The Tide is High

Written By: - Date published: 6:39 pm, November 15th, 2015 - 91 comments
Categories: Andrew Little, crosby textor, democratic participation, election 2017, greens, john key, labour, leadership, national, Politics - Tags: , , ,

I’m pleased about the Roy Morgan result. The last time the All Blacks won a World Cup it was worth 2-3% in the polls to National. Enough to get them over the line in 2011 election, in fact. This RWC … nothing. In fact, less than nothing; a one percent drop.

Perhaps its because Andrew Little showed Key up by paying for his own trip to the UK for the finals. Perhaps it’s because the PM’s usual matey relationship with our leading rugby players seems to have lost its lustre. Perhaps it’s just that Kiwis are getting tired of endless diversions and their interest in Key is, ahem, flagging.

Now, polls change all the time and the next one from Roy Morgan will say something different, I’m sure. But it’s encouraging that the Greens and Labour have taken support off National at a time when they should be riding high.

According to my wise fellow Standardista Ad, here’s why Labour are currently looking good:

 

Labour does not now have visible internal fights that are leaked to the media.

Labour does not have a caucus that is obviously divided and attacks its leaders from within.

Labour has finished with its new leadership-choosing process for a while.

Labour now has a leader that can deliver a coherent speech.

Labour actually has MPs who can sustain reasonable headlines.

Labour can hold a conference in which the Members and MPs leave encouraged.

 

Yep! While cowards flinch and traitors sneer, we’ll keep the red flag flying here. However, I guess the media’s pet Blairites will keep attacking the party from the right and no doubt social media’s Red Guard will keep poking the party with the blunt sticks of irrelevance from the left.

Sadly, it appears the days of class conscious voting are behind us and our democracy relies on appealing to the unappealing middle. But a Labour led Government, no matter how imperfect, remains a better option for the majority of us. It’s up to all of us to help make that happen, whichever one of the three potential coalition parties we prefer.

As Ad pointed out in the comment linked to above, the tide ran out on Clark surprisingly quickly when it started to move. This week’s astonishingly cringeworthy attack on the brave women of the Labour and Greens’ caucus may prove to be Key’s red mist peak. We’re used to Key embarrassing us at home and internationally, but this is something different. It was an emotional misfire, factually wrong and compounded by his henchman in the chair punishing the women who had the temerity to speak up.

Frankly, guys, if women want to tell us their stories of abuse, then the right response from the men in the room is to shut the fuck up and listen.

Key doesn’t get it, Carter doesn’t get it, righty bloggers will never get it. But I trust women voters do get it.

And here’s the point; Helen Clark won three elections anchored on the solid support of women voters. Key has taken a stance which directly challenges his own reasonably high popularity with the same voters. His mildly pervy hair pulling fixation was a weird look, but shouting down actual victims of abuse, while trying to portray himself as being hard done by is sick making. And don’t be surprised if we see a few articles in the women’s mags and the likes of North and South over the next few weeks as those brave MP’s tell their stories. By the way, if anyone doubts what women politicians are capable of when they work together, here’s what clever, cooperative and strong leadership can do.

One of the reasons I like the Roy Morgan polls is because of their volatility. For mine, I reckon they accurately reflect the fluctuations of the voter’s mindset. People’s opinions change all the time. However, it only takes an issue that is personally felt for a voter to go off a party long term or to embrace a party they haven’t recently supported. If National have missed out on the RWC bounce and appear to have a ranting, misogynist fool as a leader, things are not going to plan for them.

Key warned his MP’s about third term arrogance. He probably should have warned himself, too.

As the song says, the tide is high, but I’m holdin’ on.

 

 

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91 comments on “The Tide is High ”

  1. BM 1

    So, what would you say if the next couple of polls had National on 55%+ and Labour on 25% or below?

    Also, don’t make the mistake of thinking all women think the same.

    • weka 1.1

      what would you say if kiwis flew past the window?

    • Atiawa 1.2

      I was wrong!
      But I don’t believe that will be the case.
      Andrew Little is a clever man and he will fast become an even smarter politician. He will continue to gain in popularity by concentrating and building policies around things that matter for NZer’s – jobs, incomes, housing, health & education and our grand childrens future’s. Labours bread & butter.
      He will also need to innocculate himself against the fluff attacks, i.e. he doesn’t have an electoral seat. By the way, he needs a safe one.
      Key and his Government will do the rest.

    • JNZ 1.3

      Indeed, in fact Michelle Boag, by all evidence a woman, thinks MPs sharing their abuse stories is poor form because..

      “Boag said most women she knew had been the victims of sexual assault “in some way”, but did not get the opportunity to share their experiences publicly.

      “Every other woman in New Zealand in New Zealand who’s been the subject of a sexual assault doesn’t get the opportunity to do that.””

      Does she, by any chance, MISS THE WHOLE POINT?

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/74006095/mps-who-shared-sexual-assault-stories-paraded-their-victimhood–michelle-boag

  2. weka 2

    I’m in general agreement about the potential impact of what happened in parliament last week, although I’m not so sure it will translate into a shift in the polls. More likely it will add to the growing discomfit with Key and his misogyny even where people don’t use that language. If he lasts until 2017 I think by then there will be too many of these kinds of incidents and people will be ready for a change.

    Yep! While cowards flinch and traitors sneer, we’ll keep the red flag flying here. However, I guess the media’s pet Blairites will keep attacking the party from the right and no doubt social media’s Red Guard will keep poking the party with the blunt sticks of irrelevance from the left.

    Sadly, it appears the days of class conscious voting are behind us and are democracy relies on appealing to the unappealing middle. But a Labour led Government, no matter how imperfect, remains a better option for the majority of us. It’s up to all of us to help make that happen, whichever one of the three potential coalition parties we prefer.

    That, however, is the same macho politics that Key practices. If you want everyone to make that happen, it would pay not to insult and dismiss your allies or the people upon whom you depend.

  3. sabine 3

    i guess it would depend, if Key did a few good things and unemployment went down or something than obviously it would be said in the next poll that that was a contributing factor for his good numbers. And obviously Labour did it too. IF he fucks up and his number go down, then it would be said in the next poll that that was a contributing factor. And obviously Labour did it too.

    as for your little outburst at the end.
    have you got no shame?

  4. Cricklewood 4

    Yep the tide is high alright…. it’s been high for how many years now?

    • BM 4.1

      After the Paris terrorist attacks , the chances of a king tide look very likely.

      • sabine 4.1.1

        vultures.

        • BM 4.1.1.1

          Vultures?

          Pubic perception is
          Labour = all about crims/Muslims and other minorities.
          National = solidity,law and order.

          These sort of events heavily favor the right.

          • mickysavage 4.1.1.1.1

            Hey BM what about the reality? Or does that not matter?

            Besides the perception is

            Key = misogynist who will accuse women who have been sexually assaulted of supporting rapists.
            Labour = at least Kelvin was willing to stand up
            National = incompetent and they will do anything to retain power.

            Think again. High tide is on us.

          • sabine 4.1.1.1.2

            do you really believe this? are you happy to live with this.

          • Smilin 4.1.1.1.3

            Its emotive crap on Keys part and hides the real issue that we should as a nation protest Australyars appalling incarceration conditions and laws relating to offenders in that country to the UN Key was probably told by Turnbull dont go there
            Marama Fox explained it really well on the NATION this weekend

          • Murray Simmonds 4.1.1.1.4

            Any evidence to back up your utterly absurd propositions BM? Or perhaps you don’t “do” evidence?

            Nor logic, nor reason, for that matter.

            Just splash out inanely in the hope that someone might be silly enough to listen.

      • b waghorn 4.1.2

        Unfortunately you are probably right ,key will use this to to his own ends , Little needs to have a very strong clear message backing action because as much as Isis was created by western intervention it needs to be stopped.

  5. Ad 5

    Cheers TRP.

    I quite liked being wrong about the Conference.

    And also particularly enjoying the consistent hits from Davis and Twyford. Always a good sign in politics when you start getting consistently lucky.

  6. Ad 6

    You read new New Zealanders all wrong BM. Maybe it works for you 75+ Talkback types. Fortunately they are dying out faster then Fox News viewers.

    The reason the media broke hard against Key over his Parliamentary behavior last week is that it smelled like cutting against a cardinal New Zealand value: don’t divide us from each other.

    Public perception in Auckland at least is that our intergenerational tolerance and “super diversity” makes us the least susceptible nation in the world to terrorism of any kind.

    The Prime Minister is instead dividing himself from New Zealand.
    If he’s not careful he’ll go down with it. So dumb.

    TRP THIS was a response to BM, not a separate string, please.

    • BM 6.1

      Lol, I’ve never listened to talkback and I’m a few decades off 75.

      Thing is when you boil it down , the perception is National pro law and order,Labour all about the crims.

      True or false, this is how middle NZ sees it, which is probably a hang over from the Clark years and it’s something Little needs to consider before he heads down certain tangents.

      • dv 6.1.1

        nal pro law and order

        Oh really.
        What about the prominent northlander?

      • sabine 6.1.2

        No BM, the perception of the public is not how you describe it. This is the perception that National would like to sell to the public. And with a certain segment of the population you will get your way for a while. How long it will last? Who knows. Who cares, it is in the end only the poll in 2017 that counts, unless of course we would somehow have an early election or no election.

        The saddest part in all of this BM, is that your Party and your Leader is so devoid of ideas and plans for this country that all he has to cling too is a resentment fuelled by ignorance and fear against muslims anywhere – and also those that look like them, or maybe just associate, that hopefully will allow him to pretend to carry a pair and send NZ troops to war and have you and me pay for it. War, that is your path to popularity and power? Not peace and prosperity but war. How utterly craven and pathetic.

      • Ad 6.1.3

        That’s only true in pretty narrow sectors, such as within the Police Force and armed forces. I have not heard or seen it generally.

        If you’re not in touch with talkback radio – who I listed to every day for precisely this purpose – you’re not in touch with middle New Zealand.

      • Hanswurst 6.1.4

        Lol, I’ve never listened to talkback and I’m a few decades off 75.

        … and you think that casts your posts in a better light?

      • Tricledrown 6.1.5

        Two prominent ex National MP’s have name suppression for similar offences.
        5 sitting MPs have name suppression

      • Smilin 6.1.6

        “Thing is when you boil it down , the perception is National pro law and order,Labour all about the crims.”

        It might be true so we all need a reality check then
        Ignorance of NZers being smarter than that is no saviour 4 you thats for you of a large airy head to think about

      • Expat 6.1.7

        If the Nat’s are so pro law and order, then you might want to explain to me why the street that I’ve lived in for 16 yrs. has had a break-in and theft to every house, some twice, in the last two years. Law and ORDER is a fallacy of your imagination, the number of criminal activities in NZ now is more than double, maybe triple, of what it was under the previous govt, and the root cause?
        400,000 looking for work.
        Its pretty clear that there are two policy failures here, law and order and economic incompetence, talking up law and order does not make it a reality.
        “Labour are all about crims” if this a reference to the detainees, then you must have missed the boat, they don’t support criminal activities like the Nat’s, they support the concept of HUMAN RIGHTS, some thing that the Nat’s seem not to support.

  7. Saarbo 7

    Hear, hear TRP.

  8. Tory 8

    So rather than say the Labour Conference resulted in no traction for Labour the poll is dictated by the RWC? Wake up you wankers.

    • The polling period was October 26 – November 8, 2015, Tory. So starting just after the French semi final, taking in the final itself and finishing just after the homecoming parades, but before the Labour party conference.

      Who’s the tosser now?

      • Tory 8.1.1

        The conference was the 6 ~8 November, as usual you are trying to take the shit from the left and roll it in glitter.

        • Muttonbird 8.1.1.1

          You sound worried, darling.

        • te reo putake 8.1.1.2

          Dude, your ignorance is charming. It’s a two week polling period. The leader’s speech was on Sunday arvo and made the news at 6pm that night. It’s possible some people were polled later on the Sunday, but, nah, not really. The LP conference’s influence on this poll is sweet FA.

          The point is that the polling period perfectly mirrored the RWC finals period, yet Key got nothing out of it despite humping Richies leg like a randy border collie whenever the media were about. The old black magic ain’t working for Key no more. Shame, eh?

    • Anno1701 8.2

      “Wake up you wankers.”

      crikey !

    • Expat 8.3

      Tory, “Wake up you wankers” is what the rest of the world is saying to all NZ’ers, cause if you don’t wake up soon your economy will never recover.

  9. Pat 9

    Given that Key has consistently portrayed an anti women sentiment, the far right are reportedly disenchanted with him and his frequent faux pas…add in a Cabinet of of underperformers and a complete lack of policy and one has to wonder which demographic is providing all this support ?….there arnt that many farmers,
    small businessMEN and contractors out there.

  10. Colonial Viper 10

    well, this is an upbeat way of looking at numbers which show that National + MP would have a majority of 4 or 5 in the House, sitting 3.5% ahead of LAB + GR + NZF.

    Also worth remembering that the RWC in 2011 was a major local event throughout NZ, in the same time zone.

    • It was a major local event here in NZ, CV. They even changed the law so we could watch the games with a beer in our hands. Then, in the last week of polling we had ‘local events’ in the main centres; the parades. Plus an overload of media stories about AB’s taking the cup to schools, hospitals and cemeteries. The polling period was utterly dominated by the RWC.

      The total for the opposition is 2 points better than the actual result at the election. Not a huge shift, but definitely in the too close to call category. And, as the post points out, the poll was at a time when Captain Key should be riding high on the back of the rugby result. And he’s not. What gives?

      • Brutus Iscariot 10.1.1

        I’d say 49% still classifies as “riding high”.

        The only inexplicable thing is that there are some so punch drunk that they will try to make a silk purse out of this woeful poll.

        Saying Key is in trouble as he hasn’t quite managed to scrape over 50% shows just how far standards and expectations have slipped.

        • Daniel Cale 10.1.1.1

          It’s leftist desperation narrative. There is no guarantee a Labour/Greens/NZF arrangement could even be put together, let alone function, yet that’s the desperate hope the left clings to. It’s sad really.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 10.1.1.1.1

            Yes! The 2005 – 2008 government never happened! Desperate!

            • Daniel Cale 10.1.1.1.1.1

              The 2005 – 2008 government was a co-oalition between Labour and the progressives, who no longer exist. NZF’s involvement was only in a confidence and supply agreement. The Greens only formal involvement was an agreement to abstain on confidence and supply. Labour won 41% of the vote to Nationals 39%.

              To govern today, Labour would need a formal coalition of Labour, Greens, NZF and the Maori Parties (based on the latest RM). It isn’t going to happen.

              • “To govern today, Labour would need a formal coalition of Labour, Greens, NZF and the Maori Parties (based on the latest RM). It isn’t going to happen.”

                Nope. Helen Clark had three different arrangements and while I’m sure NZ First’s bottom line is a coalition, the Greens might be perfectly happy with some policy gains in exchange for support on C&S.

                Glad you mentioned the Maori party. I wouldn’t be surprised if they opted for Labour, if Labour was in a position to form a government. Having a seat at the cabinet table is vital for their future prospects. And Labour have more in common with what the MP claim to want to achieve, so why not?

                • Daniel Cale

                  “Nope. Helen Clark had three different arrangements…”
                  Because she had a lot more votes than does Labour today.

                  “and while I’m sure NZ First’s bottom line is a coalition, the Greens might be perfectly happy with some policy gains in exchange for support on C&S.”
                  Wouldn’t work. Labour don’t have the numbers to govern that way. If support was on a C&S basis only, nothing would pass. Governing would come to a standstill.

                  You forget there is a huge difference between the numbers the Clark Government enjoyed and what Labour have today. You also forget that the Greens have been shafted by Labour before. I doubt very much they would accept anything other than a full coalition deal, and why should they?

                  • The amount of Labour votes made no difference. HC stitched together three different coalitions on three different LP party votes and the important thing is that she lead each one. She made the best of the hand she was dealt. Andrew Little has two decades in the union movement putting deals together, often between unwilling partners. If there’s a progressive government to be formed, he’ll find a way.

              • One Anonymous Bloke

                I note that the Greens, Labour and NZ1st worked together, and that you’ve gone from “doubting” it to acknowledging it while flailing around with some goalposts.

                Why are so many Tories liars? I think it’s their complete lack of personal responsibility.

                • Daniel Cale

                  “I note that the Greens, Labour and NZ1st worked together,”
                  When Labour had far higher support than today.

                  “you’ve gone from “doubting” it to acknowledging it while flailing around with some goalposts.”
                  No, still doubt it. The 2005-2008 government looked nothing like the position today.

                  Labour is in no position to dictate any arrangement, as it was then. Labour could not govern with under 30% with only C&S support.

                  • Daniel Cale

                    Here’s some proof of what I’m saying:

                    Labour’s % of Vote:

                    2002 41%
                    2005 41%
                    2008 34%
                    2011 27%
                    2014 25%

                    Labour’s results have been a train smash. In the latest RM poll, a three headed coalition including Labour, Greens, NZF still cannot govern without the Maori Party.

                    Today is nothing like 2005.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      That’s right: we’re 2 years out from an election. What was National polling in 2003?

                      So much for wingnuts bearing “proof”.

      • Tracey 10.1.2

        Finny how quickly they changed the law for 5am drinking but Amy Adams has taken over 6 months so far to try and pass laws protecting us all from the evil coming our way from Australia?

  11. Cowboy 11

    Hey Pat, farmers are people too! We are not all incapable of independent thought.

    For my 2 cents worth, as a soon to be ex national party member, is that this is indeed the turning point for this administration. The Labour conference last week was important because swinging voters need to see a viable alternative. The first step in that is to have a leader who is supported by the party. That box now has been ticked apparently. I add to that James Shaw who has impressed me greatly in his short time as Greens co leader and I think will not frighten the horses of the great mass of centre voters. It will certainly help that the easily vilified Kim Dotcom and co are not in the picture as either.

    Secondly, Key overstepped the mark badly last week. I have been increasingly uneasy about his character and demeanour going back to before the last election. Dirty Politics, bridge bribes, Saudi sheep deals (and cover ups) etc, however I think for many the events of last week may well be the tipping point. Most Kiwi’s are pretty fair minded and we can see when our own are not being treated well, no matter how unsavoury their past. We have always taken pride in our adherence to international convention and our willingness to call out any country that doesn’t. When Peter Dunne is calling Key out for “chin dripping subservience” you know things are dire.

    No right thinking individual, especially one that holds such an esteemed office should have behaved in such a manner and to not be man enough to apologise does not sit well with me. My National party subscription notice will go unopened this year.

    • Anne 11.1

      Helen Clark’s parents were Waikato farmers – the heart of National territory. When their daughter joined Labour as a young Uni student her father – a former National Party regional chairman – was horrified. Five to ten years later both parents were also in the Labour Party. And where did Helen get her fierce intelligence from? Her parents of course.

      Good post Cowboy.

      • Craig H 11.1.1

        Andrew Little also came from National stock, including delivering National pamphlets back in the day for his father…

    • Pat 11.2

      Point taken Cowboy….and apologies for stereotyping…my question remains however….where is all the support shown by these polls?…I meet a few public supporters of National (I live in a rural blue ribbon electorate)…very few who will extend that to personal support of Key…and there is definitely a large body unimpressed by Labour but would that always default to National support?….that would require a considerable amount of nose holding .

  12. Jenny Kirk 12

    ” And, as the post points out, the poll was at a time when Captain Key should be riding high on the back of the rugby result. And he’s not. What gives? ”

    Maybe, just maybe, the general public are getting sick of the fawning, sycophantic antics of the PM. Wouldn’t trust that to luck though. Must be something else. But what? It couldn’t possibly be that Labour is starting to look like a credible Opposition at last, could it?

    And to te reo putake, I’m holding on too.

    • Stuart Munro 12.1

      It might be the one-eyed media. Constantly presenting the authorised Key version, now without the leavening of reality formerly provided by the likes of Campbell Live is just boring. And really hard to believe. Maybe Joyce has scored an own goal.

  13. Cowboy 13

    For my part I think the Northland by election was significant. I think NZ first will be increasingly be seen as a viable alternative in the regions for those that can’t bring themselves to vote further left. I sense Winston would love to have the last laugh on Key. Labour have been venturing into NZ first territory recently and as I say the greens look more mainstream with Shaw in the vanguard. There now appears a viable alternate govt emerging. Little just needs to keep building a quiet credibility and get abit better at off the cuff interviews and job done.

  14. Thinking Right 14

    I think that events in France have overshadowed the drama over detainees.

    The public don’t have a lot of sympathy for the detainees knowing that just about all of them are criminals and public safety is an issue.

    Also I don’t believe that the Public will adversely look at Keys utterances in Parliament as there is no simple connection between what he said and the female MP’s past experiences of abuse – none really at all.

    Key was chastising Davis by saying that he supported the safety of law abiding NZ’ers over what he termed were rapists, murderers etc. in the wider context of crims being expelled from Aussie.

    He possibly went a little overboard in accusing Davis and Labour of supporting rapists etc. however when you consider Davis’ trips over there, his calling Key gutless, and a lack of assurance from Labour that they have any awareness of what will happen when these crims land in NZ, the Public will see Key’s response as nothing more than Political saber rattling.

    How that could then jump to the next day to the female MP’s basically saying that Key insulted them as they (not public knowledge prior to this) had been victims of sexual abuse themselves is beyond me.

    There is no connect and unfortunately the walkout looked exactly as it was, manufactured and an attempt to embarrass Key.

    but that was last weeks news, this week and next probably will be about the killings in France – the left will need to find another barrow to push.

    • ropata 14.1

      what the fuck. it was not a PR exercise you dork.
      there are real people on Xmas Island whose human rights are being violated EVERY DAY
      and you think it’s all about JK

      the PM is an irrelevant sideshow designed to distract from the real issues

    • Tracey 14.2

      Yes Steven

      🙄

  15. Murray Simmonds 15

    Excellent article Te Reo Putake.

    I get the impression that Key is getting a bit tired of it all. Yes. he enjoys shuffling around on the world stage, basking in the glory of the world leaders that he rubs shoulders with. It all pumps up his ego no end.

    But he may well be acutely aware of the reality that this is all just pomp and circumstance – the world leaders being diplomatic, in effect.

    When he gets home its different. No red carpets or ceremonial troop-inspections. No Royal handshakes or photo-ops. Just the hum-drum of pretending to run the country, by electing to maintain the status quo, at a time when the world calls out for rapid and urgent change.

    And then there’s the necessity of attending parliament.; of fronting up in the House of Representatives. I don’t think he enjoys that at all.

    My guess is that he’ll spend as much time as possible on overseas junkets for much of his remaining term, then he’ll bow out before the next election.

    • Jenny Kirk 15.1

      And if he’s not on an overseas junket, Murray S, he’ll be conjuring up internal ones.
      Starting with the US Navy arriving to celebrate NZ Navy history. Perhaps another Royal visit. Who haven’t we had lately ?

  16. Puckish Rogue 16

    So you’re pleased that:

    by itself National has 49%
    or National/MP 51%
    or National/NZF 55% (not that anyone should count on that)

    and that

    Lab/Grn has 41.5%
    or Lab/Grn/NZF 47.5% (not that anyone should count on that)

    Ok cool

    • Crashcart 16.1

      A sad but fair dose of reality.

      As much as I see what TRP is trying to say I think it is a bit hard to get optomistic about these poll results.

      I am more optomistic about the improvements in Labour itself. Hopefully that will see tangible improvements in the future.

      • Puckish Rogue 16.1.1

        Of course having said that, if an election was held tomorrow i doubt National would get 49%, more like 43-44%

        • Crashcart 16.1.1.1

          For sure. I think it would be very much in the hands of Winnie. Not a big fan of that but no matter how much I try to convince my wife otherwise she and many like her will still vote that way.

          They moved away from National but just can’t bring themselves to go all the way to Labour or the Greens. Although she was digusted by last weeks shinanigans.

          • Puckish Rogue 16.1.1.1.1

            yeah I think its fair to say that Winston probably will decide who gets in and since there are very good reasons for him to go either way no one can really say who he’ll go with

  17. Karen 17

    I must admit I was a bit disappointed in the Morgan poll, but I agree that the Labour Party conference would have had little impact on the results. By the second weekend pollsters are just looking to make up the numbers – the bulk has already been done.

    However I was pleased to see this impressive speech in the house from Andrew Little from last week. We need more of this to capitalise on the coverage from the conference:

    https://insightnz.wordpress.com/2015/11/15/watch-andrew-little-tear-paula-bennett-to-shreds-in-parliament/

    • Sabine 17.1

      yes, that was a thing of beauty.

      • The Chairman 17.1.1

        The nastiest piece of legislation was a nice touch, but some substance (what Labour would do differently – i.e. a reversal) would have given the address far more beauty.

    • The Chairman 17.2

      @ Karen

      From that address can we take Labour will reverse the way WINZ deal with cancer patients?

      And if so, has Little formally announced this planned reversal?

    • Daniel Cale 17.3

      Party conferences don’t make a jot of difference these days. There have been claims that Labours conference fired up the delegates, and on this blog everyones getting pumped up about speeches etc but these people vote Labour anyway! No-one else cares.

      • marty mars 17.3.1

        do you vote labour and do you care?

      • The Chairman 17.3.2

        @ Daniel Cale

        They have even less impact when the opposition fails to produce policy that supports the rhetoric.

        Speeches without policy are hollow.

        Right voting cancer patients would care far more if they knew exactly what Labour would do to improve their situation. Little running down Paula and expecting her to apologize does little to change their current circumstances.

  18. Tiger Mountain 18

    NZ Labour seems like the Bono/U2 of politics at the moment, everyone knows the name, but what ’ave they done lately then eh?

    some things they have not done are; even mention Jeremy Corbyn, or stick by their own 5 point bottom line on the TPPA for a seemly amount of time–like say till the USA ratifies, rejecting the TPP was coincidentally the only policy point that could have united NZ First, Green, Mana and Labour without too many acrobatics heading to 2017

    Labour don’t want to go left, TRP is heh, right, about that at least, waiting for the “Parnell Puller” to go off his game is not exactly a strategy

    despite my jaundiced view of social democracy I do support reforms as long as they drive political as well as economic advancement, such as a massive house building programme and driving back private penetration of the public sector

  19. Clean_power 19

    The wishful thinking expressed by TRP, the author of this note, is astonishing.
    Keep up the boundless optimism, while praying at the same time.

    [If you don’t like the posts here, don’t read them. If you wish to admonish the authors of posts or belittle their efforts, your commenting privileges will be swiftly curtailed. And there is no god, so praying won’t save you. TRP]

  20. thechangeling 20

    Good to see you back on thestandard.org.nz TRP!

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Recent Posts

  • National’s new MP; the proud part-Maori boy raised in a state house
    Probably not since 1975 have we seen a government take office up against such a wall of protest and complaint. That was highlighted yesterday, the day that the new Parliament was sworn in, with news that King Tuheitia has called a national hui for late January to develop a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 hour ago
  • Climate Adam: Battlefield Earth – How War Fuels Climate Catastrophe
    This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). War, conflict and climate change are tearing apart lives across the world. But these aren't separate harms - they're intricately connected. ...
    10 hours ago
  • They do not speak for us, and they do not speak for the future
    These dire woeful and intolerant people have been so determinedly going about their small and petulant business, it’s hard to keep up. At the end of the new government’s first woeful week, Audrey Young took the time to count off its various acts of denigration of Te Ao Māori:Review the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    14 hours ago
  • Another attack on te reo
    The new white supremacist government made attacking te reo a key part of its platform, promising to rename government agencies and force them to "communicate primarily in English" (which they already do). But today they've gone further, by trying to cut the pay of public servants who speak te reo: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    14 hours ago
  • For the record, the Beehive buzz can now be regarded as “official”
    Buzz from the Beehive The biggest buzz we bring you from the Beehive today is that the government’s official website is up and going after being out of action for more than a week. The latest press statement came  from  Education Minister  Eric Stanford, who seized on the 2022 PISA ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    16 hours ago
  • Climate Change: Failed again
    There was another ETS auction this morning. and like all the other ones this year, it failed to clear - meaning that 23 million tons of carbon (15 million ordinary units plus 8 million in the cost containment reserve) went up in smoke. Or rather, they didn't. Being unsold at ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    16 hours ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Government’s Assault On Maori
    This isn’t news, but the National-led coalition is mounting a sustained assault on Treaty rights and obligations. Even so, Christopher Luxon has described yesterday’s nationwide protests by Maori as “pretty unfair.” Poor thing. In the NZ Herald, Audrey Young has compiled a useful list of the many, many ways that ...
    17 hours ago
  • Rising costs hit farmers hard, but  there’s more  positive news  for  them this  week 
    New Zealand’s dairy industry, the mainstay of the country’s export trade, has  been under  pressure  from rising  costs. Down on the  farm, this  has  been  hitting  hard. But there  was more positive news this week,  first   from the latest Fonterra GDT auction where  prices  rose,  and  then from  a  report ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    17 hours ago
  • ROB MacCULLOCH:  Newshub and NZ Herald report misleading garbage about ACT’s van Veldon not follo...
    Rob MacCulloch writes –  In their rush to discredit the new government (which our MainStream Media regard as illegitimate and having no right to enact the democratic will of voters) the NZ Herald and Newshub are arguing ACT’s Deputy Leader Brooke van Veldon is not following Treasury advice ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    19 hours ago
  • Top 10 for Wednesday, December 6
    Even many young people who smoke support smokefree policies, fitting in with previous research showing the large majority of people who smoke regret starting and most want to quit. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere on the morning of Wednesday, December ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    20 hours ago
  • Eleven years of work.
    Well it didn’t take six months, but the leaks have begun. Yes the good ship Coalition has inadvertently released a confidential cabinet paper into the public domain, discussing their axing of Fair Pay Agreements (FPAs).Oops.Just when you were admiring how smoothly things were going for the new government, they’ve had ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    24 hours ago
  • Why we're missing out on sharply lower inflation
    A wave of new and higher fees, rates and charges will ripple out over the economy in the next 18 months as mayors, councillors, heads of department and price-setters for utilities such as gas, electricity, water and parking ramp up charges. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Just when most ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • How Did We Get Here?
    Hi,Kiwis — keep the evening of December 22nd free. I have a meetup planned, and will send out an invite over the next day or so. This sounds sort of crazy to write, but today will be Tony Stamp’s final Totally Normal column of 2023. Somehow we’ve made it to ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago
  • At a glance – Has the greenhouse effect been falsified?
    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 ...
    1 day ago
  • New Zealaders  have  high expectations of  new  government:  now let’s see if it can deliver?
    The electorate has high expectations of the  new  government.  The question is: can  it  deliver?    Some  might  say  the  signs are not  promising. Protestors   are  already marching in the streets. The  new  Prime Minister has had  little experience of managing  very diverse politicians  in coalition. The economy he  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    2 days ago
  • You won't believe some of the numbers you have to pull when you're a Finance Minister
    Nicola of Marsden:Yo, normies! We will fix your cost of living worries by giving you a tax cut of 150 dollars. 150! Cash money! Vote National.Various people who can read and count:Actually that's 150 over a fortnight. Not a week, which is how you usually express these things.And actually, it looks ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Pushback
    When this government came to power, it did so on an explicitly white supremacist platform. Undermining the Waitangi Tribunal, removing Māori representation in local government, over-riding the courts which had tried to make their foreshore and seabed legislation work, eradicating te reo from public life, and ultimately trying to repudiate ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Defence ministerial meeting meant Collins missed the Maori Party’s mischief-making capers in Parli...
    Buzz from the Beehive Maybe this is not the best time for our Minister of Defence to have gone overseas. Not when the Maori Party is inviting (or should that be inciting?) its followers to join a revolution in a post which promoted its protest plans with a picture of ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Threats of war have been followed by an invitation to join the revolution – now let’s see how th...
     A Maori Party post on Instagram invited party followers to ….  Tangata Whenua, Tangata Tiriti, Join the REVOLUTION! & make a stand!  Nationwide Action Day, All details in tiles swipe to see locations.  • This is our 1st hit out and tomorrow Tuesday the 5th is the opening ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Top 10 for Tuesday, December 4
    The RBNZ governor is citing high net migration and profit-led inflation as factors in the bank’s hawkish stance. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere on the morning of Tuesday, December 5, including:Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr says high net migration and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Nicola Willis' 'show me the money' moment
    Willis has accused labour of “economic vandalism’, while Robertson described her comments as a “desperate diversion from somebody who can't make their tax package add up”. There will now be an intense focus on December 20 to see whether her hyperbole is backed up by true surprises. Photo montage: Lynn ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • CRL costs money but also provides huge benefits
    The City Rail Link has been in the headlines a bit recently so I thought I’d look at some of them. First up, yesterday the NZ Herald ran this piece about the ongoing costs of the CRL. Auckland ratepayers will be saddled with an estimated bill of $220 million each ...
    2 days ago
  • And I don't want the world to see us.
    Is this the most shambolic government in the history of New Zealand? Given that parliament hasn’t even opened they’ve managed quite a list of achievements to date.The Smokefree debacle trading lives for tax cuts, the Trumpian claims of bribery in the Media, an International award for indifference, and today the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Cooking the books
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis late yesterday stopped only slightly short of accusing her predecessor Grant Robertson of cooking the books. She complained that the Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU), due to be made public on December 20, would show “fiscal cliffs” that would amount to “billions of ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • Most people don’t realize how much progress we’ve made on climate change
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The year was 2015. ‘Uptown Funk’ with Bruno Mars was at the top of the music charts. Jurassic World was the most popular new movie in theaters. And decades of futility in international climate negotiations was about to come to an end in ...
    2 days ago
  • Of Parliamentary Oaths and Clive Boonham
    As a heads-up, I am not one of those people who stay awake at night thinking about weird Culture War nonsense. At least so far as the current Maori/Constitutional arrangements go. In fact, I actually consider it the least important issue facing the day to day lives of New ...
    2 days ago
  • Bearing True Allegiance?
    Strong Words: “We do not consent, we do not surrender, we do not cede, we do not submit; we, the indigenous, are rising. We do not buy into the colonial fictions this House is built upon. Te Pāti Māori pledges allegiance to our mokopuna, our whenua, and Te Tiriti o ...
    3 days ago
  • You cannot be serious
    Some days it feels like the only thing to say is: Seriously? No, really. Seriously?OneSomeone has used their health department access to share data about vaccinations and patients, and inform the world that New Zealanders have been dying in their hundreds of thousands from the evil vaccine. This of course is pure ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • A promise kept: govt pulls the plug on Lake Onslow scheme – but this saving of $16bn is denounced...
    Buzz from the Beehive After $21.8 million was spent on investigations, the plug has been pulled on the Lake Onslow pumped-hydro electricity scheme, The scheme –  that technically could have solved New Zealand’s looming energy shortage, according to its champions – was a key part of the defeated Labour government’s ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER: The Maori Party and Oath of Allegiance
    If those elected to the Māori Seats refuse to take them, then what possible reason could the country have for retaining them?   Chris Trotter writes – Christmas is fast approaching, which, as it does every year, means gearing up for an abstruse general knowledge question. “Who was ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • BRIAN EASTON:  Forward to 2017
    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies. Brian Easton writes The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Climate Change: Fossils
    When the new government promised to allow new offshore oil and gas exploration, they were warned that there would be international criticism and reputational damage. Naturally, they arrogantly denied any possibility that that would happen. And then they finally turned up at COP, to criticism from Palau, and a "fossil ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • GEOFFREY MILLER:  NZ’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
    Geoffrey Miller writes – New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the government’s smokefree laws debacle
    The most charitable explanation for National’s behaviour over the smokefree legislation is that they have dutifully fulfilled the wishes of the Big Tobacco lobby and then cast around – incompetently, as it turns out – for excuses that might sell this health policy U-turn to the public. The less charitable ...
    3 days ago
  • Top 10 links at 10 am for Monday, December 4
    As Deb Te Kawa writes in an op-ed, the new Government seems to have immediately bought itself fights with just about everyone. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Monday December 4, including:Palau’s President ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Be Honest.
    Let’s begin today by thinking about job interviews.During my career in Software Development I must have interviewed hundreds of people, hired at least a hundred, but few stick in the memory.I remember one guy who was so laid back he was practically horizontal, leaning back in his chair until his ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
    New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he left off. Peters sought to align ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    3 days ago
  • Auckland rail tunnel the world’s most expensive
    Auckland’s city rail link is the most expensive rail project in the world per km, and the CRL boss has described the cost of infrastructure construction in Aotearoa as a crisis. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The 3.5 km City Rail Link (CRL) tunnel under Auckland’s CBD has cost ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • First big test coming
    The first big test of the new Government’s approach to Treaty matters is likely to be seen in the return of the Resource Management Act. RMA Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed that he intends to introduce legislation to repeal Labour’s recently passed Natural and Built Environments Act and its ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • The Song of Saqua: Volume III
    Time to revisit something I haven’t covered in a while: the D&D campaign, with Saqua the aquatic half-vampire. Last seen in July: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2023/07/27/the-song-of-saqua-volume-ii/ The delay is understandable, once one realises that the interim saw our DM come down with a life-threatening medical situation. They have since survived to make ...
    3 days ago
  • Chris Bishop: Smokin’
    Yes. Correct. It was an election result. And now we are the elected government. ...
    My ThinksBy boonman
    4 days ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #48
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 26, 2023 thru Dec 2, 2023. Story of the Week CO2 readings from Mauna Loa show failure to combat climate change Daily atmospheric carbon dioxide data from Hawaiian volcano more ...
    4 days ago
  • Affirmative Action.
    Affirmative Action was a key theme at this election, although I don’t recall anyone using those particular words during the campaign.They’re positive words, and the way the topic was talked about was anything but. It certainly wasn’t a campaign of saying that Affirmative Action was a good thing, but that, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • 100 days of something
    It was at the end of the Foxton straights, at the end of 1978, at 100km/h, that someone tried to grab me from behind on my Yamaha.They seemed to be yanking my backpack. My first thought was outrage. My second was: but how? Where have they come from? And my ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Look who’s stepped up to champion Winston
    There’s no news to be gleaned from the government’s official website today  – it contains nothing more than the message about the site being under maintenance. The time this maintenance job is taking and the costs being incurred have us musing on the government’s commitment to an assault on inflation. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • What's The Story?
    Don’t you sometimes wish they’d just tell the truth? No matter how abhorrent or ugly, just straight up tell us the truth?C’mon guys, what you’re doing is bad enough anyway, pretending you’re not is only adding insult to injury.Instead of all this bollocks about the Smokefree changes being to do ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The longest of weeks
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Friday Under New Management Week in review, quiz style1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Suggested sessions of EGU24 to submit abstracts to
    Like earlier this year, members from our team will be involved with next year's General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). The conference will take place on premise in Vienna as well as online from April 14 to 19, 2024. The session catalog has been available since November 1 ...
    5 days ago
  • Under New Management
    1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. Under New Management 2. Which of these best describes the 100 days of action announced this week by the new government?a. Petulantb. Simplistic and wrongheaded c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • While we wait patiently, our new Minister of Education is up and going with a 100-day action plan
    Sorry to say, the government’s official website is still out of action. When Point of Order paid its daily visit, the message was the same as it has been for the past week: Site under maintenance Beehive.govt.nz is currently under maintenance. We will be back shortly. Thank you for your ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • DAVID FARRAR: Hysterical bullshit
    Radio NZ reports: Te Pāti Māori’s co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer has accused the new government of “deliberate .. systemic genocide” over its policies to roll back the smokefree policy and the Māori Health Authority. The left love hysterical language. If you oppose racial quotas in laws, you are a racist. And now if you sack ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #48 2023
    Open access notables From this week's government/NGO section, longitudinal data is gold and Leisorowitz, Maibachi et al. continue to mine ore from the US public with Climate Change in the American Mind: Politics & Policy, Fall 2023: Drawing on a representative sample of the U.S. adult population, the authors describe how registered ...
    6 days ago
  • ELE LUDEMANN: It wasn’t just $55 million
    Ele Ludemann writes –  Winston Peters reckons media outlets were bribed by the $55 million Public Interest Journalism Fund. He is not the first to make such an accusation. Last year, the Platform outlined conditions media signed up to in return for funds from the PJIF: . . . ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 1-December-2023
    Wow, it’s December already, and it’s a Friday. So here are few things that caught our attention recently. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt covered the new government’s coalition agreements and what they mean for transport. On Tuesday Matt looked at AT’s plans for fare increases ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    6 days ago
  • Shane MacGowan Is Gone.
    Late 1996, The Dogs Bollix, Tamaki Makaurau.I’m at the front of the bar yelling my order to the bartender, jostling with other thirsty punters on a Friday night, keen to piss their wages up against a wall letting loose. The black stuff, long luscious pints of creamy goodness. Back down ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Dec 1
    Nicola Willis, Chris Bishop and other National, ACT and NZ First MPs applaud the signing of the coalition agreements, which included the reversal of anti-smoking measures while accelerating tax cuts for landlords. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • 2023 More Reading: November (+ Writing Update)
    Completed reads for November: A Modern Utopia, by H.G. Wells The Vampire (poem), by Heinrich August Ossenfelder The Corpus Hermeticum The Corpus Hermeticum is Mead’s translation. Now, this is indeed a very quiet month for reading. But there is a reason for that… You see, ...
    6 days ago
  • Forward to 2017
    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies.The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. They also describe the processes of the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    7 days ago
  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    7 days ago
  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago
  • Finally
    Henry Kissinger is finally dead. Good fucking riddance. While Americans loved him, he was a war criminal, responsible for most of the atrocities of the final quarter of the twentieth century. Cambodia. Bangladesh. Chile. East Timor. All Kissinger. Because of these crimes, Americans revere him as a "statesman" (which says ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago
  • Government in a hurry – Luxon lists 49 priorities in 100-day plan while Peters pledges to strength...
    Buzz from the Beehive Yes, ministers in the new government are delivering speeches and releasing press statements. But the message on the government’s official website was the same as it has been for the past several days, when Point of Order went looking for news from the Beehive that had ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago
  • DAVID FARRAR: Luxon is absolutely right
    David Farrar writes  –  1 News reports: Christopher Luxon says he was told by some Kiwis on the campaign trail they “didn’t know” the difference between Waka Kotahi, Te Pūkenga and Te Whatu Ora. Speaking to Breakfast, the incoming prime minister said having English first on government agencies will “make sure” ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago
  • Top 10 at 10 am for Thursday, Nov 30
    There are fears that mooted changes to building consent liability could end up driving the building industry into an uninsured hole. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Thursday, November 30, including:The new Government’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on how climate change threatens cricket‘s future
    Well that didn’t last long, did it? Mere days after taking on what he called the “awesome responsibility” of being Prime Minister, M Christopher Luxon has started blaming everyone else, and complaining that he has inherited “economic vandalism on an unprecedented scale” – which is how most of us are ...
    7 days ago
  • We need to talk about Tory.
    The first I knew of the news about Tory Whanau was when a tweet came up in my feed.The sort of tweet that makes you question humanity, or at least why you bother with Twitter. Which is increasingly a cesspit of vile inhabitants who lurk spreading negativity, hate, and every ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • Dangling Transport Solutions
    Cable Cars, Gondolas, Ropeways and Aerial Trams are all names for essentially the same technology and the world’s biggest maker of them are here to sell them as an public transport solution. Stuff reports: Austrian cable car company Doppelmayr has launched its case for adding aerial cable cars to New ...
    7 days ago
  • November AMA
    Hi,It’s been awhile since I’ve done an Ask-Me-Anything on here, so today’s the day. Ask anything you like in the comments section, and I’ll be checking in today and tomorrow to answer.Leave a commentNext week I’ll be giving away a bunch of these Mister Organ blu-rays for readers in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago
  • National’s early moves adding to cost of living pressure
    The cost of living grind continues, and the economic and inflation honeymoon is over before it began. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: PM Christopher Luxon unveiled his 100 day plan yesterday with an avowed focus of reducing cost-of-living pressures, but his Government’s initial moves and promises are actually elevating ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Backwards to the future
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed that it will be back to the future on planning legislation. This will be just one of a number of moves which will see the new government go backwards as it repeals and cost-cuts its way into power. They will completely repeal one ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago
  • New initiatives in science and technology could point the way ahead for Luxon government
    As the new government settles into the Beehive, expectations are high that it can sort out some  of  the  economic issues  confronting  New Zealand. It may take time for some new  ministers to get to grips with the range of their portfolio work and responsibilities before they can launch the  changes that  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    1 week ago
  • Treaty pledge to secure funding is contentious – but is Peters being pursued by a lynch mob after ...
    TV3 political editor Jenna Lynch was among the corps of political reporters who bridled, when Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters told them what he thinks of them (which is not much). She was unabashed about letting her audience know she had bridled. More usefully, she drew attention to something which ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago
  • How long does this last?
    I have a clear memory of every election since 1969 in this plucky little nation of ours. I swear I cannot recall a single one where the question being asked repeatedly in the first week of the new government was: how long do you reckon they’ll last? And that includes all ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • National’s giveaway politics
    We already know that national plans to boost smoking rates to collect more tobacco tax so they can give huge tax-cuts to mega-landlords. But this morning that policy got even more obscene - because it turns out that the tax cut is retrospective: Residential landlords will be able to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER: Who’s driving the right-wing bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In 2023, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week ago

  • Minister sets expectations of Commissioner
    Today I met with Police Commissioner Andrew Coster to set out my expectations, which he has agreed to, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. Under section 16(1) of the Policing Act 2008, the Minister can expect the Police Commissioner to deliver on the Government’s direction and priorities, as now outlined in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • New Zealand needs a strong and stable ETS
    New Zealand needs a strong and stable Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) that is well placed for the future, after emission units failed to sell for the fourth and final auction of the year, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  At today’s auction, 15 million New Zealand units (NZUs) – each ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • PISA results show urgent need to teach the basics
    With 2022 PISA results showing a decline in achievement, Education Minister Erica Stanford is confident that the Coalition Government’s 100-day plan for education will improve outcomes for Kiwi kids.  The 2022 PISA results show a significant decline in the performance of 15-year-old students in maths compared to 2018 and confirms ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Collins leaves for Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today departed for New Caledonia to attend the 8th annual South Pacific Defence Ministers’ meeting (SPDMM). “This meeting is an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security matters and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the Pacific,” Judith Collins says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Working for Families gets cost of living boost
    Putting more money in the pockets of hard-working families is a priority of this Coalition Government, starting with an increase to Working for Families, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “We are starting our 100-day plan with a laser focus on bringing down the cost of living, because that is what ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme scrapped
    The Government has axed the $16 billion Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme championed by the previous government, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “This hugely wasteful project was pouring money down the drain at a time when we need to be reining in spending and focussing on rebuilding the economy and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ welcomes further pause in fighting in Gaza
    New Zealand welcomes the further one-day extension of the pause in fighting, which will allow the delivery of more urgently-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of more hostages, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said. “The human cost of the conflict is horrific, and New Zealand wants to see the violence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Condolences on passing of Henry Kissinger
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters today expressed on behalf of the New Zealand Government his condolences to the family of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who has passed away at the age of 100 at his home in Connecticut. “While opinions on his legacy are varied, Secretary Kissinger was ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Backing our kids to learn the basics
    Every child deserves a world-leading education, and the Coalition Government is making that a priority as part of its 100-day plan. Education Minister Erica Stanford says that will start with banning cellphone use at school and ensuring all primary students spend one hour on reading, writing, and maths each day. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • US Business Summit Speech – Regional stability through trade
    I would like to begin by echoing the Prime Minister’s thanks to the organisers of this Summit, Fran O’Sullivan and the Auckland Business Chamber.  I want to also acknowledge the many leading exporters, sector representatives, diplomats, and other leaders we have joining us in the room. In particular, I would like ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Keynote Address to the United States Business Summit, Auckland
    Good morning. Thank you, Rosemary, for your warm introduction, and to Fran and Simon for this opportunity to make some brief comments about New Zealand’s relationship with the United States.  This is also a chance to acknowledge my colleague, Minister for Trade Todd McClay, Ambassador Tom Udall, Secretary of Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • India New Zealand Business Council Speech, India as a Strategic Priority
    Good morning, tēnā koutou and namaskar. Many thanks, Michael, for your warm welcome. I would like to acknowledge the work of the India New Zealand Business Council in facilitating today’s event and for the Council’s broader work in supporting a coordinated approach for lifting New Zealand-India relations. I want to also ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Coalition Government unveils 100-day plan
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has laid out the Coalition Government’s plan for its first 100 days from today. “The last few years have been incredibly tough for so many New Zealanders. People have put their trust in National, ACT and NZ First to steer them towards a better, more prosperous ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and Israel
    The Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

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