Pita’s poll: Maori Party death-rattle?

Written By: - Date published: 9:35 am, April 2nd, 2011 - 38 comments
Categories: maori party, Maori seats - Tags: , , , , , , ,

A new Horizon poll suggests that Pita Sharples’ majority in Tamaki Makaurau has been slashed by 80% and he could be overtaken by Labour’s Shane Jones. There’s a bit of scuttlebutt that Willie Jackson might run for Hone’s new Left/Maori Party (if it gets off the ground). In that case, expect a real three-way race, which Sharples would almost certainly lose.

Annette Skyes is champing at the bit to run against Te Ururoa Flavell in Waiariki, which would create another three way race that Flavell is likely to lose.

Rahui Katene will almost certainly lose her 1,000 vote majority to Labour’s Rino Tirikatene even without a third party.

That only leaves Tariana Turia. Her majority isn’t much larger than Sharples’. You would assume she is safe but she would be a fool to rest easy.

And a new party will have a strong case for taking the lion’s share of the Maori Party’s party vote. Maori roll votes get the logic of vote splitting about a third of those who gave their candidate votes to a Maori Party candidate last election gave their party vote to Labour. The case for giving their party vote to Hone’s party even if they continue to vote for a Maori Party candidate will be even stronger – two Maori Parties for the price of one.

If this plays out, the Maori Party could be down to one or two seats and the Hone’s party could have two or three.

The scenario is not looking good for the Maori Party and they have no-one to blame but themselves. They have betrayed their principles and betrayed the people that voted for them. They chose this fate or, rather, in their hubris believed they could promise one thing and do another and Maori would continue to support them.

38 comments on “Pita’s poll: Maori Party death-rattle? ”

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  1. higherstandard 1
    2 April 2011 at 9:52 am

    Horizon polls are truly excellent, at present I am registered with them under three different guises and party preferences but still haven’t won the free ipad.

    • Vinsin 1.1
      2 April 2011 at 10:23 am

      Lol

    • Colonial Viper 1.2
      2 April 2011 at 10:35 am

      Thanks for your honest admission of dishonesty, HS. I think we are all pretty clear on where you stand now.

    • lprent 1.3
      2 April 2011 at 12:13 pm

      😈 But is it worth it? You know it will be a iPad1

      • felix 1.3.1
        2 April 2011 at 12:52 pm

        I’m waiting for the iPad3, I’ve heard it’ll be awesome. It’ll have a keyboard, a mouse, an optical drive, a lid, and a proper hard drive.

      • Rex Widerstrom 1.3.2
        2 April 2011 at 6:29 pm

        LOL I MCed a conference of industry bigwigs the other week. If delegates got ten stamps from the exhibitors they went into a draw for “an iPad”.

        I wondered whether it’d be an iPad 1… sure enough, I did my best gameshow host impersonation, the winner came up on stage, and my “lovely assistant” brandished the old version.

        A deathly silence descended on the room. And as for the “lucky” winner… if looks could kill…

        • felix 1.3.2.1
          2 April 2011 at 11:06 pm

          How incredibly spoilt we are to turn up our noses at a (free) machine that 10 years ago was still in the realm of science fiction.

  2. Jum 2
    2 April 2011 at 10:09 am

    Speaking of bullying, on Willie’s Sound Bites last night a woman (I apologise for not catching her name) debating with Sue Bradford was saying that Maori women should get a 5 year contraceptive injection to stop them having babies. Luckily, she was Maori herself or there would have been a race riot! Sue disagreed saying it was their freedom to choose. I assume it would only be women on benefits under this government’s control.

    Importantly, though, what they both agreed on, with the usual stirring from Willie, was that ‘those’ young women really need positive support from when they should get it, pre-birth, onwards – real education, real training access and real jobs that give them self-worth, and I say any women and men should have free contraception as long as they require it.

    I still remember Tariana Turia being really proud that she was encouraging all young Maori women into having lots of babies and New Zealand would be browner and the Maori Party would take control of New Zealand. She gave little heed then as to the impact her words would have on those young women who see/saw her as an icon. She never bothered to say – enjoy your youth, get some educational qualifications, go for the best job you want, maybe travel, then have a quality life as well as your love to offer your babies.

    In pushing her ideology and reversing the process, I believe she must take some responsibility if things aren’t going well now.

    Can someone tell me the name of the woman debating with Sue Bradford? I would be interested to read her opinion on that.

    As usual Willie was a must-see.

    • ianmac 2.1
      2 April 2011 at 10:23 am

      I taped Willie last night but have yet to watch it – but wait. I’ll check right now. Sharon Wilson-Davis, CEO Strive Trust.

      • Jum 2.1.1
        2 April 2011 at 10:53 am

        Thanks Ianmac.

        Sharon Wilson-Davis is obviously frustrated that this is happening to young women she cares about but this is definitely an issue of democracy and the freedom not to have a foreign chemical forced into your body against your will.

        NActMU certainly don’t win any medals for enhancing democracy in this country.

    • M 2.2
      2 April 2011 at 1:16 pm

      Jum, I too was dismayed when Tariana blathered on about young Maori women’s fertility being under the control of Europeans or words to that effect. My first thoughts were that if the young woman in question has no educational qualifications, no work experience, few possesions then that child may well be condemned to a miserable future despite the numbers of Maori increasing and felt she was totally irresponsible advocating such a thing. If she said young woman has no partner or familial support then life becomes very grim.

      Children from low/middle income two-parent families where both parents are working in this economic climate know things are tough for their parents; a sole parent working or on welfare finds it even harder to scrape by and the child/ren suffer as a result.

  3. Morgan 3
    2 April 2011 at 10:18 am

    Interesting analysis, Eddie.

    In the event of a three way race between Jones, Sharples and Willie Jackson, Willie would win. Sharples has vacated the left, but Shane is not yet in any position to pick up disillusioned left voters. Shane’s credibility among women is non-existent and his left credentials are hardly convincing.

    I have blogged on Annette Sykes chances in Waiariki here (I can’t be bothered summarising it).

    http://mauistreet.blogspot.com/2011/03/annette-sykes-vs-te-ururoa-flavell.html

    Te Tai Tonga could go either way. A Labour victory is not guaranteed, however it is fair to assume it is probable. Pre-earthqauke Rino Tirikatene would have cruised to victory given Rahui’s support for the MCA act. However, things are now a lot less clear. Rahui has been supporting her constituents in Chch and this will count for a lot.

    • Tiger Mountain 3.1
      2 April 2011 at 1:23 pm

      A ‘third way’ is the ‘holy grail’ for various persuasions that purposefully place inadequate attention on class, the very reason for the Maori party travails. And Labour party travails. But qualified support is due to Labour this election, not on the lesser of two evils proposition, but to help forestall a greater evil. This is a fork in the road election, a second Natz administration will level this country as we knew it for a significant time.

      In the event you are a cousin of Lew’s, attention to class in a marxist sense does not mean subjugating post colonial indigenous struggles in some sort of ranking.

      Maori seats should remain as long as maori voters want them. But I have to say in Te Tai Tokerau and Northland an interesting situation exists. In the 2008 election party vote results, Northland seat-National votes 17,703, non National votes 16,669 (which obviously includes a few rats and mice such as ACT). Te Tai Tokerau seat-National votes 1,883. So the National Party vote using both electorates adds up to 18,572 and the non National vote inclusive of Greens, Lab, Maori party, NZ first, etc. to 35,241.

  4. ianmac 4
    2 April 2011 at 10:40 am

    “They have betrayed their principles and betrayed the people that voted for them. ”
    It seems to be the fate of small parties who get too close in supporting the governing parties. Maybe the Greens way back were wise to be not in coalition with Labour. And maybe Winston talking about sitting on the cross benches is a wiser position for a minor party. Act has virtually self-destructed but National will prop them up in order to keep what would otherwise be the far right rump of National.
    So how should a minor party behave to avoid being flattened under MMP?

    • Jum 4.1
      2 April 2011 at 11:17 am

      I think it will depend on the outcome of this general election.

      If National get in again and Labour is the only other main player the other smaller permanent parties will begin to get larger votes. Why? Because National is betraying its principles. National, whether you liked their policies or not, once played by the ethics of honest campaigning. They no longer do. They mislead and they lie; as Matthew Hooten said, all they have to do is keep the people happy until they get in again. It doesn’t matter about those who wouldn’t vote for them anyway. So they’re attacking their rights now – workers and beneficiary workers.

      Word from inside the Nat machinery tells me that National went into government with no plan. Seriously, some might think Labour was politicking by saying in the Parliamentary debates that National had no plan. But they really, really don’t. They’re winging it until they get back in – they hope this year – to enable them to sell off New Zealand in pieces in 2012 when the legislation on LGAct 2002/2009 amendment allows them to without our 75% sayso. The international corporates will already have control through the TPPA just before the election – thanks to the cunning Mr Key.

      Nat supporters and those working in the Nat machinery with principles and honesty are leaving the party; it will be interesting to see how many are left which will give us a tally of the ones that are happy to sell their country down the river for selfish greed.

      Labour if it gets in will need to reverse the damage to workers and start from pre-birth education and on. All children are important to our future and money must be allocated to all of them. Women need to get pay equity immediately. The time for research is over. The gap in equity is larger; NAct is lying when they say it is reducing. Women in part time jobs earning minimum wage are thrown into unemployment and the average wage goes up – again thanks to the cunning Mr Key and English.

      If this does not happen then I believe the smaller parties will attract the more socially conscious and principled voters who do care about other people – Christchurch was proof of that. The smaller parties will then govern on their own.

  5. outofbed 5
    2 April 2011 at 12:16 pm

    There is an amazing new young Green Candidate that might be standing in Te Tai Hauāuru
    the electorate of Tariana Turia. Simply amazing young man and one to watch, he will do well

  6. ianmac 6
    2 April 2011 at 12:28 pm

    @ Jum”The smaller parties will then govern on their own.”
    Wouldn’t that be a hoot! Imagine figuring who would be the PM!

    • Jum 6.1
      2 April 2011 at 1:01 pm

      Let them all be PM, Ianmac. They can have a portfolio each.

      Turei can have the conservation portfolio, and Norman the Green economy.

      Peters can have the immigration portfolio and also have the responsibility of speaking to each hopeful and telling them to their faces if he wants to send them away. He has our immediate approval to send the tobacco lobbyist Glenn off to Monaco on his political NAct-seat, not with a political seat. Peters’ major portfolio of course will be looking after the olds, and taxing the racing industry to help pay for the budgeters’ costs when the betting people lose their food and rent money, which is what people resort to when all else has failed them – pie in the sky-Key.

      My personal favourite Jim Anderton can have the Health portfolio and close down Diane Foreman’s private hospitals which may then close down an avenue of funding for the NActs or at least a dinner table. Bring back cheap dental care Jim. And, when Ryall turns up for his use the drill on ‘im, even if he doesn’t need it! I’m sick of seeing those teeth smirking as he reads out money for this and money for that, all the while hiding the damage he is doing to the safe health and home care to the elderly and children. Turia or Sharples – nah, sorry, can’t trust them. Plus one newbie Prime Minister – Sue Bradford who has seen what it’s like helping the lowest paid and badly treated to dealing with the bottom feeders like Key and English.

      Act – LOL LOL LOL. You expect me to even consider that bulldog who took away my democratic rights to access Select Committee process for the first bill to steal away my children’s children’s assets in the Auckland takeover. Ianmac – that’s asking too much.

      • ianmac 6.1.1
        2 April 2011 at 3:11 pm

        Great thinking outside the square Jum. :0
        How about Trevor Mallard for Minister of Cycleways?

        • Jum 6.1.1.1
          2 April 2011 at 3:25 pm

          Captcha: stoppings

          Great idea, Ianmac, but not yet – the leg…ya know…He will have to inspect the ‘whole 9 yards’ of cycle way established – but, well, yeah, he’ll probably only need one leg for that.

          Actually, Sharon Wilson-Davis, CEO Strive Trust, who obviously cares about women will be in charge of Women’s Affairs and Pay Equity but disallowed entry to the medicine cabinet.

  7. Akldnut 7
    2 April 2011 at 2:23 pm

    I hope Shane Jones is reading this, we need him to step up and get more profile in the MSM.

    That goes for all Labour candidates

  8. Drakula 8
    2 April 2011 at 4:46 pm

    This could be very interesting, if the Maori party goes down the gurgler then they could very well take the NAT/ACT government with them.

    I hope that there are more Green politicians; ironically Green policies seem to be more sympathetic to the hopes and asperations of the Standard supporters, except for those who support Anderton and his party, whatever it’s called: Can someone help me out here?

    Allience? New Labour? – – – – – -Jim Anderton Party? – – – – -Anti Dope Party?

    • Jum 8.1
      2 April 2011 at 4:55 pm

      Drakula,

      Don’t be mean to Jim Anderton and the Progressives Party. He will be the next Health Minister in my new government and will give everyone, except Ryall, cheap dental care.

      If you don’t have good teeth, how can you chew your greens, lad?

      • Blue 8.1.1
        5 April 2011 at 4:36 pm

        Jum, try brushing them every now and again, cuts dental costs down quite dramatically.

        • Jum 8.1.1.1
          6 April 2011 at 1:06 am

          Blue,
          There’s a few blues I like to chew up and spit out – I hope you’re not one of them!

  9. randal 9
    4 April 2011 at 12:00 pm

    Pita should have listened to what helen clarke had to say about his co-conspirators.

    • Drakula 9.1
      4 April 2011 at 5:54 pm

      That “they can’t be trusted”

      Jum don’t get me wrong I have had a lot of respect for Anderton I support his ideas on the extention of dental’ health services but his ego got in the way!!!!!!

      If he can get the Allience (if they still exist) Greens and the other real left parties rally them all together to go with Labour with an increased majority then that will put the globalist labour ministers into check.

      This has just happened in Germany the Greens now have a majority in the state of Baden Baden!!!!

      Then we need to get those apathetic buggers off their arse to vote !!!!!!

  10. Steve Withers 10
    5 April 2011 at 9:09 am

    What surprised me was the Maori Party thinking they would avoid National shafting them. That moment – when they decied to go that path – told me all I needed to know about the quality of their analysis and political acumen. The rest after that has just been the spring unwinding – the clock running down. A word I dislike, but accurate in this case: inevitable.

    In many ways, the best outcome would be for all National’s mate-parties to disappear….requiring National to win big in order to govern….though this may have the perverse affect of amplifying National’s party vote so 45%-ish wins them a majority in the House.

  11. Blue 11
    5 April 2011 at 4:29 pm

    In the words of chairman Helen Moari were described by the left as the “last cab off the rank”.  Quite a charming statement eh? Don’t you think that still rankles with Maori?  Maori didn’t abandon Labour, Labour abandoned them and now Labour reaps the consequences but still gets pissy and moans about it, because they choose to work with the Government and gets things done, rather than sit on the outside as a largely impotent entity providing comic relief , like the Greens do.  All words and ideology but no practical approach to how these apply to the real world that we all have to live in.

    • mickysavage 11.1
      5 April 2011 at 4:49 pm

      What a silly statement.  Labour or the left has never described Maori as the last cab off the rank.  Helen said that about the Maori Party in 2005 and that was for understandable reasons.
       
      Note to Blue, time has moved on and there is a genuine effort behind the scenes for Labour to get on with the Maori Party.  It would help if Turia was not there.
       
      Turia is really getting things done but if you look closely they are not good for Maori as a whole.
       

      • marty mars 11.1.1
        5 April 2011 at 4:59 pm

        Wot? labour aren’t out to annihilate the maori party

        sadly no overtures to Hone who will create a Left Maori Party

        perhaps they will do a deal together – labour and the maori party, to shut out a true voice of the people.

    • Jum 11.2
      6 April 2011 at 1:19 am

      Blue,
       
      Usual nasty little misleading words and statements.  You rightwingers have to be watched.  You’re always lying.
      The Greens have achieved good for people with the insulation agreement.  They are also attracting more  support.
      Turia was a person looking for a reason to form a party;  but only after Helen Clark had supported her and shielded her during her formative years in Parliament, learning how to operate the system.  Then she betrayed Clark and Labour.
      Just like NActMU are doing now with the TPPA which they will sign off just before the election to give away this country’s sovereigntyand betray New Zealanders future generations.
       
      Anyone who cares about what National is signing away of our sovereign rights needs to check out CAFCA – Murray Horton has been working since 1974 to save us from ourselves by trying to stop the privatisation of our assets by governments that seem to forget who actually owns these assets.
       

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    TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere for Wednesday November 29, including:The early return of interest deductibility for landlords could see rebates paid on previous taxes and the cost increase to $3 billion from National’s initial estimate of $2.1 billion, CTU Economist Craig Renney estimated here last ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Smokefree Fallout and a High Profile Resignation.
    The day after being sworn in the new cabinet met yesterday, to enjoy their honeymoon phase. You remember, that period after a new government takes power where the country, and the media, are optimistic about them, because they haven’t had a chance to stuff anything about yet.Sadly the nuptials complete ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • As Cabinet revs up, building plans go on hold
    Wellington Council hoardings proclaim its preparations for population growth, but around the country councils are putting things on hold in the absence of clear funding pathways for infrastructure, and despite exploding migrant numbers. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Cabinet meets in earnest today to consider the new Government’s 100-day ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • National takes over infrastructure
    Though New Zealand First may have had ambitions to run the infrastructure portfolios, National would seem to have ended up firmly in control of them.  POLITIK has obtained a private memo to members of Infrastructure NZ yesterday, which shows that the peak organisation for infrastructure sees  National MPs Chris ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • At a glance – Evidence for global warming
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Who’s Driving The Right-Wing Bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Sanity break
    Cheers to reader Deane for this quote from Breakfast TV today:Chloe Swarbrick to Brook van Velden re the coalition agreement: “... an unhinged grab-bag of hot takes from your drunk uncle at Christmas”Cheers also to actual Prime Minister of a country Christopher Luxon for dorking up his swearing-in vows.But that's enough ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • National’s murderous smoking policy
    One of the big underlying problems in our political system is the prevalence of short-term thinking, most usually seen in the periodic massive infrastructure failures at a local government level caused by them skimping on maintenance to Keep Rates Low. But the new government has given us a new example, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • NZ has a chance to rise again as our new government gets spending under control
    New Zealand has  a chance  to  rise  again. Under the  previous  government, the  number of New Zealanders below the poverty line was increasing  year by year. The Luxon-led government  must reverse that trend – and set about stabilising  the  pillars  of the economy. After the  mismanagement  of the outgoing government created   huge ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago

  • KARL DU FRESNE: Media and the new government
    Two articles by Karl du Fresne bring media coverage of the new government into considerations.  He writes –    Tuesday, November 28, 2023 The left-wing media needed a line of attack, and they found one The left-wing media pack wasted no time identifying the new government’s weakest point. Seething over ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • PHILIP CRUMP:  Team of rivals – a CEO approach to government leadership
    The work begins Philip Crump wrote this article ahead of the new government being sworn in yesterday – Later today the new National-led coalition government will be sworn in, and the hard work begins. At the core of government will be three men – each a leader ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Black Friday
    As everyone who watches television or is on the mailing list for any of our major stores will confirm, “Black Friday” has become the longest running commercial extravaganza and celebration in our history. Although its origins are obscure (presumably dreamt up by American salesmen a few years ago), it has ...
    Bryan GouldBy Bryan Gould
    4 days ago

  • In Defense of the Media.
    Yesterday the Ministers in the next government were sworn in by our Governor General. A day of tradition and ceremony, of decorum and respect. Usually.But yesterday Winston Peters, the incoming Deputy Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister, of our nation used it, as he did with the signing of the coalition ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Tuesday, Nov 28
    Nicola Willis’ first move was ‘spilling the tea’ on what she called the ‘sobering’ state of the nation’s books, but she had better be able to back that up in the HYEFU. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • PT use up but fare increases coming
    Yesterday Auckland Transport were celebrating, as the most recent Sunday was the busiest Sunday they’ve ever had. That’s a great outcome and I’m sure the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • The very opposite of social investment
    Nicola Willis (in blue) at the signing of the coalition agreement, before being sworn in as both Finance Minister and Social Investment Minister. National’s plan to unwind anti-smoking measures will benefit her in the first role, but how does it stack up from a social investment viewpoint? Photo: Lynn Grieveson ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Giving Tuesday
    For the first time "in history" we decided to jump on the "Giving Tuesday" bandwagon in order to make you aware of the options you have to contribute to our work! Projects supported by Skeptical Science Inc. Skeptical Science Skeptical Science is an all-volunteer organization but ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Let's open the books with Nicotine Willis
    Let’s say it’s 1984,and there's a dreary little nation at the bottom of the Pacific whose name rhymes with New Zealand,and they've just had an election.Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, will you look at the state of these books we’ve opened,cries the incoming government, will you look at all this mountain ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Climate Change: Stopping oil
    National is promising to bring back offshore oil and gas drilling. Naturally, the Greens have organised a petition campaign to try and stop them. You should sign it - every little bit helps, and as the struggle over mining conservation land showed, even National can be deterred if enough people ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Don’t accept Human Rights Commission reading of data on Treaty partnership – read the survey fin...
    Wellington is braced for a “massive impact’ from the new government’s cutting public service jobs, The Post somewhat grimly reported today. Expectations of an economic and social jolt are based on the National-Act coalition agreement to cut public service numbers in each government agency in a cost-trimming exercise  “informed by” head ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • The stupidest of stupid reasons
    One of the threats in the National - ACT - NZ First coalition agreements was to extend the term of Parliament to four years, reducing our opportunities to throw a bad government out. The justification? Apparently, the government thinks "elections are expensive". This is the stupidest of stupid reasons for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • A website bereft of buzz
    Buzz from the Beehive The new government was being  sworn in, at time of writing , and when Point of Order checked the Beehive website for the latest ministerial statements and re-visit some of the old ones we drew a blank. We found ….  Nowt. Nothing. Zilch. Not a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: A new Ministry – at last
    Michael Bassett writes – Like most people, I was getting heartily sick of all the time being wasted over the coalition negotiations. During the first three weeks Winston grinned like a Cheshire cat, certain he’d be needed; Chris Luxon wasted time in lifting the phone to Winston ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Luxon's Breakfast.
    The Prime Minister elect had his silver fern badge on. He wore it to remind viewers he was supporting New Zealand, that was his team. Despite the fact it made him look like a concierge, or a welcomer in a Koru lounge. Anna Burns-Francis, the Breakfast presenter, asked if he ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL:  Oranga Tamariki faces major upheaval under coalition agreement
     Lindsay Mitchell writes – A hugely significant gain for ACT is somewhat camouflaged by legislative jargon. Under the heading ‘Oranga Tamariki’ ACT’s coalition agreement contains the following item:   Remove Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 According to Oranga Tamariki:     “Section ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON:  Peters as Minister
    A previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record. Brian Easton writes – 1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Cathrine Dyer's guide to watching COP 28 from the bottom of a warming planet
    Is COP28 largely smoke and mirrors and a plan so cunning, you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel? Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: COP28 kicks off on November 30 and up for negotiation are issues like the role of fossil fuels in the energy transition, contributions to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Top 10 news links at 10 am for Monday, Nov 27
    PM Elect Christopher Luxon was challenged this morning on whether he would sack Adrian Orr and Andrew Coster.TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere at 10 am on Monday November 27, including:Signs councils are putting planning and capital spending on hold, given a lack of clear guidance ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the new government’s policies of yesteryear
    This column expands on a Werewolf column published by Scoop on Friday Routinely, Winston Peters is described as the kingmaker who gets to decide when the centre right or the centre-left has a turn at running this country. He also plays a less heralded but equally important role as the ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • The New Government’s Agreements
    Last Friday, almost six weeks after election day, National finally came to an agreement with ACT and NZ First to form a government. They also released the agreements between each party and looking through them, here are the things I thought were the most interesting (and often concerning) from the. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago

  • How many smokers will die to fund the tax cuts?
    Maori and Pasifika smoking rates are already over twice the ‘all adult’ rate. Now the revenue that generates will be used to fund National’s tax cuts. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The devil is always in the detail and it emerged over the weekend from the guts of the policy agreements National ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • How the culture will change in the Beehive
    Perhaps the biggest change that will come to the Beehive as the new government settles in will be a fundamental culture change. The era of endless consultation will be over. This looks like a government that knows what it wants to do, and that means it knows what outcomes ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • No More Winnie Blues.
    So what do you think of the coalition’s decision to cancel Smokefree measures intended to stop young people, including an over representation of Māori, from taking up smoking? Enabling them to use the tax revenue to give other people a tax cut?David Cormack summed it up well:It seems not only ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #47
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 19, 2023 thru Sat, Nov 25, 2023.  Story of the Week World stands on frontline of disaster at Cop28, says UN climate chief  Exclusive: Simon Stiell says leaders must ‘stop ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago

  • Some of it is mad, some of it is bad and some of it is clearly the work of people who are dangerous ...
    On announcement morning my mate texted:Typical of this cut-price, fake-deal government to announce itself on Black Friday.What a deal. We lose Kim Hill, we gain an empty, jargonising prime minister, a belligerent conspiracist, and a heartless Ayn Rand fanboy. One door closes, another gets slammed repeatedly in your face.It seems pretty ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • “Revolution” is the threat as the Māori Party smarts at coalition government’s Treaty directi...
    Buzz from the Beehive Having found no fresh announcements on the government’s official website, Point of Order turned today to Scoop’s Latest Parliament Headlines  for its buzz. This provided us with evidence that the Māori Party has been soured by the the coalition agreement announced yesterday by the new PM. “Soured” ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • The Good, the Bad, and the even Worse.
    Yesterday the trio that will lead our country unveiled their vision for New Zealand.Seymour looking surprisingly statesmanlike, refusing to rise to barbs about his previous comments on Winston Peters. Almost as if they had just been slapstick for the crowd.Winston was mostly focussed on settling scores with the media, making ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • When it Comes to Palestine – Free Speech is Under Threat
    Hi,Thanks for getting amongst Mister Organ on digital — thanks to you, we hit the #1 doc spot on iTunes this week. This response goes a long way to helping us break even.I feel good about that. Other things — not so much.New Zealand finally has a new government, and ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago

  • Thank you Captain Luxon. Was that a landing, or were we shot down?
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Also in More Than A FeildingFriday The unboxing And so this is Friday and what have we gone and done to ourselves?In the same way that a Christmas present can look lovely under the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Cans of Worms.
    “And there’ll be no shortage of ‘events’ to test Luxon’s political skills. David Seymour wants a referendum on the Treaty. Winston wants a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Labour’s handling of the Covid crisis. Talk about cans of worms!”LAURIE AND LES were very fond of their local. It was nothing ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago

  • Disinformation campaigns are undermining democracy. Here’s how we can fight back
    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Misinformation is debated everywhere and has justifiably sparked concerns. It can polarise the public, reduce health-protective behaviours such as mask wearing and vaccination, and erode trust in science. Much of misinformation is spread not ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Peters as Minister
    A previous column looked at Winston Peters biographically. This one takes a closer look at his record as a minister, especially his policy record.1990-1991: Minister of Māori Affairs. Few remember Ka Awatea as a major document on the future of Māori policy; there is not even an entry in Wikipedia. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago

  • The New Government: 2023 Edition
    So New Zealand has a brand-spanking new right-wing government. Not just any new government either. A formal majority coalition, of the sort last seen in 1996-1998 (our governmental arrangements for the past quarter of a century have been varying flavours of minority coalition or single-party minority, with great emphasis ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and Israel
    The Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

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