Spot the Plot

Written By: - Date published: 6:32 pm, June 29th, 2016 - 67 comments
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The attempt to oust Corbyn was orchestrated by Portland Communications, blown up by a fake Gay Pride heckle, supported by the UK Fabian Society, and predicted in the Telegraph. It’s definitely a plot, but will it work?

As Corbyn says the confidence vote is meaningless. Backstabbers have always abounded in Parliamentary politics, and in Corbyn’s case their number is no surprise. What counts is the leadership vote, and that is cast by the Labour Party members.

I developed “Smith’s Laws of Politics” to guide me when I was active. The first law was  ‘Don’t panic;’ the second ‘You’ve got to have a runner;’ the third ‘You’ve got to know how to count;’ and the fourth ‘Don’t believe all you hear.’

Media reports of the panic indicate that Angela Eagle and Tom Watson are being pushed forward approached to stand, as the coup only has a chance if there is just one runner. But both can presumably count, and will not necessarily want to crash their careers in a losing cause. The voting members are not likely to be happy.

It’s definitely a time for “Don’t believe all you hear.” Especially so when a company like Portland Communications is trying to pull the strings.

All the more so as the real issue isn’t about Corbyn. As Blair has indicated, it’s  the polices he represents, which are in fact widely popular, that they want to stop.

67 comments on “Spot the Plot ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Anne 1
    29 June 2016 at 7:03 pm

    Like this bit from the “Fake Gay Pride heckle” link:

    Mauchlyne was this morning on twitter urging people to sign a 38 Degrees petition supporting the no confidence motion against Corbyn. Ten hours later that petition has gained 65 signatures, compared to 120,000 for a petition supporting Corbyn.

    Reminds me of two petitions doing the rounds about a certain TV presenter in NZ.

  2. billmurray 2
    29 June 2016 at 7:04 pm

    A very good opinion which I share, I believe that Jeremy will come out stronger after all is exposed and the rank and file membership return his leadership.
    Well done.

  3. BM 3
    29 June 2016 at 7:10 pm

    Corbyn should never have been Leader.

    The fact he become leader shows a serous flaw in how UK Labour chooses it’s leader.

    • Colonial Viper 3.1
      29 June 2016 at 7:13 pm

      Yes. Fuck the general membership. The decision should have been left to the MPs. The only power the general membership should have is to deliver flyers at election time.

      • BM 3.1.1
        29 June 2016 at 7:17 pm

        In all honesty, they have to work with the prick.

        Don’t you think they should get some sort of input?

        • Colonial Viper 3.1.1.1
          29 June 2016 at 7:35 pm

          Nope. These MPs get paid a shit load of money and expenses to get the job done in a professional manner. When was the last time your board of directors asked you to help choose the CEO that you report to.

          • Aaron 3.1.1.1.1
            29 June 2016 at 7:49 pm

            I don’t know why you guys bother responding to BM, this opening gambit was particularly silly but even at the best of times s/he has nothing to contribute to a debate

            • UncookedSelachimorpha 3.1.1.1.1.1
              29 June 2016 at 8:58 pm

              I second this good advice from Aaron.

              • Grey Area …
                29 June 2016 at 9:23 pm

                I third it. PLEASE ignore him/her. Some of you may get some satisfaction from engaging with him/her but for others of us it significantly diminishes the part the Standard plays in helping us deal with daily life in New Zealand under Key.

          • BM 3.1.1.1.2
            29 June 2016 at 8:10 pm

            I disagree.

            The MPs should be the people that pick their leader, I couldn’t think of anything worse for team morale than to have some outside group of no nothing amateurs deciding who calls the shots.

            Talk about a recipe for disharmony.

            • stunned mullet 3.1.1.1.2.1
              29 June 2016 at 8:13 pm

              I wonder how many tories signed up and voted for Corbyn ?

            • weka 3.1.1.1.2.2
              29 June 2016 at 8:19 pm

              “Talk about a recipe for disharmony.”

              The disharmony doesn’t come from the leadership election process, it comes from the Blairite/left wing split in the party.

            • Colonial Viper 3.1.1.1.2.3
              29 June 2016 at 8:32 pm

              I couldn’t think of anything worse for team morale than to have some outside group of no nothing amateurs deciding who calls the shots.

              I understand how you view the ordinary members of the UK Labour Party now.

              I believe that it closely mirrors how the Labour MPs in Westminster view the ordinary members of their party.

              Given your perspective, and their perspective, your conclusions are logical.

              • BM …
                29 June 2016 at 8:40 pm

                In all honesty, can you see where they’re coming from.

                Being an MP is their job, there’s a lot of skills required to be an MP, skills and insights that can only be learnt by being a MP.

                So having people who have absolutely no first hand experience in politics being in charge of such important decision making as choosing who the leader is, is to me seems utterly insane.

                • Colonial Viper …
                  29 June 2016 at 8:47 pm

                  Yes I can see where they are coming from.

                  They believe themselves smarter and more experienced in the cut and thrust of Westminster politics than the general membership of their party.

                  They resent being told what to do by ordinary people, whom they see as naive and idealistic.

                  They accepted their jobs to represent the people who voted for them, and to represent the values of the party members whom they rely on to get re-elected.

                  But in actual that means nothing to them as careerists. They happily stand on the shoulders of the drowning working class in order to climb up higher above them.

                • Fustercluck …
                  30 June 2016 at 6:50 am

                  Hahahahahahahahahaha.

                  Being an effective, ethical and accountable politician is a skill.

                  Being a parasite on the worker’s back in Parliament, not so much.

            • Stuart Munro 3.1.1.1.2.4
              29 June 2016 at 9:00 pm

              Tell that to your fetish object John Key – how do the Gnats select leaders anyway? Do you know or care?

            • miravox 3.1.1.1.2.5
              29 June 2016 at 10:08 pm

              If you can see the analogy…

              If you’re and employee do you get to pick your manager, or does your employer?

              The MPs need to take their concerns to the employer, if they want to change the manager.

              • NZSage …
                30 June 2016 at 7:20 am

                Despite being nonsensical, if we continue the business comparisons…

                Your shareholders (aka the party members) voted you into the leadership/Chairman role at the last AGM, now there’s an extra-ordinary AGM coming up.

                Who do you answer to?

                On second thoughts that’s a bad analogy as shareholdings have nothing whatsoever to do with democracy and everything to do with how rich you are.

                • miravox …
                  30 June 2016 at 8:39 am

                  Agree the business analogies are nonsensical, but … baby steps before the democracy bit, I was thinking.

                  The shareholders analogy works, but yeah, your last sentence…

              • Ben …
                30 June 2016 at 8:10 am

                “If you’re and employee do you get to pick your manager, or does your employer?”

                The employer will (should) assess the potential manger’s ability to work with, and be respected by his staff. Without that, the manager is up against it from the get-go.

                • miravox …
                  30 June 2016 at 8:18 am

                  and… if a mistake has been made, the employees still don’t get to sack the manager.

                • locus …
                  30 June 2016 at 8:29 am

                  so if the employees have been misrepresenting the company and the employer for years, and the new manager is honest and wants to clean things up…..

                  seems these employees haven’t yet understood the writing on the wall

            • Rodel 3.1.1.1.2.6
              30 June 2016 at 8:49 pm

              Sorry I cannot resist…BM refers to. ..’some outside group of no nothing amateurs deciding who calls the shots.’ Are
              you serious? It’s a little thing called democracy. ( By the people, for the people, of the people …or something like that)..Not a small group of the elite .(e.g Bush, Rumsfield, Chaney ) running the show. Tories just don’t get do they?

        • reason 3.1.1.2
          30 June 2016 at 2:57 am

          Your honesty is of the fisiani type bm

          Whats the opinion of an arsehole calling someone a prick worth ?.

          The answer is your a serial whinging liar BM.

          Your input would best be expressed with white disco pants and a glass of john keys 100% pathogen puree river water

          be an ambassador …………. go to London ………… you could be bigger than banksy.

          He’s never shat out a stencil.

        • Craig H 3.1.1.3
          30 June 2016 at 9:46 am

          The MPs do have input – they decide who is on the ballot. Corbyn only got on the ballot in the first place because 50 MPs nominated him.

      • ropata 3.1.2
        29 June 2016 at 7:48 pm

        yeah cos a technocratic Blairite Labour party is such a useful toady to military & moneyed interests and is a shining example of how to sell out a nation.

        “democracy” is only for the 1%, and the unwashed masses deserve penury right?

      • Kiwiri 3.1.3
        29 June 2016 at 9:10 pm

        “The decision should have been left to the MPs”

        Exactly. The UK Labour Party made a dreadful mistake with the equally-weighted one-person-one-vote to the detriment of much more knowledgeable, experienced, expert and beneficent caucus MPs who must always be given a louder voice than the ordinary membership. I need to email Hilary Benn and those MPs who resigned to suggest they should change their party constitution in order to have electoral colleges where caucus has greater weight and stronger say, and that the NZ Labour Party arrangement provides an excellent model that should be considered.

    • Richardrawshark 3.2
      29 June 2016 at 7:21 pm

      No No No BM, don’t come here and start talking pap, back it up. If you make a statement like that you at least should offer your reasoning, we would all love to here the justification for your comment.

      Otherwise, your just writing inflammatory shite for kicks and giggles, and frankly I don’t go to right wing sites and stir shit on them.

      If you are going to say an obvious wind up, we all know why, really sad fkn shite that BM.

      • GregJ 3.2.1
        29 June 2016 at 7:50 pm

        It will be a cold day in hell before you’ll see any attempt at reasoned analysis and debate from BM. It’s job is to troll the site posting slogans and other meaningless RWNJ dribble. I think BM stands for Basically Moronic – you’d have more success talking to a brick wall.

        • gnomic 3.2.1.1
          30 June 2016 at 12:32 am

          Surely BM equals Bowel Motion. Except that pooh has a useful function unlike BM’s crap.

      • BM 3.2.2
        29 June 2016 at 8:12 pm

        Sorry about that Rich, the intertubes went down.

        My personal belief is, if I ‘m going to go to war, I’d want to pick the person who leads me.

        • weka 3.2.2.1
          29 June 2016 at 8:24 pm

          The people in the war DID pick their leader.

          • BM 3.2.2.1.1
            29 June 2016 at 8:33 pm

            The Mps are are front line people,if they have no respect for the leader their efforts are going to be half arsed at best.

            Membership has to realise that.

            • weka 3.2.2.1.1.1
              29 June 2016 at 9:27 pm

              What’s the point of the Labour Party if it doesn’t work for its membership? If MPs can’t get behind a democratically elected leader, chosen by the members, they should resign.

        • mac1 3.2.2.2
          29 June 2016 at 8:39 pm

          “if I ‘m going to go to war, I’d want to pick the person who leads me.”

          I’d also want to know why he wants to go to war, where he wants to go to war, how he wants to fight that war, when and for how long he wants to fight that war, and for whom he wants to fight that war.

          I’d prefer as a leader someone who won’t lead me or my family, friends and fellow citizens into war; one who rather actively seeks peace, justice and conciliation. But then again I’m just a cowardly, commie-lovin’ hippie peacenik……

          • Stuart Munro 3.2.2.2.1
            29 June 2016 at 9:03 pm

            The thought of Gerry Brownlee leading BM across the contested sands of Iraq is alas, only a pleasant fantasy.

            • Richardrawshark 3.2.2.2.1.1
              29 June 2016 at 9:22 pm

              Excellent reply.

              Though the labour candidates will do what if they dump Corbyn? listen to the silence of the votes that afterwards come to them.

              One of them has to give, Corbyn has the backing of the voters, it’s no contest between him and a bunch of people no one will vote for.

              The people think the will have a chance for proper representation under Corbyn, they believe he will follow their wishes and be more open.

              The Ruling Tories have no will to change the system that has fed them so long, at least here with Labour, we have a chance of a leader who will do the will of the people.

              Plus from here, the popcorns great and the view spectacular.

              For once we get to sit back and watch someone else experiment with political ideology on a population, without anyone having a clue what will happen.

        • Katipo 3.2.2.3
          29 June 2016 at 9:28 pm

          You would’ve picked Tony Blair then, he’d lead you in a war… he helped start. #chilcotreport

          • BM 3.2.2.3.1
            29 June 2016 at 9:35 pm

            I’d pick whoever isn’t going to get me slaughtered.

            Corbyn isn’t that man.

            • weka 3.2.2.3.1.1
              29 June 2016 at 9:45 pm

              That’s why those MPs should leave. These MPs aren’t going into battle for the people but for their own agenda. You are right that they will pick the leader who will allow them to keep their jobs (it’s an analogy remember).

              • Stuart Munro …
                29 June 2016 at 9:57 pm

                Imagine the poor ISIS staffer tasked with getting Gerry into an orange jumpsuit…

    • Paul 3.3
      29 June 2016 at 10:00 pm

      Tories hate democracy.

      • The Pink Postman 3.3.1
        3 July 2016 at 2:47 pm

        The Tories just hate the thought of decent working people having a say in running the country .They still believe in “Born to Rule’ even in Aotearoa. I dread to think what they will do if they get a fourth term.

    • Coreyhumm 3.4
      30 June 2016 at 1:01 pm

      Whatever happened to solidarity? If they can’t represent the membership they should join the libdems whereby belong.

      If they go against the membership they will never be elected again.

  4. Greg 4
    29 June 2016 at 7:48 pm

    Its the night of the long knifes, so who stands to win if he is ousted,

    So if Britains Labour party members can choose their Party leader ,
    why hasnt this been adopted in by NZs Labour party.
    It might mean something a lot more to belong to a political party,
    rather than just a party number.
    And that the real power belongs to a few relative unknown party delegates.

    • GregJ 4.1
      29 June 2016 at 7:56 pm

      I don’t think the PLP (UK) cares – anyone but Corbyn will do.

      NZ Labour has changed its rules so members & affiliates have much more power in Leadership elections than before. One could always argue for more power though (not that the caucus would like losing their vote and simply having the same vote as any other member).

  5. Bill 5
    29 June 2016 at 8:07 pm

    Christ on a bike! I was going to count the number of times Blairs’ name came up in that first link, but kept running out of fingers (I’m a simple soul).

    Anyway. If ‘Occams Razor’ was suggesting to me that the Chilcot Report had ‘not a little’ to do with the on-going, some might say incessant, kerfuffle around Corbyn’s leadership, that first link seals the deal for me.

    I suspect there is something in that report that many would rather was smoothed over and forgotten – and for that to happen, Corbyn has to be replaced or at least ‘not acting leader’ of the Labour Party come next week.

    Anyone know whether MPs could be whipped on a motion to have Blair referred to the ICC? I’m pretty certain the SNP will put such a motion if it’s waranted, but if Labour MPs can be whipped and Corbyn isn’t leader, then I’m guessing the motion falls on the numbers.

  6. john 6
    30 June 2016 at 3:38 am

    Corbyn is only leader at the behest, campaigning and bullying of the unions.
    In the UK (much like here) the Labour leader is chosen as follows.
    1/3 weighted voting by the MP’s 1 man one vote
    1/3 weighted by the membership 1 man one vote
    1/3 weighted by the unions and affiliated societies, who are allowed to lobby their members (another word for promote or bully) as to which candidate they want them to vote for.
    Sound familiar?……..Andrew Little?

    • I Feel Love 6.1
      30 June 2016 at 6:40 am

      He really scares you doesn’t he? & you do know unions are made up of people? There are no commies under your bed, go back to sleep, tinfoil hat time for you.

    • Steve 6.2
      30 June 2016 at 7:20 am

      Explain how a union bullies its members to vote for a certain candidate.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 6.2.1
        30 June 2016 at 7:49 am

        John hates freedom of speech and expression, and is a bully (ie: he routinely smears and lies). He cannot imagine that anyone else behaves differently.

    • Grant 6.3
      30 June 2016 at 9:24 am

      Oops! Someone needs to do their homework.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labour_Party_(UK)_leadership_election,_2015

      “The leadership election, triggered by Ed Miliband’s resignation, took place under the reformed rules adopted from the proposals of the February 2014 Collins Report…………………… The plan entailed a shorter election than the one that took place in 2010, with a new leader being in place before Labour’s party conference in September 2015………………….Following the Collins review, the electoral college was replaced by a pure “one member, one vote” (OMOV) system. Candidates will be elected by members and registered and affiliated supporters, who all receive a maximum of one vote and all votes will be weighted equally.[10] This meant that, for example, members of Labour-affiliated trade unions needed to register as Labour supporters to vote.”

  7. james 7
    30 June 2016 at 8:47 am

    I think if it goes to a members vote that Corbyn will win.

    Which is nuts. Not because of my views on Corbyn (I think hes an idiot), but the fact that the members will vote for someone with a 172-40 no confidence vote and who almost none of them will serve under him (either at their or his choice).

    A party is bigger than the one man.

    So – if he stays and there is a vote – Corbyn will win.
    He will struggle to put together a good team in time for the elections.
    Labour will be decimated.

    In a way this is democracy at its finest. You make your choices and you take the consequences.

    Boris for PM !!

    • left_forward 7.1
      30 June 2016 at 9:31 am

      You think that such a courageous and intelligent man is an idiot? !
      And yet you want Boris – says a lot about you James – expressing your rude and foolish opinions without reason or thought.

      • James 7.1.1
        30 June 2016 at 10:13 am

        I think that the power has gone to his head and he is believing his own hype. I didnt say he was intelligent or courageous. In fact I think he is neither.

    • GregJ 7.2
      30 June 2016 at 9:23 pm

      Re-select (or deselect) the MPs and you’ll soon see those numbers change. The MPs aren’t the party either.

      Actually given that many of the same group of MPs were in the leadership group that lead Labour to its last electoral defeat there is a strong argument for moving them on and replacing them with those who embrace the new direction the party members clearly want the party to take. Actually there is an argument this is why the coup is on now – the next conference will see a further leftward shift in policies and probably some new rules over reselection which will see many of the Blairite & other careerists be replaced.

      Most of the anti-Corbynites should simply leave and join the Liberal Democrats – a party much closer to their political values. Then we’ll see if the people of Leeds for example want to elect a toff like Benn or an actual politician from the left.

  8. Craig H 8
    30 June 2016 at 9:50 am

    The MPs choose who the leader is because they choose who goes on the ballot in the first place. The vote is important, obviously, but deciding the make-up of the ballot is more influential.

  9. save nz 9
    30 June 2016 at 10:03 am

    Not to mention that Tony Blair, might have to stand trial for war crimes, something that he will do anything to stop.

    Clearly orchestrated!
    http://www.thecanary.co/2016/06/28/truth-behind-labour-coup-really-began-manufactured-exclusive/

  10. Karen 10
    30 June 2016 at 1:41 pm

    Thanks for this post Mike – the links between this campaign to oust Corbyn and the Blairites within Portland Communications are fascinating.

    As a general backgrounder to the current situation with the British Labour Party this piece by John Palethorpe is really interesting too.

    https://shinbonestar.org/2016/06/29/the-long-war/

  11. Rodel 11
    30 June 2016 at 9:03 pm

    Said it somewhere else but appropriate here I think….Corbyn won’t be the first J.C to be crucified by self serving politicians against the wishes of the people.

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    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

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