This is how you win

Written By: - Date published: 2:14 pm, October 29th, 2011 - 68 comments
Categories: election 2011, labour, national - Tags:

Sprout’s post says it all. Labour’s opening address blew National’s out of the park. But I can’t help myself, I have to put in my analysis of why National’s was so awful and Labour’s so good.

I tried to watch National’s opening address from the perspective of ‘how would this look to someone who is not politically engaged?’ but I spent half the time laughing through-out it. It was just so, so bad.

What possessed them to just a format of Key, small and alone on a stage, rambling off long, boring answers to scripted, soft questions in a fake town-hall meeting? And, why didn’t they look at it when they had produced it and bin the results immediately? It demolishes the myth of the National PR machine. These guys aren’t good. They’re amateurs who’ve just been lucky until now.

I loved how the conveniently ‘ethnic’ audience members in the foreground looked either bored or skeptical when they cut to them.

And, only mentioning at the end that this was meant to have been a real town hall meeting (which it clearly wasn’t) even if you’re going we such a silly format, why not have him talking to camera in the car as he arrives – set the scene? Or, better, why not come up with a concept that isn’t stupid?

Far from making Key look presidential, he looked small and waffling. This is why he doesn’t do long-form interviews, It was terrible TV. I don’t know if he is good in genuine town-hall meetings. I suspect that, if he is, it’s because he uses humour to engage the audience. There wasn’t any humour in this fake town-hall. Just dead eyes and blah, blah blah. Were they trying to boor the audience into changing the channel before Labour’s?

Key spent quarter of the time on the defensive about national standards – on the defensive! In his own opening address!

He mentioned only one new policy, asset sales, and he got the number of companies on the block for privatisation wrong too.

It almost looks like they have no money. It’s the same with the tv ads too. But, that can’t be right… Are they keeping their powder dry for a second election? Or are they just a bit shit?

The Labour one was bloody moving. And it was really clever to use the 20 minutes as a documentary about who Labour is and what they stand for, rather than haranguing or trying too hard to ‘sell’ (which the Greens did, although their address was still lightyears ahead of National.

I was worried it could have come off as trite to someone not rooted in the Left’s values. But I got texts from people who aren’t strongly political saying that it was brilliant. saying it would make them vote Labour. Did you read the comments in Sprout’s post? there were people who had never dared to comment before saying ‘fuck it, this is what I believe in and I’m going to say so’, there were people who said they had donated or joined the party on the strength of it.

Labour has made its base proud and, I’m sure, won tens of thousands of votes with this one move.

I think that the success of it was that there was a geniune ‘kiwiness’ about what Labour presented and it said ‘our values are your values, we’ve been alongside you, we’ve delivered what you want, and we still hold true to those values’.

Having the MPs telling the stories of how their values were shaped, stories that resonated with the audience and humanised the MPs was brilliant. And the choice of MPs in the address was very clever and very strategic. Apart from the leader and the finance spokesperson, all the others are in seats that Labour lost last term (or the term before, in Napier’s case) and want to win back. Apart from O’Connor all those MPs were first termers, showing Labour’s new face, while linking to its history. That was brilliant exposure for up and coming MPs in marginal seats. And they all presented wonderfully.

Almost out of nowhere, Labour has seized the discourse. It is dictating the run of play with its policies, its framing, and, now, with its marketing. This is how you win.

68 comments on “This is how you win ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Colonial Viper 1
    29 October 2011 at 2:18 pm

    This is awesome for Labour. And now to make it happen in every neighbourhood and on every street.

    John Key has explaining to do.

  2. the sprout 2
    29 October 2011 at 2:25 pm

    well said, good analyses

  3. Nick C 3
    29 October 2011 at 2:30 pm

    “It demolishes the myth of the National PR machine. These guys aren’t good. They’re amateurs who’ve just been lucky until now.”

    So you and others will stop your delusional rantings about how National are only popular because the evil genuises at Crosby Textor have mastered the art of mass manipulation?

  4. Jimmie 4
    29 October 2011 at 2:32 pm

    I didn’t watch any of the broadcasts along with 95% of kiwis – would rather sit watching grass grow.

    I would question that if Labour have been doing so well lately with the Rena grounding, gas pipe leaks, John Key making a fist of everything why aren’t voters registering this?

    The Herald poll today says the same old story Nats up, Labour down, big gap between them.

    Why is it that the nasty right wing bloggers get air time on MSM (Farrar & Slator) and you guys don’t?

    Its simply this – you guys live in a fantasy world where the saints from Labour can do no wrong and the evil Nats can do no right.

    Its ineffective and so parochial that you all come across as so one eyed that you might as well rename this blog thecyclops.org.nz.

    If you read Slator’s and Farrar’s blogs they come across as pro National but if they think that the Nats have done something wrong they say it and say it loud – not defend the indefensible.

    If you and the rest of Labour’s supporters did a lot more critical analysis of your own party then it would be a lot more effective and with the elevation of more principled MP’s would have a greater chance of getting into government.

    I tell you if Labour gets hammered this election then you all will need to change the way you run this blog and your party – back to the basics and win in 2014 otherwise the Nats will get a free run for the next 6 years.

    • Colonial Viper 4.1
      29 October 2011 at 2:40 pm

      Its simply this – you guys live in a fantasy world where the saints from Labour can do no wrong and the evil Nats can do no right.

      You obviously didn’t see the fisticuffs in the Labour footage from the 1980’s, and commentary on Roger Douglas not being part of the Labour philosophy and leaving to form ACT.

      The real fantasy world is that of free markets, neoliberalism and the supremacy of capital and bankers.

      That’s a fantasy world which has been crushing NZ Labour for decades.

      I tell you if Labour gets hammered this election then you all will need to change the way you run this blog and your party – back to the basics and win in 2014 otherwise the Nats will get a free run for the next 6 years.

      We don’t take instructions from Born to Rule pricks. Labour is returning to its heart.

      • Gregor W 4.1.1
        29 October 2011 at 3:43 pm

        Viper –

        How can you take Jimmie’s comment so poorly?
        Its ugly.

        I don’t completely agree with Jimmie’s comments – I would say that the promo indicates that the NZLP are, from a brand perspective, clearly trying to get back to their roots with this pitch – but your response is vicious and childish.

        You’re a smart guy. You don’t need to get into name calling.

        • bbfloyd 4.1.1.1
          29 October 2011 at 6:38 pm

          you could leave out the patronising as well gregg…..especially as the first attempt at political analysis we see from you is laughably facile.. “trying to get back to it’s roots with this pitch” …the chicken comes after the egg don’t you know…….the fact that you can accept the concept of political parties realigning their philosophical basis for existence through an advertising campaign has given me an idea for a cartoon…..btw, it’s usually after a long, and in depth series of debates, and soulsearching that any such realignment, or reaffirmation of core, founding philosophies can take place….

          the only party in new zealand able to assimilate whichever philosophies are politically expedient at a moments notice is the new zealand national party…. it’s a practice that would have ensured they never…ever.. saw the treasury benches if their sponsors didn’t own the news and information networks….which.. of course is where your reality lies it seems.. in the world television reality… la la la la laaaah!

          • Gregor W 4.1.1.1.1
            29 October 2011 at 9:00 pm

            bbfloyd –

            I am complementary of the NZLPs efforts – the PR machine did a great job – but when I question why someone is attacked for presenting a opinion.

            CV calls a poster a prick for no real reason, I call him on it as I think it’s beneath him, and you pile in with the some smug sanctimonious rant. Admittedly, I’ve only just recently taken a look at The Standard so this may be the style – who knows.

            Whatever floats your boat I guess but just so you know, I’m not really interested in getting into a pissing contest with a keyboard warrior.

            All I’m saying is that it costs nothing to be civil. Good luck with your cartoon.

            • Ari 4.1.1.1.1.1
              30 October 2011 at 12:24 am

              Although I don’t like the term rich pricks, I’m going to completely disagree with you that it costs nothing to be civil. There are some philosophies so odious that they deserve impassioned and harsh criticism- sure, that should be reserved for the ideas themselves more than actual people, but nonetheless, being “civil” often amounts to downplaying or shutting up about your disagreements, which is a huge price to pay.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 4.2
      29 October 2011 at 2:47 pm

      Polls are not votes !

      Spare the platitudes for Keys next meeting at a closed cinema.

    • The Voice of Reason 4.3
      29 October 2011 at 3:10 pm

      “I didn’t watch any of the broadcasts along with 95% of kiwis …”
       
      Average viewer ship of 250000. That’s a fair swag of the voting population, jim jim. Bound to be few swing voters among ’em, aye?
       
      “If you read Slator’s and Farrar’s blogs they come across as pro National but if they think that the Nats have done something wrong they say it and say it loud – not defend the indefensible”
       
      Don’t bother checking Kiwiblog for criticism of the Nat’s effort last night. Farrar is presently sitting in a darkened corner with his hands on his ears going ‘nananana, can’t hear you’. Whale went with ‘boring’, which suggests he didn’t watch it.
       
       

      • Lanthanide 4.3.1
        29 October 2011 at 3:29 pm

        Average viewership of 250,000 out of a country of 4,417,00 is 5.8%.

        Of course the people who viewed are more likely to be voters, which is what counts.

    • RedLogix 4.4
      29 October 2011 at 4:06 pm

      Interesting Jimmie. I do have one sincere question.

      What is it that John Key has actually done that is causing the polls to be so favourable to him?

      I mean given that most New Zealanders are not members of a political party, never read their policy statements, refuse to watch political broadcasts and generally consider all politicians beneath contempt…and like yourself pride themselves in knowing a little about politics as possible… you would expect that the polls would reflect that.

      If you asked people about any other topic they didn’t care much about you would expect that the results would be sort of randomly distributed, reflecting a lack of strong opinion or knowledge.

      So why then this continued dominance in the polls? Where do you think that comes from?

      • KJT 4.4.1
        29 October 2011 at 4:17 pm

        He is the one we see praised on TV most often.

        Unfortunately most of the population have decided that nothing they can do will change anything, so they have totally switched off looking at policies.

    • Carol 4.5
      29 October 2011 at 4:57 pm

      You can’t read much of the Standard comments, then – people here are lkifet wing, but not all are Labour supporters, and Labour does come in for afair bit of criticism here. I think CV replied as he did, because right wingers come here fairly frequently and make just the same sort of criticism as Jimmie…. and it’s so wide of the make it’s in fantasyland. It gets boring to have to keep repeating this.

      Kiwiblog is much more pro-National than the Standard is pro-Labour.

      • Gregor W 4.5.1
        29 October 2011 at 5:04 pm

        Maybe. But criticism that is a POV shouldn’t warrant a personal attack.

        And you’re right – I don’t normally comment here. I tend to stick to RA and Dimpost.

  5. ianmac 5
    29 October 2011 at 3:29 pm

    Eddie:”And, why didn’t they look at it when they had produced it and bin the results immediately?”
    Absolutely. Show it to Mrs Key and she would have said bin it.
    Well if I were a Nat I would say bin it! Their loss. Labour’s gain!

  6. Anthony 6
    29 October 2011 at 3:34 pm

    National have always been a bit crap at their advertising/branding, their strength has been getting reporters to tell their story for them (and defend them).

    • Deadly_NZ 6.1
      29 October 2011 at 4:33 pm

      Yeah Just watching that NACT ASS kisser Garner trying to put words into others mouths on the Nation, How can he still collect his pay without a guilty feeling? But gotta make sure that the 43 mil the NATS ‘loaned’ media works is value for money.

  7. mike 7
    29 October 2011 at 3:36 pm

    I’ve already ranted about this on Sprout’s post but I’m seriously in shock over how bad National’s address was. Labour pulled out all the stops and came up with something brilliant. They didn’t need to. John Key looked so bad it was beyond belief that the National party would approve it. Did the entire National PR team die in a plane crash or something?

    To paraphrase Eddie, why not come up with something that isn’t shit? I’m truly puzzled that National apparently forgot that it’s good to do PR stuff that is not shit. WTF?

  8. randal 8
    29 October 2011 at 3:47 pm

    The voters know that they need a steady hand in charge and not a flake.
    Phil Goff has all the attributes needed to guide a steady course through the rocky times ahead.

    • queenstfarmer 8.1
      29 October 2011 at 4:20 pm

      Phil Goff has all the attributes needed to guide a steady course through the rocky times ahead

      It’s interesting to see the varying (i.e. inconsistent) comments about presidential campaigning and focussing on personal attributes vs policy. According to some, when National draws attention to John Key’s attributes it shows they have no policy. Yet making such statements about Phil Goff is fine.

      I have no problem with either. Actually I think Phil should get his “personality” out there. Of course, because he’s a politician, to ordinary folks he’s a dick – like John Key and all other MPs – but we are used to that with MPs, so it is all relative. When he is not getting all worked up, Phil Goff comes across very well.

      As far as attributes and integrity go, from what I have seen I would generally be happy to have Phil Goff as my prime minister.

      • Crashcart 8.1.1
        29 October 2011 at 4:58 pm

        One labour suporter saying he thinks Phil would be best to lead us forward hardley goes against labour itself basing this election on policy. If Naional chooses to make it all about JK you can hardley get bent out of shape when oposition supporters say they don’t think JK is the man to do the job.

  9. Zaphod Beeblebrox 9
    29 October 2011 at 3:53 pm

    When you have a compliant media and never do decent interviews, you lose the capacity to present your arguments and your presentation skills get slack. Key is going to hate the blowtorch if the media can get to him. That what happened when he foolishly agreed to do the BBC HardTalk interview.

  10. appleboy 10
    29 October 2011 at 4:01 pm

    My god. Having heard about the national one I thought I had better watch it – I am stunned at how bad it is. Incredible. Key looks pasty, hollow, scripted and flat.

  11. Blue 11
    29 October 2011 at 4:24 pm

    National’s shocker of an opener goes with their recycled billboards as an example of how complacent they are. Their whole campaign has shown no imagination whatsoever.

    I think they really thought that they didn’t have to try this election.

    • Lanthanide 11.1
      29 October 2011 at 4:38 pm

      Either they think they didn’t had to try, or that they can just keep doing what they’ve doing and everything will work out fine. Evidently they didn’t plan on Labour pulling out all the stops with a risky strategy.

  12. ianmac 12
    29 October 2011 at 4:34 pm

    And again what will be plan B for Joyce if Key continues to look foolish? They have bet the whole amount on Little John’s skinny shoulders.

  13. Lanthanide 13
    29 October 2011 at 4:37 pm

    Stuff have a negative piece on National’s opening, but nothing about Labour’s.

    Anyway, I found this interesting:
    “It wasn’t scripted in so much as they are the answers I give to those questions and I get them everywhere. Quite frankly they will be the same answers I give on Monday and in the debates.”

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5875729/Key-defends-campaign-advert

    I can understand why National went with the format they did. But they should have been honest about it and carted Key around these meeting (which apparently he has all the time? never heard of them till now) and recorded actual exchanges with actual members of the public, not paid actors. Splice them all together. It might look a little low-rent, but that’s better than the overly-produced low-budget flim flam that they gave.

    • ianmac 13.1
      29 October 2011 at 4:46 pm

      Yes. It seems that the cue is say “National Standards” = spiel on Education and not addressing the question.
      And cue “Violent Society” = spiel on Crime and policing and not addressing the question. etc etc.

      If he does this in a debate such as in TV1 Monday, he will be in trouble. (If the astute Sainsbury is the Moderator look out – or not. Ha! 🙁 )

      • seeker 13.1.1
        29 October 2011 at 6:09 pm

        Very interesting Lanthanide, well spotted:

        ‘It wasn’t scripted in so much as they are the answers I give to those questions and I get them everywhere. Quite frankly they will be the same answers I give on Monday and in the debates”

        So rather than reading the written -for -him -speech, he is memorising the written- for -him -answers and just repeats them over and over again wherever he goes so he doesn’t forget them. Just like memorising a script, only it’s not a script, it’s scripted answers. He can then deliver them, on cue, at both matinee and evening shows, giving the polished performance he is so admired for and where no real thinking skills are required. Just good old rote learning and a fake persona.
        Who knows he may score a role in a Peter Jackson masterpiece, although I think he should leave Friday’s rather ghoulish evening performance out of his portfolio when he next auditions.

        Stop press:
        Aspiring thespian john key auditions for the role of a small fictional character with large hairy feet:
        http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10762437

  14. Dotty 14
    29 October 2011 at 4:39 pm

    I’m afraid I have to go with Matthew Hooten’s assessment (see Dim Post):
    “National was deliberately trying to kill the audience for Labour and the Greens. Brilliant strategy, executed even better.”

    Because nothing else makes sense.

    • McFlock 14.1
      29 October 2011 at 5:37 pm

      Lol. So rather than simply being bad,they were intentionally awful and succeeded, but still managed to have 287,000 viewers watch Labour but only 255,000 watch their own? 
      I think their bad strategy went bad.
       

    • mickysavage 14.2
      29 October 2011 at 6:26 pm

      Agreed this is the only possible rational explanation for how bad it was.

  15. Ianupnorth 15
    29 October 2011 at 4:42 pm

    Interesting; I was listening to the radio in the car this morning and Shonkey was name checked several times, always in a positive light – opening the Victoria Park Tunnel, then flying to Christchurch to open the new container mall thing, before meeting with someone, etc. The previous night on the news it was him, The Hobbit, Peter Jackson, all nicey nicey.

    It really made me realise the extent to which the media give him a cruisy ride. 

    • McFlock 15.1
      29 October 2011 at 5:40 pm

      This is their strategy, to build a cult of fuzziness around brand key. But the flipside is that themore that works, the more his fans will want to know about him. So they’ll watch his debates. And he will most likely suck. And if the RWC is anything to go by, he’s already overexposed.

      • Colonial Viper 15.1.1
        29 October 2011 at 9:07 pm

        He’s on every friggin billboard.

        Now, when I see one I have to smile (and wave?). Put him on another street corner, and yet another one and another one please…

        • Dotty 15.1.1.1
          29 October 2011 at 9:49 pm

          Yeah, lucky me, I live in Helensville (the electorate not the town). No escaping from his mug… it’s on every second property down the main road…

  16. Irascible 16
    29 October 2011 at 5:09 pm

    I watched the NACTional opening address and initially thought I was being shown a promo for a funeral directors’ pre death funeral planning convention, a la Six Feet Under, then the plastic marionette appeared and announced he was to be John Key and I thought it was a dream sequence in Six Feet Under.

    The audience, who looked as though they, too, were stuffed puppets waiting back stage to have their strings pulled when the central puppet asked for questions appeared as unconvinced by the scripted answers as a soporific NZ TV audience must have been.

    On the other hand the Labour Documentary address didn’t treat its audience as fools to be patronised and talked at but presented a great vision of why NZers should be proud of the Labour governments of the past and be proud again by re-electing the Labour Party again on the 26th.

    • Lanthanide 16.1
      29 October 2011 at 6:26 pm

      Six Feet Under has better writers. It also has better actors – they can actually pronounce words without mangling them.

      • Irascible 16.1.1
        29 October 2011 at 11:53 pm

        My apologies to the script writers of Six Feet Under. It’s a pity Key opted to play the part of the animated corpse in the NZ produced promo of a rewrite by crosby-textor. I hope the original production ccompany sue for criminal denegration of their productioon values.

  17. gobsmacked 17
    29 October 2011 at 7:33 pm

    To answer Jimmie’s comment above …

    If you have any political antennae at all, you can get a pretty good idea of when people are just parroting the party line, and when they really mean what they say.

    There has been plenty of critical commentary on Labour in the left blogosphere over the past 3 years – including on the Standard, and Red Alert (comments section). Goff & co have deserved that criticism, with too many avoidable mistakes, too many missed opportunities.

    Last night wasn’t one of those times. Jimmie, if you bothered to watch National and Labour’s broadcasts, you would see that for yourself.

    Go on, check them out. Make up your own mind.

    Unless, of course, you prefer not to decide for yourself … which would be kinda ironic, eh?

  18. burt 18
    29 October 2011 at 7:51 pm

    Do we want more of this in NZ ?

    Stuff: Qantas grounds all flights.

    • KJT 18.1
      29 October 2011 at 9:08 pm

      Yes we do. 83% increase in worker productivity and only 15% in wage rises since 84.

      And it was worker productivity increasing in NZ as capital investment decreased when more money was gifted to the banks and multinationals to spend overseas.

      The Cooks and stewards were dicks, but they did not take 14 billion a year out of the economy.

      • Colonial Viper 18.1.1
        29 October 2011 at 9:12 pm

        I know, lets sell half our power assets so we can make that rate of loss closer to $15B p.a.

    • Craig Glen Eden 18.2
      29 October 2011 at 9:23 pm

      Hell no burt we dont want higher wages in NZ, Nzers just go to Aussie for that!

      BUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT dah.

    • Draco T Bastard 18.3
      30 October 2011 at 12:03 am

      What, exactly, are you complaining about burt? Because from where I’m sitting the only reason that the planes stopped flying is because of the dictators sitting at the top. You know, the ones you support whole heartedly.

  19. RedLogix 19
    29 October 2011 at 9:04 pm

    This is why wages are higher in Australia. (And 100,000 kiwis went there in the last three years.)

    • Colonial Viper 19.1
      29 October 2011 at 9:15 pm

      Must be about 800K NZ born Kiwis living in Oz now. Just wait until their economy slows down further. Most Kiwis cant get the dole there. Serious job losses will mean that they start moving back this way asap.

      Numbers on the dole could double in a blink of an eye.

  20. big bruv 20
    30 October 2011 at 5:01 am

    Goodness me!

    If you lot really think the blatant lies (did Murapara really become a shit hole in just three years or did Labour ignore the place for nine long years?) in the Labour parties opening address is going to see the country take a giant lurch backward and vote in a Labour government then you are clearly delusional.

    Labour are suggesting that 1970’s style unionism is the answer, have you not seen the damage union scum are doing to the once great Qantas brand?

    Thankfully there is no chance that Goff will be the next PM, while I might not be a big fan of Key he is sure as hell a far better man to lead this nation than anybody on the left.

    I am fairly sure that in less than one months time I will be able to shove those famous words back down your collective throats.

    We won, you lost, eat that.

  21. rosy 21
    30 October 2011 at 5:39 am

    “have you not seen the damage union scum are doing to the once great Qantas brand?”

    Dunno, I thought it was the management that had locked out the workers. They’re also the ones that signed overseas maintenance contracts that have made the company subject to inquiries, negative news reports and internet jokes .

  22. big bruv 22
    30 October 2011 at 5:53 am

    When faced with totally unreasonable demands from union scum the management have no other option than to lock out the ‘workers’.

    Thankfully the likes of that parasite Helen Kelly will never have the power that the union scum have in Oz, can you imagine how much damage she and her fellow non PAYE paying low life would cause to our economy if they had the chance.

    • rosy 22.1
      30 October 2011 at 6:07 am

      Yeah, totally unreasonable to negotiate for the same pay for the same job across the company.

  23. big bruv 23
    30 October 2011 at 6:42 am

    Rosy

    Like most on the left you are not telling the full story are you.

    Jestar is not Qantas, yet Jetstar staff want the same pay and perks.

    • rosy 23.1
      30 October 2011 at 7:33 am

      And you’re brushing over what appears to be a complicated negotiation…

      http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/subsidiaries/global/en

      Jetstar’s Australian operation is wholly owned by Qantas but is managed separately and operates independently, with the Australian headquarters in Melbourne.

      “yet Jetstar staff want the same pay and perks.”

      Yet Jetstar flights are not being disrupted . Go figure. I’m guessing that from a management perspective this is much bigger than pay and perks for Jetstar staff, and it’s more about retaining the ability to set-up cheaper operations overseas. I’d be interested to read the timeline of all this.

  24. tsmithfield 24
    30 October 2011 at 7:05 am

    Actually, I hope that Labour do communicate their message well.

    One of the problems with effective communication is that if the message is one that people don’t want to hear, then communicating the message more effectively is likely to turn people off more.

    Hence, policies such as compulsory Kiwisaver are likely to be as appealing as a cup of cold sick to most NZers who hate being forced to do things by the government, especially when it comes to investing their hard-earned money that they might like to put elsewhere for a better return. So, from my perspective, I hope that Labour communicates this message as loudly and clearly as possible. 🙂

  25. big bruv 25
    30 October 2011 at 5:36 pm

    I see that Whale has posted about another of Goff’s blatant lies.

    Is Goff just unable to tell the truth?

    http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2011/10/goff-doesnt-use-crown-limos-nek-minnit/

  26. big bruv 26
    30 October 2011 at 5:45 pm

    [Deleted…RL]

    • Colonial Viper 26.1
      30 October 2011 at 5:56 pm

      I prefer stuff.co.nz, even if you do prefer to feed from the gutter yourself.

      Hey didn’t Key lie about not raising GST? Or owning Tranzrail shares?

  27. big bruv 27
    30 October 2011 at 6:12 pm

    Viper

    [You have reached the end of the line at this site….RL]

  28. felix 28
    30 October 2011 at 6:39 pm

    big bruv running to Kiwiblog to cry about being banned for “expressing an opinion” in 5…4…3…2…

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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    9 hours ago

  • The police know they suck at the OIA
    In recent years I've done a long series of posts poking into police OIA data and how it hides how badly the police suck at carrying out their obligations under the Act. And in a response to a recent request, it seems the police have been doing the same. A ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    9 hours ago

  • Gordon Campbell on National’s disdain for the Press debate
    Christopher Luxon evidently thinks this election is SO in the bag that he can afford to spurn the still-undecideds, the entire South Island, and the old Christchurch money that still reads the Press and shops at Ballantynes. We should all shed a tear for the National Party candidates across the ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    11 hours ago

  • ELIZABETH RATA: Two Treaties of Waitangi – the Articles Treaty and the Principles Treaty
    Elizabeth Rate writes – There are two versions of the Treaty of Waitangi.  The first is the 1840 Treaty – the ‘Articles Treaty’. The second is what I call the ‘Principles Treaty’. It dates from 1986 when the principles were first included in legislation. Astonishingly, the parliamentary ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    14 hours ago

  • Tuesday’s Chorus: When it's ok to borrow to invest
    Mayor Wayne Brown, a Northland land-banker himself, appears relaxed about borrowing to invest in land but not in, for example, transport infrastructure and services. File photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: You couldn’t make this stuff up. A mayor determined to cut council debt by selling shares in a monopoly business because ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    14 hours ago

  • How well do our Rapid Transit Stations perform
    As we invest in our public transport network, it’s critical that we not only invest in transformative projects like the City Rail Link, but that we also get as much use as we can out of the network we already have – which will also maximise the outcomes of those ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    17 hours ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Ten reasons Labour’s support has halved
    The Labour Government was elected with 50 per cent of the vote three years ago, but current opinion polls show their vote could halve in this year’s election, which would be one of the biggest plunges in political history. Most polls have Labour on about 26 per cent. And the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    17 hours ago

  • Elizabeth Rata: Two Treaties of Waitangi: The Articles Treaty and the Principles Treaty
    Commentary There are two versions of the Treaty of Waitangi.  The first is the 1840 Treaty – the ‘Articles Treaty’. The second is what I call the ‘Principles Treaty’. It dates from 1986 when the principles were first included in legislation. Astonishingly the parliamentary representatives who inserted the word ‘principles’ ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    17 hours ago

  • Climate Emergency!
    It’s hard not to become a bit blasé towards climate change headlines. Flooding kills hundreds - blah. Catastrophic droughts - blah blah. One-in-a-hundred year events happening every year - blah blah blah.The earth had its highest temperature on record - again. Think we’ve read that one.So many articles telling us ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    18 hours ago

  • The Kākā Project: The economics of sufficiency
    The Kākā’s climate correspondent and had a chat with environmental historian and author Catherine Knight about why ‘feel good' actions like recycling and owning an electric car are unlikely to be enough to create a transition to zero emissions, let alone a just one. Knight says comments like ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    19 hours ago

  • Chippy misses a chance
    National leader Christopher Luxon has pulled out of any rescheduling of tonight’s Press debate, which has had to be cancelled because Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has Covid. The cancellation has given National an excuse to avoid a debate, which was always going to be a risk for Luxon. But ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    20 hours ago

  • The Angry Majority.
    The People's Champion vs The People's Prosecutor: It is the news media’s job to elicit information from politicians – not to prosecute them. Peters’ promise to sort out TVNZ should be believed. If he finds himself in a position to carry out his threat, then it will only be because ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 day ago

  • Verrall is chuffed by govt’s latest push into pay equity while Woods enthuses about an $11m spend ...
    Buzz from the Beehive The headline on a ministerial press statement curiously expresses the government’s position when it declares:   Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers. Is it not enough to declare just one commitment? Or is the government’s commitment to pay equity being declared sector by ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • A very worthy coalition partner for Seymour and Luxon
    There have been 53 New Zealand Parliaments so far. The 39th of them was elected in 1978. It was a parliament of 92 MPs, most of them men. The New Zealand Music Awards that year named John Rowles Male Vocalist of the Year and — after a short twelve months ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • Labour still protecting the status quo
    Aotearoa has a cost of living crisis. And one of the major drivers of this crisis is the supermarket duopoly, who gouge every dollar they can out of us. Last year, the Commerce Commission found that the duopoly was in fact anti-competititve, giving the government social licence to fix the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • Gordon Campbell on National’s myths about the desolated state of the economy
    Familiarity breeds consent. If you repeat the line “six years of economic mis-management” about 10,000 times, it sounds like the received wisdom, whatever the evidence to the contrary. Yes, the global pandemic and the global surge in inflation that came in its wake occurred here as well – but if ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 day ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: Hapless Hipkins and his racism
    Michael Bassett writes – Without so much as batting an eyelid, Chris Hipkins told an audience on Saturday that there had been “more racism” in this election campaign than ever before. And he blamed it on the opposition parties, National, Act and New Zealand First. In those ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: The ‘recession’ has been called off, but some households are still struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates. Brian Easton writes – Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Monday’s Chorus: Richie Poulton's lament
    “You can't really undo what happens during childhood”, said the director of the Dunedin longitudinal study. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Richie Poulton, the director of the world-leading Dunedin longitudinal study showing how devastating poverty in early life is, died yesterday. With his final words, he lamented the lack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • North-western downgrades
    This is a guest post from reader Peter N As many of us know, Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi are well into progressing works on the northwestern interim “busway” with services to kick off in just over a month from now on Sunday 12th November 2023. Some of the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago

  • Has Webworm Found New Zealand’s Weirdest School?
    Hi,Before we talk about weird schools people choose to send their kids to, a few things on my mind. I adored the Ask Me Anything we did last week. Thanks for taking part. I love answering your weird and nosy questions, even questions about beans.I am excited and scared as Mister ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • Another mother of a budget
    A National government would make spending cuts on a scale not seen since the 1990 – 96 Bolger government.That much was confirmed with the release of their Fiscal Plan on Friday.Government spending is currently high as a percentage of GDP — as high as it was during the Muldoon ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • A crucial week starts as early voting opens in the NZ Elections … it’s been a ride so far. Are y...
    Chris Hipkins down with Covid, at least for 5 days isolation, National continue to obfuscate, ACT continues to double-down on the poor and Winston… well, he’s being Winston really. Voters beware: this week could be even more infuriating than the last. No Party is what they used to be ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    2 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 24, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 30, 2023. Story of the Week We’re not doomed yet’: climate scientist Michael Mann on our last chance to save human civilisation The renowned US ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Clusterf**ck of Chaos.
    On the 11th of April 1945 advancing US forces liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald near Weimar in Germany. In the coming days, under the order of General Patton, a thousand nearby residents were forced to march to the camp to see the atrocities that had been committed in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • The party of business deals with the future by pretending it isn’t coming
    Years and years ago, when Helen Clark was Prime Minister and John Key was gunning for her job, I had a conversation with a mate, a trader who knew John Key well enough to paint a helpful picture.It was many drinks ago so it’s not a complete one. But there’s ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • 2023 More Reading: September (+ Old Phuul update)
    Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    3 days ago

  • Losing The Left.
    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – 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 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago

  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week ago

  • Youth justice programme expands to break cycle of offending
    The successful ‘Circuit Breaker’ fast track programme designed to stop repeat youth offending was launched in two new locations today by Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis. The programme, first piloted in West and South Auckland in December last year, is aimed at children aged 10-13 who commit serious offending or continue ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago

  • Major milestone with 20,000 employers using Apprenticeship Boost
    The Government’s Apprenticeship Boost initiative has now supported 20,000 employers to help keep on and train up apprentices, Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni announced in Christchurch today. Almost 62,000 apprentices have been supported to start and keep training for a trade since the initiative was introduced in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Government supporting wood processing jobs and more diverse industry
    The Government is supporting non-pine tree sawmilling and backing further job creation in sawmills in Rotorua and Whangarei, Forestry Minister Peeni Henare said.   “The Forestry and Wood Processing Industry Transformation Plan identified the need to add more diversity to our productions forests, wood products and markets,” Peeni Henare said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Government backing Canterbury’s future in aerospace industry
    The Government is helping Canterbury’s aerospace industry take off with further infrastructure support for the Tāwhaki Aerospace Centre at Kaitorete, Infrastructure Minister Dr Megan Woods has announced. “Today I can confirm we will provide a $5.4 million grant to the Tāwhaki Joint Venture to fund a sealed runway and hangar ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Updated forestry regulations increase council controls and require large slash removal
    Local councils will have more power to decide where new commercial forests – including carbon forests – are located, to reduce impacts on communities and the environment, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “New national standards give councils greater control over commercial forestry, including clear rules on harvesting practices and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • New Zealand resumes peacekeeping force leadership
    New Zealand will again contribute to the leadership of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a senior New Zealand Defence Force officer returning as Interim Force Commander. Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced the deployment of New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New national direction provides clarity for development and the environment
    The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers
    The Government welcomes the proposed pay equity settlement that will see significant pay increases for around 18,000 Te Whatu Ora Allied, Scientific, and Technical employees, if accepted said Health Minister Ayesha Verrall. The proposal reached between Te Whatu Ora, the New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

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