Talleys: Corporate scum

Written By: - Date published: 2:14 pm, April 6th, 2009 - 41 comments
Categories: ACC, business, election funding, workers' rights - Tags: , , , , , ,

I’ve long been of the opinion that the Talley family, owners of the Talleys food empire, are a corrosive force in this country who have a complete contempt for their workforce, the public and our democratic institutions.

Sure enough, they’re at it again. NZPA reports:

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) plans to call South Island food company Talley’s today after a man found a bag of frozen peas he said was made up of nearly 50 percent poisonous black nightshade berries.

It is one of several reported case of contamination of Talley’s products.

Humphrey Elton, a father of preschoolers, said he complained to Talley’s six months ago after finding the berries in a bag of peas.

The company had simply sent him a $5 cheque to replace the peas and a letter saying the berries were not toxic, Mr Elton said.

This is not an isolated incident, it’s part of an ongoing pattern of behaviour.

The Talleys, after all, are the people who were revealed in The Hollow Men to have offered Don Brash $1 million for his corrupt 2005 election campaign.*

Their proposal was titled “The repackaging of Don Brash” and included a plan to funnel the million dollars through a front group in order to “avoid any declarations of political party funding”.

Following Brash and National’s election loss, the Talleys went on to secretly fund Tim Shadbolt’s campaign against transparency in political donations through the Electoral Finance Act last year.

More recently they ran a PR campaign in conjunction with National to try and make the taxpayer foot their $1 million contractual obligation with ACC to provide care for one of their workers who was shot on the job.

Last year they were fined $110,000 and forced to pay $33,000 reparations for recklessly subjecting eleven workers at their Blenheim plant to carbon monoxide poisoning.

And before that they were subject to, and eventually lost, a landmark sexual discrimination case over their refusal to let a woman work as a fish-filleter because she wasn’t a man. Andrew Talley decribed this ruling as ‘pathetic’ and a ‘joke’ and suggested women were better suited to being pole dancers.

Unlike the rest of us, these people seem immune to fines and public shame. They’re reptiles, and they’re laughing in our faces while they’re rolling around in the millions they’ve made at our expense.

I think it’s about time we stopped tolerating this kind of behaviour. How do you reckon we go about it?

[*For an idea of the secret agenda they were pushing look no further than managing director Peter Talley, who is on record as “pro-whaling, pro-genetic engineering, anti-animal rights, anti-MMP and sceptical about global warming“.]

UPDATE: MacDoctor has posted on the black nightshade contamination, encouraging the public to “stop buying Tally’s products immediately, throw out the stuff you have in your freezer and re-purchase a safer brand”. He’s also created the logo below.

talleys

41 comments on “Talleys: Corporate scum ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. vto 1
    6 April 2009 at 2:26 pm

    I’ve watched them over the years and tend to agree with most of what you allege. They are in fact one of NZ’s best examples of the pure capitalist / businessmanwoman in action.

    The sole focus is money and empire.

    Its pursuit has no boundaries, except the rubbery boundary of what they can get away with whether legal or not.

    They do not apologise for anything and have no shame.

    However, I disagree they’ve made their money “at our expense”. They have made their money by selling to people stuff those people want (except berries it seems).

    So anyway, get stuck into them. They could do with being brought down to size.

  2. Bender 2
    6 April 2009 at 2:29 pm

    Question: “How do you reckon we go about it?”

    Answer: Our National Party leaders in central government won’t do anything. We should help the workers unionise so they can strike whenever the Talley bastards try to make them eat filth.

  3. Loco Burro 3
    6 April 2009 at 2:37 pm

    I remember that there have been a few interesting enquiries in the past into Talley’s influence over the Nelson City Council. I might try and track them down again.
    Around things like the new convention centre in Nelson:
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/2052631/TDC-cagey-on-arts-centre

  4. outofbed 4
    6 April 2009 at 2:51 pm

    And thier huge buying up of water rights and consents in the TDC district
    They have a natural ally in TDC one of the most environmentally unaware local councils in the country.

  5. Pat 5
    6 April 2009 at 3:00 pm

    Bender wrote: “We should help the workers unionise so they can strike whenever the Talley bastards try to make them eat filth”.

    Gosh – I didn’t realise Talleys were holding workers down and forcing frozen peas down their throats. Or maybe Bender is just currently on a bender.

    I think a better idea is to keep the Deadly Nightshade story in the news. Then the most powerful force used by consumers, otherwise know as Word-of-mouth, will mean shoppers will put Watties peas in their trolleys instead of Talleys. The same thing for their other products.

    Nothing makes a company act faster than a drastic drop in sales.

    • Pascal's bookie 5.1
      6 April 2009 at 3:13 pm

      As long as they don’t grab ‘McCains’ with their thrice damned television ads, aah mccain you’ve done it again. Fuck off. Just fuck off.

      I hate hatidy hate those ads.

      Talleys too.

      • Rex Widerstrom 5.1.1
        6 April 2009 at 9:24 pm

        Oooh those!! But have you seen the most stomach-turning food commercials in NZ yet? If not you’re in for treat.

        CU of mother beaming down at camera, talking in babyish voice: “Oh, who’s the cutest widdle baby then? Who’s the sweetest widdle thing? Oooo I could just eat you all up…” (blathers on for a good 15 seconds)

        Pull out to reveal she’s talking to a packet of baby peas.

        Cut to condescending voiceover.

        End on mid shot of father holding the peas in his arms and bending forward to make “Pfffffft” noise on the packet as one does on a newborn baby’s stomach.

        *retch*

        I can’t find them online or I’d post a link with which to torture you. I honestly don’t remember which brand they’re for, I’m too busy shrieking obscenities at the TV to notice.

    • Frank 5.2
      14 August 2009 at 6:05 am

      No I think the unionizing thing is a good idea unfortunately most people have been carefully conditioned to reject the best way to protect themselves and hold corporate shit bags in check… strangely enough.
      The only populace with any balls what so ever are the French and Italians they unlike the former British colonies stand up for themselves while we grovel and scrape or give up before we start and let these vermin corrupt our political officials despoil our children’s world and do what ever they want essentially. No wonder why these scum laugh at us all they must be thinking ” what else will these sheep stand still for, let’s find out” I have had enough, I treat these scumbags like the shit that they are and have extracted my revenge many many times and as they say it is a sweet sweet dish to savor indeed. Is there any body else out there with an ounce of guts to stand up for themselves or are you all just talking. If the former then good for you, you should be proud and know you are not alone as they like you to think. If the latter then spare us the pathetic posturing and please shut up and go back to your pathetic Televisions your masters are calling.

    • Frank 5.3
      14 August 2009 at 6:30 am

      No I think the unionizing thing is a good idea unfortunately most people have been carefully conditioned to reject the best way to protect themselves and hold corporate shit bags in check… strangely enough.
      The only populace with any balls what so ever are the French and Italians they unlike the former British colonies stand up for themselves while we grovel and scrape or give up before we start and let these vermin corrupt our political officials despoil our children’s world and do what ever they want essentially. No wonder why these scum laugh at us all they must be thinking ” what else will these sheep stand still for, let’s find out” I have had enough, I treat these scumbags like the shit that they are and have extracted my revenge many many times and as they say it is a sweet sweet dish to savor indeed. Is there any body else out there with an ounce of guts to stand up for themselves or are you all just talking. If the former then good for you, you should be proud and know you are not alone as they like you to think. If the latter then please spare us the pathetic posturing and please shut up and go back to your pathetic Televisions your masters are calling.

  6. Tim Ellis 6
    6 April 2009 at 3:08 pm

    I also agree with much of this post, Tane. Talley’s has shown multiple examples of bad corporate behaviour.

    There’s only really one place you can hit Talley’s where it hurts: by not buying their products.

    I don’t buy Talley’s produce because of their conduct. Perhaps if more people did likewise they might get the message and start behaving more responsibly.

    • Pascal's bookie 6.1
      6 April 2009 at 3:15 pm

      And perhaps we could set fines that hurt, rather than just being an occasional cost of doing business, Talley’s style.

      • Draco T Bastard 6.1.1
        6 April 2009 at 3:42 pm

        Yep. It’s the one time that I agree with a hard on crime line. We actually have to have the fines set high enough so that crime doesn’t pay. Actually, the fines should just be set at the amount they made from those actions + courts costs.

  7. MacDoctor 7
    6 April 2009 at 3:30 pm

    Regardless of previous corporate behaviour, Talley’s cavalier attitude to this contamination should be condemned completely. I consider this to be a potential public health emergency and yet Talley’s and the Food Safety Authority appear to be sitting on their hands.

    I invite everyone to join me in boycotting all Talley’s products until they fix this problem and apologise to the public. I have designed a logo to this effect, all bloggers are welcome to use it.

  8. ak 8
    6 April 2009 at 4:14 pm

    Where’s our new gummint? Lock the bastards up and throw away the Key. Zero talleyrance for this sort of repea behaviour. Join the peas movement. Support the Talleyban. Three veg and you’re sprout.

  9. BLiP 9
    6 April 2009 at 5:11 pm

    Yes, of course, Talleys is a disgusting example of the sort of corporate scum we have operating in New Zealand. Rock on with the “Talley-Ban”, count me in.

    For me, however, the real villian in this latest food poisoning is the so called Food Safety Authority. That’s the organisation charged with protecting me and my loved ones, that’s the organisation that should be protecting us from the worst crimes of Talleys – yet they are the fuckers who’ve given Talleys all sorts of approvals and exemptions for all sorts of otherwise regulated activities.

    The Authority has been played like a fiddle by the psychopaths running Talleys and should be made just as accountable. Lets have CEO Andrew McKenzie dragged into the limelight and see what he’s gotta say for his sorry arse self.

  10. teitei 10
    6 April 2009 at 6:14 pm

    Dirty rotten baldheads keeping up their murderous scum traditions. proper pakehas in action.

    [lprent: I see that you still haven’t bothered to learn from previous warnings. Adding you to the anti-spam engine so I don’t have to see your idiotic trash again]

  11. justthefacts 11
    6 April 2009 at 8:29 pm

    “More recently they ran a PR campaign in conjunction with National to try and make the taxpayer foot their $1 million contractual obligation with ACC to provide care for one of their workers who was shot on the job.”

    Shot by another person who had no connection to the company?

    There is no way that the company should be liable for the care of the victim and no way they should have to pay one cent, I hope to see National change this rule as soon as possible.

    • BLiP 11.1
      6 April 2009 at 8:33 pm

      Can’t have been a very safe work space to leave your personal items if strangers can wander around there with loaded guns and murderous intent.

      • mickysavage 11.1.1
        6 April 2009 at 9:55 pm

        justthefacts

        This has had a great deal of analysis. Tally went with the sweetheart deal offered by ACC but promised to take care of all worksite accidents. This happened and their sweetheart deal did not look so good. So they chose to contest the deal.

        I have no sympathy. They thought they would save more money than what they did but why should we pick up the tab if their bet goes wrong?

        Much of the problem is that the ACC system talks about “accidents” that can include what looks like deliberate actions. The no fault system means that all sorts of incidents get caught.

        If the Tallys did not want to pick up the liability they should not have gambled on picking up the saving.

        • justthefacts 11.1.1.1
          6 April 2009 at 10:06 pm

          micky

          I appreciate the reasoned and polite reply, I wish others would keep to the issues.

          Anyway, where you and I disagree is that I do have sympathy with the company, if there is an option to do a sweetheart deal with ACC there should be another clause inserted that covers “acts of god” or “drive by shootings” etc.

          Of course this just proves what a total and utter mess ACC is in, not only are they broke but they cannot and do not provide the service the public need.

          Do away with it and let us all insure privately, far better for the workers, far better for the companies and far better for the tax payer.

  12. Loco Burro 12
    6 April 2009 at 8:37 pm

    justthefacts – try looking at the facts, they agreed to take on extra liabilities in exchange for paying a tiny amount of their ACC levies. The incident took place on their grounds and the victim was an employee of theirs. A court decision was made that they were liable because of the contract they had signed. What part are you confused by? They made the decision to pay less in levies.

  13. justthefacts 13
    6 April 2009 at 8:47 pm

    BLiP

    “Can’t have been a very safe work space to leave your personal items if strangers can wander around there with loaded guns and murderous intent”

    Surely you jest?, a company is supposed to protect their workers from gangs and guns now?

    The law needs to be changed now and changed it will be, NO company should be liable for situations such as that, as it happens neither should the tax payer but that is a different argument.

    Loco

    I am not arguing about what happened only who is liable, it does not matter what your political persuasion is there is no way that you can justify charging the company for this act.

    • Felix 13.1
      6 April 2009 at 9:24 pm

      Then you know nothing about this case – the company agreed to take on more risk in return for lower premiums and then welched on the deal.

      An analogy you’ll (maybe) be able to follow:

      Say I decide to cut my car insurance costs by covering myself for damages to 3rd parties only. Then when someone runs into my shiny corolla I go back to the insurance company and scream “unfair – pay for my car!”. Am I being reasonable? Should the insurance company pay out even though I CHOSE not to cover myself so I could save a few bucks?

      I know you’re not very smart so:

      Talleys was played by me.
      ACC was played by the insurance co.
      The shooter was played by the other driver.

      To make it extra extra clear because I know you need it: Most companies will never, ever be in this position – Talleys were because they made a special deal with ACC.

    • Pascal's bookie 13.2
      6 April 2009 at 9:27 pm

      Surely you jest?, a company is supposed to protect their workers from gangs and guns now?

      Wrong question. A company is supposed to honour contracts it signs. In this case:

      Affco is liable for $1 million towards the lifetime support of the employee shot in its carpark. That might seem odd, but it is the very clear implication of the contract Affco (and its private insurer) signed with ACC to become an Accredited Employer. As an Accredited Employer, Affco took responsibility for injuries on its property, up to the value of $1 million (Storey’s lifetime support will come in at 10 times that, with the balance paid by ACC) — in exchange for paying virtually no standard employer levies.

      But rather than honour its contract, Affco hired top-flight spin (Richard Griffin) and got National’s Anne Tolley on the case, whereupon the facts started to go west.

      (From the public address link in the post)

      The law needs to be changed now and changed it will be, NO company should be liable for situations such as that, as it happens neither should the tax payer but that is a different argument.

      What law is going to be changed? Will we no longer have to honour contracts if they become inconvenient? Are National getting rid of ‘no fault’ and giving us back the right to sue? Are they doing away with the Accredited Employer scheme? What are you talking about?

      I am not arguing about what happened only who is liable

      Good. According to the contract they signed, the company is liable. As the courts found. Liability is surely a matter of law. Unless you have some other method of determining these things, one that overrides legally binding contracts signed by the people involved.

      it does not matter what your political persuasion is there is no way that you can justify charging the company for this act.

      Evidently not. If you believe in contracts you can certainly justify it. Afterall, that’s what they agreed to be liable for. In fact the only way you can justify them not being liable is if you don’t believe in properly formed contracts being binding. I suggest that that is a pretty fringe political viewpoint in the NZ context, and so the above quote from you gets it almost 100 percent barse ackwards,

    • BLiP 13.3
      6 April 2009 at 9:46 pm

      How typically National of you – sign up for one thing and then renege. Sigh . . . such are our leaders these days.

    • mickysavage 13.4
      6 April 2009 at 10:32 pm

      There is a saying about how the tories want losses to be socialised and profits privatised. If Talley was willing to socialise its profits I am sure that we could look at socialising the losses that it may have suffered from this deal.

  14. justthefacts 14
    6 April 2009 at 9:47 pm

    Felix

    Clearly you are an imbecile so I will not bother replying.

    Pascal’s

    For the second time, I am not debating what the law currently is, my argument is (and one that I hope the Nat’s share) is that there is no way that any company should be held liable for the actions of an outside force or influence, it is simply crazy.

    If you want to discuss the merits of ACC then perhaps that is best reserved for another thread but the issue here is the sheer lunacy of the current law and how that law must be changed to stop situations like this happening again.

    If the COMPANY were negligent then yes, by all means go them for at least one million but in this case they were clearly the innocent party, I note that as per normal when dealing with the left you do not let little things like the facts get in the way of your naked hatred of business, there is NO WAY that AFFCO agreed to cover its employees for drive by shootings.

    Story should have his own private cover as should the rest of the population, if Story elected not to provide cover for himself then tough luck, either way it is not the companies fault nor should it fall back on the tax payer.

    I suggest you get used to the idea of change Pascal, the Nat’s will be in power for at least nine years, there are lots of things they will change during that time, hopefully this law will be one of them.

    • BLiP 14.1
      6 April 2009 at 10:09 pm

      Its not about fault, or ACC Its about contract law. Its about Talleys saying one thing and then wriggling like John Key in a pile of money when having to keep its word.

      If there’s any fault in the car park shooting scenario its Talleys’ lawyers not recognising the exposure to liability in the (apparently) sweetheart deal they negotiated. Any decent brief would have elminated the car park zone from the contract. However, Talleys’ usual practise is to do everything on the cheap so they must have got some bozo ambulance chaser to draft the contract.

      And now you’re telling us the tax payers, having been short changed in the first instance, should also pay for Talleys’ fuck up? You twat.

    • mickysavage 14.2
      6 April 2009 at 10:12 pm

      justthefacts

      Felix’s analysis is very good and very relevant. Insurance companies every day take money from citizens promising to protect them from the effects of criminal behaviour. Imagine what would happen if your insurance company refused to pay out for the burglary that you suffered on the basis that it was “the actions of an outside force or influence”.

      The market and the rule of law applies. If a private entity chooses to assume the risk that an adverse event may occur why should the state (ie all of us) pick up the tab if the bet was not a good one?

      If AFFCO did not want to cover its employees from being shot then it should first look to its lawyers to see why the contract it signed did not say this.

      This is a classic example of why ACC must be preserved and cover not trusted to insurance companies. Otherwise every third claim will be disputed and will need to be litigated.

    • Pascal's bookie 14.3
      6 April 2009 at 11:57 pm

      This doesn’t make sense jtf.

      On the one hand you say you only want to discuss the facts, rather than what the law is. But ‘what the law is’ is the relevant fact of this case. On the other hand you seem to be wanting to discuss (though it is unclear), the merits of the no fault system and ACC. But you tell me that should be left for another thread. I agree.

      When you say what you you think ‘should’ be the law, and who ‘should’ have insurance, and what that ‘should’ cover you are moving away from the facts and into opinion about the things you think should be left for another thread. Strange.

      It honestly seems to me that you are the one avoiding the facts. The facts of this case are the contract and what it left AFFCO legally liable for. The courts are the judge of that, and the contract was quite clear. It really is simple, you are entitled to think that some laws are stupid, but that is not a fact, that’s opinion. Opinion about the merits of the ACC system.

      Feel free to talk about the facts of this case anytime you feel up to it, and we’ll leave, as you suggest, opinions about the merits of ACC for another thread.

  15. Steve Withers 15
    6 April 2009 at 11:35 pm

    If you boycott Talley’s they may end up being bought out by some foreign company who won’t give a rat’s arse about anything to do with NZ….and engineer their “costs” so they end up not paying any tax in NZ…..as so many of our foreign-owned corporates do. I used to work for one that paid a 40% “royalty” to head office in the US. This was their way of transferring local profits out of NZ. This company is not intended to make a big profit in New Zealand….and they usually don’t. The aim to make as close to nothing as possible…..

    A Talley’s like that would be worse than the one we have now.

  16. ripp0 16
    7 April 2009 at 2:04 pm

    jtf,

    is that there is no way that any company should be held liable for the actions of an outside force or influence

    How come you never told all the corps who fell victim to cds/cdo about this BEFORE it happened..?

    yeah, I know you’re in a thread relating acc stuff, but it also has the words ‘corporate’ and ‘scum’ in the title..

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    2 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government invests in Greymouth’s future
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