….no time to look now but internet access costs are one that spring to mind, in many countries internet access is only available to the wealthy due to that very reason.
You have examples of countries where internet access is only available to the wealthy due to regulative overheads? I would think the lack of infrastructure would be relevant but hardly the amount of regulation.
“In other places, like South Africa and Namibia, prices are high simply because of a monopoly or duopoly. Further examination reveals at least two other reasons for these high prices: the largest fiber owners in-country, have until recently, not been allowed to sell or provide services and most importantly, African service providers are still beset with archaic business models and anti-customer mindset! Let’s examine these two factors in some detail.”
Industry regulation can and does, as does tax law and corruption…..yes there needs to be regulation and TAXATION but it is a balancing act….and the smaller the market the lesser the leverage
I don’t find that very convincing as a story about burdensom regulation. Regulation was preventing some capacity from being used for internet access and for ISPs to effectively not have access to that infrastructure. Otherwise nothing seems to be preventing ISPs from selling to a broad market but their business model isnt there yet.
If you don’t push regulation onto the likes of Apple or big oil you will never know if there is a boundary there and will effectively just leave them deregulated.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1506/S00005/z-energy-buys-caltex-service-station-chain-for-785-million.htm
“Chevron New Zealand Holdings reported a net profit of $43.3 million in calendar 2014 on revenue of $2.23 billion, down from a profit of $86.5 million on sale of $2.34 billion in 2013. Chevron’s total assets were valued at $573.9 million with liabilities totalling $374.4 million as at Dec. 31, compared to assets worth $784.9 million and liabilities of $536 million a year earlier.”
Problem is that the current fix-it solutions will all cost money, so where do you want to borrow that money from. It will take Financial Innovation and Money Sovereignty, otherwise it’s just the old debt spiral again. Can’t truly solve it with tax changes alone, though the full tax reforms from TOP would buy us time.
The NZ government is already fully sovereign in the NZ dollers via the RBNZ. Taxation is about things like, not allowing an aristocracy to develop, making the burden of taxation more equitable, or discouraging certain businesses or activities without making them illegal or removing inflationary spending pressures from an overheated economy. Its never about revenue gathering.
If the old debt spiral is referring to an eventual currency crisis then the point is NZ fully floated the NZ $ in about 1985. It can’t have currency crisis any more as a result.
NZD is in relation to international currencies, especially USD. And RBNZ don’t create NZDs, this would be sovereign. RBNZ buy other currencies, at cost.
We have a crisis if the Rating Agencies give us a crisis. Current official cash rate in NZ is 1.75%, vs Europe at 0.25%, or 0.0% When they buy our houses against their foreign capital, they have a 1.5% advantage over Kiwi buyers.
Interest repayment requires new money, growth. New money comes from debt, thus “debt spiral”. Though interest-rates are very low, but new problem is the effects of Quantitative Easing, lowering the value of our money.
Planet size is limited, and new efficencies from new technology are less significant than the losses from wars and storms. Debt system requires growth. Planet requires a steady state economy. Even the Greens don’t have this in their economic policy. Compromising with orthodox system, though steady state economic system would be investigated once Greens are in Govt.
This is not to say that commercial banks don’t create money when they lend, they do, however the money created is commercial bank deposits and not of the form of the currency which is created by the reserve bank and spent and collected in tax by the government.
Obviously most of your comment is derivative on the RBNZ not being able to issue NZ dollers.
“where will the money come from?”
money (in all its forms) is simply a means of resource rationing, the real question is how do we use that rationing system?…we can create all the money we like but we are still restricted by resource availability and the desire for those resources….we currently allow ‘the market’ to determine how those resources are rationed…and we see where that has led and is leading, however that is not to say any other form will be any better or worse as ultimately any system will still be driven by human beings wants and needs…changing the amount of ‘money’ doesn’t change human nature
Come on Pat, obviously it’s better to do finance with public banks. Why do you think private banks should be able to profit from money creation? Surely the benefits of this should go back to the people rather than a small group of shareholders.
Deals with state owned banks could be done very different. Creating though debt is driving that growth. If all banking was though the state, then steady state economics would be possible, and the need from more resources to pay back debt, and new debt to pay off the old debt… all could be mathematically solved.
This argument simply invalidates itself where it says ‘however that is not to say any other form will be any better’ and goes on to assume the alternatives will further be the same or worse.
Ultimately it appears to be based on some form of Ricardian equivalence where supposidely (but actually not) when the government changes the quantity of spending the non government sector inversely compensates and reduces spending. In reality both quantity and quality of spending effect the outcome and Ricardian equivalence mechanisms don’t happen in the real world.
‘This argument simply invalidates itself…..”
Indeed?..you assume too much, I clearly state…..”that is not to say any alternative will be better or worse” based on the premise they are operated by and for human wants and needs….the onus is on you(or anyone else for that matter) to make the case for an alternative that IS indeed better.
If you take the time to read what I wrote you may grasp that what I am saying is the polar opposite of Ricardian Equivalence…i.e human beings are not forward looking nor rational in their habits….nor are they (in the main ) socially orientated….rather they are self serving and short sighted.
so back to government spending and debt monetisation….what does human nature tell you about the likely outcome of an increase in the willingness of governments to increase the money supply?
Isn’t money supply increased every time someone takes a loan and buys a house? Guess the private lending mechanism would have to change, in balance. Better accounting at RBNZ. Your thinkin is still orthodox economics, I’m trying to talk alternatives.
yes I’m analysing orthodox economics (that is not to say I’m promoting any particular school) for that is what we operate under and to know where you are going you need to know where you are starting from….indeed I seek and zero/negative growth model that appears to have a chance of working in the real world….im still waiting and time is agin us….so kindly talk alternatives but don’t expect me to accept them simply because they are alternative.
“what does human nature tell you about the likely outcome of an increase in the willingness of governments to increase the money supply?”
This is a weird way of putting it but I assume you are referring to something like the government buying up all the unemployed labour and putting the work towards public goods. Whats the outcome? First of all the labour will be for sale because the unemployment is not due to a voluntary choice but due to an actual lack of jobs. Second the unemployment rate will go down because many people who were unemployed will be in work (this will be an improvement in the outcome). Third growth of GDP will increase in real and nominal terms with the additional public goods the government purchased being produced being the real increase. Fourth there will be no inflationary outcome because the idle labour never had a bid in the jobs market so the additional spending does not compete with the private sector in setting wages.
You don’t get a similar outcome just focusing on quality because the economy is facing a quantity of spending problem. The mainstream of economic thought and your dogma believes that the economy is inherently self rebalancing in real terms
but there is no evidence for this in the real world.
I would say the market mechanism is the only future, but if we’re feeding the markets wholesome organic money from a central bank and not GE sugar from private banks, then govt can regulate lightly. Current system requires very heavy regulation.
Labour think they can fix the country and contiune with orthodox TPPA etc. Is this a pre-election bluff to win votes, avoid media attack?. Or are they really planning to fail?
Pivoting international economic relations is very bold, but we are well poised. The last 30sec of this video shows what’s required. If global finance isn’t going to play cricket, then we’ll have to change the game to rugby.
you’re a strange fellow….I am constantly amazed how you attribute positions to me that are frequently diametrically opposed to those i state…this comprehension problem may resolve itself if you spend less time learning text by rote and practise applying the theory to the real world.
Its pretty clear we can identify the nexus of the problem here.
“Yes I’m analysing orthodox economics (that is not to say I’m promoting any particular school) for that is what we operate under and to know where you are going you need to know where you are starting from”
Your misunderstanding is that orthodox economics is not something that we ‘operate under’ at all. It is instead a consistent failure to explain how the actual economy functions. The related problem being you don’t appear to know or understand the assumptions being made by the orthordox economics when you say for example ‘expand the money supply’. Do you not know the assumptions there do imply Ricardian equivalence is a genuine phenomenon there?
Thanks Pat, working on it. Moving from farming support, to small business, but seasonal work requirements and family issues also to hurdle.
Hey, pointing out paradox is part of my job here. Failure to spot paradox seems no less common among the politically educated.
You may be an exception Pat, I’m still undecided. Qualitative reflection upon degree content is generally very low especially in economics. How many people at the end of their first year still don’t know where money comes from? Don Brash still claims money isn’t created by private banks! It’s guys like him who give the Free Masons a bad name.
Analysis of orthodox views can reinforce them. So seeking to express alternative economic paradigms is very important, though yes, confusing.
Range of organic veges grown and marketed this year. Developments for next year: sell vege boxes at a set price, along with vouchers, thus creating a tradable regional currency alternative. The central bank need not fear me at this stage, but the future is open. And yes, I can still find some normal money to pay my taxes on transactions. Ethics are valuable, but costly.
Yeah Nic, you could be on to it, but does sound more like a side-step that a try or a conversion. I think their biggest assumption is, that after 3 years of orthodox economics, graduates will be whip-lashed and hypnotized from the magic of supply-n-demand curves.
Yes. We should have some pity on the poor graduates of economics who have paid for the privelege of being brainwashed. Unfortunately some of the more successful ones (like Don Brash and Bill English) will be rewarded for further basing policy on and popularizing their delusions so this is self perpetuating.
Tracy Watkins sayys Dunne knew in advance. He is Revenue Minister and has not called for an investigation of his office. Or has Tolley taken over since he resigned?
Why arent the press hounding the revenue minister and PM til they say they will investigate?
Sad thing is that often the participants in that ‘deep state’ don’t actually realise they are.
Whether its a WINZ case manager at the coal face (probably on a short term contract); or an Ummagration officer, or many others “only following orders”. Worse still, when shit hits fan, they’re the obvious targets when blame is apppoetioned.
Watch what happens over the Winnie affair…..or perhaps after the election when we look back on the dawn raids (modern day equiv) that come to light
Shout out to those from Nelson, Bill English will be addressing Grey Power at a public meeting TODAY at 2pm in Stoke at the Annesbrook Church on Saxton Rd.
If you are not working or busy go and check it out, they are taking questions from the floor, if it’s the same moderators from grey power that run the motueka meet the candidates, and if you are a young woman with a question, I strongly suggest you stand up and make it known you have a question, the old boys don’t like young women with questions, and will do their best to ignore you.
Would be really nice if people asked questions that concern many peoples needs instead of just their own
I’ve a huge workload today, but if time allows I will go check it out.
Remember Bill English’s shifty/shifting stories on the taping saga? Maybe a repeat at Stoke today over the superannuation leak. But he is better prepared now at just saying “I know nothing”.
Sadly i was unable to make due to work commitments.
Lmao Smith still trying to get elected from pushing the same agenda he has been doing for around 20 years. The southern link lmfao, if any politician wants to win the nelson seat, I’d suggest they look at bringing back rail.
Southern link is massively polarising in Nelson, and with Matt Lawrey against it, and he has been for years, it will be an important topical issue. Looks like the government tried to withhold info on the southern link from the council until after the election.
My condolences go out to the people in Texas.But as a fellow blogger on this site points out there are much more people died in India Bangladesh because of global warming and these events don’t make our headline news.WTF Now I don’t like to capitalise my views on someone else’s disaster.We have had the reality of what’s going on around our WORLD sencered by National Muppets .
So I will endorse the Greens please if you want to leave a habitable World for our grandchildren vote Green Party
Considering the bumpLabour got I’d suggest Labour had something to do with Turei, I can just see how the conversation went: “Hi Labour as per the MOU we’re thinking of having MT announce she ripped off the taxpayer, do you think its a good idea”
Labours response, after doing a dance of celebration, “oh yes Greens its absolutely a good idea, we foresee no issues with this at all”
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
I’m going to make a plea.
On this Winston ‘affair’
Can we all stop pontificating for a moment?
Bit by bit, more is emerging-the latest being the ladder puller upper was involved.
I’m by no means a Winnie fan.
He’s smart enough to know however not to show his cards.
You show me yours and I’ll show you mine.
There are bubbles and bloody big egos at play here.
There is no reason WP should release details to a gotcha-inspired media UNTIL the source ( peraps sauce) of the leak is identified.
Phat chance tho eh?
If we STFU, my suspicions are there’ll be one or two resignations.
If not, opportunity lost
Tracy Watkins suggests Seymour Dunne (Revenue Minister) and Tax Payers union new in advance about Peters. Can you find someone from the press corps wjo suggests labour did for MT?
Silly me. There I was thinking that the bump came from superior policies, fatigue with a tired and failing government, a bright and connecting leader, and small matters of ongoing corruption, mismanagement and ignorance.
New Zealanders are world leaders let’s lead the WORLD in the right direction.
And promote a carbon free industries that create local jobs and a healthy environment!!!!! .WE CAN DO IT
This sure puts the Greens’ proposed 20cent tax on single use plastic bags into perspective:
Kenyans producing, selling or even using plastic bags will risk imprisonment of up to four years or fines of $40,000 (£31,000) from Monday, as the world’s toughest law aimed at reducing plastic pollution came into effect.
The east African nation joins more than 40 other countries that have banned, partly banned or taxed single use plastic bags, including China, France, Rwanda, and Italy.
Bill English doubts anyone wakes up worried about Climate change.
I doubt he woke up worrying about nuclear war and his predecessor didnt give a shit about apartheid… enough did and change happened. We have done big stuff without National. It is time to do it again.
Yep and I DON’T think he likes what we have to say on this site looks like the Muppets have spun to get someone high in the national party to think I’m a threat to national with letting everyone no national and John Key sign OUR PRIVACY RIGHTS AWAY SO SOME COUNTRY CAN USE US TO SNOP ON THE REST OF the World
After three years, Labour MP Sue Moroney’s bill to extend paid leave to 26 weeks will be voted down by National and ACT in Parliament tonight.
An amendment to that bill would have seen it also extended to people in special circumstances.
ACT Party leader David Seymour had the deciding vote – National is down one vote because of Mike Sabin’s resignation.
What was Hooton on last night and why was he not dressed down by the host. Is this what is to be expected in the lead up to the election ?
I ask those more aware. Is there an issue regarding Broadcasting standards here ?
His rant commenced at 12 minutes. Bt be warned you may feel a little nauseous http://120.138.20.16/WeekOnDemand/ZB/auckland/2017.08.28-16.45.00-S.mp3
Why do commentators on the left continue with this Jacinda syndrome. This makes it IMO all about her. Should it not be that Labours vision is now being given a vehicle in which it is being heard and accepted by the nation ?
“Okay, so there are two sausages in a frying pan and one sausage turns to the other sausage and says, ‘Oh my god it is so hot in here,’ and the other sausage says, ‘Oh my god a talking sausage.'”
Man the police must have heaps of money to follow me around all day and any were I go O hang no it’s national money or is it our tax dollars being wasted I no I pay taxes WTF
Respect, Eco Maori. I have never known conversation to be killed for nearly 3 hours. I am sure it is not your fault, old boy.. (Often wish I could do the same on some threads.)
I don’t mean to be mean, but …. to get things going again?
All this new language learning The Nats are proposing for primary schools it now turns out comes to one hour per week per student. Huh?
One hour per week will NOT produce anything other than the ability to say hello and parrot 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 in some other language and they will soon forget it.
None of the policy-setters can ever have tried to master a second language, let alone teach it. What a bunch of buck-tooth idiots.
Financial Innovation can be solely limited to gentle price stability tools. The beauty is that Rating Agencies will up interest-rates for NZ, and the NZD will fall. NZ thus gains income on exports and tourism, to cover fiscally. At the same time all first-home-lenders with floating-rates could be covered from a govt top-up to prevent melt-down in housing market. Only a small international money transaction tool will be require to prevent further foreign investment in real-estate and markets, plus minor restrictions on govt bonds. All these factors will essential freeze the market for a year or two until Royal Commissions come back with clear and democratic solutions on further Financial Innovation, to gently land prices. Meanwhile UBI and rent controls can stabilise poverty, while general reforms in Corrections, Tax, Education, Health and All are implemented.
Declare a State of National Disaster over Real Estate prices within the first three months of the next term. This will spook the markets early, hopefully before the crash/irreversible-dysfunction. The Govt then doesn’t use their new financial powers, they just focus on Corrections, Tax, etc. So claim can slowly return to the international observers.
Then, apply non-orthodox Financial Innovation before the 2020 election. Passing on a hot-but-functional-potato, to hopefully a second Green/NZF/TOP govt. If Nats or Labour got back in in 2020, they would fail big to turn back to old orthodox ways.
Apologies to my fellow bloggers for the eco maori effect. I have notice this effect has been influencing others in our beautiful country.
Now we need a Paradigm shift with all our policys as one can not run a country like a business like National has they are to totally different Beast and do not responed the same.
My opinion about our education get the basic right first English Math teach our children about civic teach our children to respect everyone surviving in our system get the class sizes down to 25 pupils per class .
Our best teachers no how to come down to our children level and engage them. the good teachers have a lot of art in there class room and there pupils ardor them
NOW TEACHING CHILDREN IS NOT THAT COMPLICATED GIVE THE TEACHERS THE RIGHT TRAINING AND THE RIGHT RESOURCES TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN .
I no that using the KICKS systems works so Keep the system that run our school simple.
Come on this works give all our children at least the Basic make sure our children are well fed well housed one wont listen if you are hungry .These children are our future.
lets invest in our Future . Its not rocket science!!!!
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Today I tuned into something strange: a press conference that didn’t make my stomach churn or the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Which was strange, because it was about the torture of children. It was the announcement by Erica Stanford — on her own, unusually ...
This is a must watch, and puts on brilliant and practical display the implications and mechanics of fast-track law corruption and weakness.CLICK HERE: LINK TO WATCH VIDEOOur news media as it is set up is simply not equipped to deal with the brazen disinformation and corruption under this right wing ...
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Acting Secretary Erin Polaczuk is welcoming the announcement from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden that she is opening consultation on engineered stone and is calling on her to listen to the evidence and implement a total ban of the product. “We need ...
The Government has announced a 1.5% increase in the minimum wage from 1 April 2025, well below forecast inflation of 2.5%. Unions have reacted strongly and denounced it as a real terms cut. PSA and the CTU are opposing a new round of staff cuts at WorkSafe, which they say ...
The decision to unilaterally repudiate the contract for new Cook Strait ferries is beginning to look like one of the stupidest decisions a New Zealand government ever made. While cancelling the ferries and their associated port infrastructure may have made this year's books look good, it means higher costs later, ...
Hi there! I’ve been overseas recently, looking after a situation with a family member. So apologies if there any less than focused posts! Vanuatu has just had a significant 7.3 earthquake. Two MFAT staff are unaccounted for with local fatalities.It’s always sad to hear of such things happening.I think of ...
Today is a special member's morning, scheduled to make up for the government's theft of member's days throughout the year. First up was the first reading of Greg Fleming's Crimes (Increased Penalties for Slavery Offences) Amendment Bill, which was passed unanimously. Currently the House is debating the third reading of ...
We're going backwardsIgnoring the realitiesGoing backwardsAre you counting all the casualties?We are not there yetWhere we need to beWe are still in debtTo our insanitiesSongwriter: Martin Gore Read more ...
Willis blamed Treasury for changing its productivity assumptions and Labour’s spending increases since Covid for the worsening Budget outlook. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, December 18 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast above ...
Today the Auckland Transport board meet for the last time this year. For those interested (and with time to spare), you can follow along via this MS Teams link from 10am. I’ve taken a quick look through the agenda items to see what I think the most interesting aspects are. ...
Hi,If you’re a New Zealander — you know who Mike King is. He is the face of New Zealand’s battle against mental health problems. He can be loud and brash. He raises, and is entrusted with, a lot of cash. Last year his “I Am Hope” charity reported a revenue ...
Probably about the only consolation available from yesterday’s unveiling of the Half-Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) is that it could have been worse. Though Finance Minister Nicola Willis has tightened the screws on future government spending, she has resisted the calls from hard-line academics, fiscal purists and fiscal hawks ...
The right have a stupid saying that is only occasionally true:When is democracy not democracy? When it hasn’t been voted on.While not true in regards to branches of government such as the judiciary, it’s a philosophy that probably should apply to recently-elected local government councillors. Nevertheless, this concept seemed to ...
Long story short: the Government’s austerity policy has driven the economy into a deeper and longer recession that means it will have to borrow $20 billion more over the next four years than it expected just six months ago. Treasury’s latest forecasts show the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s fiscal strategy of ...
Come and join myself and CTU Chief Economist for a pop-up ‘Hoon’ webinar on the Government’s Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) with paying subscribers to The Kākā for 30 minutes at 5 pm today.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream to watch our chat. Don’t worry if ...
In 1998, in the wake of the Paremoremo Prison riot, the Department of Corrections established the "Behaviour Management Regime". Prisoners were locked in their cells for 22 or 23 hours a day, with no fresh air, no exercise, no social contact, no entertainment, and in some cases no clothes and ...
New data released by the Treasury shows that the economic policies of this Government have made things worse in the year since they took office, said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney. “Our fiscal indicators are all heading in the wrong direction – with higher levels of debt, a higher deficit, and ...
At the 2023 election, National basically ran on a platform of being better economic managers. So how'd that turn out for us? In just one year, they've fucked us for two full political terms: The government's books are set to remain deeply in the red for the near term ...
AUSTERITYText within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedMy spreadsheet insists This pain leads straight to glory (File not found) Read more ...
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi are saying that the Government should do the right thing and deliver minimum wage increases that don’t see workers fall further behind, in response to today’s announcement that the minimum wage will only be increased by 1.5%, well short of forecast inflation. “With inflation forecast ...
Oh, I weptFor daysFilled my eyesWith silly tearsOh, yeaBut I don'tCare no moreI don't care ifMy eyes get soreSongwriters: Paul Rodgers / Paul Kossoff. Read more ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Bob HensonIn this aerial view, fingers of meltwater flow from the melting Isunnguata Sermia glacier descending from the Greenland Ice Sheet on July 11, 2024, near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. According to the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE), the ...
In August, I wrote an article about David Seymour1 with a video of his testimony, to warn that there were grave dangers to his Ministry of Regulation:David Seymour's Ministry of Slush Hides Far Greater RisksWhy Seymour's exorbitant waste of taxpayers' money could be the least of concernThe money for Seymour ...
Willis is expected to have to reveal the bitter fiscal fruits of her austerity strategy in the HYEFU later today. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/TheKakaMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Tuesday, December 17 in The Kākā’s Dawn Chorus podcast ...
On Friday the government announced it would double the number of toll roads in New Zealand as well as make a few other changes to how toll roads are used in the country. The real issue though is not that tolling is being used but the suggestion it will make ...
The Prime Minister yesterday engaged in what looked like a pre-emptive strike designed to counter what is likely to be a series of depressing economic statistics expected before the end of the week. He opened his weekly post-Cabinet press conference with a recitation of the Government’s achievements. “It certainly has ...
This whooping cough story from south Auckland is a good example of the coalition government’s approach to social need – spend money on urging people to get vaccinated but only after you’ve cut the funding to where they could get vaccinated. This has been the case all year with public ...
And if there is a GodI know he likes to rockHe likes his loud guitarsHis spiders from MarsAnd if there is a GodI know he's watching meHe likes what he seesBut there's trouble on the breezeSongwriter: William Patrick Corgan Read more ...
Here’s a quick round up of today’s political news:1. MORE FOOD BANKS, CHARITIES, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS AND YOUTH SOCIAL SERVICES SET TO CLOSE OR SCALE BACK AROUND THE COUNTRY AS GOVT CUTS FUNDINGSome of Auckland's largest foodbanks are warning they may need to close or significantly reduce food parcels after ...
Iain Rennie, CNZMSecretary and Chief Executive to the TreasuryDear Secretary, Undue restrictions on restricted briefings This week, the Treasury barred representatives from four organisations, including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi, from attending the restricted briefing for the Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update. We had been ...
This is a guest post by Tim Adriaansen, a community, climate, and accessibility advocate.I won’t shut up about climate breakdown, and whenever possible I try to shift the focus of a climate conversation towards solutions. But you’ll almost never hear me give more than a passing nod to ...
A grassroots backlash has forced a backdown from Brown, but he is still eyeing up plenty of tolls for other new roads. And the pressure is on Willis to ramp up the Government’s austerity strategy. Photo: Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short, the six things that matter in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
Hi all,I'm pretty overwhelmed by all your messages and emails today; thank you so very much.As much as my newsletter this morning was about money, and we all need to earn money, it was mostly about world domination if I'm honest. 😉I really hate what’s happening to our country, and ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 8, 2024 thru Sat, December 14, 2024. Listing by Category Like last week's summary this one contains the list of articles twice: based on categories and based on ...
I started writing this morning about Hobson’s Pledge, examining the claims they and their supporters make, basically ripping into them. But I kept getting notifications coming through, and not good ones.Each time I looked up, there was another un-subscription message, and I felt a bit sicker at the thought of ...
Once, long before there was Harry and Meghan and Dodi and all those episodes of The Crown, they came to spend some time with us, Charles and Diana. Was there anyone in the world more glamorous than the Princess of Wales?Dazzled as everyone was by their company, the leader of ...
The collective right have a problem.The entire foundation for their world view is antiscientific. Their preferred economic strategies have been disproven. Their whole neoliberal model faces accusations of corporate corruption and worsening inequality. Climate change not only definitely exists, its rapid progression demands an immediate and expensive response in order ...
Just ten days ago, South Korea's president attempted a self-coup, declaring martial law and attempting to have opposition MPs murdered or arrested in an effort to seize unconstrained power. The attempt was rapidly defeated by the national assembly voting it down and the people flooding the streets to defend democracy. ...
Hi,“What I love about New Zealanders is that sometimes you use these expressions that as Americans we have no idea what those things mean!"I am watching a 30-something year old American ramble on about how different New Zealanders are to Americans. It’s his podcast, and this man is doing a ...
What Chris Penk has granted holocaust-denier and equal-opportunity-bigot Candace Owens is not “freedom of speech”. It’s not even really freedom of movement, though that technically is the right she has been granted. What he has given her is permission to perform. Freedom of SpeechIn New Zealand, the right to freedom ...
All those tears on your cheeksJust like deja vu flow nowWhen grandmother speaksSo tell me a story (I'll tell you a story)Spell it out, I can't hear (What do you want to hear?)Why you wear black in the morning?Why there's smoke in the air? Songwriter: Greg Johnson.Mōrena all ☀️Something a ...
National has only been in power for a year, but everywhere you look, its choices are taking New Zealand a long way backwards. In no particular order, here are the National Government's Top 50 Greatest Misses of its first year in power. ...
The Government is quietly undertaking consultation on the dangerous Regulatory Standards Bill over the Christmas period to avoid too much attention. ...
The Government’s planned changes to the freedom of speech obligations of universities is little more than a front for stoking the political fires of disinformation and fear, placing teachers and students in the crosshairs. ...
The Ministry of Regulation’s report into Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aotearoa raises serious concerns about the possibility of lowering qualification requirements, undermining quality and risking worse outcomes for tamariki, whānau, and kaiako. ...
A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...
Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under National’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...
The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...
The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...
The Government’s latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...
Te Pāti Māori has this morning issued a stern warning to Fast-Track applicants with interests in mining, pledging to hold them accountable through retrospective liability and to immediately revoke Fast-Track consents under a future Te Pāti Māori government. This warning comes ahead of today’s third reading of the Fast-Track Approvals ...
The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many. ...
All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...
The Government has used its final post-Cabinet press conference of the year to punch down on local government without offering any credible solutions to the issues our councils are facing. ...
The Government has failed to keep its promise to ‘super charge’ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Government to stop subsidising the largest user of the country’s gas supplies, Methanex, following a report highlighting the multi-national’s disproportionate influence on energy prices in Aotearoa. ...
The Green Party is appalled with the Government’s new child poverty targets that are based on a new ‘persistent poverty’ measure that could be met even with an increase in child poverty. ...
New independent analysis has revealed that the Government’s Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) will reduce emissions by a measly 1 per cent by 2030, failing to set us up for the future and meeting upcoming targets. ...
The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata Māori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for Māori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...
Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...
Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...
After wasting a year, Nicola Willis has delivered a worse deal for the Cook Strait ferries that will end up being more expensive and take longer to arrive. ...
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick has today launched a Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as the All Out For Gaza rally reaches Parliament. ...
After years of advocacy, the Green Party is very happy to hear the Government has listened to our collective voices and announced the closure of the greyhound racing industry, by 1 August 2026. ...
In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) in schools. ...
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...
Thank you for the invitation to speak with you tonight on behalf of the political party I belong to - which is New Zealand First. As we have heard before this evening the Kinleith Mill is proposing to reduce operations by focusing on pulp and discontinuing “lossmaking paper production”. They say that they are currently consulting on the plan to permanently shut ...
Auckland Central MP, Chlöe Swarbrick, has written to Mayor Wayne Brown requesting he stop the unnecessary delays on St James Theatre’s restoration. ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced four appointments to New Zealand’s intelligence oversight functions. The Honourable Robert Dobson KC has been appointed Chief Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants, and the Honourable Brendan Brown KC has been appointed as a Commissioner of Intelligence Warrants. The appointments of Hon Robert Dobson and Hon ...
Improvements in the average time it takes to process survey and title applications means housing developments can progress more quickly, Minister for Land Information Chris Penk says. “The government is resolutely focused on improving the building and construction pipeline,” Mr Penk says. “Applications to issue titles and subdivide land are ...
The Government’s measures to reduce airport wait times, and better transparency around flight disruptions is delivering encouraging early results for passengers ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Improving the efficiency of air travel is a priority for the Government to give passengers a smoother, more reliable ...
The Government today announced the intended closure of the Apollo Hotel as Contracted Emergency Housing (CEH) in Rotorua, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. This follows a 30 per cent reduction in the number of households in CEH in Rotorua since National came into Government. “Our focus is on ending CEH in the Whakarewarewa area starting ...
The Government will reshape vocational education and training to return decision making to regions and enable greater industry input into work-based learning Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds says. “The redesigned system will better meet the needs of learners, industry, and the economy. It includes re-establishing regional polytechnics that ...
The Government is taking action to better manage synthetic refrigerants and reduce emissions caused by greenhouse gases found in heating and cooling products, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says. “Regulations will be drafted to support a product stewardship scheme for synthetic refrigerants, Ms. Simmonds says. “Synthetic refrigerants are found in a ...
People travelling on State Highway 1 north of Hamilton will be relieved that remedial works and safety improvements on the Ngāruawāhia section of the Waikato Expressway were finished today, with all lanes now open to traffic, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“I would like to acknowledge the patience of road users ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister, Penny Simmonds, has announced a new appointment to the board of Education New Zealand (ENZ). Dr Erik Lithander has been appointed as a new member of the ENZ board for a three-year term until 30 January 2028. “I would like to welcome Dr Erik Lithander to the ...
The Government will have senior representatives at Waitangi Day events around the country, including at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, but next year Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has chosen to take part in celebrations elsewhere. “It has always been my intention to celebrate Waitangi Day around the country with different ...
Two more criminal gangs will be subject to the raft of laws passed by the Coalition Government that give Police more powers to disrupt gang activity, and the intimidation they impose in our communities, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. Following an Order passed by Cabinet, from 3 February 2025 the ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Justice Christian Whata as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Whata’s appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal will take effect on 1 August 2025 and fill a vacancy created by the retirement of Hon Justice David Goddard on ...
The latest economic figures highlight the importance of the steps the Government has taken to restore respect for taxpayers’ money and drive economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Data released today by Stats NZ shows Gross Domestic Product fell 1 per cent in the September quarter. “Treasury and most ...
Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Minister of Education David Seymour today announced legislation changes to strengthen freedom of speech obligations on universities. “Freedom of speech is fundamental to the concept of academic freedom and there is concern that universities seem to be taking a more risk-averse ...
Police Minister, Mark Mitchell, and Internal Affairs Minister, Brooke van Velden, today launched a further Public Safety Network cellular service that alongside last year’s Cellular Roaming roll-out, puts globally-leading cellular communications capability into the hands of our emergency responders. The Public Safety Network’s new Cellular Priority service means Police, Wellington ...
State Highway 1 through the Mangamuka Gorge has officially reopened today, providing a critical link for Northlanders and offering much-needed relief ahead of the busy summer period, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“The Mangamuka Gorge is a vital route for Northland, carrying around 1,300 vehicles per day and connecting the Far ...
The Government has welcomed decisions by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Ashburton District Council confirming funding to boost resilience in the Canterbury region, with construction on a second Ashburton Bridge expected to begin in 2026, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Delivering a second Ashburton Bridge to improve resilience and ...
The Government is backing the response into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Otago, Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “Cabinet has approved new funding of $20 million to enable MPI to meet unbudgeted ongoing expenses associated with the H7N6 response including rigorous scientific testing of samples at the enhanced PC3 ...
Legislation that will repeal all advertising restrictions for broadcasters on Sundays and public holidays has passed through first reading in Parliament today, Media Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “As a growing share of audiences get their news and entertainment from streaming services, these restrictions have become increasingly redundant. New Zealand on ...
Today the House agreed to Brendan Horsley being appointed Inspector-General of Defence, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “Mr Horsley’s experience will be invaluable in overseeing the establishment of the new office and its support networks. “He is currently Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, having held that role since June 2020. ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the final regulations for the levy on insurance contracts that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand from July 2026. “Earlier this year the Government agreed to a 2.2 percent increase to the rate of levy. Fire ...
The Government is delivering regulatory relief for New Zealand businesses through changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act. “The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Amendment Bill, which was introduced today, is the second Bill – the other being the Statutes Amendment Bill - that ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed further progress on the Hawke’s Bay Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS), with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board approving funding for the detailed design of Stage 1, paving the way for main works construction to begin in late 2025.“The Government is moving at ...
The Government today released a request for information (RFI) to seeking interest in partnerships to plant trees on Crown-owned land with low farming and conservation value (excluding National Parks) Forestry Minister Todd McClay announced. “Planting trees on Crown-owned land will drive economic growth by creating more forestry jobs in our regions, providing more wood ...
Court timeliness, access to justice, and improving the quality of existing regulation are the focus of a series of law changes introduced to Parliament today by Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee. The three Bills in the Regulatory Systems (Justice) Amendment Bill package each improve a different part of the ...
A total of 41 appointments and reappointments have been made to the 12 community trusts around New Zealand that serve their regions, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones says. “These trusts, and the communities they serve from the Far North to the deep south, will benefit from the rich experience, knowledge, ...
The Government has confirmed how it will provide redress to survivors who were tortured at the Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital Child and Adolescent Unit (the Lake Alice Unit). “The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care found that many of the 362 children who went through the Lake Alice Unit between 1972 and ...
It has been a busy, productive year in the House as the coalition Government works hard to get New Zealand back on track, Leader of the House Chris Bishop says. “This Government promised to rebuild the economy, restore law and order and reduce the cost of living. Our record this ...
“Accelerated silicosis is an emerging occupational disease caused by unsafe work such as engineered stone benchtops. I am running a standalone consultation on engineered stone to understand what the industry is currently doing to manage the risks, and whether further regulatory intervention is needed,” says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister ...
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia – if it’s good for the people, get on with it. Enhanced reporting on the public sector’s delivery of Treaty settlement commitments will help improve outcomes for Māori and all New Zealanders, Māori Crown Relations Minister Tama Potaka says. Compiled together for the ...
Mr Roger Holmes Miller and Ms Tarita Hutchinson have been appointed to the Charities Registration Board, Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Louise Upston says. “I would like to welcome the new members joining the Charities Registration Board. “The appointment of Ms Hutchinson and Mr Miller will strengthen the Board’s capacity ...
More building consent and code compliance applications are being processed within the statutory timeframe since the Government required councils to submit quarterly data, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “In the midst of a housing shortage we need to look at every step of the build process for efficiencies ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey is proud to announce the first three recipients of the Government’s $10 million Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund which will enable more Kiwis faster access to mental health and addiction support. “This fund is part of the Government’s commitment to investing in ...
New Zealand is providing Vanuatu assistance following yesterday's devastating earthquake, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. "Vanuatu is a member of our Pacific family and we are supporting it in this time of acute need," Mr Peters says. "Our thoughts are with the people of Vanuatu, and we will be ...
The Government welcomes the Commerce Commission’s plan to reduce card fees for Kiwis by an estimated $260 million a year, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.“The Government is relentlessly focused on reducing the cost of living, so Kiwis can keep more of their hard-earned income and live a ...
Regulation Minister David Seymour has welcomed the Early Childhood Education (ECE) regulatory review report, the first major report from the Ministry for Regulation. The report makes 15 recommendations to modernise and simplify regulations across ECE so services can get on with what they do best – providing safe, high-quality care ...
The Government‘s Offshore Renewable Energy Bill to create a new regulatory regime that will enable firms to construct offshore wind generation has passed its first reading in Parliament, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand currently does not have a regulatory regime for offshore renewable energy as the previous government failed ...
Legislation to enable new water service delivery models that will drive critical investment in infrastructure has passed its first reading in Parliament, marking a significant step towards the delivery of Local Water Done Well, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly say.“Councils and voters ...
New Zealand is one step closer to reaping the benefits of gene technology with the passing of the first reading of the Gene Technology Bill, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins says. "This legislation will end New Zealand's near 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab and is ...
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The Government’s social housing agency has backed out of a billion-dollar infrastructure alliance that would have built about 6000 new homes in Auckland – less than 18 months after signing a five-year extension.Labour says the decision to rip up the contract and sell off existing state houses could lead to ...
ByKoroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor New Zealand’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) says impending bad weather for Port Vila is now the most significant post-quake hazard. A tropical low in the Coral Sea is expected to move into Vanuatu waters, bringing heavy rainfall. Authorities have issued warnings to people ...
Cosmic CatastropheThe year draws to a close.King Luxon has grown tired of the long eveningsListening to the dreary squabbling of his Triumvirate.He strolls up to the top floor of the PalaceTo consult with his Astronomer Royal.The Royal Telescope scans the skies,And King Luxon stares up into the heavensFrom the terrestrial ...
Spinoff editor Mad Chapman and books editor Claire Mabey debate Carl Shuker’s new novel about… an editor. Claire: Hello Mad, you just finished The Royal Free – overall impressions? Mad: Hi Claire, I literally just put the book down and I would have to say my immediate impression is ...
Christmas and its buildup are often lonely, hard and full of unreasonable expectations. Here’s how to make it to Jesus’s birthday and find the little bit of joy we all deserve. Have you found this year relentless? Has the latest Apple update “fucked up your life”? Have you lost two ...
Despite overwhelming public and corporate support, the government has stalled progress on a modern day slavery law. That puts us behind other countries – and makes Christmas a time of tragedy rather than joy, argues Shanti Mathias. Picture the scene on Christmas Day. Everyone replete with nice things to eat, ...
Asia Pacific Report “It looks like Hiroshima. It looks like Germany at the end of World War Two,” says an Israeli-American historian and professor of holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University about the horrifying reality of Gaza. Professor Omer Bartov, has described Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza as an ...
The New Zealand government coalition is tweaking university regulations to curb what it says is an increasingly “risk-averse approach” to free speech. The proposed changes will set clear expectations on how universities should approach freedom of speech issues. Each university will then have to adopt a “freedom of speech statement” ...
Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. – COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone New York prosecutors have charged Luigi Mangione with “murder as an act of terrorism” in his alleged shooting of health insurance CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month. This news comes out at the same time as ...
Pacific Media Watch The union for Australian journalists has welcomed the delivery by the federal government of more than $150 million to support the sustainability of public interest journalism over the next four years. Combined with the announcement of the revamped News Bargaining Initiative, this could result in up to ...
MONDAY“Merry Xmas, and praise the Lord,” said Sheriff Luxon, and smiled for the camera. There was a flash of smoke when the shutter pressed down on the magnesium powder. The sheriff had arranged for a photographer from the Dodge Gazette to attend a ceremony where he handed out food parcels to ...
It’s a little under two months since the White Ferns shocked the cricketing world, deservedly taking home the T20 World Cup. Since then the trophy has had a tour around the country, five of the squad have played in the WBBL in Australia while most others have returned to domestic ...
Comment: If we say the word ‘dementia’, many will picture an older person struggling to remember the names of their loved ones, maybe a grandparent living out their final years in an aged care facility. Dementia can also occur in people younger than 65, but it can take time before ...
Piracy is a reality of modern life – but copyright law has struggled to play catch-up for as long as the entertainment industry has existed. As far back as 1988, the House of Lords criticised copyright law’s conflict with the reality of human behaviour in the context of burning cassette ...
As he makes a surprise return to Shortland Street, actor Craig Parker takes us through his life in television. Craig Parker has been a fixture on television in Aotearoa for nearly four decades. He had starring roles in iconic local series like Gloss, Mercy Peak and Diplomatic Immunity, featured in ...
The Ōtautahi musician shares the 10 tracks he loves to spin, including the folk classic that cured him of a ‘case of the give-ups’. When singer-songwriter Adam McGrath returns to Kumeu’s Auckland Folk Festival from January 24-27, he’s not planning on simply idling his way through – he wants the late ...
Alex Casey spends an afternoon on the job with River, the rescue dog on a mission to spread joy to Ōtautahi rest homes.Almost everyone says it is never enough time. But River the rescue dog, a jet black huntaway border collie cross, has to keep a tight pace to ...
Asia Pacific Report Fiji activists have recreated the nativity scene at a solidarity for Palestine gathering in Fiji’s capital Suva just days before Christmas. The Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and Fijians for Palestine Solidarity Network recreated the scene at the FWCC compound — a baby Jesus figurine lies amidst the ...
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This election demonstrated what the deep state will do to ensure the continuity of neoliberal rule in New Zealand.
Little
Turei
Peters
What do they all have in common?
They would have challenged the neoliberal paradigm.
+100 ed
Yeah, ummmm. Sorry, how would they have changed the paradigm? Seriously, I’m keen to hear solutions, cause with the feed back I’m getting from the Bots around here, seems my plans where deluded.
Please correct me, but I thought orthodox-economic-norms where set in stone from several decades of entrenched financial regulations, both internal and external.
Must add that Winnie always has a pair of rose smelling underpants up the sleeve, he’ll some how come out of this smelling ok.
Which way forward, Mr Ed?
(Eco-Maori, the invite is open. Bright ideas? Could we innovate with a little Babylonian Banking Number?)
If you’re in Auckland, maybe you could join Marama Davidson and Metiria Turei at a rally against poverty on September 16 at 2.30pm at Otara Town Centre;
And Turei will also be speaking about poverty at the Cardboard Cathedral in Christchurch on 31 August.
This is where positive change will come from for those suffering most from poverty and inequality: from the flax roots.
Thanks.
Join the rally, or remain door-knocking locally, good options.
Hey the Green policy you link is adequate to stabilise short term. And yes, it’s the only politically speakable alternative. But the Greens would also do govt funded research into the TOP strategies around tax and UBI for medium term solutions. Plus research into Financial Innovation for sustainable funding during the transition/national-rehabilition. Agreed, Greens will get the job do.
See link here for the full detail that would really solve things: https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-29082017/#comment-1375826
“but I thought orthodox-economic-norms where set in stone from several decades of entrenched financial regulations”
This is entirely voluntary. Sovereign nations have lost none of their ability to regulate big (multinational) businesses. All that has changed is the norms by which they typically do so.
The biggest change under the neo liberal era has been the deregulation (see above) and the abandonment of full employment as a policy goal (presently unemployment is a policy tool). Both changes were voluntary, drive inequality and should be reversed to a great extent.
In turn the neo liberal era has been a slow growth era which is why house and asset prices have been so out of whack.
“This is entirely voluntary. Sovereign nations have lost none of their ability to regulate big (multinational) businesses. All that has changed is the norms by which they typically do so.”
thats true, however consider the constituent response should the likes of Apple, or big oil et al remove or price themselves out of the local market…..the ability to regulate such entities is effectively determined by the size of the market….and NZ is a very small market.
Your saying these industries would leave a safe stable profitable market like NZ on the table? I think thats highly unlikely and I can’t think of any examples of it happening either.
Im saying depending on the level of enforcement /cost that some would determine the trouble was not worth it and note i also said price themselves into a position where they may still remain but accessibility (to the wider populace) would be greatly reduced….no time to look now but internet access costs are one that spring to mind, in many countries internet access is only available to the wealthy due to that very reason.
You have examples of countries where internet access is only available to the wealthy due to regulative overheads? I would think the lack of infrastructure would be relevant but hardly the amount of regulation.
“In other places, like South Africa and Namibia, prices are high simply because of a monopoly or duopoly. Further examination reveals at least two other reasons for these high prices: the largest fiber owners in-country, have until recently, not been allowed to sell or provide services and most importantly, African service providers are still beset with archaic business models and anti-customer mindset! Let’s examine these two factors in some detail.”
http://www.ictworks.org/2010/05/05/why-african-internet-bandwidth-prices-are-still-high/
Industry regulation can and does, as does tax law and corruption…..yes there needs to be regulation and TAXATION but it is a balancing act….and the smaller the market the lesser the leverage
I don’t find that very convincing as a story about burdensom regulation. Regulation was preventing some capacity from being used for internet access and for ISPs to effectively not have access to that infrastructure. Otherwise nothing seems to be preventing ISPs from selling to a broad market but their business model isnt there yet.
If you don’t push regulation onto the likes of Apple or big oil you will never know if there is a boundary there and will effectively just leave them deregulated.
never said don’t push, simply said there is a tipping point which you appear to deny…and there we differ
https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/shell-poised-announcement-nz-assets-182791
“In the year to December it reported revenue of $1.37 billion and net profit of $252.6 million.”
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1506/S00005/z-energy-buys-caltex-service-station-chain-for-785-million.htm
“Chevron New Zealand Holdings reported a net profit of $43.3 million in calendar 2014 on revenue of $2.23 billion, down from a profit of $86.5 million on sale of $2.34 billion in 2013. Chevron’s total assets were valued at $573.9 million with liabilities totalling $374.4 million as at Dec. 31, compared to assets worth $784.9 million and liabilities of $536 million a year earlier.”
a quick couple close to home…
Problem is that the current fix-it solutions will all cost money, so where do you want to borrow that money from. It will take Financial Innovation and Money Sovereignty, otherwise it’s just the old debt spiral again. Can’t truly solve it with tax changes alone, though the full tax reforms from TOP would buy us time.
The NZ government is already fully sovereign in the NZ dollers via the RBNZ. Taxation is about things like, not allowing an aristocracy to develop, making the burden of taxation more equitable, or discouraging certain businesses or activities without making them illegal or removing inflationary spending pressures from an overheated economy. Its never about revenue gathering.
If the old debt spiral is referring to an eventual currency crisis then the point is NZ fully floated the NZ $ in about 1985. It can’t have currency crisis any more as a result.
NZD is in relation to international currencies, especially USD. And RBNZ don’t create NZDs, this would be sovereign. RBNZ buy other currencies, at cost.
We have a crisis if the Rating Agencies give us a crisis. Current official cash rate in NZ is 1.75%, vs Europe at 0.25%, or 0.0% When they buy our houses against their foreign capital, they have a 1.5% advantage over Kiwi buyers.
Interest repayment requires new money, growth. New money comes from debt, thus “debt spiral”. Though interest-rates are very low, but new problem is the effects of Quantitative Easing, lowering the value of our money.
Planet size is limited, and new efficencies from new technology are less significant than the losses from wars and storms. Debt system requires growth. Planet requires a steady state economy. Even the Greens don’t have this in their economic policy. Compromising with orthodox system, though steady state economic system would be investigated once Greens are in Govt.
Taken from here,
https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/about-us/what-we-do
“Currency Issue”
“The Reserve Bank is the only organisation authorised to issue currency for New Zealand. ”
This is not to say that commercial banks don’t create money when they lend, they do, however the money created is commercial bank deposits and not of the form of the currency which is created by the reserve bank and spent and collected in tax by the government.
Obviously most of your comment is derivative on the RBNZ not being able to issue NZ dollers.
“where will the money come from?”
money (in all its forms) is simply a means of resource rationing, the real question is how do we use that rationing system?…we can create all the money we like but we are still restricted by resource availability and the desire for those resources….we currently allow ‘the market’ to determine how those resources are rationed…and we see where that has led and is leading, however that is not to say any other form will be any better or worse as ultimately any system will still be driven by human beings wants and needs…changing the amount of ‘money’ doesn’t change human nature
Come on Pat, obviously it’s better to do finance with public banks. Why do you think private banks should be able to profit from money creation? Surely the benefits of this should go back to the people rather than a small group of shareholders.
Deals with state owned banks could be done very different. Creating though debt is driving that growth. If all banking was though the state, then steady state economics would be possible, and the need from more resources to pay back debt, and new debt to pay off the old debt… all could be mathematically solved.
Oh, it matters Pat.
“….the real question is how do we use that rationing system?…”
quality not quantity
This argument simply invalidates itself where it says ‘however that is not to say any other form will be any better’ and goes on to assume the alternatives will further be the same or worse.
Ultimately it appears to be based on some form of Ricardian equivalence where supposidely (but actually not) when the government changes the quantity of spending the non government sector inversely compensates and reduces spending. In reality both quantity and quality of spending effect the outcome and Ricardian equivalence mechanisms don’t happen in the real world.
‘This argument simply invalidates itself…..”
Indeed?..you assume too much, I clearly state…..”that is not to say any alternative will be better or worse” based on the premise they are operated by and for human wants and needs….the onus is on you(or anyone else for that matter) to make the case for an alternative that IS indeed better.
If you take the time to read what I wrote you may grasp that what I am saying is the polar opposite of Ricardian Equivalence…i.e human beings are not forward looking nor rational in their habits….nor are they (in the main ) socially orientated….rather they are self serving and short sighted.
so back to government spending and debt monetisation….what does human nature tell you about the likely outcome of an increase in the willingness of governments to increase the money supply?
I say again….quality over quantity
Isn’t money supply increased every time someone takes a loan and buys a house? Guess the private lending mechanism would have to change, in balance. Better accounting at RBNZ. Your thinkin is still orthodox economics, I’m trying to talk alternatives.
“Your thinkin is still orthodox economics, ”
yes I’m analysing orthodox economics (that is not to say I’m promoting any particular school) for that is what we operate under and to know where you are going you need to know where you are starting from….indeed I seek and zero/negative growth model that appears to have a chance of working in the real world….im still waiting and time is agin us….so kindly talk alternatives but don’t expect me to accept them simply because they are alternative.
Its dead simple in that regard.
“what does human nature tell you about the likely outcome of an increase in the willingness of governments to increase the money supply?”
This is a weird way of putting it but I assume you are referring to something like the government buying up all the unemployed labour and putting the work towards public goods. Whats the outcome? First of all the labour will be for sale because the unemployment is not due to a voluntary choice but due to an actual lack of jobs. Second the unemployment rate will go down because many people who were unemployed will be in work (this will be an improvement in the outcome). Third growth of GDP will increase in real and nominal terms with the additional public goods the government purchased being produced being the real increase. Fourth there will be no inflationary outcome because the idle labour never had a bid in the jobs market so the additional spending does not compete with the private sector in setting wages.
You don’t get a similar outcome just focusing on quality because the economy is facing a quantity of spending problem. The mainstream of economic thought and your dogma believes that the economy is inherently self rebalancing in real terms
but there is no evidence for this in the real world.
I would say the market mechanism is the only future, but if we’re feeding the markets wholesome organic money from a central bank and not GE sugar from private banks, then govt can regulate lightly. Current system requires very heavy regulation.
Labour think they can fix the country and contiune with orthodox TPPA etc. Is this a pre-election bluff to win votes, avoid media attack?. Or are they really planning to fail?
Pivoting international economic relations is very bold, but we are well poised. The last 30sec of this video shows what’s required. If global finance isn’t going to play cricket, then we’ll have to change the game to rugby.
you’re a strange fellow….I am constantly amazed how you attribute positions to me that are frequently diametrically opposed to those i state…this comprehension problem may resolve itself if you spend less time learning text by rote and practise applying the theory to the real world.
Its pretty clear we can identify the nexus of the problem here.
“Yes I’m analysing orthodox economics (that is not to say I’m promoting any particular school) for that is what we operate under and to know where you are going you need to know where you are starting from”
Your misunderstanding is that orthodox economics is not something that we ‘operate under’ at all. It is instead a consistent failure to explain how the actual economy functions. The related problem being you don’t appear to know or understand the assumptions being made by the orthordox economics when you say for example ‘expand the money supply’. Do you not know the assumptions there do imply Ricardian equivalence is a genuine phenomenon there?
Thanks Pat, working on it. Moving from farming support, to small business, but seasonal work requirements and family issues also to hurdle.
Hey, pointing out paradox is part of my job here. Failure to spot paradox seems no less common among the politically educated.
You may be an exception Pat, I’m still undecided. Qualitative reflection upon degree content is generally very low especially in economics. How many people at the end of their first year still don’t know where money comes from? Don Brash still claims money isn’t created by private banks! It’s guys like him who give the Free Masons a bad name.
Analysis of orthodox views can reinforce them. So seeking to express alternative economic paradigms is very important, though yes, confusing.
Range of organic veges grown and marketed this year. Developments for next year: sell vege boxes at a set price, along with vouchers, thus creating a tradable regional currency alternative. The central bank need not fear me at this stage, but the future is open. And yes, I can still find some normal money to pay my taxes on transactions. Ethics are valuable, but costly.
Yeah Nic, you could be on to it, but does sound more like a side-step that a try or a conversion. I think their biggest assumption is, that after 3 years of orthodox economics, graduates will be whip-lashed and hypnotized from the magic of supply-n-demand curves.
Yes. We should have some pity on the poor graduates of economics who have paid for the privelege of being brainwashed. Unfortunately some of the more successful ones (like Don Brash and Bill English) will be rewarded for further basing policy on and popularizing their delusions so this is self perpetuating.
CoroDale gemmon
Here it is. A serious Strategy of the next Govt to end poverty:
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-29082017/#comment-1375826
Apparently Tolley knew about Peters, I’m guessing the leak came from her office.
They are well on their way to being the least trustworthy govt dept.
Tracy Watkins sayys Dunne knew in advance. He is Revenue Minister and has not called for an investigation of his office. Or has Tolley taken over since he resigned?
Why arent the press hounding the revenue minister and PM til they say they will investigate?
Dunne is not Revenue Minister now. He’s Internal Affairs, and has a couple of associate minister roles: health and conservation.
Sad thing is that often the participants in that ‘deep state’ don’t actually realise they are.
Whether its a WINZ case manager at the coal face (probably on a short term contract); or an Ummagration officer, or many others “only following orders”. Worse still, when shit hits fan, they’re the obvious targets when blame is apppoetioned.
Watch what happens over the Winnie affair…..or perhaps after the election when we look back on the dawn raids (modern day equiv) that come to light
Shout out to those from Nelson, Bill English will be addressing Grey Power at a public meeting TODAY at 2pm in Stoke at the Annesbrook Church on Saxton Rd.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/96241989/pm-to-face-questions-at-nelson-grey-power-election-meetings
If you are not working or busy go and check it out, they are taking questions from the floor, if it’s the same moderators from grey power that run the motueka meet the candidates, and if you are a young woman with a question, I strongly suggest you stand up and make it known you have a question, the old boys don’t like young women with questions, and will do their best to ignore you.
Would be really nice if people asked questions that concern many peoples needs instead of just their own
I’ve a huge workload today, but if time allows I will go check it out.
Remember Bill English’s shifty/shifting stories on the taping saga? Maybe a repeat at Stoke today over the superannuation leak. But he is better prepared now at just saying “I know nothing”.
Paula’s there with him
Ask about Winnie and the overpayment. Its been admitted that she was personally briefed before it all broke
Sadly i was unable to make due to work commitments.
Lmao Smith still trying to get elected from pushing the same agenda he has been doing for around 20 years. The southern link lmfao, if any politician wants to win the nelson seat, I’d suggest they look at bringing back rail.
Southern link is massively polarising in Nelson, and with Matt Lawrey against it, and he has been for years, it will be an important topical issue. Looks like the government tried to withhold info on the southern link from the council until after the election.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/96235755/national-pledges-green-light-for-southern-link-route-at-nelson-if-reelected
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/96267494/southern-link-announcement-draws-mixed-reactions
My condolences go out to the people in Texas.But as a fellow blogger on this site points out there are much more people died in India Bangladesh because of global warming and these events don’t make our headline news.WTF Now I don’t like to capitalise my views on someone else’s disaster.We have had the reality of what’s going on around our WORLD sencered by National Muppets .
So I will endorse the Greens please if you want to leave a habitable World for our grandchildren vote Green Party
Considering the bumpLabour got I’d suggest Labour had something to do with Turei, I can just see how the conversation went: “Hi Labour as per the MOU we’re thinking of having MT announce she ripped off the taxpayer, do you think its a good idea”
Labours response, after doing a dance of celebration, “oh yes Greens its absolutely a good idea, we foresee no issues with this at all”
[TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
I doubt that happened.
Absolutely not ! chris 73. You’re just trying it on ….. we all know you’re a Nat – so just quit the stupid trolling.
I’m going to make a plea.
On this Winston ‘affair’
Can we all stop pontificating for a moment?
Bit by bit, more is emerging-the latest being the ladder puller upper was involved.
I’m by no means a Winnie fan.
He’s smart enough to know however not to show his cards.
You show me yours and I’ll show you mine.
There are bubbles and bloody big egos at play here.
There is no reason WP should release details to a gotcha-inspired media UNTIL the source ( peraps sauce) of the leak is identified.
Phat chance tho eh?
If we STFU, my suspicions are there’ll be one or two resignations.
If not, opportunity lost
Tracy Watkins suggests Seymour Dunne (Revenue Minister) and Tax Payers union new in advance about Peters. Can you find someone from the press corps wjo suggests labour did for MT?
Seymour is a nasty chap who is fully capable of trashing Peters at every turn. Why would he have known in advance? Leaky leaky!
Silly me. There I was thinking that the bump came from superior policies, fatigue with a tired and failing government, a bright and connecting leader, and small matters of ongoing corruption, mismanagement and ignorance.
But why not prefer a conspiracy to sense?
New Zealanders are world leaders let’s lead the WORLD in the right direction.
And promote a carbon free industries that create local jobs and a healthy environment!!!!! .WE CAN DO IT
This sure puts the Greens’ proposed 20cent tax on single use plastic bags into perspective:
Bill English doubts anyone wakes up worried about Climate change.
I doubt he woke up worrying about nuclear war and his predecessor didnt give a shit about apartheid… enough did and change happened. We have done big stuff without National. It is time to do it again.
Yes!
Yep and I DON’T think he likes what we have to say on this site looks like the Muppets have spun to get someone high in the national party to think I’m a threat to national with letting everyone no national and John Key sign OUR PRIVACY RIGHTS AWAY SO SOME COUNTRY CAN USE US TO SNOP ON THE REST OF the World
Farmers Bill hayseed English
Labour makes tertiary education first year of degree free from next year:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11913047
Plus the student allowance goes up.
If she implented this, it would be getting back to like it was back in my day.
We need hundreds of thousands more bright minds pushing our national productivity along. Without debt.
Hope those young people get out and vote, if they want this.
I think Ardern will take the news cycle for at least today with this:
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news
Worth a look
Thanks.
It all sounds alarmingly familiar.
Nationals latest attempt
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11913181
But didn’t National use a financial veto against parliament to prevent the same thing they are offering now?
Ok so its fake but still a good image
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DIWtC8bUQAA0BHu.jpg
This isn’t.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/8847784-3×4-700×933.jpg
Yes it is, the electricity is on they must be all dead.
Bonded neutral.
Houston,we have a problem.
Well over the 500-year-average-return event risk now, and still going.
https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/8/28/16211392/100-500-year-flood-meaning
This is a good start at shifting the climate change discourse in the USA – even with this kind of President.
Francis Maxwell aces it.
Oh yeah, that Hitler humor never gets old. Funny as that Two and a Half Men, Christmas special.
What was Hooton on last night and why was he not dressed down by the host. Is this what is to be expected in the lead up to the election ?
I ask those more aware. Is there an issue regarding Broadcasting standards here ?
His rant commenced at 12 minutes. Bt be warned you may feel a little nauseous
http://120.138.20.16/WeekOnDemand/ZB/auckland/2017.08.28-16.45.00-S.mp3
Why do commentators on the left continue with this Jacinda syndrome. This makes it IMO all about her. Should it not be that Labours vision is now being given a vehicle in which it is being heard and accepted by the nation ?
Jacinda Ardern’s favourite joke is actually pretty funny!
“Okay, so there are two sausages in a frying pan and one sausage turns to the other sausage and says, ‘Oh my god it is so hot in here,’ and the other sausage says, ‘Oh my god a talking sausage.'”
Man the police must have heaps of money to follow me around all day and any were I go O hang no it’s national money or is it our tax dollars being wasted I no I pay taxes WTF
Respect, Eco Maori. I have never known conversation to be killed for nearly 3 hours. I am sure it is not your fault, old boy.. (Often wish I could do the same on some threads.)
I don’t mean to be mean, but …. to get things going again?
All this new language learning The Nats are proposing for primary schools it now turns out comes to one hour per week per student. Huh?
One hour per week will NOT produce anything other than the ability to say hello and parrot 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 in some other language and they will soon forget it.
None of the policy-setters can ever have tried to master a second language, let alone teach it. What a bunch of buck-tooth idiots.
Financial Innovation can be solely limited to gentle price stability tools. The beauty is that Rating Agencies will up interest-rates for NZ, and the NZD will fall. NZ thus gains income on exports and tourism, to cover fiscally. At the same time all first-home-lenders with floating-rates could be covered from a govt top-up to prevent melt-down in housing market. Only a small international money transaction tool will be require to prevent further foreign investment in real-estate and markets, plus minor restrictions on govt bonds. All these factors will essential freeze the market for a year or two until Royal Commissions come back with clear and democratic solutions on further Financial Innovation, to gently land prices. Meanwhile UBI and rent controls can stabilise poverty, while general reforms in Corrections, Tax, Education, Health and All are implemented.
Declare a State of National Disaster over Real Estate prices within the first three months of the next term. This will spook the markets early, hopefully before the crash/irreversible-dysfunction. The Govt then doesn’t use their new financial powers, they just focus on Corrections, Tax, etc. So claim can slowly return to the international observers.
Then, apply non-orthodox Financial Innovation before the 2020 election. Passing on a hot-but-functional-potato, to hopefully a second Green/NZF/TOP govt. If Nats or Labour got back in in 2020, they would fail big to turn back to old orthodox ways.
Check-mate!
Apologies to my fellow bloggers for the eco maori effect. I have notice this effect has been influencing others in our beautiful country.
Now we need a Paradigm shift with all our policys as one can not run a country like a business like National has they are to totally different Beast and do not responed the same.
My opinion about our education get the basic right first English Math teach our children about civic teach our children to respect everyone surviving in our system get the class sizes down to 25 pupils per class .
Our best teachers no how to come down to our children level and engage them. the good teachers have a lot of art in there class room and there pupils ardor them
NOW TEACHING CHILDREN IS NOT THAT COMPLICATED GIVE THE TEACHERS THE RIGHT TRAINING AND THE RIGHT RESOURCES TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN .
I no that using the KICKS systems works so Keep the system that run our school simple.
Come on this works give all our children at least the Basic make sure our children are well fed well housed one wont listen if you are hungry .These children are our future.
lets invest in our Future . Its not rocket science!!!!
Hey, thinking I’ve solved the riddle. It’s not “Eco maori”, its short for Emo. It’s not a bot, its an Emo Kid.
Cheer Up Emo Kid. Here, a FB page specially for you.
https://www.facebook.com/cheerupemokid