States of it – Turei and Shearer
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2:35 pm, January 27th, 2013 - 93 comments
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Metiria Turei and David Shearer have today given their State of the Planet and State of the Nation speeches respectively. There’s a lot of commonality, which is good. A critique of the government is solidifying and it’s centred on jobs, housing, and the environment. The Greens’ policy agenda looks heftier than Labour’s but both are heading the right way.
| E rere haere ana ōku mihi ki ngā tangata whenua o tēnēi rohe, ki Ngāti Whātua. He tino nui tō manaakitanga ki a mātou i tēnēi rā.Ki te maunga i tū mai nei, Maungawhau, tēna koe.E kī ana te korero, whāia te iti kahurangi, ki te tuohu koe me he maunga teitei Our challenge is to build a movement of like-minded New Zealanders who share our vision for a better future. And that work starts today. If we want to change the world we need to build the political machine to deliver it.He hari tō tātou ngākau ki te hui i roto i tēnēi rohe ataahua.I send my greetings to the people of this land, to Ngāti Whātua. You have shown great hospitality to us today.Greetings to the mountain that stands here, Maungawhau. It is said, pursue that which is precious, and do not be deterred by anything less than a lofty mountain. Our hearts are happy to meet in this beautiful region. So how great is it to be here under the beautiful Maungawhau? I’ve spent a lot of time, climbing up and down this maunga, coming here to Tahaki for parties and picnics and late night frolicking. This maunga has been welcome respite for generations of Māori and Pakeha alike. Yet, beneath this cool, green surface lies a heart of fire, a powerful force for change waiting to be unleashed. Today I want to issue a call to action to unleash the passion and the power of the new Aotearoa New Zealand, those who care for our children and their birthright. There is much to do because our children face real challenges in this 21st century world. Global Snapshot The world faces the toughest challenges we have seen in a long time. The effects of the global financial crisis still echo around the world Income inequality in OECD countries is at its highest level for the past 50 years. The planet is suffering massive bio-diversity loss. Eco-systems are under more pressure than ever. The hurt of climate change is biting. Extreme weather events, storms, cyclones, droughts and fires are getting worse. I want to acknowledge the people of Samoa, Fiji and Australia who have suffered for extreme weather over this summer. The people of the Pacific can realistically wonder if their islands will even exist in a few years; threatened by a problem they did not create. It’s terrifying. But the tide is beginning to turn on the destructive thinking that has led to climate change. Here in New Zealand the will of the people has turned it already. Successes of 2012 When you elected a record 14 Green MPs into Parliament in 2011, it was the growing Green movement making its voice heard loud and very clear. In 2012 our new and bigger team held the Government to account and delivered good green change. We are still working with Government where we can. The home insulation scheme, a truly transformative legacy from Jeanette Fitzsimons, has insulated about 200,000 homes and we are working to continue it. We have worked to clean up toxic sites throughout Aotearoa New Zealand and have secured $10 million dollars to clean up the old tui mine near Te Aroha. And we continue to work on Ngā Haerenga, the Aotearoa New Zealand Cycle Trail, 18 Great Rides that will take cyclists through some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most iconic and picturesque country. But you’ve also made it clear that the National Government’s business-as-usual, lazy thinking is facing extinction. You’ve made it clear you want us to tackle that old ostrich thinking head on and be a strong opposition to the Government’s destructive agenda. Under National over 40,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost. So we launched a manufacturing inquiry, with the Labour, New Zealand First and Mana parties. It will report on solutions for working people in Aotearoa this year. Finding ways to get New Zealanders, especially young New Zealanders, back into work is a critical priority for us this year and unlike the Government we are looking at new ideas to do something about it. We put child poverty on the political agenda while National blames everyone else but their own indifference for the 270,000 kids trapped in poverty. We have pressured the New Zealand Superannuation Fund into higher ethical standards. We had the Fund drop mining company Freeport-McMoRan Copper&Gold after Amnesty International reported torture and killings in West Papua by the mining company’s security as thousands of mine workers were striking over their wage of less than NZ$2.50 an hour. We asked the Auditor-General to investigate National’s dirty deal with Sky City for a convention centre. It’s just plain wrong for John Key to get a convention centre paid for with the crime and misery driven by problem gambling. We held the Government to account over the privacy debacle at ACC, and forced the authorities to investigate the breaches. We have made Parliament more accessible for those with disabilities and continue to fight for a genuinely accessible Parliament for all citizens. The Greens belong to what’s been called the ‘new majority’ – the new consciousness of environmental issues, human rights, fairness and the need for good change. Green is good, and it’s getting bigger and better every day. The future Aotearoa New Zealand The future Aotearoa New Zealand will look and feel different to the New Zealand of today. It will be more ethnically diverse with growing Māori, Pacifica and Asian communities. It will be older, with more opportunities for older people and more innovative, better educated young New Zealanders than ever. Our ways of living are changing too. Women who marry do it later. We work more, parent older, and demand safe homes and relationships. We are becoming a more tolerant society. While a majority support marriage equality, young New Zealanders do so overwhelmingly. To them the notion that their gay friends and family should be denied their equal rights is unthinkable. The future Aotearoa New Zealand does not fear diversity – it embraces it. The future Aotearoa New Zealand values service to our communities and allows everyone to find decent work that pays a living wage. The future Aotearoa New Zealand doesn’t see one person’s human rights as a threat to another’s. The environmental challenges and the economic uncertainties that we all face generates a new appreciation of two ideals lost in the last three decades: • Solidarity – we are all in this together • Democracy – governing under shared values and through dialogue These are weft and weave of the fabric of a fair society. Together they have given us a great school system, fine tertiary institutions, hospitals and community health care, hydropower, roads and trains, communications: the platform for individual achievements, innovation and entrepreneurship. The political question is; who speaks to this future Aotearoa New Zealand? To this new, tolerant, diverse majority, to this recognition that we are in this together? What party speaks to the aspirations of the Aotearoa New Zealand of tomorrow? The Greens. The Green Party is an agent of hope for a new Aotearoa New Zealand. An Aotearoa New Zealand whose smart economy is built from our clean green brand and natural advantages. An Aotearoa New Zealand that is inclusive and progressive. An Aotearoa New Zealand where we are environmental champions at home and abroad. But being just an agent for hope is not enough. We need to back our hope and aspiration with action. The Greens have always been a thought leader, ahead of the curve on the critical issues of our time. And as a political force we have become better at turning our ideas into action. At Ratana this week, I announced our Home for Life plan to help families achieve the Kiwi dream of owning their own home, and being more secure in a rental home. We have offered to New Zealanders a progressive ownership scheme that will get young families on the ladder to home ownership through a deposit and mortgage free rent to own system – affordable and accessible to young families. We have offered better tenancy security and a warrant of fitness so that those who rent can stay in their homes longer, have greater certainty over rent increases, and know that the homes they pay good money to live in are warm and dry and won’t make their kids sick. We have made the dream of home ownership into a plan of action for whānau, for families. But no New Zealander will receive the benefits of this housing plan if we don’t build community support for it and if we don’t get elected. The challenge I set out today is to redouble our efforts, to make our movement the most effective on the ground political force in Aotearoa New Zealand. I’m in. Are you? I’m in – for the future Today I’m launching our plan to give all Kiwis who care about tomorrow the chance to shape political outcomes today. Called “I’m in – for the future”, the Green Party will offer anyone who wants to, the opportunity to be part of our campaigns to change Aotearoa New Zealand for the better. Our challenge is to build a movement of like-minded New Zealanders who share our vision for a better future. And that work starts today. If we want to change the world we need to build the political machine to deliver it. We will back ideas with action to make them a reality. Just go to www.greens.org.nz and signup. I’m in and I hope you will join me. Last year 3264 New Zealanders signed up to be Green Party Asset Keepers in the Keep Our Assets campaign. That is 3264 volunteers around the country working to stop asset sales. Of those, around two thirds were not our members. This new model of organising, of giving everyone a political voice and the opportunity to support our campaigns is working. I am proud to say that the Greens have collected over 185,000 Keep Our Assets signatures – more than half of the coalition total despite being the smallest of the coalition partners. “Im in – for the future” extends this opportunity across all of our campaigns. In 2013 we will back our ideals with our actions. I’m in. I hope you are too. In 2013 more people will have a chance to win on the things they care about and that are important to our country. Our first priority in 2013 is to stop asset sales. The Keep Our Assets petition is close to completion. We want to collect the remaining signatures by the end of February. I am asking every Green member and every New Zealander who supports public ownership of our profitable and strategically important power companies to sign up now for one final push to force an asset sales referendum. Throughout February we have collection events planned around the country. We need more volunteers and helpers. I’m in, and I need you to join me in getting those last signatures now. New Zealanders oppose asset sales. The Government is in a mad rush to get rid of two power companies this year. We can build an even stronger public campaign to force a referendum and we will deliver a stinging rebuke to this policy when we vote in a referendum. But we need your help. The signatures won’t magically appear on the petition, the leaflets won’t just arrive in letter boxes, the phone calls to coordinate volunteers won’t be made unless we are all in together. And once we stop the Government selling our assets we need to turn our energy to building new ones. In 2013 another priority will be our campaign to get the CBD rail link in Auckland built. Yes, we need a Mayor and a council elected in Auckland committed to building the rail link. But we have that already and the link isn’t getting built. We need to build pressure on the Government in Wellington to deliver the public transport Aucklanders want and need. In 2013 we will campaign for the survival of our public schools. Schools are the hubs of our communities, where the bodies and minds of future New Zealanders are nurtured and set on a path to realise their full potential. Make no mistake, our schools have never felt so unsupported, so threatened as they do under this Government and this Minister. If the Government keeps attacking schools and kids, they’ve got a fight on their hands. 2014 is election year. And the Government is going to fight the 2014 election with fear and money. They will scare monger about the Greens and they will throw every cent from their very deep pockets so they can stay in power to deliver more of the same failures. And we will fight their fear and money with people and passion. What we lack in dollars we will make up for with action. Conclusion Our coalition of supporters, dedicated to building a modern and progressive Aotearoa New Zealand will be unstoppable because we will be on the right side of history and represent the best of our country. The Green Party will offer New Zealanders policies full of opportunities to build a better Aotearoa New Zealand, to give everyone a decent start in life, a good job with a living wage and an abundant environment to be proud of. Together we are powerful and passionate. Together, we will build a caring country that honours our past, makes good green change in the present and has our gaze set firmly on the opportunities of the future. This is a rally cry for a new year, crisp with fresh promise. So, I’m in – are you? |
Tēnā koutou katoa.Greetings everyone and thank you for being here together on a Sunday. It’s great to see so many friendly faces.It’s wonderful to see so many of you prepared to give up some of your summer break to talk about the future of our country.There is nothing more important. And nothing more urgent. I can tell you that today I’m refreshed, I’m fired up, and I’m raring to go.This year will be a big year for Labour – a year where we not only hold the government to account, but also show there’s a better way.A way of hope, where there is a place for everyone and where we fight for a world class NZ that we can all be proud of.
Today I want to lay out the challenges before us, the need for change and our focus for the year. NEW ZEALANDERS WHO INSPIRE US ALL A book I was given for Christmas tells the stories of 50 inspiring New Zealanders – artists, scientists, musicians, business people, some well-known, some less so. Reading about their lives, they share the same passion and pride in their work and in their country. The ambition to be world class. As scientist Ray Avery says: ‘we have no respect for the status quo’. These people never say it’s too hard – we’re not big enough, we’re too isolated, we don’t have enough money. Instead they say, “To hell with it, I’m going to do it anyway”. New Zealanders have always achieved what wasn’t supposed to be possible. Sir Edmund Hillary’s idea of what was possible took him to the very top of the world. Kate Sheppard’s idea of what was possible made New Zealand the first country to give women the vote. Alan MacDiarmid’s idea of what was possible took him from Masterton to winning the Nobel Prize. We’ve always dreamed big and succeeded. I see that same attitude in families and schools, businesses and sports teams as I travel up and down the country. People overcoming adversity, dreaming of something better. When I see a single mum put herself through polytech to build a better future for her kids, I’m inspired. When I meet New Zealanders well into their retirement, who after a lifetime of service are the first to volunteer come Daffodil Day, I’m inspired. When a kid, who the stats say should fail, becomes the first member of their family to graduate from university, I’m inspired. It’s inspiring because Kiwis don’t lie down. From the most famous to the most humble, courage and determination is the common bond. They deserve a Government that backs their hopes and inspires them to succeed. A Government that says: you do your bit, we’ll do ours. That’s what a Labour Government will do. That’s what a government I lead will do. NATIONAL’S EXCUSES ARE HOLDING US BACK But this Government’s low expectations are holding us back. For 4 years we’ve been fed skilfully spun excuses for why we can’t get ahead. It’s the Global Financial Crisis, the Canterbury earthquakes, the global outlook that is the problem. We are told we have to accept second best. There is always an excuse for why we can’t get ahead. For why we can’t be a leader in this field or that. For example, the National government aspires to being a fast follower when it comes to climate change. Hold that thought. What is a fast follower exactly? Does it mean that if we follow too fast we become … what…an accidental leader? But a leader with no clue about where they’re going. That’s not good enough with an issue that is so important to our planet, and our country. We deserve better than that. I refuse to accept that for New Zealand. And so do the Kiwis I meet. FORGOTTEN NEW ZEALANDERS But this Government has forgotten the hard-working and inspiring people I come across every day. In a pub in Napier, a guy came up and said to me “I’m working harder than ever, I pay my taxes, we’re trying to bring up our kids the best we can, but we simply can’t seem to get ahead”. He went on to say: “I just feel nobody is standing up for me”. So many others I have met feel the same. They’re busy helping organise school galas, donating their time to charities, running the sausage sizzle to fundraise for local sports clubs. They are at the heart of our communities helping make our country the great one it is. I’ve run into that spirit amongst many small business owners. They’re the kind of people who pay themselves for 40 hours but work 80 just to keep the doors open. They’re not asking for an easy ride or a hand-out. But like thousands of others across this country, they’ve been taken for granted. They feel the Government has forgotten them. Kiwis across the country are working harder than ever. They’re doing their fair share. Playing their part. We all have that responsibility. But they feel let down. My promise to you as Prime Minister is that I will always stand up for the hardworking, forgotten New Zealanders. You’re doing your bit, it’s time you had a Government that did its bit too. NEW ERA – HANDS ON GOVERNMENT We desperately need real leadership now more than ever. The Global Financial Crisis has exposed the frailties of the old economic wisdom. The National Party believes the financial crisis is just a blip to get over. Their solution is to apply their failed ideas of the past over and over. They are wrong. The hands-off, simply leave it to the market approach has failed all over the world. We are on the cusp of a new era – when new thinking and leadership is needed to build wealth we can all share in. The world has changed. National hasn’t. It’s stuck in the past. We need a government that recognises times have changed. We need a Government that finds the courage to act, not better excuses for why we can’t. We need a government prepared to stand up for hardworking forgotten Kiwis. We need a smart, hands-on Government. A government that is prepared to be a player, not a spectator. That will be a Labour Government, and the Government I will lead. It’s about getting our priorities right, being thrifty about our economy. Bringing our debt under control. But being smart about how we tackle the massive challenges ahead. Above all, this country needs a government that chooses to act. Let me tell you what I mean. When a young couple is putting off having kids until they buy a house, and yet despite saving hard, prices always slip beyond their reach, it’s time to act. That’s why I’m committed to putting 100,000 families into new homes. It’s ambitious, but New Zealanders can see right through the Government’s hands off approach that leaves it to the market. They see through the tinkering with the RMA. They see through the latest excuse – to blame the local Council. It’s just not credible. It’s also why Labour will introduce a Capital Gains Tax to move investment into business and away from property speculation that is pushing house prices through the roof. When a student graduating from university faces 7.3% unemployment and little chance of getting a job, it’s time to act. They’ve done their bit, we need to do ours. It’s heart-breaking watching parents waving goodbye to their kids at our airports. People want to work – they just need the jobs. Two days ago, John Key had an epiphany: We have a youth unemployment problem – we need apprentices. Good on him. I thank the focus group that brought that to his attention. There are now 20 per cent fewer apprentices today than when he took office. We are now importing foreign labour to meet skills shortages in the biggest rebuild in our history in Christchurch. Is he just waking up to this now? Is this government asleep at the wheel, completely out of touch? You don’t need to answer that. The answer is obvious. I have been serious about youth unemployment from the day I was elected leader. Labour’s plans are out there. I’d be delighted if this government picked them up and ran with them. For example: We’ll pay employers the equivalent of the dole to take on apprentices. We’ll back Kiwi businesses to get their slice of the $30 billion dollars the Government contracts out every year – but we will require them to take on apprentices and trainees in return. We’ll give tax breaks to companies doing world-leading research and development, so the innovations – and the jobs – they create stay right here in New Zealand. Another thing. When I see talented people forced to leave their home town because there’s nothing on offer for them, it’s time to act. That’s why we’ll work with councils on projects that support their provinces. Projects like the Gisborne to Napier rail link to boost economic development and create jobs. When I hear of high value manufacturers shedding jobs because our high dollar cuts them off at the knees, it’s time to act. We’ll make changes to monetary policy so that our job-creating businesses aren’t undermined by our exchange rate. When a 5 year old girl falls asleep in class because she had no breakfast before she left home, it’s time to act. Labour will put food in schools, to make sure all our kids get the same chance to learn. When a mum and dad work long hours but still can’t afford healthy food for their kids, it’s time to act. We’ll lift the minimum wage and champion a living wage to make sure hard work can provide a decent living. This is what I mean when I say we need a smart Government prepared to act. A Government that says we will back you if you’re prepared to do your best. Yes, we face huge challenges, but by being hands on we can turn our biggest challenges into opportunities for the future. Since we announced KiwiBuild last year, excitement is growing. Architects, construction companies and designers around NZ have been in touch. They see an opportunity to build affordable, energy-efficient – even energy generating – houses. Houses that use home grown sustainable materials. Houses that families will be proud to call home. This is an idea the country is embracing. More than 70 per cent of Kiwis support our KiwiBuild programme to build 100,000 first homes. New Zealanders are also behind our other new ideas and those numbers are growing. Most people see the need for a Capital Gains Tax on investment properties. Nearly six in every ten New Zealanders support our idea to make KiwiSaver universal. And nearly two-thirds of you back our pledge to protect universal superannuation for future generations by gradually lifting the age of eligibility. The forces of conservatism said that reforming Super wasn’t the right thing to do. It wouldn’t be popular – so we shouldn’t do it. They were wrong. New Zealanders are forward thinking and are prepared to do what it takes to create a better future. National has a big idea of course – it’s to sell our best assets. And, with them, goes another chunk of our future. That is their plan. Most Kiwis hate it. And we are behind them fighting that idea all the way. HANDS ON – A GLOBAL TREND Labour isn’t alone in knowing the time has come for active government. A movement of leaders and people across the world have realised the old hands-off solutions take us nowhere. It’s a new way of thinking and it’s evolving. New Zealanders are looking to a government that will roll up its sleeves and back them. You do your part, and we the government will do ours. In 2014 that’s the Government I will lead. AGENDA FOR 2013 Kiwis won’t have to wait until the election to find out what I stand for and what I’ll do about the issues that matter to them. I’ve already put clear stakes in the ground on housing affordability, quality education, growing jobs and the economy. There’s more to come. For Labour, this year is about preparing for Government. We want New Zealanders to know that we’re ready to govern. That’s why today I’m setting out my agenda for the year. Number one is jobs. It is our most urgent priority and cuts across everything we do. Labour’s plan to build new affordable homes will create thousands of new jobs and apprenticeships. A job is more than a weekly wage, it’s gives people a purpose and pride in themselves. That’s why I’m focussed on jobs. Our housing proposals are at the cutting edge of urban design and energy efficiency. This year we will bring together the best ideas of architects, designers, urban planners and others to a housing conference. I want KiwiBuild ready to roll on Day 1 when we take office. First-home buyers shouldn’t have to wait. Jacinda Ardern, my Social Development spokesperson, will produce an alternative white paper this year, setting out our direction to help lift kids out of poverty. There are 270,000 children in hardship in this country, and the government is failing them. Kids deserve the best chance in life regardless of their parents’ wealth, and with Labour they will get that. Their best opportunity is from a world-class education system. We’ve already set out our plan to put food in schools and extend reading recovery so our kids aren’t destined to be drop outs from their first day at school. This year I’m asking my education team to look at ways to improve transitions from school to further training and high-skill jobs. 85,000 young New Zealanders are not in work, education or training. It’s a flaw in our system. I want to see our schools seamlessly connect to further training opportunities. I want every child to go through school with a purpose and plan of where they’ll end up. Because every young Kiwi deserves a shot at a career that excites and motivates them. Without this we’ll continue to see kids, without the right skills to get a job, falling through the cracks. And our employers will continue to struggle to find the skills they need. That’s not a future I want for my kids or yours. I’ve spoken of a clean, green, clever economy many times. We need our environment to drive our economic success and our economy to keep our environment clean. The reality is we will not create more better paying jobs by simply exporting more milk powder. We’ve been talking about it since Mike Moore invented lamb burgers. Our future prosperity will be carved out by backing the talent of businesses working in high tech, or the innovations of those adding value to our natural resources. It will be built by those that see the promise and opportunity of a clean, green future. Great ideas are emerging from organisations like Pure Advantage, and from thousands of innovative can-do Kiwis. A thriving manufacturing sector is at the heart of my vision. That’s why our manufacturing inquiry that starts tomorrow is an important first step. But the commitment is lacking from government. Well I am committed to this future. There is simply no other option. That is why I have asked my colleagues to develop a clear plan to diversify our economy. A plan we can put in front of New Zealanders, not airy fairy concepts. All of these areas – jobs, education, housing and building a new economy – are critical to rebuilding our second largest city. I am committed to rebuilding Christchurch from the grassroots up, not the Beehive down. That’s why I’ll be talking to Cantabrians about how they see their future. To ensure their voices are heard. That’s what we’ll work on in the coming months. These ideas will make a difference. These are ideas National simply can’t see. CONCLUSION The difference between the forces of conservatism and the need for change has never been wider. Come 2014, New Zealanders will face a choice more stark than any in a generation. A choice in the direction of their country. A choice between staying as we are and managing our decline, or being part of a hands-on Government that’s backing hardworking New Zealanders. A government that chooses action over excuses. A government that understands the world is entering a new era and we need to change with it. One that shares the determination and passion of those Kiwis who inspire us most. That’s the Labour Government I will lead. But I can’t do it alone. Today, I am asking for your help. I want you to be part of my team and play a part in the next government. I want to hear your hopes for this country and your ideas of how we get there. I want each of you to take the Labour message out to your neighbours, your co-workers, your congregation, and your friends. Tell them yes, we in the Labour Party are committed to making a real difference in people’s lives. We will not accept the status quo. A tide for change is building. Change that guarantees everyone gets ahead, not just those at the top. Change so we once again stand tall as a country. A country where we strive to be a leader – not a follower. A country where the Government is hands-on and backs its people. A country we can be proud of. Friends, join with me to build that future. Because, together, that’s what we will do in 2014. Thank you. |
It’s interesting to see the Greens looking to leverage the contacts they’ve gained through the asset sales CIR into a wider movement. Having collected over half the signatures, they’re well placed. If I were to nitpick, I find it strange that Shearer doesn’t even mention the referendum, which will be held this year. And the bit about being a climate change fast follower confuses me. The problem with National on climate is that they’re not even a fast follower, they’re a farce.
While both parties talk about jobs and the need for more government action on the issue, they haven’t really elucidated the bounds of the action that they’re talking about. It’s not that I expect them to give policy detail, but I would like more of a feel for how much they’re prepared to increase the government’s intervention in the economy to create jobs – will they have the government itself do the work that the private sector fails to do, or will they stick to trying to incentivise action from the private sector?
What about investment in upgrading the capital that the Crown already owns – schools, hospitals, state houses, public transport and rail, even roads – surely there’s a lot of work that can be done making that stuff more cost-effective, which will actually save the government money. Or are we just talking tax credits? Again, Shearer seems reticent to actually put any government money behind his words but the Greens, too, have yet to show whether they still think jobs is a ‘market knows best’ thing at the end of the day or whether full employment should be a goal and government investment should be used to achieve it.
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Nicola Willis’ budget cuts are under fire from economists for having no clear rationale and worsening the recession. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, November 21: The news at ...22 hours ago
- The end of policing by consent
National has appointed a new police commissioner. And he explicitly rejects policing by consent: Asked if he subscribed to policing by consent, he said he did not. “I don’t talk about policing by consent. I talk about trust and confidence, and it is fundamentally important that the police have ...2 days ago
- The Treaty Principles Bill: A Who’s Who
David Horatio Waterbed SeymourFringe politician and dweeb transformed successfully by ThinkTank money into a well-oiled soundbite robot.Currently programmed to say: Equal rights for all New Zealanders Equal rights for all New Zealanders Equal rights for all New Zealanders Was previously programmed to say:I am a proud libertarian andI am a ...2 days ago - Kinleith mill closure shows need for industrial strategy
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is calling on the Government to deliver an economic and industrial strategy for regional manufacturing, rather than just expressing sympathy for job losses, following the announced closure of Kinleith mill in Tokoroa. “The closure Kinleith mill in Tokoroa is not just devastating for ...2 days ago
- 27% of kids going hungry, up from 21% in a year
One in four Kiwi children live in households where food runs out often or sometimes. Photo: Getty ImagesKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, November 20: The lead: The official annual Health Survey found sharp ...2 days ago - Transport modelling is an illusion
This guest post by Tim Adriaansen, an advocate for accessibility and sustainable transport, originally published on LinkedIn and cross posted here with permission. People prefer cars, right? Probably not. Here’s why. Granted, most people in English-speaking countries use a car to get around. This simple reality underpins our transport ...2 days ago
- Young Maori take over
Neither Wellington nor Parliament has ever seen anything like it before. The Police said there were more than 40,000 but however many there were, yesterday’s Hikoi to Parliament was a monumental event. It was almost three times the Foreshore and Seabed martch of 2004 and many,many times bigger than ...2 days ago
- Gordon Campbell On The Hikoi Aftermath
The euphoria from yesterday’s hikoi may be transitory, but is no less valuable for that. It is pretty rare for the left to feel itself to be in the overwhelming majority, and speaking as the voice of the people. Lest that momentum be lost, the organisers will no doubt be ...2 days ago - Sabin 33 #3 – Solar panels generate too much waste and will overwhelm landfills
On November 1, 2024 we announced the publication of 33 rebuttals based on the report "Rebutting 33 False Claims About Solar, Wind, and Electric Vehicles" written by Matthew Eisenson, Jacob Elkin, Andy Fitch, Matthew Ard, Kaya Sittinger & Samuel Lavine and published by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia ...2 days ago
- What’s the time Mr Seymour?
Mr David Seymour crawling up to the ceilingThe sun don't shine the sun don't shine the sun don't shine at allMamma Pappa say you should go to school, I don't know what forNow that I've grown up and seen the world and all its liesSong: Southside of Bombay"Ake, ake, ake" ...2 days ago - Submit to defend te Tiriti!
The Justice Committee has called for submissions on National's racist and constitutionally radical Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill. Submissions can be made at the link above or by post, and are due by Tuesday, 7 January 2025. But I'd get in quick, in case National grows a spine ...3 days ago
- We need to talk about Kevin
All happy families are alike; each unhappy family has a Drunk Uncle Kevin in there somewhere. If your Kevin is anything like the ones I know, he was getting along happily enough without having to think too much about the Treaty Principles Bill apart from bloody good job, onya guys ...3 days ago - The hikoi
Like everyone else (everyone who wasn't there, anyway), I've spent the morning watching the hikoi march on Parliament. The pictures are astounding: parliament grounds and the surrounding streets are full, and there are still people backed up along Lambton Quay. The police are estimating 35,000 people, and that's a floor ...3 days ago
- Why Govt & NZ Inc should boycott & regulate Facebook
3 days ago - How should we talk about change?
A better world isn’t just possible, it’s desirable. And that’s how we should frame a lot of our conversations around making a greater Auckland. As an example take urban climate action. A climate friendly Auckland: Is free from congestion Enables people to travel how they choose Is filled with ...3 days ago
- AMA + Holiday Webworm Merch!
3 days ago - Discount Code for Webworm Merch!
Hi,So there’s a bunch of new stuff on the Webworm store (www.webworm.store) — just in time for the Holidays. Read more ...3 days ago - Trying to defuse the tension
There were urgent moves yesterday at Parliament to try and defuse the tension building up over ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill. The Bill’s author, ACT leader David Seymour, told reporters that he understood the Justice Select Committee met yesterday to discuss how long it should take to consider submissions on the ...3 days ago
- An Irritable NZ Pawn – David Seymour Admits Treaty Principles Bill will clear the way for deve...
3 days ago - Gordon Campbell On The Hikoi Arrival, And Tyler Childers
Politicians like to bang on all about the need to heal society’s racial/economic divisions, but in their actions they’re more keen on stoking those divisions, with the Treaty Principles Bill being the classic example. The Bill seeks to dilute the Crown’s responsibilities to Māori at the same time as it ...3 days ago
- Socially Backwards and Fiscally Forwards: the False Ideological Divide and the “Conservative” Li...
3 days ago - Kaamos: Accepted
I appreciate that A Phuulish Fellow has been fairly quiet recently. That’s a combination of two things – comparatively little in the way of relevant material to discuss (at least until The War of the Rohirrim comes out next month), and my general work on The Secret Non-Fiction Writing Project. ...3 days ago - Here’s how governments could fix their Paris climate commitment failures
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Governments around the world face a conundrum. Virtually none are on track to meet their Paris climate commitments. That includes the United States, which committed to cut its emissions at least 50% below 2005 levels by 2030 but is only on track for 32-43% cuts ...4 days ago
- Unstoppable.
4 days ago - Katherine Trebeck – An Alternative Economic Narrative
The era of neoliberalism has been destructive on so many levels, with a huge growth in wealth and privilege for the one percent. A hollowing out of the state; fraying of the safety net; inadequate government investment in infrastructure; and continued environmental degradation has resulted in damage on a vast ...4 days ago - In a Manner of Speaking
In a manner of speakingI just want to sayThat I could never forget the wayYou told me everythingBy saying nothingOh, give me the wordsGive me the wordsThat tell me nothingOh, give me the wordsGive me the wordsThat tell me everythingSongwriter: Winston TongNext Tuesday, the subscription price for Nick’s Kōrero will ...4 days ago - Monday 18 November 2024
The NZNO have announced a nationwide strike for December over its pay dispute with Health NZ, who have put a 1 per cent cap on pay rises. The Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti and Treaty Principles Bill remain front and centre in the media, with the impacts of the Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke-led ...4 days ago
- Shipley warns Seymour’s bill is ‘inviting civil war’
The divisive Treaty Principles Bill is not just a risk for the National Party, it’s a risk to civil order and unity, warns a National Party grandee. Photo: Getty ImagesKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on ...4 days ago - A clearer network for the City Rail Link?
This post was originally published on Linked In by Nicolas Reid. It is republished here with permission. Auckland is now just a year or so away from having the keystone of its urban rail network complete. As I wrote about here, the City Rail Link will be a literal game changer for ...4 days ago
- National’s support base is wobbling
If ACT leader David Seymour intended the Treaty Principles Bill to drive a wedge into National’s support base, he may well already be succeeding. By midnight on Thursday after the Maori Party haka in Parliament, National MPs were being deluged with emails and messages from their members calling them out ...4 days ago
- 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #46
A listing of 33 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, November 10, 2024 thru Sat, November 16, 2024. Story of the week Our Story of the Week is completely "meta" (no, not that Meta). It's about our exploring how ...4 days ago
- Grifter Eftpos Tamaki at it again
..Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.Self-appointed “Bishop” and proto-fascist, Brian Tamaki was at it again on 16 November, blocking Auckland’s southern motorway, SH1.This time, the target of his ire wasn’t the Civil Unions Act; covid lock-downs; mask mandates; or ...5 days ago - Rip up a bill, lead a haka are words to live by
I cannot stop grabbing people by the lapels, or shoulders, or similar, and raving at them about the tiny miracles in my ears.I can hear again! There could not be a more satisfied customer in all the world.In a noisy cafe I am even catching words that Karren cannot, she ...5 days ago - Unintended Consequences
Take the baitYou pay the priceIt's much too lateFor good adviceYou know and I know that our good things' throughBecause there's consequences for what we doConsequences for me and youWriters: Kevin Robert Hayes, David Nagier, Bonnie Adele Hayes.Fallout from the first readingOne News began last night by saying that tens ...6 days ago - Thank you, driver!
Today, Saturday 16th of November, is Auckland Transport’s Bus Driver Appreciation Day! Saturday 16 November marks the third annual Auckland Transport (AT) ‘Bus Driver Appreciation Day’, and this year we are encouraging all of New Zealand to thank their driver or let the bus go first if you are in ...6 days ago
- Totally Normal: Holiday Edition
Hi,If I was to accurately sum up my mental state over the week, I’d just say that I got a huge fright from my own shadow.I’d nipped out for an 11pm neighborhood stroll, just to calm down after a day of stress and screens. The Cure and Fazerdaze’s new record ...6 days ago - We Are Not Listening
The current rise of populism challenges the way we think about people’s relationship to the economy.We seem to be entering an era of populism, in which leadership in a democracy is based on preferences of the population which do not seem entirely rational nor serving their longer interests. ...
7 days ago - More lawlessness from National
On Tuesday, sick of government stonewalling, the Waitangi Tribunal issued a rare court order, ordering the Minister of Health to release unredacted documents within 48 hours showing its reasoning for disestablishing Te Aka Whai Ora, the Māori Health Authority. The government's response to the lawful order of a court? Yeah, ...7 days ago
- National’s tyrannical “foreign interference” law
Yesterday, under cover the the biggest political fight of the year, National quietly - covertly, even - introduced anti-foreign interference legislation. The bill is the product of a years-long work-program aimed at countering shit like this and this, and there's unquestionably a need to do something to counter foreign states' ...7 days ago
- The Haka Represents The Best Of Us
A few months ago, I was in an audience watching a Haka-Kapa and as I watched children dance and sing and sway and shout and beat, I couldn’t help but think “The Haka represents the best of us.”Yes, yes - there will be a thousand voices that rush forth to ...7 days ago
- Adding up the climate cost
St Mary’s Bay housing left hanging: Climate risk is systemically underestimated in the climate scenarios used by central banks, and a new report warns 10,000 houses are set to become uninsurable in Aotearoa. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in ...7 days ago
- Auckland chafing at Bishop’s housing intensification orders
One of the major problems the Government has in implementing its ‘going for housing growth’ strategy is that it isn’t giving much funding help to councils. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and ...7 days ago - Friday 15 November 2024
The Treaty Principles Bill continues to dominate political news, with it passing its first reading in the House. Parliament was briefly suspended and Te Pāti Māori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke suspended for 24 hours after leading a haka that was joined by opposition MPs and the public in the gallery. Willie ...7 days ago
- Weekly Roundup 15-November-2024
Happy Friday, welcome to another round-up of interesting stories about what’s happening in Auckland and other cities. Feel free to add your links in the comments! This post, like all our work, is brought to you by a largely volunteer crew and made possible by generous donations from our readers ...7 days ago
- Are We The Waiting?
And screamingAre we we are, are we we are the waitingAnd screamingAre we we are, are we we are the waitingForget me nots, second thoughts live in isolationHeads or tails and fairy tales in my mindAre we we are, are we we are the waiting unknownThe rage and love, the ...7 days ago - The Hoon around the week to November 15
The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate news, including from COP29 this week; on the US Presidential elections, Israel vs Gaza/Iran/Lebanon, Ukraine/Nato vs Russia/North ...7 days ago
- First Tea and Toast, now Milo — why do NZ’s best beverages need so much defending?
Only two months ago, Nicola Willis had to step in to stop Health New Zealand cutting tea and toast for post-birth parents, and now Lester Levy is riding to the rescue with a welcome message for all: our health workers can once again drink Milo, and will no longer need ...1 week ago - Gordon Campbell on the folly of making apologies in a social vacuum.
Day One of the Treaty Principles Bill…and everyone got what they wanted, and did what they liked. Heated words were exchanged. Culturally appropriate acts of outrage were performed. David Seymour got to play the victim card. Willie Jackson got kicked out of class. A comically red-faced Mr Speaker bellowed “Order, ...1 week ago
- Skeptical Science New Research for Week #46 2024
Open access notables Microbial solutions must be deployed against climate catastrophe, Peixoto et al., Nature Communications [comment]: The climate crisis is escalating. A multitude of microbe-based solutions have been proposed, and these technologies hold great promise and could be deployed along with other climate mitigation strategies. However, these solutions have ...1 week ago
- The PM gets some extremely valuable legal advice for free
You can pay a great deal of money for the services of a KC. So just what would some peerless legal writing from 40 or so of them be worth, do you reckon?Priceless, that’s what. It’s not even the half of it, but this is my favourite part of the ...1 week ago - D-day for the government
The government's Treaty Principles Bill is up for its first reading today - bought forward in a rush in a desperate effort to avoid the hikoi which is currently marching on Wellington. But the Prime Minister won’t be there for it – he’s literally running away to Peru! But he ...1 week ago
- 97% of submissions did not want no-cause evictions, Trump chooses a Russian spy for US Intelligence ...
Good morning, and I’m sorry I’ve been away for a couple of days.I’ve been focusing on the Hikoi, and also testing out sentiment on the Treaty Principles Bill. It’s complicated, and the Treaty Principles Bill will be debated in the House today. The Government’s own lawyers have told them the ...1 week ago - Government must vote down ACT Members Bill that would undermine workers’ rights
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is calling on the Government to vote down an ACT Party Members Bill that would undermine workers’ rights by making it easier for employers to fire workers. Last week ACT MP Laura Trask’s Employment Relations (Termination of Employment by Agreement) Amendment Bill was ...1 week ago
- Seymour causes thousands of unjustified absences by forcing kids to fight for their rights instead o...
The State would like to remind you that they are in control. They manage your employment prospects, and can destroy the job market you and yours rely on by mass-cancelling construction projects, cutting funding, and firing a good chunk of our public servants. They wield the mechanisms that provide scrutiny ...1 week ago - The Weight of the World
As the weight of the world Hangs on your shoulders The weight of the world Starts to take over again And over again All that you once loved, now you hate So slowly relearn how to meditate To have and to hold And never let go Can you feel it ...1 week ago - Thursday 14 November 2024
The Treaty Principles Bill is set to have its First Reading in the House today, as the Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti continues. More than 40 KCs have written to the Prime Minister and Attorney-General outlining their “grave concerns” about the substance of the Treaty Principles Bill, while an academic and ...1 week ago
- Trump’s return to White House brings the climate’s ‘find out’ phase closer
As we absorb the news of Trump's victory in the US Presidential election, here’s a wrap compiled just before the result of what it might mean for climate action: The UN Secretary General says the prospective departure of the United States would cripple the Paris Agreement, likening it to the ...1 week ago
- Time and Space in the City Centre
Patrick Reynolds is deputy chair of the City Centre Advisory Panel. The header image is from Walthamstow, London The city centre now has a few stretches of street where the space has been repurposed to a people and place focused design from full time traffic use. These are a great ...1 week ago
- An opportunity for a pro-growth tax switch
As the Hikoi against it swells into the tens of thousands, KCs call on National to kill off ACT’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. Photo: Getty ImagesKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, November 14: The ...1 week ago - Dealing to the big Aussie banks
The big question hovering over the Select Committee Inquiry into banking is what the Government will do with its findings. If yesterday’s hearing is anything to go by there is a tidal wave of discontent about the four big Australian Banks crashing through the Committee which may force it to ...1 week ago
- 20 fact briefs published in collaboration with Gigafact!
In April 2024 we announced the (renewed) collaboration between Gigafact and Skeptical Science to create fact briefs, short but credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. Our initial plan had been to publish one fact brief per week on Saturdays but - as happens ...1 week ago
- Instead of axing the HRC, ACT corruptly installed a racist, transphobic “Gay Human Rights Commissi...
On November 5th, the Spinoff published a very interesting article on Stephen Rainbow, the Human Rights Commission’s latest recruitment, and how he came to get the controversial appointment. Naturally because of the excitement of the US election, it’s flown a little below the radar. https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/05-11-2024/i-didnt-get-the-hrc-job-stephen-rainbows-human-rights-commission-appointment-just-got-weirderThe article details evidence of the ...1 week ago - Injustice for torture
Between 1950 and 1993 the New Zealand government tortured and abused up to 250,000 children in residential care facilities. Yesterday, following formal findings from a royal commission, it finally apologised for that abuse. The next step is redress and restitution - compensating the surviving victims for the appalling harm they ...1 week ago
- Voices echo
1 week ago
- NZ’s global climate rankings plummet as Govt removes agriculture from ETS
The Government has passed legislation to remove agriculture from the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) while Aotearoa’s reputation on climate action plummets. ...12 hours ago - Failed boot camp experiment must end
As legislation to set up boot camps passed its first reading, the Green Party urged the Government to abandon this failed policy experiment for the good of our rangatahi. ...13 hours ago
- Gender-affirming care must centre evidence and health needs, not political posturing
The Ministry of Health has today released an evidence brief regarding the use of puberty blockers in gender-affirming healthcare, amid moves by the government to limit access. ...13 hours ago
- Release: National doesn’t care about manufacturing
The National Government is walking away from our manufacturing sector with constant reports of closures and job losses. ...15 hours ago - Release: David Parker speech – Piketty, Inequality and Climate Change
David Parker's speech from the University of Auckland's forum on Piketty, Inequality and Climate Change in September 2024. ...15 hours ago
- Release: Youth mental wellbeing no longer a priority for Child Poverty Minister
Louise Upston has revealed her diminished vision for vulnerable youth against a backdrop of snubbed advice, scrapped priorities, shifted goal posts and thousands more children projected to fall into poverty. ...16 hours ago
- Release: National’s lack of climate action taking NZ backwards
National Government’s backward-looking climate policy has seen New Zealand fall seven places on the Climate Change Performance Index to 41 out of 63 countries measured. ...16 hours ago
- Release: Simple reason for drop in emergency housing
When the Government says it has reduced the number of people in emergency housing, what it means is it is stopping people from accessing it in the first place. ...19 hours ago
- Govt’s child wellbeing strategy ‘shallow and shameful’
The Government is turning its back on children by not only weakening child poverty reduction targets, but also removing child mental wellbeing as a priority focus in their Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy. ...20 hours ago
- Release: A historic win for Samoan communities
Labour warmly welcomes the Restoring Samoan Citizenship Bill as it passes its third reading, before becoming law. ...20 hours ago
- Government plan to reinstate live animal exports a “national disgrace”
The Government has taken a giant step backwards by reinstating live animal exports. ...1 day ago
- Pasifika justice as Member’s Bill passes final reading
Teanau Tuiono’s Member’s Bill, the Citizenship (Western Samoa Restoration) Amendment Bill, has passed its third reading and will become law. ...1 day ago
- Release: Minister of Education thinks New Zealand ends at the Bombay Hills
The Minister of Education has shown complete disregard for rural communities and their school bus routes in Question Time today. ...1 day ago
- Economists sound alarm on Government’s slash-and-burn approach
A group of prominent economists has released an open letter to the Government, raising grave concerns about the far-reaching consequences of its fiscal policy. ...2 days ago
- Release: Smoking numbers up under Costello’s watch
National’s repeal of Labour’s smokefree legislation has taken New Zealand further away from achieving a Smokefree 2025 and a smokefree generation. ...2 days ago
- Release: Call for Palestine recognition by NZ, Australian and Canadian MPs
Parliamentarians from Australia, Canada and New Zealand have written an open letter to their respective Prime Ministers calling on them to recognise Palestine. ...2 days ago
- Justice Select Committee opens floor for Treaty Principles submissions
Today, the Justice Select Committee has decided to officially open submissions for the controversial Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Power of the people on full display as hīkoi approaches Parliament
Today, Hīkoi mō te Tiriti arrived in Wellington, with thousands gathering to march in unity against the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Hypocrisy as Te Whatu Ora contractor bill balloons
Te Whatu Ora’s bill for contracting and consulting staff has ballooned by nearly 20 percent under the National Government, breaking a promise they made during the election campaign to cut contractors. ...4 days ago
- Release: Growing pressure to scrap Section 7AA Repeal Bill
The newly released Section 7AA Repeal Bill's select committee report is further evidence that the Government should scrap it. ...4 days ago
- Government’s move to monetise access to nature a slippery slope
The Green Party is voicing serious concerns over the Government’s proposal to charge for access to public conservation land, released today. ...7 days ago
- Green Party condemns the passage of Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party condemns the passing of the Treaty Principles Bill at first reading, and is clear that the fight is not over. ...1 week ago
- Stand Up for Te Tiriti
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is our country’s founding document. It forms the basis of the relationship between Māori and the Crown – and the Aotearoa New Zealand we live in today. ...1 week ago
- Release: Over 15,000 sign Labour’s open letter to Luxon
As the hīkoi to Parliament continues, Labour has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in a last-ditch attempt to get him to kill the Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Fast Track Bill threatens environment, climate and reputation
The fast-track legislation passing its second reading in Parliament is another step towards environmental ruin. ...1 week ago
- Greens join King’s Counsel in calling for Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned
The Prime Minister must answer the call from a group of senior lawyers of the King’s Counsel to abandon the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Chris Hipkins’ apology statement to state and faith-based care survivors
...1 week ago
- Release: Labour formally apologises to state and faith-based care survivors
Labour joins with the Government in unreservedly apologising for the abuse, neglect and trauma including torture in state and faith-based care and for ignoring the voices of survivors for too long. ...1 week ago
- Green Party stands in support of survivors of abuse in care
Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology. ...1 week ago
- Green Party calls for conscience vote on Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party has written to the Speaker of the House requesting he enable a personal vote on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt move to exclude journalist risks chilling effect
The Green Party is alarmed by the Government’s move to exclude a journalist from covering this week’s apology for the survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care. ...2 weeks ago
- Without action, an apology will be empty air
For tomorrow’s apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Concerns remain over tobacco interference
Concerns about the tobacco industry’s ability to interfere in government policy making remain, despite the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the Government’s decision to halve the excise tax on heated tobacco products. ...2 weeks ago
- Urgent wake-up call on climate
The Climate Change Commission’s latest advice indicates Aotearoa needs to be stepping up on climate action. ...2 weeks ago
- Green MP’s Meme-ber’s Bill set to save the world
Break out the punchlines and dust off your meme folder: Green Party MP Kahurangi Carter’s Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill was pulled from the Ballot yesterday. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies
Kua hinga te manawa kairākau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te Pō ...2 weeks ago
- Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour, Greens and Te Pāti Māori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori are working together against the Government’s divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ must pursue independent foreign policy
The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Winston Peters must apologise
The Deputy Prime Minister should apologise to the public servant he named and blamed for something they did not do, and for misusing the rules of Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements
The Government is taking action to ensure Southland farmers and growers are not affected by unreasonable regional farm plan deadlines, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.“Cabinet has agreed to provide more time for farmers and growers to comply with regional rules ...13 hours ago - Bill reaffirms Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending
The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Government’s commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. “In recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. “This Bill makes ...13 hours ago
- Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review
Fairer, more sensible rules about managing earthquake risks are a step closer with the passing of legislation and the appointment of an independent chair to provide expert advice, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The Government is committed to reinvigorating our cities and regions to support economic growth, ...14 hours ago
- State of the art radiology machine for Auckland
People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...14 hours ago
- Foreign Minister to visit Europe
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Europe for high-level talks with France, Germany and the United Kingdom next week. "Since taking office almost a year ago, the Coalition Government has emphasised the importance we place on New Zealand's traditional and likeminded diplomatic and ...15 hours ago
- First arrests made under gang patch ban
Police have made their first arrests under the new gang patch legislation, with two gang members arrested, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. “Just before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He has been arrested and will now face enforcement ...16 hours ago
- Better support for victims of sexual violence
The Government is proposing two major changes to name suppression laws that will put the views of victims of sexual violence first, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “We are committed to restoring law and order and these two proposed changes will help ensure the victims of crime are put at ...17 hours ago
- Government moving forward with Regional Deals
Cabinet has agreed to invite all regions to submit proposals for Regional Deals between central and local government that drive economic growth and deliver the infrastructure our country needs, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop say. Inviting all regions to propose a Regional Deal that boosts ...17 hours ago
- MSA pilot participant update
One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Children’s Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend. “I’m saddened that this young person has not taken this opportunity ...18 hours ago
- Attendance rates increase, again
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that school attendance is continuing to rise. In Term 3 of 2024 51.3 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from 46 per cent in Term 3 of 2023. “This Government has prioritised student attendance and it is ...19 hours ago
- Improving the lives of young New Zealanders
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Not a very substantive comment, but is anyone else sick of that stock photo of Shearer against the Green background? Something about it rings very hollow. Then again, I suppose its not like he can really claim to be a red.
As speeches go and as articulating vision goes and as offering promise and being inclusive goes, Metiria’s speech is absolutely streets ahead. And whereas she speaks to me and invites me to agree with her, David’s speaking at me and assigning attitudes and ways of thinking to me. And well, I don’t like feeling condescended to or patronised or any blanket assumptions being made about how I ought to think or perceive things.
And…I would have really liked to have seen an up front and unequivocal acknowledgement of Green Party initiatives and some indication that the Labour Party was going to stop trying to assign itself the role of ‘appropriate adult’ in the Green/Labour political relationship.
But hey.
Sorry to be a pain EDDIE. But I couldn’t help noticing that in your summing up of both party’s policies you never mentioned Climate Change.
(I hope you don’t mind me pointing this out. I previously copped a lot of swearing, verbal abuse and threats of deletion of my comments for doing so for pointing out a similiar omission by QoT.
(But I think it is important that the Left engage in this issue relentlessly. In the coming years and decades it will be the one issue that all political parties or commenters will be judged on.)
What comparison do you make of the respective two leaders remarks on this issue?
Metiria talks about it extensively. Indeed, it’s the first thing she really talks about because it’s the biggest problem in the world.
As I mentioned, Shearer made a passing comment that I didn’t really understand
I have gone to the trouble of extracting their comments possibly relating to the climate, to compare them. (Unfortunately I don’t know how to set them side by side like you have done with the full transcripts.)
When set out like this, EDDY can you tell if your above statement is still correct.
For added interest I have omitted to identify who said what. Without referring back;
1/ Who is the speaker?
2/ Who in your opinion talked more “extensively“?
3/ Who in your opinion made “a passing comment“?
Put your pens down, and bring your paper with your answers to the front of the class.
Jenny – You will well know that NZ, no matter what past government, has largely only paid lip service to climate change, environmental and alternative energy issues.
I would recommend every Kiwi, to make a trip to Central Europe, to Germany, Holland, Denmark and other places, and see with their own eyes, what highly industrialised and developed countries there are doing in that regards.
Sadly few are able to, few know what goes on (even in other countries, incl. the UK, yes even Mainland China now), so we have this endless continuation of the buy and turf mentality, use and abuse mentality, of driving cars everywhere, so actually NZ is one of the highest per capita carbon emitters in the whole world. Education may help, information may help, but sadly governments and the people in general, they do not seem to be much aware, concerned and do not give a damn about the future.
It is always someone else’s fault, and it would not make a difference, if little NZ may do more, is the common excuse. Others flatly deny it, along the thinking of the flat earth society minded.
NZ though could be a stunning success, also for developing, and exporting, environmentally friendly technology and services. It would be seen in the world as a great example for the better change, for enlightenment and progress. Sadly, too few here in NZ are aware, interested and care.
So no wonder Shearer only makes some comments in passing. Metiria is more sincere and committed, as that is what a Green Party member bloody should be. I only wish they push more for the economic and business feasibility of projects, and then it will take off something huge. Ideas are good, but without realising them, to put them into practice, there is a risk of losing credibility.
I though give Shearer little credit, he does NOT convince me. Someone else wrote his speech for him anyway. He is just like one of the old men on the balcony of the Muppets Show.
Apart from relatively oblique comments from the Greens leader about home insulation and cleaning up toxic waste sites, it was stark that New Zealand’s environmental political party barely mentioned New Zealand’s environment at all.
The best environmental example Helen Clark made to environmental awareness, quite oddly, was Nordic skiing. She showed she was ready to push into the environment herself – notably hunkered in a snow cave for a few days. That did more for her environmental positioning than bunches of speeches.
Mere allusion from either Greens or Labour to “clean” or “green” in any variant seem to miss how we are viewed by the world. Our entire economy now depends on that. I’m not asking for more holiday snaps of course, I’m merely expecting the Greens to show why their environmental policies are important to New Zealand. Otherwise, as Metiria does in this speech, the Greens are merely positioned like Anderton and New Labour did; simply Labour with stronger policies and a higher moisture content.
Labour’s Shearer went for populist allusions to more mythical hard done by workers; good. The Greens need to speak as the Lorax said, for the trees.
“I couldn’t help noticing”
Please try harder. For all our sakes. Reducing every discussion to the same topic is not helpful.
I couldn’t help noticing… that you can’t say the name of the topic we are not discussing.
We are in a war. Don’t forget that.
We have always been at war with Eurasia.
We are at war with the climate and if we don’t do something soon it will start killing us.
I thought the anonymized quotes made the point well enough, Jenny.
Sorry to be a pain, Jenny, but you “copped” a warning for derailing my post and telling me what I should write about. That’s probably why you didn’t provide a link, because once again your allegations don’t stand up to the evidence.
I am far to civil to air your foul mouthed abuse and uncalled for threats. And if I may say without having to endure another threatening and foul mouthed response. In my genteel and humble opinion, such behaviour exposes the weakness of your position.
In my opinion, attacking a woman’s use of unladylike language is a bullshit patriarchal derail, and trying to make yourself out as superior because you’re “genteel” is wonderfully classist, which puts your continuing crusade to demand that everyone pay attention to your favourite issue and ONLY your favourite issue into a fucking interesting context.
We shall have cucumber sandwiches at the next Country Womens Institute bash.
As long as they’re properly prepared. Can you believe that at the last Institute meeting the cucumbers had not even been seeded? The audacity quite affronted one.
So hard to get good help nowadays.
Shearer has made clear that merely exporting milk powder is not enough. But if National are prepared to become shareholders in irrigation companies, will Labour propose to be a shareholder in milk processing companies? Each step deeper into the commercial world gets more fraught and hotter as taxpayer funds compete more directly against private investors. This is the right fight to have; what is the nature of agency and intervention into promoting higher value from New Zealand products. I sincerely hope Shearer has the team to to it – this challenge was largely absent in the Greens address.
Shearer has laid a major challenge at the feet of Jacinda Ardern there with Social Welfare. The policy generation beyond Working for Families is one which needs to aggregate into the public mind all social welfare – including retirement welfare – as the full sum of what a collective progressive government can afford from what we all collectively provide. This does not divide us into “makers”and “takers”, but summarises precisely the ambit and affordability of a new and much smaller state than even the one Clark left.
In that sense, he was fully right to direct attention beyond state agency to local heroes who have inspired and changed this country for good. Transformation will take far more than the state itself can foreseeably ever do.
If housing construction itself is Shearer’s one great roll of the dice for the first term, however, he consigns our urban economies into yet another sugar-rush, culminating in yet another economic binge-purge cycle. Whether Labour’s tax modelling shows a government can simultaneously temper real estate capitalism and redirect the productive economy remains, of course, to be seen. Big horses need strong reins.
For me the main virtue of the Greens speech was to call out the NGOs who have been inspired by the Referendum petition. There is more to politics in this country than the Beehive and parliament. Progressive movements need to aggregate in order to sustain positive change beyond one (maybe two) heroic interventionist term. Auckland’s government is now the second government of New Zealand, even though Christchurch is getting full and deserved attention. Auckland’s social welfare, transport, and housing needs will shortly be 40% of New Zealand’s needs, by population.
I would have liked either of them to say properly whether they could work together; every poll says they are going to need each other. A little generosity is not hard.
I also wanted something deeper out of them: why are they in this fight as people, what drives them on, how are they inspired, what is their grounding. Thank God neither of them went for cheap jokes. Neither reached like Obama, but they were a country mile from the facile Mr Key.
Shearer has made it more than clear that he is going to attack primary industry. This will kill off Labour. How the fuck can you get votes by attacking the basis of what made New Zealand great, Talk about a clusterfuck. Historically I was a Labour voter and the puppets that follow Helen Clark just would make me want to cry if I wasn’t the type to have a strong whisky instead.
http://nowoccupy.blogspot.com/2013/01/shearer-wages-war-on-primary-industry.html
So you think that farmers should be given free reign to poison our water ways then. Fucking bitch.
IF I SEE YOU TRY AND POLLUTE OUR WATER WAYS I WILL MAKE SURE YOU ARE PUNISHED. I WILL MAKE YOU DRINK THE WATER
No
What, you wont drink it, or you dont think our farmers should pollute our water ways.
I don’t think farmers should pollute our waterways and I’ll drink anything made with grey goose vodka, a maraschino cherry and a small colorful umbrella.
Mix the cow manure and piss with your vodka then, must be a real good kicking cocktail that!?
How does investing in more modern industries mean “attacking” older ones?
There are four industrial sectors. Historically the primary sector was – and remains – important to this country. We also have a large tertiary sector providing services. But there’s scope for growth in the secondary sector, processing primary products and in the quaternary sector creating valuable intellectual property and doing the R&D to create a better return in the other sectors.
Sticking to our knitting in the primary sector is not going to serve us well in the long run, especially when volatile commodities prices and the high dollar means that the prosperity generated in the primary sector is unpredictable. Diversification of our economy into a 21st century entity, rather than a 19th century one, offsets those risks and it also makes use of the surplus of human capital we have at our disposal.
Yes there was that strange comment a while ago by Nash about whether farmers pay their dues in taxes. Shearer should be razor-focussed that the primary industries are where we are economically set (supported together with some creative and niche manufacturing) for the foreseeable future. Can’t see any from the full set of blue regional seats won back yet.
This is an idiot comment, excuse me. Shearer only made clear that a focus on primary industry, which happens to now largely be dairy production, cannot be enough to move NZ into better economic circumstances. That is a fair statement by Shearer, and while I do not think much of him, I must defend him on that.
We are experiencing an intesification of agriculture, that is resulting in levels of pollution, due to intensive fertiliser use, pesticide and herbicide use, increased affluents from more intense use of cattle farms, and so forth. There are natural limits to what the environment can handle. I come from a farming background myself, and I witnessed the radical changes due to intensification of industrialised farming in Europe. Wildlife largely disappeared, insects and flowers and so forth disappeared, that used to be around for centuries, and the increased monoculture destroyed heaps.
Only over the last 10 to 20 years have governments in Europe slowly started to realise the immense damage to nature there, so they are now all pro environmental measures, which shows positive results.
It utterly dismays me, that NZ wants to go down a way, that has done so much environmental damage overseas, and intensify, so that we have more cows, cattle, more dairy production, to earn dollars for farmers and exporters, but that ruins the land, rivers and lakes. It is insane and bloody stupid. I also think you live overseas, in California, and the Central Valley agriculture there has also led to immense environmental damages.
It seems you are all for high incomes, exports, no matter what, and that is while only a selected few will benefit anyway. You better get a reality check and have a look at intensive farming, horticulture and fisheries to learn what is really going on, before you slag off with cheap comments here, dear Monique.
Further to my comment, what NZ must do is to develop quality products from primary farming products. You can do much more with milk solids and ingredients, than to turn it into milk powder and baby formula. I suggest NZ dairy industry do a study tour around various contries in Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere, to see what else can be produced.
Although there has over years been a good improvement in dairy production, diversification and better quality, I think much more needs and can be done, to produce highest quality end products here, which could and should develop quality brands and could earn top dollars overseas.
What about Emmental Cheese, other cheeses common in Europe, about curd, custards of different kinds, cheeses of many facets and types, better, more diverse yoghurt ranges, milk that also includes “butter milk”, and so forth. There are dairy products in Easter Europe and Russia that are not even known here. There are markets that can be gained access to, but without the product and quality, they will not even look at NZ.
OK we got further from the 3 types of cheddar and the blocks of fake Edam here, but most is produced at inferior levels, highly expensive and is not meeting the international demand. So wake up, dairy sector, get cracking, talk to overseas specialists, hire them and produce stuff that is sellable and earns us.
Asia is growing, and I am sure they want more than baby formula.
With quality rather than quantity, NZ would become a Switzerland of dairy production, rather than a US type mass production of low and basic level products. That is what I can see and expect. But does anybody in government or for that sake the opposition have such vision???
A++++ So glad that someone is saying what needs to be said. Unfortunately, with the parochial attitude that is the same as 100 years ago, we have to wait for the next generation to get things rolling. “good things take time”
CT: I also wanted something deeper out of them: why are they in this fight as people, what drives them on, how are they inspired, what is their grounding.
We’ve already heard that sort of thing on more than one occasion from Turei – her working class background, her father etc. The latest mention was at Ratana this week:
I’ve yet to hear anything from Shearer that indicates what drives him, or what his core values are.
The more I hear from the Greens, the more I like them. I’m trying hard to like Labour but the message still isn’t quite resonating with me although I do agree with a lot of what they’re proposing. I guess I feel as though I need Labour to show a little more mongrel and bear its teeth more often than not to send a message to Key and his cronies that being smug is as good as poking the angry mutt with a stick and that it probably aint such a good idea. I don’t know if I articulated that point very well but I guess I expect to see a little more menace in Labour and a greater sense of determination to tear the mask from Key’s true face and expose the wolf behind the sheep’s clothing once and for all. Compared to Key’s speech the Greens speech was leagues ahead as was Labour’s but the Greens had this one hands down – easily.
And why would you not instead expect this mythical “mongrel” from the Greens, who as a permanent minority party have the width to be more radical? Or have the wild Greens wilted?
They are both good speeches and I think the parties will complement each other. I’m not awfully keen on the hints at austerity from Shearer, but Labour is going to have to find a way to counter the meme that they are spendthrifts that Key will inevitably use as a cudgel.
I don’t think they are spendthrifts, I just think they hate the idea of a successful New Zealand. Daft wankers
No Monique. They want to tax rich bitches like you so people who aren’t rich bitches like you can have schools, housing and hospitals so fuck off back to the filthy stinking dirty shithole you came from. Why do you want the poor on the streets????!!!!!!
You daft cunt. The filthy stinking shithole I came from was abject poverty where my Mum fed four children out of a food bank. Ever eaten from a foodbank, fuckwad?
Thats the thing about people like you. You rise from poverty and then when you get to the top, you do your best to kick the poor people. You support cutting the DPB, and americanising our health care, dismantling labour protections, holding wages down, getting rid of state housing (so you can have bigger returns for your ‘portfolio’).
People like you should have empathy for those at the botton, and have no objection for paying taxes for things like state housing hospitals, working for families, etc, but oh no, you want to get rid of it all lock stock and barrell.
Plus you hate rail.
You are just like Key and Bennett.
List of hospitals you want to close please. Right here, right now.
No I don’t kick poor people. I don’t support cutting the DPB. I don’t support dismantling labour protections. You can’t hold wages down in a free market with worker protections and I don’t know fuck all about state housing. Anything else?
Your blog suggests otherwise.
Anyway, im done with arguing with you. Im too hot. Been slogging my guts out all afternoon building a fishpond in my back yard in the 30 degree heat.
Um Monique I am really confused. Are you a communist?
No, she is a professional opportunist, who chooses what benefits her, when it is convenient. So when Labour may have given her the “perks” she wanted and needed, she was happy with that. When she was not qualifying, the turned nasty on them.
That is what you call an opportunistic, self serving “swing voter”.
She left NZ for that reason, to have a better life and make more money, and she resents the thought of being associated with a country and goverment, that may ask her to contribute.
Sometimes those from tough, poor background turn right against others in similar circumstances, as they judge them, seeing themselves as “strugglers” and survivors, having no mercy for the ones less resilient and capable.
To judge on it is difficult, as much subjectivity and also a difficulty to understand all details of individuals may fog capability to judge fairly.
Rest my case on this.
You feel really angry and inferior about your background, aye? I have cousins like that, I know where you come from. To rubbish the ones that are there where you come from is not a good look though. Grow up, dear lady, that is my advice. Those that cannot accept where they come from, they carry a huge chip on their shoulders all their lives.
Best of luck though, while you may enter a learning curve.
relax mate, Monique’s just taking the piss. I hope.
Shes not. Ice queen she is. A poor woman’s Judith Collins (who is herself a poor woman’s Margaret Thatcher).
“(who is herself a poor woman’s Margaret Thatcher).”
Who is herself a poor woman’s woman.
http://www.isthatcherdeadyet.co.uk/
“Vulgar” – The Conservative Party
😆
e-petition
Take no mind of Millsy – completely inappropriate language and tone.
It is all bullshit and it is all fucked up
And we got the theme song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sdn3O6aaMNc
From Monique Watsons blog
……….””I’ve spoken of a clean, green, clever economy many times.
We need our environment to drive our economic success and our economy to keep our environment clean.”
That is a rubbish statement first off. China has not needed their environmental record to drive their economic success. “………….
Monique Watson fully endorses the lowering of environmental standards. This will include:
1) The discharge of toxic waste into our rivers
2) The discharge of toxic fumes into our air, causing smoking thick smog and respitory illnesses
3) The destruction of our national parks for mining
[deleted]
Fucking [deleted] why does she want to rob the earth from our children, perhaps she should dump toxic waste in her back yard
She also wants to get rid of state housing and public healthcare
MEAN HORRIBLE NASTY PERSON
Monique, I think you should take a swim in some Chinese rivers, feed your children a meal cooked with produce grown next to a Chinese industrial park, and go for a run in Beijing on a smoggy day.
In summary, Chinese and international corporations have made money through destroying the environmental commons of that country. Not a good example for NZ to follow.
“Economic success is not driven by an environmental record.” I stand by that statement. This is not the same as saying I believe in polluting rivers. In fact I think Fed Farmers should be ashamed of it’s track record I am merely pointing out the inconsistencies in Shearers speech. Fuck you’re a touchy bunch.
How many children do you have Millsey?
How many children do you have Millsey?
Having children, especially under 10, just makes you out to be another fool who leaps before looking.
Nah I’m a caring person. I volunteer 20 hours a week of my time to non profit initiatives and sponsor five children through world vision. Doe that blow your mind sweetheart?
You should volunteer more time
You clearly have too much on your hands still
Touche’
Real angry women are a turn on to some. Monique you may appeal to some, keep it up, let off your steam. I disagree with a lot you comment, and I do not think that most here are too touchy, so do not turn against TS, there are many of us here, and even if we firmly disagree with you, it is always good to hear another view or side of the story. We surely can “handle” you.
Have a nice bath in your spa tonight, and we will hear from you again. That means also, we will tell you what we think!
[deleted]
Steady on millsy. If I spewed ad hominem invective at every Randroid I encountered on the forums I visit, I’d give myself a heart attack. I’m sure every reader of the comments here is dismissing her but threats of violence – even in jest – reflect badly on the rest of us.
Calmed down now. I think I’m going to exiled for a bit for that particular outburst.
[B: – Glad to hear it. Was just in the process of moderating you then. Caps? nah. Bold caps? Definately no. And the level of abuse… You might notice that your comments have been reformatted and subjected to some deletions. That took time. yYu’ve pissed me off no end and I’m suggesting you pull your head a long, long way in.
Lunatic: (historic definition) a person who is emotionally affected by the full moon.
The moon was full at 5:39 pm today.
Maybe that explains this series emotional diatribes and personal attacks. For me, they contributed nothing to intelligent discussion.
A note for the moderators. Our next full moon will be at 9:27 a.m. on Tuesday, 26 February. Hopefully people will be at work so we won’t have this scene again.
Bosses beware 🙂
Drivel, drivel, drivel.
“We are going to protect the environment by chopping down trees, building houses and stimulating manufacturing.”
Plus a bit of ‘better, brighter future’ borrowed from National.
They must think we are as stupid as they are.
They must think we are as stupid as they are.
No they know we are as stupid as they are ….. well at least the ones that vote and hope.
The above did get a little ‘intense’ didn’t it, my view of the speeches to day from Labour and the Green Party,
Here i will stick my neck out and give Dave Shearer a ++ now your talking from within a framework that us lot on the left can appreciate,
National are weak on both jobs and housing and your speeches as Leader should center around exposing these weaknesses both of which are at the heart of economy and society,
I used to play rugby league years ago and my team mates reckoned that i never quite switched on and played to my full potential until the opposition put a low or high shot on me, perhaps Dave Shearer like Phill Goff befor Him performs at His best when He is provoked to anger,
I do tho think that Dave should lay off of the Dairy industry until He has got that message into a full narrative that the average middle class voter can understand, having said that the message is correct but needs a bit more polish,
The Green Party speech, good to see the Green Leaders having a day in the sun, well earned and when the OneNews at 6.00 starts airing praise for the Green Party i need say no more except that it looks like a good Green year,
In conclusion, pluses all round for both Party’s and a good weekend for the left…
Shearer says, ‘A Government that says: you do your bit, we’ll do ours. That’s what a Labour Government will do. That’s what a government I lead will do.’
I am so, so inspired.
John Kirwan reckons that a good swim as part of an exercise regime is good for depression…
Yeah, I forgot to mention: It reminds me of the “sickness benefit roof painter story” all along once again.
Now Paula Bennett chose a similar tone when justifying her welfare reforms, read:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/speech-medical-professionals
So where does Shearer stand on Bennett and her comments?
He NEVER makes any excuses or statements on his roofpainter story, so I do NEVER trust the man either, nor his caucus.
I am pleased to see that Shearer is giving some support for Jacinda Ardern working on policies to lift children out of poverty. Shearer links that to education and food in schools – all very important areas, and provisions.
I hope also Shearer gives Ardern scope to work on returning social security to it’s original form and doesn’t continue down NAct’s punitive, service and benefit-cutting path. Ardern’s performance so far has been mixed. however, there have been times when she has passionately expressed a desire to end NAct’s nasty policies and do something more beneficial for those on low incomes. i’ll be interested to see if she can become a more consistent performer on such issues.
Yeah definitely agree with you there karol, unemployment as far as i am concerned is simply the score card of the effectiveness or not of Government economic policies and if there’s jobs out there for other than the university educated they are snapped up real quick so punishing the unemployed is just pathetic bullshit employed by politicians that have no other policy and such punishments simply take the place of actually trying to increase the number of jobs in the economy,
‘Child poverty’ the next biggie on the social policy agenda for me at least is in fact not a hard fix at all, as a minimum a comprehensive food in schools program starting with the lower decile schools and serving a bit of breakfast plus a comprehensive nutritious lunch along with the removal of income tax from those beneficiaries with dependent children would be a great start,
i can’t help when supporting calls for food in schools programs feeling like i am buying into the nutjobs narrative of the beneficiaries blowing all their cash on the pokies and then having none left over to feed the kids, but, that couldn’t be further from the truth, my actual wish is for the Working for Families tax credit to be extended to all beneficiary families who have children,
i cannot tho see middle class Labour having the will to make amends with WFF so being a realist would settle for the lessor of the amounts and while i decry the bad parent slur used against beneficiary parents i will happily admit there are the odd ones just as there are bad parents at all levels of economy within society, so ‘food in schools’ means that we all ‘know’ that all the kids are getting a couple of meals a day….
Karol: Child abuse and child poverty have become the “pet topic” of Bennett and even some on the opposition benches (Ardern and Shearer for example). What the root cause is is disputed. Bennett denies poverty is the reason for child abuse.
What pisses me off something HUGE is, that nobody talks about the lot of sick and disabled! As if they either do not exist, do not deserve attention, and are just mainly maligners. That is to my impression where Bennett comes from. Shearer with his “roof painter bene” speech is not much different, I am afraid.
So people that have serious health issues, unless it is terminal or wheel-chair stuff, are just dodging work, it seems. I wonder what is going on in Labour on this, and I am furious about what Labour do not answer to, as I and others raised their introduction of a system of Health and Disability Advisors (we know highly biased Dr David Bratt!) in 2007.
I see a Grand Coalition of agreement between Labour and National, and if that is so, I would want to be dead soon, rather than face yet another medical review under either government. I narrowly survived the last harassment, honestly!!!
There is nothing new from the Shearer chap. It all the same as the Goff chap was offering.
The nation said nae.
Suspect this is caused by having the same expert team of advisors in Mallard, King, Hippkins, Goff etc, if changes aren’t made then nothing changes!
Labour needed to announce another big Policy. Shearer needed to build on the momentum from the Housing policy announcement, he needed something to grab the headlines. This was a wasted opportunity, this speech of Shearers is similar to his other speeches earlier last year. A wasted opportunity in my opinion….but I’m sure his advisor’s know what they are doing.
.
Saarbo: Instead Shearer has exposed the initial announcement on housing as a bit of a “sell line”, not based much on fact and truth.
Now the $ 300 k homes are no longer “houses” anymore, while after the original speech he and Goff and King and Sua went around ground level, basically quarter acre section style homes in Mangere and other areas, suggesting that is what voters can expect.
Shearer has been disingenious, to be honest, he misled the public and media.
Now the story is that those homes are likely to rather be apartments or town-houses (on shared land). And for those that want a 3 or 4 brm family home the price is now about 550 k.
That seems to be for such in remote suburbs, far away from public transport and even motorways.
Now David Shearer has proved to be as dodgy as can be, and his speech, more a general repetition of what Labour propagated during the last election, must be seen as a bit of a hollow exercise.
I am NOT impressed at all, but then I did not expect anything else. Shearer talked about being “fired up”, but he looked very much like talk not action on that.
Labour is lost with this leader, it is a dismal situation, and the members must see to it, to rid themselves of this lot at at the top. Do you want to wait for another 2 terms for a chance and change, I ask?
Yes agree Xtasy, my view is that Shearer doesnt do the mahi required before announcing policies, I get the impression he isnt the sort of person that can get his head around a lot of detail. He needed the stuff he is now releasing on the Housing Policy, in November. Now National/NZ Herald are on a mission to dis-credit the Policy and in most peoples eyes they are doing a reasonable job. Labour have to work a lot harder than National because National have the backing of much of the MSM, personally I dont understand why…because National are not only a hopeless government they are also hopeless at running the economy, you only have to look at our Unemployment figures to work that out.
A few days ago I posted that I do not know if David Shearer is being used or if he is just a Nat in a mustache disguise.
I am sad that I have my answer. I will not be delivering pamphlets for a while now!
Mr Shearer should have manned up and called a leadership election.
Shearer can not pretend that he does not know what members have been saying on blogs because the sprout has told us that Mike Smith who writes articles on The Standard is PAID by Shearer.
GUTLESS.
D. Shearer:-
“New Zealanders have always achieved what wasn’t supposed to be possible. ….. We’ve always dreamed big and succeeded ….. People overcoming adversity…. &tc.” So if you tried and failed, or didn’t get a chance to try, you’re a loser ‘cos you didn’t try hard enough or dream big enough.
“It’s about getting our priorities right, being thrifty about our economy. Bringing our debt under control.” Ah yes, IMF song-sheet page 4. Clearly our priorities cannot be counter-cyclical Government spending to create jobs and repair/boost the infrastructure.
“We’ll give tax breaks to companies doing world-leading research and development,..” Gonna be interesting to read the Tax regulation that defines ‘world-leading research and development’. And the regulation that stops any company with an office overseas utilising its research overseas, although presumably any international company that sees this as a problem won’t do the research here in the first place.
“My promise to you as Prime Minister is that I will always stand up for the hardworking, forgotten New Zealanders.” Show me any politician from any party in the last 50 years that has said he wouldn’t.
“It’s also why Labour will introduce a Capital Gains Tax to move investment into business and away from property speculation that is pushing house prices through the roof.” Now that is real news. I wonder if anyone else in the Labour caucus knew that. ‘Course a capital gains tax would generally also capture gains on shares and business investments, too, and so push investment overseas although you can try to limit it to bricks and mortar – as long as you also plug the myriad of loopholes tax specialists come up with the help the professional investor.
“Labour will put food in schools, to make sure all our kids get the same chance to learn.” That’s more than a tid-bit, too. Most kids don’t need it and it hasn’t worked very well where it’s been tried unless you’re going to do cooked meals, which means kitchens and staff. Or is it just a return to free school milk?
“Most Kiwis hate it. And we are behind them fighting [asset sales] all the way.” Can’t say I’ve noticed, but maybe that’s just me. But if you really meant ‘all the way’ you could kill asset sales dead today by announcing you’ll renationalise them at cost immediately after being elected.
“New Zealanders are forward thinking and are prepared to do what it takes to create a better future.” Link, please? Certainly assumes that “New Zealanders” will all agree with you about what it will take.
“We’ll make changes to monetary policy so that our job-creating businesses aren’t undermined by our exchange rate.” Didn’t work the last time the Central Bank tried to intervene whle bigger, richer countries than us have failed to manipulate their exchange rates and lost fortunes trying. talk to the Governor of the Bank of England about their 1993 experience. Or are you suggesting the Chinese model of subsidising your job-creating businesses? In any case, bringing the exchange rate down is going to have very nasty effects on the debt you’re so worried about. That’s why National isn’t doing very much about it.
Didn’t bother analysing any more. Platitudes, meaningless feel-good phrases and general politician’s kiss-the-baby crap.
5/10. Must try harder.
I heart Meteria. She is so good. I can’t wait for NZ’s main export to be windmills for wind farms. I can’t wait to get a house for $300k in Auckland. I cannot wait for our macroeconomic woes to be cured by printing money. I’m really looking forward to all the job growth that will come from a ‘clean green economy’. I’m stoked that a Wellington lawyer is going to ‘pick all the winners’ in our economy. It will be great when the DPB is ramped up, I might quit my job, why bother, I’ll do some fishing in Gizzy. I can’t wait for a capital gains tax, I mean, what a boost for small investors who can’t afford a house but who might buy some shares. It will be excellent when an oz union representing a few dozen members can derail an entire NZ industry. It will be great when the next transmission Gully gets held up another 25 years because a local taniwha didn’t like the smell of cordite. It will be so good not having to employ migrant workers because kiwis won’t do a job that me and my family did for years. I’m looking forward to a return to 1970’s industrial law, because boy that was excellent. I look forward to the repoliticisation of the public service – and my, the job growth that will come from this! I’m buying shares in Fletcher building, because 100000, or was it one billion? houses practically for free is going to need a bit of investment I suppose. I can’t wait for the status quo to be maintained in education – talking to people from Hamilton will be wonderful. They’ll use complete sentences that don’t involve the All-Blacks.
Yay for the left in NZ.
F you, you distorter, liar and manipulator, I do not buy into such crap being allowed here.
It was pretty comical, from start to finish.
FYI
See ‘Monique Angel’ aka ‘Monique Watson’, and what she posted on Kiwiblog yesterday ato 05:10 pm on 27 January:
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2013/01/shearers_state_of_the_nation_speech.html#comments
She is only here to do some “stirring”, for those that do not know her!
I quite liked what she had to say about me on Tumeke.
By the looks of it, Monique had “had a few” before that post, QoT. A bit of a pattern from what I’ve seen of her posts on “left” blogs (here, Red Alert and elsewhere).
No doubt, despite her professed AD&D alignment, she was feeling passed over on Tumeke… nary a mention, even after the charming backstory she spun one hazy frisco mid-afternoon of having once been a homeless P addict.
What I really can’t handle though, even more than the Cameron Slaters off the world, are those who position themselves as “centrists” but then espouse right-wing rubbish, because it allows them to shift the political goalposts for the whole political conversation.
I’m not sure it matters why she’s here. I didn’t read her comments as trolling. And if she was trolling, the number 1 rule of the internet is “Do not feed the trolls”. A lot of people bring baggage with them if they have built up an identity online. It’s far better just to address their comments – not of the baggage they carry, rather than try to shut them down in such an objectionable fashion. Heck, I even regret calling her a “Randroid” upthread. I’m sorry for that, Monique.
I get the same feeling when Matthew Hooten comes on here too. I know he can handle it, but it derails discussion. We’re supposed to be a compassionate movement of ideas. The best way to counter positions we object to is by detailing better ideas, not by brow-beating people in the hopes they’d just go away.
The trouble is Turei and Shearer are just shills for the destruction of the planet we live on by corporations and money-lenders, shills for the maintenance of the slave state. That is the REAL state of the nation……. a nation that is a slave of the international money-lenders and corporations (both overseas and local). And the people are just the slaves who wreck the environment on their behalf. Political parties are just the overseers and facilitators of the destruction of the planet we live on.
Obviously this despotic system will keep going till there is insufficient fossil fuel to run the machines,, insufficient soil or water to feed the people, air so polluted people drop like flies, an epidemic of preventable disease (preventable by having a healthy environment, clean air and water), nutritional foods etc.). Of course that is already happening around the world but not yet in NZ……so it must all be rosy.
This despotic system certainly won’t end by people waking up to reality in time to prevent catastrophe. Most people would rather die a horrible way and destroy their children’s future than become informed and do something to save themselves. Most people look to someone else, i.e. a party leader, to do something for them. And it’s not going to happen because, as I said at the start, party leaders are just shills for corporations and money-lenders.
See ya all at the bottom of the cliff. By the way, the cliff edge is now crumbling.
It hurts my eyes trying to read this.
I find the two speeches in combination very promising. It appears that the 2 parties (or parties’ strategists) are working together. It appears that Labour are aiming to target small business owners (a very forgotten constiuency) and farmers, hence the repetitive use of “hard-working”; having met these types they do pride themselves on their “hard-working” characters. The Greens are targeting a different range of people, [obviously] those with environmental awareness, urbanites, the younger generation (well done!!), probably Labour’s traditional supporters, and [hopefully] some of the non-voters.
Based on these speeches, I would fit in much more to the Greens target audience, and therefore the approach in their speech “works” more for me than Labour’s. (n.b. I have to date never voted Greens) Having noted my bias, and even taking account of it, I view the Greens speech as stronger. They were able to list what they have DONE recently including the tangible opposition they have [consistently] applied toward this [joke of a] Government. Labour was unable to do this because their opposition has been weak. This gave Greens the edge because it wasn’t all about “we will do…”, “we promise to do…”; it was “this is our stance, here is our aim, look, we can show we mean it because we have already achieved this”
Yeah, so Mr Shearer may not be reading the blogs, yet I would consider it foolhardy that his strategists would turn down the free source of feedback that blogs can be, so Strategists reading this, I suggest you pay some attention to creating clearer, louder and thus more effective opposition to this crazy government this year, not doing so is creating doubts in many as to what Labour’s real stance is, and whether they are capable of acting on their aims. Without doubt Labour will be losing potential votes if this weak opposition carries on. Let’s not forget there is a duty (and a purpose to that duty) to oppose a government, when in opposition and this government provides you unbelievable opportunities to do so, so please get to it.
I think your scenario of high level tactical co-operation between the Greens and Labour is a nice one to have, but from what I hear, the two parties have difficulties getting together on even basic operational matters. For that a small number of staffers on either side are to blame.
What I think you are actually seeing is Labour staying appealing to a centrist, pragmatic swing voting constituency and the Greens deliberately targetting Labour’s traditional working class, Left Wing constituency. So it looks and smells like side by side co-operation, but isn’t really. They’ve picked their markets and are pitching at them. Labour (the NZ Liberal Party) has vacated the Left and the Greens see a gap to grow into, one which includes the 800,000 non-voters from 2011.
Lets pretend Turei and Shearer are good honest people who have a clear understanding that at some stage in the life of the average young Kiwi Saver, the fund is going to go tits up.
This blog has some very aware contributes, my question is to them
I’m sure most of you would say the KS will not be around in 47 years, yet Turei and Shearer are telling all 18 yo’s that KS is a sure bet, I think telling 50yo’s is way to hopeful, so at what stage should these honest upright ‘leaders’ come clean?
Is it right for these so called honest people to keep this lie alive?
Are they trustworthy?