Stability vs Change

Written By: - Date published: 8:22 am, September 18th, 2014 - 79 comments
Categories: election 2014, greens, labour, national - Tags: , ,

Watching the final leaders’ “debate” last night, I was particularly struck by the responses to the question (paraphrased) “what will your government do in its first 100 days?”. Cunliffe (if I may steal Mickysavage’s list) was quick off the mark and compelling:

  • start raising the minimum wage
  • repeal some of the unfair labour laws
  • start the commission of inquiry into the management of our security agencies
  • broaden the commission of inquiry into John Key’s ministers’ abuse of power
  • and start turning this country around to something that is cleaner in more ways than one as well as more productive.

Key was grasping at straws:

  • focus on the opportunity and continue to deliver for New Zealanders (whatever that means).
  • lift and support professional development for our teachers for our principals
  • sign a free trade agreement with Korea
  • continue with their plan for cancer care
  • continue to invest in infrastructure
  • continue to invest in science and innovation
  • create 150,000 jobs

Like Bill English before him – Key has no idea what he wants to do with a third term. He is simply clinging to power for power’s sake.

This election the Nats have been all about a cult of personality, and all about “stability”. I guess by stability they mean no ideas, they mean more ministers resigning in disgrace, more dirty politics, more surveillance, more daft economic policy, more house price increases, more filth in our rivers, more vilification of beneficiaries, more inequality, more suffering for those in poverty, and so on and on and on.

This election Labour and the Greens have been all about a positive message, all about change. Raise the minimum wage, clean up our rivers and environment, try to lift people out of poverty, address carbon emissions, restore balance in employment law, rebalance the tax system, sensible economic policy and investment in NZ, public transport not roads, build houses, clean up dirty politics, and much much more. It’s smart, it’s positive, it’s a clean start, it’s what we need.

Of these two visions of the future, I know which I prefer.

79 comments on “Stability vs Change ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Harriet 1
    18 September 2014 at 8:45 am

    “…I guess by stability they mean….” – and you then guess next to nothing on the governments behalf – which leaves the private sector to get on with real business, real profits, real wages and real jobs.

    And you then announce a long long list on behalf of a marxist government – with this added “….and much much more….” – which clouds out the private sector in the economy.

    Anyway, I guess stability then means having a conservative keep reminding you of the responsibility of having smaller government – and far far less government intrusion.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 1.1
      18 September 2014 at 9:08 am

      🙄 😆 “Marxist”.

      Makes faith-based assertions with no evidence to support them, then gets right into smearing anyone with better ideas.

      We need better wingnuts.

      • Tracey 1.1.1
        18 September 2014 at 9:33 am

        spare the rod, clarify the thinking

        • Colonial Viper 1.1.1.1
          18 September 2014 at 9:44 am

          It’s interesting how Harriet tries to use the word “Marxist” as some kind of swear word or disagreeable epithet. It’s a very USA style of political discourse (calling your opponent “socialist” for instance, oh heaven forbid).

          She clearly doesn’t understand the term, or understands it yet is willing to misuse it.

          Either way it’s not a great sign.

          Democratic Socialism FTW.

          • Bob 1.1.1.1.1
            18 September 2014 at 1:39 pm

            “Democratic Socialism FTW” Like France CV? How’s that going?

            • Colonial Viper 1.1.1.1.1.1
              18 September 2014 at 4:45 pm

              ECB austerity measures, the poison of central bank capitalism.

            • Foreign Waka 1.1.1.1.1.2
              18 September 2014 at 7:06 pm

              Social Democratic Party (actually partnered with Union for French Democracy which is rather leaning to the right) or French Socialist Party that has just announced an austerity package under Hollande. This will cost votes en mass. If you mean the latter, its not going well for obvious reasons.

          • Ant 1.1.1.1.2
            18 September 2014 at 1:43 pm

            “clouds out” is also pretty hilarious.

            Hopefully Krugman can analyse how clouding works in an economy.

    • cogito 1.2
      18 September 2014 at 9:35 am

      Marxist? Now that would be fun! Been a long time since I’ve heard a good old Marxist agenda…. and talk of the proletariat, means of production etc. Happy memories! But that is not what Cunliffe is about, not even slightly!

      • McFlock 1.2.1
        18 September 2014 at 12:43 pm

        There was a guy on otago uni campus for years who was as nutty as a scorched almond, but also had a bit of a reading/writing issue (or maybe just had brain and keyboard working at different speeds).

        He was convinced that the students’ association was full of red-flag commun1sts (rather than soft Labourites ond occasional green hippies), and wrote letters into the student paper about the conspiracy.

        The trouble was that he had a consistent type where he was always trying to alert people to the “Marist cabal”, rather than the M@rxist one that didn’t exist any way.

        I’ve got a feeling one or two of my teachers back in the day were Marists – seemed mellow enough chaps.

        • Rob 1.2.1.1
          18 September 2014 at 2:37 pm

          “Been a long time since I’ve heard a good old Marxist agenda…. and talk of the proletariat, means of production etc.”

          So cogito Is that because it has never worked in practice, except making a good read in a similar way as other fairy tails?

          • One Anonymous Bloke 1.2.1.1.1
            18 September 2014 at 2:42 pm

            No, it’s probably because despite the fact that no-one is proposing it, right wing parrots rote learned the phrase and have yet to stop chanting it, thereby providing yet more evidence in support of Nicky Hager’s findings.

            We still lack better wingnuts.

            • McFlock 1.2.1.1.1.1
              18 September 2014 at 3:49 pm

              damned straight we need better wingnuts – the current crop can’t even use the reply function properly.

          • Naturesong 1.2.1.1.2
            18 September 2014 at 5:13 pm

            Two instances where it worked:
            Socialism – Red Vienna
            Communism – Kibbutz System

            To assert that the centre right policies of the NZ Labour Party, or the centre left policies of the Greens are anything close to either comunism or socialism simply broadcasts the commenters complete ignorance on the subject.

          • Draco T Bastard 1.2.1.1.3
            18 September 2014 at 5:33 pm

            Capitalism has never worked in practice either. It destroys every civilisation that attempts it and yet we keep trying it. Brings to mind the saying of genius:

            Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

            And it’s getting worse. If we keep going with capitalism we will destroy the Earth and her ability to sustain life above an amoeba.

    • Ad 1.3
      18 September 2014 at 9:45 am

      If you want “far far less government intrusion”, vote against John Key’s failure to protect my fundamental right to privacy and my fundamental right to innocence.

      He has enabled international spies across our land, “intruding” into everything we buy, say, spend, and who we meet.

      Any support for his hanger-on parties enables massive government intrusion.

    • minarch 1.4
      18 September 2014 at 10:40 am

      “And you then announce a long long list on behalf of a marxist government – with this added “….and much much more….” – which clouds out the private sector in the economy”

      what decade are you living in ?

    • aerobubble 1.5
      18 September 2014 at 10:41 am

      USSR suffered from decades of do nothing as bureaucrats took over. We in NZ suffer from the same socialist party of the few, at the top, who insure government does less, and when it does misappropriates for its own ends.

      No? Take professional engineers, highly paid, so natural recipients of the lion share of tax cuts, as 40% of Keys tax went to the top 10%. And guess what these professional did, not only could they not manage their professionals, they even managed to add a clause to let member avoid sanction by dropping their membership.

      No? Still not seeing the National party reds? MIning inspectors cut, and cult of profit exuded every safety seminar when leaders claims that industry wouldn’t be s dumb as to not insure a basic standard.

      No? Still not seeing out Marzist overlords, who now have their tax cut in the middle of a global recession that did nothing for the lowest paid and gave the top 10%, 40% of the relief.

      No? Forestry deaths, polluted rivers, huge debt run up from zero, Diary boom because Chinese families had their one child in the year of the Dragon, and ChCh Earthquake force insurance to raid their funds (all to have to be reflated).

      Oh, yeah, only our idiot elite would believe that tax cuts work in good times and in bad, that socialism for the few would trickle down. I mean what idiot cannot see our productivity crisis is not down to the fact that over charging profiteering makes much of our economy hugely unproductive.

    • Draco T Bastard 1.6
      18 September 2014 at 5:22 pm

      and you then guess next to nothing on the governments behalf – which leaves the private sector to get on with real business, real profits, real wages and real jobs.

      They haven’t produced any in the last 6 years so what makes you think that they’re suddenly going to?

      which clouds out the private sector in the economy.

      It wouldn’t actually. There’d still be a private sector but it would be only a minor blip in the economy rather than the massive dead weight loss that it is now.

      Anyway, I guess stability then means having a conservative keep reminding you of the responsibility of having smaller government – and far far less government intrusion.

      We, the people, are the government. Anything else is a dictatorship.

    • Cleangreen 1.7
      18 September 2014 at 7:01 pm

      Harriet 1

      “Far Less Government intrusion” are you jokong,

      This government in two terms has constructed more law rule changes then labour did and National before it.

      You don’t watch Parliament I can see!

      This mob have made such wide ranging changes that can only be called over the top.

      Building amendment act changes that now restrict anyone from changing windows or house roofing cladding for just one instance here. This government have placed so many controls on our lives now that we will need to have a three term opposition to reverse it all again.

      Don’t talk about less government.

      National wants to control now all local Governance from Parliament next, so is that “far less government intrusion”?

      Bullshit straighten your head out and look at the facts.

    • tricledrown 1.8
      18 September 2014 at 7:16 pm

      Harriet then why do you support a party that intrudes into everyones privacy and is spending hundreds of millions on consultants replacing cheap public servants with retired and retarded National party politicians on 10 times the pay!

  2. Tautoko Viper 2
    18 September 2014 at 8:47 am

    Thanks, r0b, for laying out the choice so clearly.

    • aerobubble 2.1
      18 September 2014 at 10:46 am

      Rubbish. its utterly stupid to call National stable. Blocking change merely backs up the rot. Take our roading system, should have been built 50 years ago, four lane (two each way) from Auckland to Wellington. CGT, GST off food, all available in OZ, why aren’t we matching Australias tax system???? National aren’t about stability, and Labour are only catch up. Nothing inspired comes out of the Beehive, ever, though they all seem to make out their brilliant.

  3. vto 3
    18 September 2014 at 8:52 am

    I think you’re missing a component or two r0b.

    “Like Bill English before him – Key has no idea what he wants to do with a third term.”

    I think in fact they know exactly what they want to do – they are just not telling us. I believe there would be more change and radical change from a third term Key government. They are just being dishonest pricks in not telling us. English has let slip that they intend radical restructuring of government, for one example.

    do not be deceived …

    • One Anonymous Bloke 3.1
      18 September 2014 at 9:09 am

      Yep, they have a plan alright. An assault on human rights at every level of government, with a smiley wavy face.

      • yeshe 3.1.1
        18 September 2014 at 10:58 am

        +100 OAB

        They will loot and plunder everything including Cullen Fund and ACC funds.

        Radically privatise health, schools, prisons etc etc.

        100% gut the RMA

        Steal what is left to steal from ChCh.

        They will make Act look like a left wing party by the time they’re done.

    • grumpystilskin 3.2
      18 September 2014 at 9:10 am

      +1

    • Foreign Waka 3.3
      18 September 2014 at 7:15 pm

      Well Mrs Bennett has just recently announced that several thousand people will not feature on the unemployed list when Nat is elected. Since there are no jobs to go to it is anyone’s guess what that means. More privatization of the last remnants that are not bolted to the floor will be another surprise – Kiwi bank, Superfund and Air NZ.

  4. BM 4
    18 September 2014 at 8:53 am

    Active player in the world markets,one of the top performing economies.
    Country at Greece levels within the year,

    Of these two visions of the future, I know which I prefer.

    • dv 4.1
      18 September 2014 at 9:03 am

      Current debt clock BM
      88,400,645,187

    • vto 4.2
      18 September 2014 at 9:27 am

      BM you prefer the vision that sees those at the bottom of the ladders pilloried, harassed, vilified and paid less than it costs to keep a slave. Recently heard people like you getting completely stuck into those at the bottom. I was sickened at their ignorance and their ugliness.

      Your lot sicken me.

      Stomp on the poor.

      • Colonial Viper 4.2.1
        18 September 2014 at 9:46 am

        BM you prefer the vision that sees those at the bottom of the ladders pilloried, harassed, vilified

        in the next term the Lords of the Castle, if they get the chance, will be ordering the pouring of boiling oil and burning pitch on to those at the bottom of the ladders.

        (I’m pretty sure this is how some of them see it as well).

      • BM 4.2.2
        18 September 2014 at 9:47 am

        We have one of the most generous welfare systems in the world.

        • vto 4.2.2.1
          18 September 2014 at 10:19 am

          don’t you get it? don’t you understand the point made?

          • BM 4.2.2.1.1
            18 September 2014 at 10:52 am

            Shut up with you moaning bene and eat your gruel.

            And you better enjoy it or else…

            • Colonial Viper 4.2.2.1.1.1
              18 September 2014 at 10:54 am

              Beatings. Beatings of beneficiaries will continue until morale improves.

              • vto …
                18 September 2014 at 10:59 am

                A indefinite general strike by all those on the minimum wage would be interesting wouldn’t it …..

                I wonder how the effect of such would compare to the effect if people such as this cock went on strike? http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/10511823/Power-boss-on-32k-a-week

                It would certainly highlight who has lesser value …. which do you think it would be BM? Which would cause the nation more suffering and discomfort?

                • Colonial Viper …
                  18 September 2014 at 11:02 am

                  A indefinite general strike by all those on the minimum wage would be interesting wouldn’t it …..

                  Combined with a brown strike…

                • BM …
                  18 September 2014 at 11:03 am

                  Problem with minimum wage jobs is that the person doing it is easily replaced by either some one else or as technology becomes more affordable, a machine.

                  Plenty of people on the dole who’d be more than happy to swap places with the ones who went on strike.

                  • vto …
                    18 September 2014 at 11:06 am

                    oh so you’re a scab too

                    • BM …
                      18 September 2014 at 11:09 am

                      I don’t do minimum wage.

                    • vto …
                      18 September 2014 at 11:14 am

                      you mean you don’t take your place in society

                      you just take your place in the first-in-first-served queue and bugger everyone else. the selfish greedy queue

                      you should vote for the weirdo right wing parties – they are your type

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    18 September 2014 at 12:18 pm

                    Plenty of people on the dole who’d be more than happy to swap places with the ones who went on strike.

                    Thanks for elucidating why capitalists like to keep an excess labour pool of desperate workers chasing after too few jobs.

                    • BM …
                      18 September 2014 at 12:27 pm

                      The key is to not stay in minimum wage jobs, make yourself more valuable than some dumb machine.

                      People should always be looking at improving their skill base, it’s the only way you’ll be successful.

                  • Puddleglum …
                    18 September 2014 at 12:33 pm

                    “Plenty of people on the dole who’d be more than happy to swap places with the ones who went on strike.”

                    Which means that the economy is not providing enough jobs for people – also shows, sadly, why some believe that a ‘pool of surplus labour’ is a very good thing.

                    Edit; Sorry about the overlap with your comment CV. Was too quick to ‘publish’.

                  • tricledrown …
                    18 September 2014 at 7:18 pm

                    boringly maniacal just minimal thinking

                • Rob …
                  18 September 2014 at 2:52 pm

                  “A indefinite general strike by all those on the minimum wage would be interesting wouldn’t it ….”

                  Wow VTO, who would be serving Kim.Com, how would he live.

        • Cleangreen 4.2.2.2
          18 September 2014 at 7:14 pm

          BM said “We have one of the most generous welfare systems in the world.”

          Bullshit,

          we don’t have one of the most generous welfare systems at all I should know as a disabled person.

          Canada has a twice better system than we have sadly you are way out there.
          They have every part of the body covered under both unemployment and disablement, while we only have partial.

          Example; no dental or emergency teeth repair benefits.

          Do you know anything?

          They have food benefits and several accommodation allowances we will never have.

          Travel benefits also.

          ACC here I had an accident and require $3200 dental restoration and ACC will only pay a third!

          Sorry no more time to waste on this.

    • Tracey 4.3
      18 September 2014 at 9:34 am

      Both are imaginary

    • minarch 4.4
      18 September 2014 at 10:44 am

      but no one pays their taxes in Greece,

      funny i though no taxes would have suited you …..

      Horst Reichenbach, head of the EU taskforce offering technical help to the Greek government, said the amount of unpaid tax was estimated to be “in the order of 60bn euros

      • BM 4.4.1
        18 September 2014 at 10:59 am

        That’s probably because the government and public service is so corrupt any tax you pay is probably going directly into their back pocket.

        Who would want to contribute to that?

    • Wreckingball 4.5
      18 September 2014 at 11:50 am

      Correct BM, why change a winning formula?

      Minimum wage is already very high as a function of both average and median wage compared to other countries. We are growing faster. Wages, including those at the bottom, are rising faster than inflation. It is all good news.

      Don’t change what is working.

    • Foreign Waka 4.6
      18 September 2014 at 7:19 pm

      Emphasis on player? Do we want to play or do we want to build an economy that has some backbone and is not entirely reliant on cows and pollution?
      Besides, looking at the debt level, access to care and assistance – we already give Greece a run for the money – punt intended.

  5. mickysavage 5
    18 September 2014 at 8:54 am

    “[I]f I may steal Mickysavage’s list”

    Of course. This particular part of the debate really jarred with me. Cunliffe’s proposals were backed by considerable policy work with the final one being aspirational whereas Key’s were a grab bag of slogans with no thought behind them. The job creation line is a joke. National has been promising for years to create more jobs. For instance:

    Budget 2010 – 170,000 new jobs promised over 4 years
    Budget 2011 – 170,000 new jobs promised over 4 years
    Budget 2012 – 154,000 new jobs promised over 4 years

    The last two budgets have not contained any promises about jobs.

    And the performance? The 2013 budget says that there were 50,000 more jobs than two years ago. In a time of population growth this is not unusual or particularly laudable.

    • ianmac 5.1
      18 September 2014 at 9:23 am

      I suspect that they claim say a lawn mowing contractor starting up as a tick to National. The fact that two other lawn mowing businesses went bust is not counted. Churn. Churn. Churn.

  6. Skinny 6
    18 September 2014 at 9:20 am

    CON-ACT getting into parliament and the real likelihood of Mana getting wiped out starting to loom large. Spiteful pricks like Garner and his side kick Gower pushing this makes me sick.

    I hope the Conservatives fall just short of the mark keeping options of a Left coalition alive till Peters pulls his power play and sits on the cross benches. Key knows Winston will further erode Nationals support then pull up stumps and force a snap election after taking Key down.

    Obviously we are hoping for a major lift in party votes for Labour to about 28-30 percent which is what should transpire on policy alone.

    If not remain calm and plan for going to the polls within 12 months. I see no need to panic and ‘any disloyal’ Labour MP’s need to be given a clear message they will be sacked if any leadership attempt is made.

    We are right in this fight and I’ll be out Saturday in the poor suburbs in my area on the mega phone, and with runners door knocking and arranging getting voters to the polling booths. Never give up the fight!

    • cogito 6.1
      18 September 2014 at 9:45 am

      🙂 🙂 🙂

      Will absolutely make my day if Craig fails!

      Disenchanted Nats who want to send a message to Mr Keyrrupt should vote for Winston, not that walking duck.

      And all the best to Hone and Laila!

      • Colonial Viper 6.1.1
        18 September 2014 at 10:56 am

        Craig on 4.6% please. High enough, but also low enough to stop him from trying to get a stupid recount.

  7. ianmac 7
    18 September 2014 at 9:26 am

    Funny how those commentators on the last Leaders Debate failed to notice that David had a 100 day plan, but John had nothing tangible. They just concentrated on the noise and not the content.

    • Skinny 7.1
      18 September 2014 at 10:03 am

      I recently had team National on about they don’t appear to have a plan. They were adamant they have a plan “oh don’t worry we have a plan alright”. I replied “that’s what I am worried about, you have a plan but choose not to share it because a lot of people won’t like your plan will they?” I got a smile, which told me a typical third term National Government plan. They actually managed to avoid this narrative being widely aired which is a pity as there was plenty of vote leakage in it I felt.

    • Foreign Waka 7.2
      18 September 2014 at 7:24 pm

      Because the commercial people are scared stiff as their fleecing of the NZ economy would end. Of cause they buy the commentary and advertisement, the reporters and interviewers, even if its indirect (its difficult to contradict the boss, isn’t it?). NZ has no independent reporting anymore and most people are just bamboozled. I am often amazed how little NZ people understand what actually is going on around them.

  8. cogito 8
    18 September 2014 at 9:55 am

    BREAKING NEWS – Just seen this…. re the Con-job party

    http://www.3news.co.nz/politics/colin-craigs-press-secretary-quits-2014091809

    Great news! Go Winston!

    • Skinny 8.1
      18 September 2014 at 10:14 am

      She was nuts anyway totally unprofessional! I posted something on a NZF candidates fackbook page and mentioned something about looking forward to seeing Peters at a local gig I had arranged. Within the hour Craigs PS rings me getting all pushy, towards the end of the conversation the crazy cow screams at her pet dog that I could hear barking in the background. I actually said “lady you need to learn some manners it’s 5.30 pm on a Sunday calling me is bad enough but I accept your campaigning, but screaming on the top of your lungs down the phone line really.”

      • AsleepWhileWalking 8.1.1
        18 September 2014 at 11:52 am

        If this is what he does to what was probably a balanced and calm individual when she was hired, wait to see the damage he does in office.

  9. fambo 9
    18 September 2014 at 10:08 am

    The only way we are going to have stability in future is through ongoing progressive changes to the way we live life.

    Stability and change are not exclusive of each other.

    The fear half of the population have over the radical environment we face means they are grasping at the belief that if we don’t act somehow everything will stay the same and stable. The fact is, nothing is going to stay the same, ever, in our lifetime. The faster we adapt to this rapidly changing environment, the more our society will have the mechanisms to cope. If we don’t, the more chaos and instability there will be.

    • Sans Cle 9.1
      18 September 2014 at 10:48 am

      Agreed:
      “Steady-State” (in ecological terms, but could be applied to political also), and I for one am ready to move to the next state.

      • Colonial Viper 9.1.1
        18 September 2014 at 10:57 am

        It’s desperately needed…and we don’t have a huge amount of time to reorientate our economy and society for it.

    • yeshe 9.2
      18 September 2014 at 11:01 am

      hear, hear fambo

    • Cleangreen 9.3
      18 September 2014 at 7:23 pm

      Well done fambo,
      We have become such a selfish society, without caring for others, and the way we need to change.

      This is what causes wars.

      Kinder gentler caring society is needed now.

  10. blue leopard 10
    18 September 2014 at 11:01 am

    One would have to be a complete fool to think that a National government is going to create stability.

    You don’t get stability from a government that acts in bad faith.
    You don’t get stability from marginalizing people.
    You don’t get stability by removing opportunities.

    You get what we have had in this election campaign. Scandal after scandal, crisis after crisis and an increase in litigious behaviour.

  11. David 11
    18 September 2014 at 11:26 am

    Maybe Key is unable to state the agenda because it is simply unpalatable.
    Like the open bank resolution or like the actual implications of the GSCB reforms that we were labelled as misinformed over, regardless of the fact that the misinformation was deliberate.
    Whatever the hidden agenda is I doubt it has NZ and it’s citizens interests at heart.

  12. Jeeves POnzi 12
    18 September 2014 at 11:44 am

    Hold steady- the NZeocoms war of attrition against us has begun to bear fruit for them.

    But like all of those the world over who put themselves waaay above the needs of others, who put wealth and toys above humanity and society, who enjoy having others to ridicule- well so it is that the very nature of their shallowness means that the psychology used against the masses can be easily reversed and focused against the few.

    BUT :
    Even if two sheep on the truck know exactly whats happening- they are still sheep.

    Let us spend the next three years organising ourselves into a well oiled machine. Instead of Dirty Politics, let us develop a model of Stunning Politics.
    Let the ethics we believe in be the battle armour against smears.
    Let our love of country and people be the fire in our bellies.
    Let our sense of unity BE our sense of unity.

    When they cliche,smear,slur,dismiss – point it out and fire back facts.
    When our people do it- slam them hard. We must be above it.
    And it will be a steep learning curve for a lot of us- we need to put substance over passion.
    We ARE better people than this. We may be in the minority- but we ARE cleverer and CAN do it.

    But let us be as organised and utterly ruthless in our will to nullify them and their ways, as they have been with us and ours.

    But let’s do it ethically, like the brainy people we are.

    Kia kaha NZ
    Tiocfaidh ar la

  13. Draco T Bastard 13
    18 September 2014 at 5:18 pm

    Like Bill English before him – Key has no idea what he wants to do with a third term.

    Don’t kid yourself. Key knows exactly what’s planned but he know’s if he told us there’s no way that National would get back in.

  14. tricle up 14
    18 September 2014 at 7:23 pm

    Of course he does the continued pleasing of the square table and belief that screwing down wages will fill one of the tanks and big and small business will expand and lead the way first , while letting the tank of social distribution to peter along.With strong growth the business money is creamed for building up there own assets. This process is never in complete step with social distribution.tricle down we surmise you are on half showers and hopefully next week you can see the monsoon season building..what we expect is fairness and balance for all in this long white cloud..

  15. Cleangreen 15
    18 September 2014 at 7:37 pm

    John Key is only the facilitator for global forces such as big global industrialists and Corporates.

    All these large elitists are there in volume as members around the Bilderberg Group tables at planning sessions as they plot to take control of the globe.

    Such a secret society fitted John Keys style as he has been keen to have made meetings with them in 2011-12.

    We believe they have required Key to facilitate allowing them to gain control of our assets, water energy and oil/gas reserves and pastoral land holdings.

    He will sell this country and leave when he has done his job.

    Ask yourself why didn’t Key tell us he attended meetings at the Bilderberg group as representing himself as;

    John Key Prime Minister of New Zealand in 2011-12?

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    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 hours ago

  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 hours ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    Skeptical Science
    13 hours ago

  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    16 hours ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    17 hours ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    17 hours ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    17 hours ago

  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    18 hours ago

  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    18 hours ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    20 hours ago

  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    21 hours ago

  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    1 day ago

  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago

  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago

  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago

  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Old habits
    Media awareness about global warming and climate change has grown fairly steadily since 2004. My impression is that journalists today tend to possess a higher climate literacy than before. This increasing awareness and improved knowledge is encouraging, but there are also some common interpretations which could be more nuanced. ...
    Real ClimateBy rasmus
    2 days ago

  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    2 days ago

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    3 days ago

  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan  – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
    As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
    Voters  are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris  Hipkins’  valiant  rearguard  action.  So  where  are they  heading?  Clearly  not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that  the  outcome  will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a  few weeks  ago  was ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    3 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
    Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes –    With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
    As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    3 days ago

  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
    ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • September-23 AT Board Meeting
    Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
    Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Big money brings Winston back
    National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
    As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    4 days ago

  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • A pallid shade of Green III
    Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • A coalition of racism, cruelty, and chaos
    Today's big political news is that after months of wibbling, National's Chris Luxon has finally confirmed that he is willing to work with Winston Peters to become Prime Minister. Which is expected, but I guess it tells us something about which way the polls are going. Which raises the question: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • More migrant workers should help generate the tax income needed to provide benefits for job seekers
    Buzz from the Beehive Under something described as a “rebalance” of its immigration rules, the Government has adopted four of five recommendations made in an independent review released in July, The fifth, which called on the government to specify criteria for out-of-hours compliance visits similar to those used during ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Letter To Luxon.
    Some of you might know Gerard Otto (G), and his G News platform. This morning he wrote a letter to Christopher Luxon which I particularly enjoyed, and with his agreement I’m sharing it with you in this guest newsletter.If you’d like to make a contribution to support Gerard’s work you ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Alarming trend in benefit numbers
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  While there will not be another quarterly release of benefit numbers prior to the election, limited weekly reporting continues and is showing an alarming trend. Because there is a seasonal component to benefit number fluctuations it is crucial to compare like with like. In ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: Has there been external structural change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase.   Brian Easton writes –  Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • CRL Progress – Sep-23
    It’s been a while since we looked at the latest with the City Rail Link and there’s been some fantastic milestones recently. To start with, and most recently, CRL have released an awesome video showing a full fly-through of one of the tunnels. Come fly with us! You asked for ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Monday’s Chorus: Not building nearly enough
    We are heading into another period of fast population growth without matching increased home building or infrastructure investment.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Labour and National detailed their house building and migration approaches over the weekend, with both pledging fast population growth policies without enough house building or infrastructure investment ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Game on; Hipkins comes out punching
    Labour leader Chris Hipkins yesterday took the gloves off and laid into National and its leader Christopher Luxon. For many in Labour – and particularly for some at the top of the caucus and the party — it would not have been a moment too soon. POLITIK is aware ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • Tax Cut Austerity Blues.
    The leaders have had their go, they’ve told us the “what?” and the “why?” of their promises. Now it’s the turn of the would be Finance Ministers to tell us the “how?”, the “how much?”, and the “when?”A chance for those competing for the second most powerful job in the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW:  It’s the economy – and the spirit – Stupid…
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Over the past 30-odd years it’s become almost an orthodoxy to blame or invoke neoliberalism for the failures of New Zealand society. On the left the usual response goes something like, neoliberalism is the cause of everything that’s gone wrong and the answer ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #38
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 17, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 23, 2023. Story of the Week  Opinion: Let’s free ourselves from the story of economic growth A relentless focus on economic growth has ushered in ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • The End Of The World.
    Have you been looking out of your window for signs of the apocalypse? Don’t worry, you haven’t been door knocked by a representative of the Brian Tamaki party. They’re probably a bit busy this morning spruiking salvation, or getting ready to march on our parliament, which is closed. No, I’ve ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Climate Town: The Brainwashing Of America's Children
    Climate Town is the YouTube channel of Rollie Williams and a ragtag team of climate communicators, creatives and comedians. They examine climate change in a way that doesn’t make you want to eat a cyanide pill. Get informed about the climate crisis before the weather does it for you. The latest ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago

  • Has There Been External Structural Change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase. Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was similar to the May Budget BEFU, ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    7 days ago

  • Another Labour bully
    Back in June, we learned that Kiri Allan was a Parliamentary bully. And now there's another one: Labour MP Shanan Halbert: The Labour Party was alerted to concerns about [Halbert's] alleged behaviour a year ago but because staffers wanted to remain anonymous, no formal process was undertaken [...] The ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • Climate Change: Ignoring our biggest problem
    Its that time in the election season where the status quo parties are busy accusing each other of having fiscal holes in a desperate effort to appear more "responsible" (but not, you understand, by promising to tax wealth or land to give the government the revenue it needs to do ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • JERRY COYNE: A good summary of the mess that is science education in New Zealand
    JERRY COYNE writes –  If you want to see what the government of New Zealand is up to with respect to science education, you can’t do better than listening to this video/slideshow by two exponents of the “we-need-two-knowledge-systems” view. I’ve gotten a lot of scary stuff from Kiwi ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Good news on the GDP front is accompanied by news of a $5m govt boost for Supercars (but what about ...
    Buzz from the Beehive First, we were treated to the news (from Finance Minister Grant Robertson) that the economy has turned a corner and New Zealand never was in recession.  This was triggered by statistics which showed the economy expanded 0.9 per cent in the June quarter, twice as much as ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • The Scafetta Saga
    It has taken 17 months to get a comment published pointing out the obvious errors in the Scafetta (2022) paper in GRL. Back in March 2022, Nicola Scafetta published a short paper in Geophysical Research Letters (GRL) purporting to show through ‘advanced’ means that ‘all models with ECS > ...
    Real ClimateBy Gavin
    7 days ago

  • Friday's Chorus: Penny wise and pound foolish
    TL;DR: In the middle of a climate emergency and in a city prone to earthquakes, Victoria University of Wellington announced yesterday it would stop teaching geophysics, geographic information science and physical geography to save $22 million a year and repay debt. Climate change damage in Aotearoa this year is already ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER: Calling the big dog’s bluff
      For nearly thirty years the pundits have been telling the minor parties that they must be good little puppies and let the big dogs decide. The parties with a plurality of the votes cast must be allowed to govern – even if that means ignoring the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • The electorate swing, Labour limbo and Luxon-Hipkins two-step
     Another poll, another 27 for Labour. It was July the last time one of the reputable TV company polls had Labour's poll percentage starting with a three, so the limbo question is now being asked: how low can you go?It seems such an unlikely question because this doesn't feel like the kind ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    7 days ago

  • A Womance, and a Nomance.
    After the trench warfare of Tuesday night, when the two major parties went head to head, last night was the turn of the minor parties. Hosts Newshub termed it “the Powerbrokers' Debate”.Based on the latest polls the four parties taking part - ACT, the Greens, New Zealand First, and Te ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • When The Internet Rushes To Your Defense
    Hi,You can’t make this stuff up.People involved with Sound of Freedom, the QAnon-infused movie about anti-child trafficker Tim Ballard, are dropping like flies. I won’t ruin your day by describing it here, but Vice reports that footage has emerged of executive producer Paul Hutchinson being inappropriate with a 16-year-old trafficking ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago

  • Doubts about Robertson’s good news day
    The trading banks yesterday concluded that though GDP figures released yesterday show the economy is not in recession, it may well soon be. Nevertheless, the fact that GDP has gone up 0.8 per cent in the latest quarter and that StatsNZ revised the previous quarter’s figure to show a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago

  • The Votes That Media Dare Not Speak Its Name
    .Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work..A recent political opinion poll (20 September) on TV1 presented what could only be called bleak news for the Left Bloc:National: 37%, down two points equating to 46 seatsLabour: 27%, down one point (34 ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    1 week ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #38 2023
    Open access notables At our roots Skeptical Science is about cognition of the results of climate science research in the minds of the entire human population. Ideally we'd be perfectly communicating understanding of Earth's climate, and perfectly understood. We can only approximate that, but hopefully converging closer to perfection. With ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Failing To Hold Back The Flood: The Edgy Politics of the Twenty-First Century.
    Coming Over The Top: Rory Stewart's memoir, Politics On The Edge, lays bare the dangerous inadequacies of the Western World's current political model.VERY FEW NEW ZEALANDERS will have heard of Rory Stewart. Those with a keen eye for the absurdities of politics may recognise the name as that of the ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
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  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
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  • Appointment of District Court Judge
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  • Further safety initiatives for Auckland City Centre
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