The truth makes them angry

Written By: - Date published: 8:37 am, July 17th, 2013 - 59 comments
Categories: class war, national - Tags: ,

This is disgraceful:

A visiting economist has accused Finance Minister Bill English of “bullying” and “menace” after a heated encounter in a TV studio.

London School of Economics Professor Robert Wade said Mr English made a stabbing motion with his finger towards his chest and berated him in between their separate appearances on TVNZ’s Q + A programme at the weekend. There was no physical contact.

Mr English disagreed with his remarks on inequality and capital gains tax and warned him “Don’t you say that again”, Prof Wade said.

“I was surprised by the sort of menace in his voice,” the academic said yesterday. “He was like a schoolmaster and he sort of jabbed his finger in the direction of my chest like a school master wagging the finger. I just thanked him for his kind advice and proceeded on out.” …

So, threatening gestures (like Key’s throat-slitting) rather than actual physical aggression (like Gerry Brownlee). But to a visiting academic? English is losing it.

A spokesman for Mr English said he rejected claims he was bullying or menacing.

Well he would, wouldn’t he.

“Professor Wade’s suggestions are nonsense. Mr English simply pointed out that he was wrong to say the Government was making policy for 1 to 2 per cent of the population and that those comments were offensive.

Professor Wade is not wrong at all. The Nat’s policies are benefiting the top 1 or 2%, and pretty much no one else. Here’s Bernard Hickey:

NZ shares a big problem with the US and Europe. Our household sectors are still heavily indebted and incomes in the middle and lower income groups are barely above where they were five or six years ago.

Figures this week show NZ’s real per capita GDP is still 1.3 per cent below 2007′s. Most of the gains in any economic recovery have gone to the top few per cent of the population

National’s major policy this term has been asset sales, which – guess what – benefited only a tiny few:

“National’s myth that it sold Mighty River Power to ordinary New Zealanders has been well and truly busted. John Key’s ‘mums and dad investors’ line was a con,” said Dr Norman.

“The truth is that 98 percent of New Zealanders bought no shares at all. Half the retail shares went to just 0.3 percent of the population, and a tiny group of just 400 wealthy individuals and organisations got 10 percent of the retail shares.

Here’s some other reading for Bill English:
NZ inequality at highest level
Economic growth still benefiting only a few
Inequality growing fastest in NZ – OECD
Tax cuts: High earners set to benefit most
Times tough but not for Nats’ friends
It shouldn’t be just the rich getting richer
and so on and so on.

This National government is about one thing – enriching the rich. But the truth sure does make them angry.

59 comments on “The truth makes them angry ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Tangled up 1
    17 July 2013 at 8:54 am

    Wade said he “may of spoken sloppily” in comparing New Zealand and the US, but he was “surprised” at the reaction.

    “To be fair to him, I think it is important to put that incident in the context of him being one of relatively few what you could call decent conservatives in the Government. Plenty of his colleagues are a lot less concerned about social justice than he is.”

    A decent conservative?? Hmmmm

    • Rosetinted 1.1
      17 July 2013 at 9:49 am

      Tangled up
      I think Wade would have given the shortened version of ‘have’, not said ‘of” – as in ‘may’ve’ spoken sloppily. I doubt if he would have been sloppy as in your rendition.

  2. BM 2
    17 July 2013 at 9:10 am

    Less than flattering comments about the Man here
    Apparently he’s very left so he’s hardly going to be neutral.

    http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/%E2%80%9Coutrageous%E2%80%9D-nz-has-no-capital-gains-tax-uk-prof-ck-142837

    I’d take whatever he says with a grain of salt.

    • mickysavage 2.1
      17 July 2013 at 9:17 am

      So you approve fully of Peter Dunne’s beliefs then BM? After all in a goldilocks way he is neither too left nor too right so he must be ok.

    • Richard Christie 2.2
      17 July 2013 at 9:32 am

      Really, BM? the NBR? – do you read that pornographic rag written for ACT party fanboys and fangirls?

    • tracey 2.3
      17 July 2013 at 10:25 am

      Do you take what Key and English say with a grain of salt based on the same “logic”?

      • BM 2.3.1
        17 July 2013 at 10:36 am

        We seem to be doing pretty well at the moment considering how most other countries are doing.
        Key and English are there at the coal face so I give their opinion and direction much more weight, an academic from England with no NZ economic experience, not so much.

        • GD 2.3.1.1
          17 July 2013 at 10:55 am

          No! Most countries are doing better than NZ. You got proof? Point it out that NZ is doing much better than MOST countries in Europe. With such a small population, NZ should be on top, but it isn’t.

          Asian countries will scatter dust as NZ eats it and gets left behind in a race towards an economic surge.

          • Rosetinted 2.3.1.1.1
            17 July 2013 at 11:47 am

            BM
            Ooh that’s funny. Some economist from Britain with no NZ economic experience can’t understand anything much about us!!

            We learn our economics and policy from Britain and the USA (and Australia) and follow their every move with bated breath. Anyone who doesn’t understand that is an ignoramus. And people who genuflect to politicians unreservedly are true believers who aren’t grounded in our real world. Sound like someone close to home BM?

        • Shane Gallagher 2.3.1.2
          17 July 2013 at 11:19 am

          Wade is a Kiwi and is a professor at the LSE and is therefore MUCH more highly qualified than anyone in the National Party in economics.

          His writings also deal with things like “facts” and “observable and verifiable reality” – things not really consistent with the right wing world view apparently.

          • Colonial Viper 2.3.1.2.1
            17 July 2013 at 11:23 am

            Ahhhh I didn’t know he was a Kiwi, thanks for that.

            • BM 2.3.1.2.1.1
              17 July 2013 at 11:32 am

              He was born in Oz(NZ parents) and has lived in England since the early 70’s

              Be a bit of a push to say he’s a kiwi.

          • David H 2.3.1.2.2
            17 July 2013 at 8:40 pm

            Well there’s why English uis so pissed at him he only deals in .“facts”. Where as English only uses a crystal ball that’s been dropped a time or two.

        • muzza 2.3.1.3
          17 July 2013 at 12:12 pm

          BM – “Doing pretty well”

          Mate you are deluded!

          Time for some disclosure, as to why you believe in the words you post!

        • Draco T Bastard 2.3.1.4
          17 July 2013 at 5:44 pm

          Key and English are there at the coal face…

          No they’re not, they’re stuck in their ivory towers of privilege.

        • georgecom 2.3.1.5
          17 July 2013 at 10:32 pm

          We are doing well?
          We have muddled through the economic stagnation of the last 5 years. Our economy at the point of the 2008 financial crash was a lot healthier than other countries. But, the economic settings since 2008 have not been changed in any way substantially. Income equality has not improved in recent years, housing prices are heading toward bubble status, our economy has not rebalanced toward saving and investment and out economic growth is conditional on the Christchurch rebuild and isn’t really economic growth we should be celebrating.

        • Follow-the-money 2.3.1.6
          18 July 2013 at 7:59 am

          You haven’t got a spare five bucks, have you? Some of the rest of us are a bit short…

    • georgecom 2.4
      17 July 2013 at 10:26 pm

      Reading the NBR article I cannot see much of what Wade says that is wrong.

  3. mickysavage 3
    17 July 2013 at 9:13 am

    Was English upset because Wade said something that he (English) did not agree with or for letting National’s dark secret out of the bag …

    • Colonial Viper 3.1
      17 July 2013 at 9:21 am

      For forcing English to face up to facts that he did not want to face up to nor be responsible for.

    • Rosetinted 3.2
      17 July 2013 at 9:55 am

      The truth is a word that must not be spoken – Voldemort will become aware as he lurks inside his chosen living host.

  4. red blooded 4
    17 July 2013 at 9:37 am

    BM, I followed your link (golly gosh, I’m sure the Natuonal Business Review must be totally impartial in these matters!). What do you think it proved? I saw claims and counter-beforeclaims, mostly about the effectiveness of CGT, but some about where the London School of Economics can be placed on the right/left spectrum. Who do you regard as an impartial commentator on this? Cactus Kate?

    Try focusing on the argument. Do you honestly think this government is working to improve the lives of the impoverished? Have another look at the welfare “reforms” and appalling attacks on collective bargaining rights (let alone the new ability to bar union officials from entering a workplace, the 90 Day Bill, the refusal to move on the issue of a longing wage, the introduction of Youth Rates…) then try saying that with a straight face.

  5. infused 5
    17 July 2013 at 10:02 am

    So, no evidence anywhere… all she said/he said…

    Seems to be happening a lot here lately. Trying to make something stick eh?

    gg.

    • tracey 5.1
      17 July 2013 at 10:26 am

      Infused, on what basis do you prefer English’s stance to Wade’s? Or do you dismiss them both? If the later, where does that leave you? In the “middle” and supporting????

    • GD 5.2
      17 July 2013 at 11:02 am

      You don’t need evidence if the person can present his side with sound reasoning and expert knowledge. Bill English just shuts down anything if he doesn’t have an answer.

      And I would rather believe a professor from the London School of Economics when it comes to economic issues. Wade’s credentials are enough to convince me he is more believable than Bill English. What are Bill English’s qualifications with regards to finance and economics subjects? None at all. His major in college is English Literature.

  6. red blooded 6
    17 July 2013 at 10:30 am

    Gotta love that predictive text! Obviously I meant “living” (as opposed to “longing”) wage…

  7. saarbo 7
    17 July 2013 at 10:33 am

    National made a tax switch in Oct 2010 which reduced the income tax of the rich and imposed an additional 2.5% gst, which tends to hurt the poor. Cant see how English can refute what Wade was suggesting.

    • Mary 7.1
      17 July 2013 at 11:10 am

      I can’t see how English is correct, but I can see how he refutes it. He simply says things like “I just don’t accept that analysis” and gets away with it. Easy.

    • Sable 7.2
      17 July 2013 at 11:55 am

      He can’t that’s why he behaved as he did. English, Keys and co know what they are doing is wrong they just don’t like hearing it, especially on TV for the world to see.

    • Lloyd 7.3
      17 July 2013 at 9:06 pm

      And it has been conclusively shown that when the richest 1% of the American economy gets too much of the economy it triggers recession.

      English’s policies not only hurt the poor directly, they are harming the rich by preventing growth being much bigger than it could be. A healthier economy would mean that a good proportion of that 1% would gain greater income even if they were taxed at a higher rate!

      Why does anyone think the gnats are good at government?

  8. rob 8
    17 July 2013 at 11:28 am

    English and Key are dorks who relish power
    Compare their efforts with something like Kiwisaver
    which aims at saving and investing with our own wealth
    We are an agricultural country that relies on selling our high
    quality products
    That requires infrastructure in human and structural resources
    They think that all comes from others who don’t want any say or control
    Ha ha
    They sell off any asset
    They do not understand that we are the best people to look after ourselves
    Not some foreign multinational after their cut.

  9. johnm 9
    17 July 2013 at 11:36 am

    Illustrates to me the fascist nature of this government and their media presstitutes, basically they get bullying and violent if someone tries to tell them the truth, another tactic is a massive put down of a whole section of the populace as “bludgers”. The NeoLiberal approach is fascist as it continually goes against what the majority wants. The same process is happening in the U$K. Prof Wade felt the threat. Imagine if a hefty capital gains tax was imposed on housing speculation in this country backdated for ten years, there’d be an almighty row as the capital gains profiteers were cut down to size.

  10. Sable 10
    17 July 2013 at 11:50 am

    What a class act National are This kind of oafish, bullying behaviour is what we have come to expect from them. No respect for human rights only their own selfish interests.

  11. Populuxe1 11
    17 July 2013 at 12:57 pm

    Isn’t it enough that National is clearly full of bullshit without making mountains out of molehills? English was rude, yes, but the shrill indignation does nothing to attract voters to the cause.

    • emergency mike 11.1
      17 July 2013 at 1:56 pm

      I wouldn’t call our Dep.PM berating with ‘menace’ an award winning visiting academic about what he can or can’t say a ‘molehill’. I’d agree that it’s disgraceful and certainly worth blogging/commenting on as indicative of the STFU tory mindset. I don’t think I can accept your ‘we already know National are a bunch of bullshitters so why bother with this’ argument. The more people who know about the true face of these bullies the better.

      I didn’t notice any ‘shrill indignation’ in the OP either.

      I am however happy to see that you’re down with ‘the cause’ Pop.

      • Populuxe1 11.1.1
        17 July 2013 at 2:05 pm

        It’s tiresome. It’s like the right having to describe every left wing politician as stabbing their finger in the air. I don’t regard finger pointing as particularly intimidating.

        • emergency mike 11.1.1.1
          17 July 2013 at 2:15 pm

          “It’s tiresome.”

          Yet here you are.

          “It’s like the right having to describe every left wing politician as stabbing their finger in the air.”

          Is it? This is a totally different social situation/context.

          “I don’t regard finger pointing as particularly intimidating.”

          Good for you, however I think it’s one of those body language things where you’d have to be to see the situation and the context there to judge whether it’s intimidating or not.

          • Populuxe1 11.1.1.1.1
            17 July 2013 at 2:22 pm

            Whatever. The wussy defensiveness doesn’t play well to the public.

            • emergency mike 11.1.1.1.1.1
              17 July 2013 at 3:04 pm

              Your comment might make some kind of sense if this was a PR website for ‘da left’.

              Interesting how you are trying to spin this as being indicative of some failing of judgement on the part of the people who post here because our elected DPM acting like a rank schoolyard bully towards a noted academic is apparently not worth mentioning or because it doesn’t ‘play well’.

              • felix …
                17 July 2013 at 3:14 pm

                When they resort to “oooh, this won’t play well” it just means they’ve run out of arguments in their quest to defend the fucking ridiculous.

            • felix 11.1.1.1.1.2
              17 July 2013 at 3:11 pm

              It’s high time everyone stopped worrying how things “play to the public” (which really means “how half a dozen journos think it will play to the public and report it as if the public has already expressed an opinion”) and started just calling a spade a spade.

              Or in this case, calling Bill English a spanner.

  12. captain hook 12
    17 July 2013 at 1:55 pm

    well english was just a suckup at the treasury.
    just there loking for arguments to support his own ideology and he should know that the truth is in large supply but very small demand in New Zealand.
    he couldn’t wait to get out of there and rebstock the country.
    you know.
    make it over in his own punitive image..

  13. marsman 13
    17 July 2013 at 1:59 pm

    Bullying is in the English family it seems. I heard of a meeting of GP’s discussing abortion issues, Mary English and her cohorts stormed in and shut it down.

  14. vto 14
    17 July 2013 at 3:38 pm

    .
    Sounds exactly like when you question farmers about their environmental record.

    Their position is under attack, their unquestioned wisdom questioned, their lack of actual knowledge exposed.

    They are pretty weak, as this exposes.

    • farmboy 14.1
      17 July 2013 at 5:24 pm

      or city dwellers on wear there shit ends up when theres a lot of rain, but no one talks about that do they vto.

      • ropata 14.1.1
        18 July 2013 at 12:57 am

        in a settling pond?

        whereas farmers just let cowshit drain into streams and aquifers, too bad about city drinking water

        and then the Natz take over ECan so the pollution can continue

  15. Grantoc 15
    17 July 2013 at 8:28 pm

    Nationals only governing for the top 1 -2%? Nonsense.

    If this was the case then the nat’s would have gotten rid of labour policies like ‘working for families’, ‘interest free student loans’ and ‘kiwi saver’ to name a few, but nevertheless, significant policies that reach out to much of society. Certainly much beyond the top 1 -2%

    Nick Smith’s decision tonight not to approve the tunnel to Milford Sound is another example. This decision specifically and deliberately does not benefit the top 1-2% – it benefits the whole country.

    The academic Wade simply does not know what he’s talking about. He has no credibility.

    • Colonial Viper 15.1
      17 July 2013 at 8:44 pm

      Wade knows exactly what he is talking about, as a top economist from the London School of Economics.

      National knows that it needs to get around 50% of the vote to stay in power (the means). So it cannot alienate large proportions of the population on a continuous basis.

      But don’t mistake that democratic and political reality with the fact that National do indeed cater most specifically to the top 1% to 2% (the ends), which we can all see.

      • Grantoc 15.1.1
        17 July 2013 at 11:11 pm

        In the end actual political reality in a country like NZ simply makes it impossible for national or for any party for that matter to pander to the wishes of and govern for a voting bloc of 1 -2%.

        If we can ‘all see’ that national do indeed cater for the top 1 – 2% it doesn’t make sense that around 45- 50% of the population consistently continue to support national according to the polls.

        Either the voting public is absolutely gullible to the point of stupidity, which I don’t believe, or they simply don’t buy the argument that the nats govern for the top 1 – 2%.

        They see political reality for what it is.

        btw I’m not impressed by the fact that Wade is a top economist at the LSE. He is not infallible, and his statements in relation to this matter demonstrate that.

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    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

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

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

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

  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    1 week 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
    1 week ago

  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    5 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
    1 week 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    The Government has today confirmed a $2 million grant towards the regeneration of Greymouth’s CBD with construction of a new two-level commercial and public facility. “It will include a visitor facility centred around a new library. Additionally, it will include retail outlets on the ground floor, and both outdoor and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Nanaia Mahuta to attend PIF Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Suva, Fiji alongside New Zealand’s regional counterparts. “Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply committed to working with our pacific whanau to strengthen our cooperation, and share ways to combat the challenges facing the Blue Pacific Continent,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • PREFU shows no recession, growing economy, more jobs and wages ahead of inflation
    Economy to grow 2.6 percent on average over forecast period Treasury not forecasting a recession Inflation to return to the 1-3 percent target band next year Wages set to grow 4.8 percent a year over forecast period Unemployment to peak below the long-term average Fiscal Rules met - Net debt ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • New cancer centre opens in Christchurch
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall proudly opened the Canterbury Cancer Centre in Christchurch today. The new facility is the first of its kind and was built with $6.5 million of funding from the Government’s Infrastructure Reference Group scheme for shovel-ready projects allocated in 2020. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

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