Actually Phil Goff has it right – these clowns should resign – all they seem to be able to do is screw the economy and cut juicy public-money deals for their mates.
Oh yeah, and photo ops. Can’t forget the photo ops.
Where did I say election? I said “resign”, you fool. As in pack their bags and leave politics for good. Clearly they’ve failed on the increases in literacy they were promising too.
Hang on, would that mean the next few people on the 2008 National list would come into parliament? People that were lower on the list and presumably even less talented than that Gilmore bloke? There’s a scary thought.
Don’t call me a fool……..you’re the one who supports an opposition so feeble that they’re unable to gain any traction against the current pack of dweebs.
Hang on, would that mean the next few people on the 2008 National list would come into parliament?
No, don’t be silly there are no rules to actually follow here. National also cherry pick their list and we can have a line of fresh faces for the popularity contest in November.
And the next on National List has to be approved and a right of veto is available.
Labour goes straight to the next on the List and asks the person who has the option, but no veto.
Given the turmoil in the Maori party and the coming budget and the bad news that keeps on coming, I can see why Key must be regretting his December election decision. Even an early poll won’t save him though- in Auckland the tide turned last October during the council elections- the C and R candidates had no policies to promote and no where to hide. I’m pretty sure it will be the same in ChCh and Welly. Soon Key won’t have anywhere left to go.
Actually a pretty smart headline-grabber from Labour.
Key wants the media to focus on celebs, royals, photo ops – and Labour’s stuff-ups. In fact, anything *except* the government’s handling of the economy.
Sure, Key could call an election. But he’d damage Brand Key, and lose at least 5% in the polls overnight – for many reasons (e.g. broken promise, exploitation of tragedy, and no faith in the All Blacks!). He’d also risk losing ACT and the Maori Party, who need a lot more recovery time.
So Key gets to look like a blow-hard (“Bring it on … no, I didn’t mean it!”). And more importantly, the media suddenly remember what matters … the economy, the economy, the economy.
The amount they’ve sunk on the SCF bailout is incredible, not to mention the tax cuts for the rich, the ETS, the attacks on workers’ rights, the stealth privatisation, the personal corruption…
yup. resign. if the rump of National and its new MPs can form a government, let them see out the term. If no government can be formed, election.
And if Nat in bulk resigned what are we left with ???
The current front benches from Labour are the same who failed to delivered for NZ, and what was was just smoke and mirrows as to how boom days, nothing to build the foundations of NZ on.
NZ travelled further into debt than ever before, and what is the solution . For Kiwis to stop spending and to reduce debt, but that causes a reduction in NZ economic activity
As even an ex labour supporter has come out to say that we need to spend less. There is a cost to this policy, that I frankly cannot see those in either party having the ability to manage, as this will cost those who vote with their back pockets, especially as families with wage earners in the top tax bracket are just holding on, so who is there to tax? Even the Greens think only of the PAYE worker for additional revenue for the govt e.g. http://thestandard.org.nz/plurality-support-quake-levy/
So then Marty who can even understand the question let alone have any idea to an answer?? Not the big 2 that is for sure and from the link above I more than wonder about The Greens.
PB when I see a party with something that can take NZ forward then left or right I will give them my vote. But currently there are none, so I end up voting for who can do the least damage !!!
How can Lab help the midle class those in real need, remove GST of F&V and still allow for total NZ debt reduction? They cannot just like progressing UP the OECD rankings or Getting closer to Aussie. Just tired rhetoric
Just watch our non tradeable inflation go way beyond any wage increases. And this from DTB does not help. http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2011/04/rogue-capitalism.html
what would you cut? We do have to live within our means, yes, but the way to do that is to tax according to our spending – as we were until two years ago. We’ve borrowed money partially because of a cyclical downturn (which is when you are meant to borrow, which is what Labour saved up for during the good times) but also because we’re having to borrow to fund the tax cuts for the rich.
btw, the Greens’ levy raises 40% of its money by reversing the corporate rate cut that came in last week and the rest by partially reversing tax cuts for the wealthiest Kiwis that they have enjoyed over the past three years. I seem to recall they were happily wealthy before those cuts.
Oh, and the day I base my fiscal views on what Owen Glenn has to say is a dark day.
Marty- The govt debt is only 1 aspect of the position we are in, how about local bodies, in the case I know of Auck Council and their CCOs have huge debt, serviced by the rate payer. Nice to see rates in Auck now projected for 5.3% increase. the rate/tax payer is dry and unable to be milked. Some of the tax cuts that benefit “some” are partially reclaimed by GST. Reintroducing the 39% rate is not the magic bullet, strenghtening tax rules whilst great and much needed is not a source of revenue in these tough times.
Re O.G some may not like him, but I agree with him and many others we have to a plan to reduce all aspects of debt, at a LTCCP for Man City I asked what plans where there for debt reduction the response was that MCC was introducing new measures to increase their debt by adjusting their financial ratios. no idea of reducing. this is systematic of how NZ is travelling, no thought of tomorrow and the consequences. Poor current account that is on going = reduced living standards.
What would I cut =Who will be honest and comment regarding retirement age has to increase as we cannot afford 65 anymore, university has to be for the elite of mind, not for everyone, int free student loans are not ongoing affordable (better that than reduced healthcare) petty cash stuff but private school funding is 1, only buy bottles of wine costing less than $200 (2011 CPI !!! that will keep Mickey S happy !!!). Ther has to be some tough decisions but delaying making them will be more costly.
poor current account is a problem. look at what caused it – first think big, then neoliberalism. we borrowed, gutted our manufacturing, sold our assets, and then had to buy everything from overseas. The current government is both Think Big (Joyce) and neoliberal slash and burn(English).
We have one of the lowest top tax rates and least-taxed wealthy classes in the developed world. It is no coincidence that our slide as a country into indebtedness has been associated with 25 years of tax cuts for the rich (except for a nine year partial reversal). It has all been about cashing in the wealth of the country and giving it to the elite.
Yup, the retirement age must go up over time.
No, we do not want to charge for tertiary education. You say yourself it has to be for the elite of the mind, well why make ability to pay a barrier then? I support free uni with tougher entry requirements. I also support free non-uni tertiary. How are we meant to get ahead as a country if we won’t invest in education?
agree on private schools and expensive plonk.
Marty do not disagree with anything you have said wee issue with. “It is no coincidence that our slide as a country into indebtedness has been associated with 25 years of tax cuts for the rich (except for a nine year partial reversal). ” as ther ewere other means those att he top of weath tree were given other measures to esape contributing to the govts tax revenue. Having a low top tax bracket is one thing collecting from the wealthy is another.
Re “..least-taxed wealthy classes..” we also have a very nieve idea of this class. As teachers and the such like are caught up in this class
And on aside for me our tax brackets are too bunched within a very narrow income range, which also causes issues with welfare/wff etc as to entitlements with those not entitled can end up with a lower diasposable income than those that are entitled, all other things being equal. Interesting with Aussie top rate given that also there is no benefit of trusts and so the trust issue is not applicable over there.
I think Glenn is absolutely right. By and large we are living above our means. Our consumer debt levels are testament to that.
Yeah ongoing wage suppression has meant that families have had to turn to debt in order to fund the lifestyles they have been promised by politicians, by retailers, by banks, by watching TV, and by looking at how the wealthy few live it up.
Ongoing wage suppression… right so you acknowledge that having static tax thresholds for 9 years while fiscal drag reduced peoples real incomes over time as the govt was awash with cash paying off it’s own debt was a form of wage suppression.
Well done CV – here was me thinking your were to one-eyed to see the damage over taxation caused.
The more I think about it, the more a snap election makes sense for the gnats – it stops the political erosion they are already experiencing – shit key has been booed already. It bolsters the maori party and attempts to cut the legs off Hone’s new left Maori Party.
the politicians calls to resign may end up being like the urban legend where the last thing people say before they are shot is, “Go on, I bet you haven’t got the guts”
No. A snap election totally undermines Brand Key. It’s counter to all his perceived attributes. Calm leader in these troubled times … turns out to be a petulant liar. He would spend the campaign saying “I know I said November, but – um, these promises are different, you can trust me.”
Major public backlash. Plus, he misses the Royal Wedding!
I would absolutely LOVE it if Key had to miss the wedding. Such a photo opportunity wasted. I’m sure he is still pissed off at missing meeting the Queen last year. Wasn’t it the first Chch earthquake that made him (eventually) cancel his trip to Buckingham Palace? Or was it Pike River? Some annoying crisis anyway.
P.S. I don’t wish for another crisis that causes lots of suffering for people – we’ve definitely had enough of those.
I suspect that his intent was to obliterate the discussion on SCF which is an absolute scandal. Talk about an election nicely sidesteps the need to explain what went wrong.
And listening to Key’s responses on the radio on my way home tonight, I found his clown, deflection & diversion act insulting & unbecoming of a PM. He just makes jokes about Cunliffe using SCF to make his pitch for leadership of the party, and makes slams at Labour starting the Deposit Guarantee scheme, and about calling a snap election. I also see in response to Annette King asking him to go to a food bank with him & hear what people say, Key just made a joke about not wanting to hang around anywhere with King.
“But I will say that my experience in being involved in organisations that give food parcels shows that a lot of them do have a system where they don’t allow people to have too many in a certain time – they do not want to build dependency.”
Ms King asked Mr Key whether he would go with her to visit a food bank so he could listen to the people who worked on the front line.
He said he regularly visited social services and he didn’t want to “hang around” with Ms King at any time.
Key is lowering the status of PM to a song & dance act. And when is the MSM really going to hold him and his cabinet to account on issues that are serious and urgent for many Kiwi battlers?!!!
“my experience in being involved in organisations that give food parcels …”
Somebody (Mallard?) immediately interjected “What experience?”. So did I, listening to the radio.
As usual, Labour (King) missed the obvious follow-up to Key’s bullshit. They just can’t think on their feet. Happens all the time.
And I was waiting for … “Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table a cockroach”. Or a can of pet food. TV news headline, guaranteed. Sure, Lockwood wouldn’t like it. But it’s not about him, is it?
Is there nobody in Labour who has any grasp of media 101? Frustrates the hell out of me.
He just happens to have a nice face, rather James Cagney like/good solid looks. Credit where credit is due. Nice suit, as well. Polishes up fine. This does not mean I fancy him, just saying it as it is. He’s probably the best looking of the older Nats, and fairly brainy, too. Obviously. You don’t get to be where he is by being dumb. Still think he’d be a very good PM, but this won’t happen. He just doesn’t have the X-Factor in the popularity stakes, surprisingly. Key will get a very long go, by the looks of things.
yup. he can tell the g-g the day will be different. no election writ has been issued, I don’t think. And they could certainly issue another one bringing the date forward if they wanted.
unprecedented though.
I wonder if this is going to be a turning point for Key. Playing the snap election card is usually costly electorally (think Gillard and Muldoon). If Goff calls his bluff, what does Key do? If he goes now, ACT and the Maori Party would be decimated, Dunne rolled and National will almost certainly lose seats as well. Plus Goff looks strong for rising to the challenge.
And on a related matter do I get a chocolate fish for this prescient entry in the caption contest?
Imagine him walking out onto the steps of parliament tomorrow , team behind him in the morning sun with arms folded like it was a Warriors photo shoot, and says to NZ ‘the PM says he’s ready to go, well, we’re more than ready to go. We accept. John Key, I dare you to call an early election.’
Instant spine.
And at least Labour have got their electorate candidates sorted and the list nearly there. The Nats are weeks behind in the electorates and haven’t even started the work on the list. If Goff wants to fight on his own terms and set the agenda, now’s the time.
Refusing to go early after being taunted by Cameron about it for months helped lose Gordon ‘Bottler’ Brown an election. Key can’t say no if Goff acts fast. If Key backs out, it’d be like Cartman trying to get out of the fight with Wendy Testaburger. And we all know how well that ended for Eric, eh.
Refusing to go early after being taunted by Cameron about it for months helped lose Gordon ‘Bottler’ Brown an election.
Absolutely. Brown losing his bottle completely turned the polls around. Destroyed the poll bounce he’d received as new PM. All downhill from then on. Partly due, I think, to a somewhat indecisive personality. (I believe he’s an INTP, for those who know their Briggs-Myers personality-types).
As if. Do turkeys ever vote for Christmas? No PM in their prime ever resigns, now, do they. Will National ever be led by a woman again? National. It’s all about the men.
I find it odd Carol the nice comments about Simon Power considering the damage he has done to our legal system. Trials of activists in secret before a judge. The search and surveillance bill which is worse than anything they have in the USA. Why do the Labour party like him? How can you like someone who has done that amount of damage to our democracy.
I would say Simon Power is going because he’s achieved his objectives of writing us a new police state in the bills proceding throught the house and hes off to claim his reward from the US elites who want this obscenity. Perhaps he’s going to dodge the public anger when these bills pass and people find out just how bad they are.
Some people here talk about him as if he were Santa or not as bad as the rest of them. He’s a traitor in my estimation and anyone who gives him any credence for what he has done is either a fool or also a traitor to our democracy. We have already had Rodger Douglas. How many more Labour globalist plants are there in the labour party? Did Helen Clark have to fend them off for all those years?
This is a strong comment but in my mind an appropriate one.
Key looks increasingly like Muldoon as every day goes past.
I’m just waiting for him to get a scar on his cheek and get caught rooting around in Ngaio.
What must be disturbing to the National Party hierarchy, who will soon have to get the vote out, is how little this government has actually delivered to the thousands of ‘middle of the road’ NZ voters. The election gets closer by the week, and what have they to campaign on?
Sure, they have delivered to a small, vocal, National base. The SCF debenture holders got paid out. Private religious schools got another $30m when ECE got massive cuts. Farmers got ECan trashed when they wanted more water and less regulation. The really high income earners got tax cuts and no CGT. The hardline social conservatives got the 3 strikes etc.
But add all these up, and how many votes do they represent?
What can NACT really say to the average Kiwi family except ‘hard luck, guys’? We are reducing your wages and conditions of employment, while prices rise as well as GST – get used to it.
Not an easy sales message.
No wonder they need all the hype and celebs they can muster.
What can NACT really say to the average Kiwi family except ’hard luck, guys’? We are reducing your wages and conditions of employment, while prices rise as well as GST – get used to it.
Well, at least John Key did actually campaign on lowering wages.
Labour’s desperation to attract away from their line-up revamp (they actually had some ok press today), and National’s inability to rise above the stupidity. The country deserves better from both. I guess WP and the Greens will be happy.
Okay, so you mean shit you made up. I’ve noticed you right wingers tend to lapse into general anti-politician rhetoric when your side is tested but left bashing when it’s the other side that’s looking a bit stretched. Not really very intellectuality honest if you ask me. More sneaky and cowardly really.
My side on this is a thoroughly fucked off public. If this leads to a snap election expect both National and Labour to be caned. It’s a pity there’s bugger all to fill the gap. It’s childish nonsense escalating into pathetic nonsense egged on by fwits.
My side on this is a thoroughly fucked off public.
Right, you’re the everyman, the voice of the people, joe public, the man on the clapham omnibus, the very fucking apex of the fucking bell curve, you’re the vox populi, you’re the goddamn aeolian breeze, the jedi force itself.
Questions, questions. So very many questions, Pete!
I guess taxpayers dollars being blown by wasteful governments doesn’t bother you. If the CEO and CFO of any large business blew millions of dollars against the regular and repeated advice of the most senior advisors available, they’d be asked to resign too. So why shouldn’t this lot take responsibility for their actions?
Just to be clear, you’re OK with that level of performance? The wilful loss of millions at a time of deep financial crisis? Perhaps you could give it a rating out of ten to simplify things. As a Finance Minister Bill English is a …
So Phil has finally got his dander up – all well and good but what he needs to do is get pitbull mean with this sorry bunch of SOBs who appear to have the collective IQ of a rice bubble.
Tonight on Campbell Live, Darryl Evans from the budgeting service was really reaming the government on how useless they were and mentioned again he was going to meet Useless Bennett. I really don’t think she’ll have the guts to front. In addition there was an item on how a woman turned herself from a junk food addict into a more health-conscious person but said that eating five plus a day caused her grocery bill just for fruit and vegetables to treble. Hear that NACT? It costs lots of crisp green folded ones to be healthy.
The photo they’re posing for looks like some sad-arse Scientology meeting which might explain a lot of their so-called policy formation.
What is it with this Labour party? I’ve mentioned this before but as soon as they look to gain some traction someone opens their mouth and shoots themself in the foot.
If Goof had said nothing Labour might have been able to make something of SCF but nooo he has to one-up his own people
Seriously its like a captain in a cricket test saying “my bowlers declare”
The thing that gets me about this situation is how did these finance companies boom like the way they did under the labour term. I keep reading about how Hotchin etc are loathed by the bloggers here , but how is it that they had their glory days under a Labour Govt.
Why did the investement environment allow these companies to get into these positions that required us to eventually bail them out. Everyone saw the train wreck that was happening, advice was comming from all over the place that these finance companies were not able to keep trading within their governance and yet the government of the time sat back and did nothing. The net result is that billions of savings have been eroded and the costs to the people of NZ is massive.
These key questions need to be asked. The clean up is massive, however that was jointly agreed by all concerned , I think the true and insightful question is how did the mess eventuate in the first instance.
This Govt doesn’t deserve the respect of the vote nor my respect as a NZer who has a history of being in this country long before this jerk of a Prime Minister.
This has been an unnecessary break from a Labour Govt.Lets hope it will be over this year for a bloody long time
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Oh, you know I did itIt's over and I feel fineNothing you could say is gonna change my mindWaited and I waited the longest nightNothing like the taste of sweet declineSongwriters: Chris Shiflett / David Eric Grohl / Nate Mendel / Taylor Hawkins.Hindsight is good, eh?The clarity when the pieces ...
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on UnsplashHere’s what we’re watching in the week to February 16 and beyond in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty:Monday, February 10The Kākā’s weekly wrap-up of news about politics and the economy is due at midday, followed by webinar for paying subscribers in Substack’s ...
A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, February 2, 2025 thru Sat, February 8, 2025. This week's roundup is again published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if ...
Today, I stumbled across a Twitter Meme: the ending of The Lord of the Rings as a Chess scenario: https://x.com/mellon_heads/status/1887983845917564991 It gets across the basic gist. Aragorn and Gandalf offering up ‘material’ at the Morannon allows Frodo and Samwise to catch Sauron unawares – fair enough. But there are a ...
Last week, Kieran McAnulty called out Chris Bishop and Nicola Willis for their claims that Kāinga Ora’s costs were too high.They had claimed Kāinga Ora’s cost were 12% higher than market i.e. private devlopersBut Kāinga Ora’s Chair had already explained why last year:"We're not building to sell, so we'll be ...
Stuff’s Political Editor Luke Malpass - A Fellow at New Zealand IniativeLast week I half-joked that Stuff / The Post’s Luke Malpass1 always sounded like he was auditioning for a job at the New Zealand Initiative.Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. For a limited time, subscriptions are 20% off. Thanks ...
At a funeral on Friday, there were A4-sized photos covering every wall of the Dil’s reception lounge. There must have been 200 of them, telling the story in the usual way of the video reel but also, by enlargement, making it more possible to linger and step in.Our friend Nicky ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is methane the ...
The Government’s idea is that the private sector and Community Housing Providers will fund, build and operate new affordable housing to address our housing crisis. Meanwhile, the Government does not know where almost half of the 1,700 children who left emergency housing actually went. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong ...
Oh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youOh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youSongwriters: Alexander Ebert / Jade Allyson CastrinosMorena,I’m on a tight time frame this morning. In about an hour and a half, I’ll need to pack up and hit the road ...
This is a post about the Mountain Tui substack, and small tweaks - further to the poll and request post the other day. Please don’t read if you aren’t interested in my personal matters. Thank you all.After oohing-and-aahing about how to structure the Substack model since November, including obtaining ...
This transcript of a recent conversation between the Prime Minister and his chief economic adviser has not been verified.We’ve announced we are the ‘Yes Government’. Do you like it?Yes, Prime Minister.Dreamed up by the PR team. It’s about being committed to growth. Not that the PR team know anything about ...
The other day, Australian Senator Nick McKim issued a warning in the Australian Parliement about the US’s descent into fascim.And of course it’s true, but I lament - that was true as soon as Trump won.What we see is now simply the reification of the intention, planning, and forces behind ...
Among the many other problems associated with Musk/DOGE sending a fleet of teenage and twenty-something cultists to remove, copy and appropriate federal records like social security, medicaid and other supposedly protected data is the fact that the youngsters doing the data-removal, copying and security protocol and filter code over-writing have ...
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tuneBird fly high by the light of the moonOh, oh, oh, JokermanSong by Bob Dylan.Morena folks, I hope this fine morning of the 7th of February finds you well. We're still close to Paihia, just a short drive out of town. Below is the view ...
It’s been an eventful week as always, so here’s a few things that we have found interesting. We also hope everyone had a happy and relaxing Waitangi Day! This week in Greater Auckland We’re still running on summer time, but provided two chewy posts: On Tuesday, a guest ...
Queuing on Queen St: the Government is set to announce another apparently splashy growth policy on Sunday of offering residence visas to wealthy migrants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, February 7:PM Christopher ...
The fact that Waitangi ended up being such a low-key affair may mark it out as one of the most significant Waitangi Days in recent years. A group of women draped in “Toitu Te Tiriti” banners who turned their backs on the politicians’ powhiri was about as rough as it ...
Hi,This week’s Flightless Bird episode was about “fake seizure guy” — a Melbourne man who fakes seizures in order to get members of the public to sit on him.The audio documentary (which I have included in this newsletter in case you don’t listen to Flightless Bird) built on reporting first ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk The 119th Congress comes with a price tag. The oil and gas industry gave about $24 million in campaign contributions to the members of the U.S. House and Senate expected to be sworn in January 3, 2025, according to a ...
Early morning, the shadows still long, but you can already feel the warmth building. Our motel was across the road from the historic homestead where Henry Williams' family lived. The evening before, we wandered around the gardens, reading the plaques and enjoying the close proximity to the history of the ...
Thanks folks for your feedback, votes and comments this week. I’ll be making the changes soon. Appreciate all your emails, comments and subscriptions too. I know your time is valuable - muchas gracias.A lot is happening both here and around the world - so I want to provide a snippets ...
Data released today by Statistics NZ shows that unemployment rose to 5.1%, with 33,000 more people out of work than last year said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. “The latest data shows that employment fell in Aotearoa at its fastest rate since the GFC. Unemployment rose in 8 ...
The December labour market statistics have been released, showing yet another increase in unemployment. There are now 156,000 unemployed - 34,000 more than when National took office. And having thrown all these people out of work, National is doubling down on cruelty. Because being vicious will somehow magically create the ...
Boarded up homes in Kilbirnie, where work on a planned development was halted. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, February 5 are;Housing Minister Chris Bishop yesterday announcedKāinga Ora would be stripped of ...
National’s cuts to disability support funding and freezing of new residential placements has resulted in significant mental health decline for intellectually disabled people. ...
The hundreds of jobs lost needlessly as a result of the Kinleith Mill paper production closure will have a devastating impact on the Tokoroa community - something that could have easily been avoided. ...
Today Te Pāti Māori MP for Te Tai Tokerau, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, released her members bill that will see the return of tamariki and mokopuna Māori from state care back to te iwi Māori. This bill will establish an independent authority that asserts and protects the rights promised in He Whakaputanga ...
The Whangarei District Council being forced to fluoridate their local water supply is facing a despotic Soviet-era disgrace. This is not a matter of being pro-fluoride or anti-fluoride. It is a matter of what New Zealanders see and value as democracy in our country. Individual democratically elected Councillors are not ...
Nicola Willis’ latest supermarket announcement is painfully weak with no new ideas, no real plan, and no relief for Kiwis struggling with rising grocery costs. ...
Half of Pacific children sometimes going without food is just one of many heartbreaking lowlights in the Salvation Army’s annual State of the Nation report. ...
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report is a bleak indictment on the failure of Government to take steps to end poverty, with those on benefits, including their children, hit hardest. ...
New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill which would restore decision-making power to local communities regarding the fluoridation of drinking water. The ‘Fluoridation (Referendum) Legislation Bill’ seeks to repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 that granted centralised authority to the Direct General of Health ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill aimed at preventing banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current “Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework”. “This Bill ensures fairness and prevents ESG standards from perpetuating woke ideology in the banking sector being driven by unelected, globalist, climate ...
Erica Stanford has reached peak shortsightedness if today’s announcement is anything to go by, picking apart immigration settings piece by piece to the detriment of the New Zealand economy. ...
Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget 2025 – the Growth Budget - will be delivered on Thursday 22 May. “This year’s Budget will drive forward the Government’s plan to grow our economy to improve the incomes of New Zealanders now and in the years ahead. “Budget 2025 will build ...
For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament. “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes students back to school with a call to raise attendance from last year. “The Government encourages all students to attend school every day because there is a clear connection between being present at school and setting yourself up for a bright future,” says Mr ...
The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism Minister Louise Upston say. “The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto ...
The opening of Kāinga Ora’s development of 134 homes in Epuni, Lower Hutt will provide much-needed social housing for Hutt families, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I’ve been a strong advocate for social housing on Kāinga Ora’s Epuni site ever since the old earthquake-prone housing was demolished in 2015. I ...
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will travel to Australia today for meetings with Australian Trade Minister, Senator Don Farrell, and the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF). Mr McClay recently hosted Minister Farrell in Rotorua for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting, where ANZLF presented on ...
Everything you missed from day five of the Treaty principles bill hearings, when the Justice Committee heard eight hours of submissions.Read our recaps of the previous hearings here.It was another work from home day for the Justice Committee, the only people in Room 3 being security guards, committee ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne Juris Teivans/Shutterstock In Australia, fatal road crashes are climbing again, especially since the pandemic, and despite years of attempts to reduce road trauma, the numbers ...
In its eagerness to appease supporters of Israel, the media is happy to ride roughshod over due process and basic rights. It’s damaging Australia’s (and New Zealand’s?) democracy.COMMENTARY:By Bernard Keane Two moments stand out so far from the Federal Court hearings relating to Antoinette Lattouf’s sacking by the ...
“The reality is we’re getting poorer. The government this year is leaning heavy on chasing economic growth, which is absolutely the right thing to do.” ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 The Vegetarian by Han Kang (Granta, $28) Han Kang’s astounding novel was based on an ...
This new docuseries about two single comedians looking for love is also a joyful celebration of female friendship. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. “How many people do you think are boning right now?” Kura Forrester asks Brynley Stent as the bright ...
A new poem by Freya Turnbull. Hunger Song – After Kaveh Akbar (Untitled With Hunger And Matcheads) I hold my age in ripped fishnet hold an empty vessel oldyoung body cracks like gunshot like killa i was a father ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominik Koll, Honorary Lecturer, Australian National University View of the Pacific Ocean from the International Space Station.NASA Earth must have experienced something exceptional 10 million years ago. Our study of rock samples from the floor of the Pacific Ocean has found ...
Troy Rawhiti-Connell reviews Kia Tupu Te Ara, a documentary chronicling the meteoric rise of Aotearoa’s groundbreaking metal band. “Two brothers attempt to storm the world of thrash metal with the Māori language, despite the fact they’re both still teenagers,” reads the synopsis of Kent Belcher’s documentary, Kia Tupu Te Ara. ...
Three freelance writers have been awarded grants to work on their ambitious journalism projects. In January, The Spinoff announced the Vince Geddes In-Depth Journalism Fund, supported by the Auckland Radio Trust (ART). The fund was established to provide much-needed financial and editorial support to talented freelance journalists, empowering them to ...
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist in Avarua, Rarotonga China has confirmed details of its meeting with Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown for the first time, saying Beijing “stands ready to have an in-depth exchange” with the island nation. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters during his ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ 2023 strategic foreign policy assessment, “Navigating a shifting world”, accurately foresaw a more uncertain and complex time ahead for New Zealand. But already it feels out of date. The ...
Our parliamentary throuple may be the longest running in the country, but cracks are showing. Gabi Lardies wonders if differing attachment styles may be to blame. Though no one ever anticipated happiness or roses in the three-way coalition, the relationship has wobbled on for over a year without breaking up. ...
As Mike White’s dark satire returns for a third season, we look back on some of The White Lotus’s most memorable characters. The White Lotus looks like a dream holiday, but this resort is anything but paradise. Set in an exclusive five star hotel resort, HBO’s award-winning series is a ...
Analysis: Would the last scientist to leave the building please turn out the lights? Because the confirmation of Robert F Kennedy Jr as US Secretary of Health suggests we’re heading back to the dark ages.It’s a sad irony that President John F Kennedy propelled America into the space age; now his nephew ...
The crux of my message today is that New Zealand needs to bend two curves. One is the long-term economic growth trajectory, which needs to bend upwards to expand our productive capacity and national real incomes. The second is our net public debt ...
Away from the tense scenes on the paepae, under a closely guarded canvas tent, te iwi Māori do the real work of Waitangi: talking. We were invited inside to listen. ...
The Jono & Ben star is self-aware and surrounded by extraordinary women in Three’s latest local comedy series. The first episode of Vince, written by and starring Jono Pryor, opens with intrigue, a loincloth and a man in the middle of some kind of breakdown. As the titular character, a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Barclay, ARC Future Fellow and Professor, Macquarie University Wikimedia “1,000 Letters and 15,000 Kisses” screamed the headline in an 1898 edition of the English newspaper, the Halifax Evening Courier. Harriet Ann McLean, a 32-year-old laundry maid, was suing Francis ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lena Wang, Associate Professor in Management, RMIT University Supplied/AppleTV+ The highly anticipated season two of Severance, released in weekly instalments, has continued to draw interest among viewers around the world. A gripping psychological thriller, this TV series provides an extreme ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Esterman, Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of South Australia VLADIMIR VK/Shutterstock Conducting scientific studies is never easy, and there are often major disasters along the way. A researcher accidentally spills coffee on a keyboard, destroying the data. Or one ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jude MacArthur, Senior Lecturer, School of Critical Studies in Education, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Phil Walter/Getty Images Seven new charter schools are opening their gates, and ACT leader and Associate Education Minister David Seymour – the politician responsible for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Kilby, PhD candidate in Education, Monash University Charles Parker/ Pexels , CC BY If your young child asks “what’s the meaning of life?” you might laugh it off (how cute!) or freeze in panic (where do I even begin?). It’s ...
You want them to resign…… and call an early election………. really ?
Where did I say election? I said “resign”, you fool. As in pack their bags and leave politics for good. Clearly they’ve failed on the increases in literacy they were promising too.
Hang on, would that mean the next few people on the 2008 National list would come into parliament? People that were lower on the list and presumably even less talented than that Gilmore bloke? There’s a scary thought.
Don’t call me a fool……..you’re the one who supports an opposition so feeble that they’re unable to gain any traction against the current pack of dweebs.
Find me one statement I’ve made that uncritically supports Labour. Ever.
To be fair, higherstandard didn’t say you uncritically supported Labour, just that you supported them.
I don’t think he does. Last election he said he was going to vote for the Workers party.. Probably did waste his vote that way as well.
Hang on, would that mean the next few people on the 2008 National list would come into parliament?
No, don’t be silly there are no rules to actually follow here. National also cherry pick their list and we can have a line of fresh faces for the popularity contest in November.
And the next on National List has to be approved and a right of veto is available.
Labour goes straight to the next on the List and asks the person who has the option, but no veto.
Given the turmoil in the Maori party and the coming budget and the bad news that keeps on coming, I can see why Key must be regretting his December election decision. Even an early poll won’t save him though- in Auckland the tide turned last October during the council elections- the C and R candidates had no policies to promote and no where to hide. I’m pretty sure it will be the same in ChCh and Welly. Soon Key won’t have anywhere left to go.
Hounded out of the cities like the dogs they are.
Just a slight mod to give it a more classical feel 🙂
Actually a pretty smart headline-grabber from Labour.
Key wants the media to focus on celebs, royals, photo ops – and Labour’s stuff-ups. In fact, anything *except* the government’s handling of the economy.
Sure, Key could call an election. But he’d damage Brand Key, and lose at least 5% in the polls overnight – for many reasons (e.g. broken promise, exploitation of tragedy, and no faith in the All Blacks!). He’d also risk losing ACT and the Maori Party, who need a lot more recovery time.
So Key gets to look like a blow-hard (“Bring it on … no, I didn’t mean it!”). And more importantly, the media suddenly remember what matters … the economy, the economy, the economy.
The amount they’ve sunk on the SCF bailout is incredible, not to mention the tax cuts for the rich, the ETS, the attacks on workers’ rights, the stealth privatisation, the personal corruption…
yup. resign. if the rump of National and its new MPs can form a government, let them see out the term. If no government can be formed, election.
And if Nat in bulk resigned what are we left with ???
The current front benches from Labour are the same who failed to delivered for NZ, and what was was just smoke and mirrows as to how boom days, nothing to build the foundations of NZ on.
NZ travelled further into debt than ever before, and what is the solution . For Kiwis to stop spending and to reduce debt, but that causes a reduction in NZ economic activity
As even an ex labour supporter has come out to say that we need to spend less. There is a cost to this policy, that I frankly cannot see those in either party having the ability to manage, as this will cost those who vote with their back pockets, especially as families with wage earners in the top tax bracket are just holding on, so who is there to tax? Even the Greens think only of the PAYE worker for additional revenue for the govt e.g.
http://thestandard.org.nz/plurality-support-quake-levy/
So then Marty who can even understand the question let alone have any idea to an answer?? Not the big 2 that is for sure and from the link above I more than wonder about The Greens.
So what do you reckon herod?
Can you actually read those?
PB when I see a party with something that can take NZ forward then left or right I will give them my vote. But currently there are none, so I end up voting for who can do the least damage !!!
How can Lab help the midle class those in real need, remove GST of F&V and still allow for total NZ debt reduction? They cannot just like progressing UP the OECD rankings or Getting closer to Aussie. Just tired rhetoric
Just watch our non tradeable inflation go way beyond any wage increases. And this from DTB does not help.
http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2011/04/rogue-capitalism.html
what would you cut? We do have to live within our means, yes, but the way to do that is to tax according to our spending – as we were until two years ago. We’ve borrowed money partially because of a cyclical downturn (which is when you are meant to borrow, which is what Labour saved up for during the good times) but also because we’re having to borrow to fund the tax cuts for the rich.
btw, the Greens’ levy raises 40% of its money by reversing the corporate rate cut that came in last week and the rest by partially reversing tax cuts for the wealthiest Kiwis that they have enjoyed over the past three years. I seem to recall they were happily wealthy before those cuts.
Oh, and the day I base my fiscal views on what Owen Glenn has to say is a dark day.
Marty- The govt debt is only 1 aspect of the position we are in, how about local bodies, in the case I know of Auck Council and their CCOs have huge debt, serviced by the rate payer. Nice to see rates in Auck now projected for 5.3% increase. the rate/tax payer is dry and unable to be milked. Some of the tax cuts that benefit “some” are partially reclaimed by GST. Reintroducing the 39% rate is not the magic bullet, strenghtening tax rules whilst great and much needed is not a source of revenue in these tough times.
Re O.G some may not like him, but I agree with him and many others we have to a plan to reduce all aspects of debt, at a LTCCP for Man City I asked what plans where there for debt reduction the response was that MCC was introducing new measures to increase their debt by adjusting their financial ratios. no idea of reducing. this is systematic of how NZ is travelling, no thought of tomorrow and the consequences. Poor current account that is on going = reduced living standards.
What would I cut =Who will be honest and comment regarding retirement age has to increase as we cannot afford 65 anymore, university has to be for the elite of mind, not for everyone, int free student loans are not ongoing affordable (better that than reduced healthcare) petty cash stuff but private school funding is 1, only buy bottles of wine costing less than $200 (2011 CPI !!! that will keep Mickey S happy !!!). Ther has to be some tough decisions but delaying making them will be more costly.
poor current account is a problem. look at what caused it – first think big, then neoliberalism. we borrowed, gutted our manufacturing, sold our assets, and then had to buy everything from overseas. The current government is both Think Big (Joyce) and neoliberal slash and burn(English).
We have one of the lowest top tax rates and least-taxed wealthy classes in the developed world. It is no coincidence that our slide as a country into indebtedness has been associated with 25 years of tax cuts for the rich (except for a nine year partial reversal). It has all been about cashing in the wealth of the country and giving it to the elite.
Yup, the retirement age must go up over time.
No, we do not want to charge for tertiary education. You say yourself it has to be for the elite of the mind, well why make ability to pay a barrier then? I support free uni with tougher entry requirements. I also support free non-uni tertiary. How are we meant to get ahead as a country if we won’t invest in education?
agree on private schools and expensive plonk.
Marty do not disagree with anything you have said wee issue with. “It is no coincidence that our slide as a country into indebtedness has been associated with 25 years of tax cuts for the rich (except for a nine year partial reversal). ” as ther ewere other means those att he top of weath tree were given other measures to esape contributing to the govts tax revenue. Having a low top tax bracket is one thing collecting from the wealthy is another.
Re “..least-taxed wealthy classes..” we also have a very nieve idea of this class. As teachers and the such like are caught up in this class
And on aside for me our tax brackets are too bunched within a very narrow income range, which also causes issues with welfare/wff etc as to entitlements with those not entitled can end up with a lower diasposable income than those that are entitled, all other things being equal. Interesting with Aussie top rate given that also there is no benefit of trusts and so the trust issue is not applicable over there.
I think Glenn is absolutely right. By and large we are living above our means. Our consumer debt levels are testament to that.
The more I understand Glenn’s politics the more I like him. I think we should consider his views thoroughly.
In hindsight I think it’s a pity we never made him transport minister -:)
Yeah ongoing wage suppression has meant that families have had to turn to debt in order to fund the lifestyles they have been promised by politicians, by retailers, by banks, by watching TV, and by looking at how the wealthy few live it up.
Ongoing wage suppression… right so you acknowledge that having static tax thresholds for 9 years while fiscal drag reduced peoples real incomes over time as the govt was awash with cash paying off it’s own debt was a form of wage suppression.
Well done CV – here was me thinking your were to one-eyed to see the damage over taxation caused.
The more I think about it, the more a snap election makes sense for the gnats – it stops the political erosion they are already experiencing – shit key has been booed already. It bolsters the maori party and attempts to cut the legs off Hone’s new left Maori Party.
the politicians calls to resign may end up being like the urban legend where the last thing people say before they are shot is, “Go on, I bet you haven’t got the guts”
@Marty
No. A snap election totally undermines Brand Key. It’s counter to all his perceived attributes. Calm leader in these troubled times … turns out to be a petulant liar. He would spend the campaign saying “I know I said November, but – um, these promises are different, you can trust me.”
Major public backlash. Plus, he misses the Royal Wedding!
Yeah I forgot about the wedding.
I would absolutely LOVE it if Key had to miss the wedding. Such a photo opportunity wasted. I’m sure he is still pissed off at missing meeting the Queen last year. Wasn’t it the first Chch earthquake that made him (eventually) cancel his trip to Buckingham Palace? Or was it Pike River? Some annoying crisis anyway.
P.S. I don’t wish for another crisis that causes lots of suffering for people – we’ve definitely had enough of those.
I agree with marty mars, I think National would be seen to be showing it had balls, snap election on a radical budget package. Go for it I say !
Oh Irish…. I think you just have leadership ambitions.
The poor old tories wouldn’t know what had hit them.
Key is playing politics again.
I suspect that his intent was to obliterate the discussion on SCF which is an absolute scandal. Talk about an election nicely sidesteps the need to explain what went wrong.
There needs to be more digging on this issue.
OMG – A politician is playing politics – where will it end.
And listening to Key’s responses on the radio on my way home tonight, I found his clown, deflection & diversion act insulting & unbecoming of a PM. He just makes jokes about Cunliffe using SCF to make his pitch for leadership of the party, and makes slams at Labour starting the Deposit Guarantee scheme, and about calling a snap election. I also see in response to Annette King asking him to go to a food bank with him & hear what people say, Key just made a joke about not wanting to hang around anywhere with King.
Key is lowering the status of PM to a song & dance act. And when is the MSM really going to hold him and his cabinet to account on issues that are serious and urgent for many Kiwi battlers?!!!
When the going gets tough he does not hesitate to play the man instead of the ball. Not in the Obama class is he?
“my experience in being involved in organisations that give food parcels …”
Somebody (Mallard?) immediately interjected “What experience?”. So did I, listening to the radio.
As usual, Labour (King) missed the obvious follow-up to Key’s bullshit. They just can’t think on their feet. Happens all the time.
And I was waiting for … “Mr Speaker, I seek leave to table a cockroach”. Or a can of pet food. TV news headline, guaranteed. Sure, Lockwood wouldn’t like it. But it’s not about him, is it?
Is there nobody in Labour who has any grasp of media 101? Frustrates the hell out of me.
As usual, Labour (King) missed the obvious follow-up to Key’s bullshit.
Yeah they do miss Michael Cullen. Love or loath him… the Nats feared him.
+1
Michael Cullen would have made a great Senior Whip.
Frustrates me too.
He’s aged in office though. Looks like a young Monty Burns in that picture.
To be fair, he is three years older. Meanwhile Mr English improves with age. Who is this Monty?
He’s the former chair of the 2025 taskforce: http://arseh.at/5r3
keen on a bit of double dipton, eh, tanz? The nicest thing you can say about Bill’s face is it can take a punch.
He just happens to have a nice face, rather James Cagney like/good solid looks. Credit where credit is due. Nice suit, as well. Polishes up fine. This does not mean I fancy him, just saying it as it is. He’s probably the best looking of the older Nats, and fairly brainy, too. Obviously. You don’t get to be where he is by being dumb. Still think he’d be a very good PM, but this won’t happen. He just doesn’t have the X-Factor in the popularity stakes, surprisingly. Key will get a very long go, by the looks of things.
ummm, can John-John actually change the date of the election now he’s called it? (honest query)
yup. he can tell the g-g the day will be different. no election writ has been issued, I don’t think. And they could certainly issue another one bringing the date forward if they wanted.
unprecedented though.
I wonder if this is going to be a turning point for Key. Playing the snap election card is usually costly electorally (think Gillard and Muldoon). If Goff calls his bluff, what does Key do? If he goes now, ACT and the Maori Party would be decimated, Dunne rolled and National will almost certainly lose seats as well. Plus Goff looks strong for rising to the challenge.
And on a related matter do I get a chocolate fish for this prescient entry in the caption contest?
Yeah you do!
As for Goff rising to the challenge, hmmm that’s the sticky bit. Does he seem like a risk-taker to you?
Nope, he’s clearly not wired that way, but, but …
Imagine him walking out onto the steps of parliament tomorrow , team behind him in the morning sun with arms folded like it was a Warriors photo shoot, and says to NZ ‘the PM says he’s ready to go, well, we’re more than ready to go. We accept. John Key, I dare you to call an early election.’
Instant spine.
And at least Labour have got their electorate candidates sorted and the list nearly there. The Nats are weeks behind in the electorates and haven’t even started the work on the list. If Goff wants to fight on his own terms and set the agenda, now’s the time.
I’d love to see that.
Nothing to lose, everything to gain.
Refusing to go early after being taunted by Cameron about it for months helped lose Gordon ‘Bottler’ Brown an election. Key can’t say no if Goff acts fast. If Key backs out, it’d be like Cartman trying to get out of the fight with Wendy Testaburger. And we all know how well that ended for Eric, eh.
Refusing to go early after being taunted by Cameron about it for months helped lose Gordon ‘Bottler’ Brown an election.
Absolutely. Brown losing his bottle completely turned the polls around. Destroyed the poll bounce he’d received as new PM. All downhill from then on. Partly due, I think, to a somewhat indecisive personality. (I believe he’s an INTP, for those who know their Briggs-Myers personality-types).
Goff rises like a dead goldfish.
As if. Do turkeys ever vote for Christmas? No PM in their prime ever resigns, now, do they. Will National ever be led by a woman again? National. It’s all about the men.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many shit-eating grins in one picture.
You see that NZ, you are a joke to this lot.
The body lanuage is interesting with bills full leg spread dominance and keys protect the genitals leg cross with double fist.
And key looks like muldoon in that photo to me.
And Simon Power looking at the door out of the corner of his eye: probably thinking, “how can I get away from these jerks”.
I find it odd Carol the nice comments about Simon Power considering the damage he has done to our legal system. Trials of activists in secret before a judge. The search and surveillance bill which is worse than anything they have in the USA. Why do the Labour party like him? How can you like someone who has done that amount of damage to our democracy.
I would say Simon Power is going because he’s achieved his objectives of writing us a new police state in the bills proceding throught the house and hes off to claim his reward from the US elites who want this obscenity. Perhaps he’s going to dodge the public anger when these bills pass and people find out just how bad they are.
Some people here talk about him as if he were Santa or not as bad as the rest of them. He’s a traitor in my estimation and anyone who gives him any credence for what he has done is either a fool or also a traitor to our democracy. We have already had Rodger Douglas. How many more Labour globalist plants are there in the labour party? Did Helen Clark have to fend them off for all those years?
This is a strong comment but in my mind an appropriate one.
Who’s copping a double fist ?
Key looks increasingly like Muldoon as every day goes past.
I’m just waiting for him to get a scar on his cheek and get caught rooting around in Ngaio.
Whisky in the top drawer?
What must be disturbing to the National Party hierarchy, who will soon have to get the vote out, is how little this government has actually delivered to the thousands of ‘middle of the road’ NZ voters. The election gets closer by the week, and what have they to campaign on?
Sure, they have delivered to a small, vocal, National base. The SCF debenture holders got paid out. Private religious schools got another $30m when ECE got massive cuts. Farmers got ECan trashed when they wanted more water and less regulation. The really high income earners got tax cuts and no CGT. The hardline social conservatives got the 3 strikes etc.
But add all these up, and how many votes do they represent?
What can NACT really say to the average Kiwi family except ‘hard luck, guys’? We are reducing your wages and conditions of employment, while prices rise as well as GST – get used to it.
Not an easy sales message.
No wonder they need all the hype and celebs they can muster.
Well, at least John Key did actually campaign on lowering wages.
Sounds a bit desperate. I thought there were supposed to be more important issues that needed attention – is this it? A farcical stunt?
Farcical stunt? Are you talking about the cycleway? Or letterman? Or using the earthquake to try to get on Oprah?
Labour’s desperation to attract away from their line-up revamp (they actually had some ok press today), and National’s inability to rise above the stupidity. The country deserves better from both. I guess WP and the Greens will be happy.
Okay, so you mean shit you made up. I’ve noticed you right wingers tend to lapse into general anti-politician rhetoric when your side is tested but left bashing when it’s the other side that’s looking a bit stretched. Not really very intellectuality honest if you ask me. More sneaky and cowardly really.
My side on this is a thoroughly fucked off public. If this leads to a snap election expect both National and Labour to be caned. It’s a pity there’s bugger all to fill the gap. It’s childish nonsense escalating into pathetic nonsense egged on by fwits.
My side on this is a thoroughly fucked off public.
Right, you’re the everyman, the voice of the people, joe public, the man on the clapham omnibus, the very fucking apex of the fucking bell curve, you’re the vox populi, you’re the goddamn aeolian breeze, the jedi force itself.
So much better than mine.
He is the jedi farce
So PeteG’s original comment (15) can be paraphrased to “may the farce be with you.”
Yup. And as a wannabe economist, he is really into market farces 🙂
Finally, righteous anger. Couldn’t have said it better.
What, a public that’s thoroughly fucked off that Bill blew another $300M while telling everyone else that they have to stomach cut backs and layoffs?
Given that understanding PeteG, I think I know who the electorate is going to hand a caning to.
Questions, questions. So very many questions, Pete!
I guess taxpayers dollars being blown by wasteful governments doesn’t bother you. If the CEO and CFO of any large business blew millions of dollars against the regular and repeated advice of the most senior advisors available, they’d be asked to resign too. So why shouldn’t this lot take responsibility for their actions?
If politicians had to resign whenever someone claims they’ve stuffed up….who’s the leader of Labour again?
Just to be clear, you’re OK with that level of performance? The wilful loss of millions at a time of deep financial crisis? Perhaps you could give it a rating out of ten to simplify things. As a Finance Minister Bill English is a …
The pathetic response to public ager by all parties should result in unrest at the Rugby World Cup while media attention is on us. I’m hoping it does.
ZOMG, someone found a use for the RWC. One that I find I can be supportive of. 😀
So Phil has finally got his dander up – all well and good but what he needs to do is get pitbull mean with this sorry bunch of SOBs who appear to have the collective IQ of a rice bubble.
Tonight on Campbell Live, Darryl Evans from the budgeting service was really reaming the government on how useless they were and mentioned again he was going to meet Useless Bennett. I really don’t think she’ll have the guts to front. In addition there was an item on how a woman turned herself from a junk food addict into a more health-conscious person but said that eating five plus a day caused her grocery bill just for fruit and vegetables to treble. Hear that NACT? It costs lots of crisp green folded ones to be healthy.
The photo they’re posing for looks like some sad-arse Scientology meeting which might explain a lot of their so-called policy formation.
What is it with this Labour party? I’ve mentioned this before but as soon as they look to gain some traction someone opens their mouth and shoots themself in the foot.
If Goof had said nothing Labour might have been able to make something of SCF but nooo he has to one-up his own people
Seriously its like a captain in a cricket test saying “my bowlers declare”
Shhhuuussshhh you lot Key is watching Desperate Housewives ,its the only time he does nothing 😛
The thing that gets me about this situation is how did these finance companies boom like the way they did under the labour term. I keep reading about how Hotchin etc are loathed by the bloggers here , but how is it that they had their glory days under a Labour Govt.
Why did the investement environment allow these companies to get into these positions that required us to eventually bail them out. Everyone saw the train wreck that was happening, advice was comming from all over the place that these finance companies were not able to keep trading within their governance and yet the government of the time sat back and did nothing. The net result is that billions of savings have been eroded and the costs to the people of NZ is massive.
These key questions need to be asked. The clean up is massive, however that was jointly agreed by all concerned , I think the true and insightful question is how did the mess eventuate in the first instance.
This Govt doesn’t deserve the respect of the vote nor my respect as a NZer who has a history of being in this country long before this jerk of a Prime Minister.
This has been an unnecessary break from a Labour Govt.Lets hope it will be over this year for a bloody long time