Votes before lives for Key

Written By: - Date published: 5:47 pm, January 2nd, 2011 - 33 comments
Categories: alcohol, transport - Tags: , ,

OIA papers show Key blocked lowering the drink-drive level fearing an anti-‘PC’ backlash. Officials warned “Drivers with a blood-alcohol content of [80mg], who are legally entitled to drive, are significantly impaired”. But Key’s office was worried about votes. So Joyce kicked for touch – commissioned 2 years of research. While we wait, more lives are lost.

33 comments on “Votes before lives for Key ”

  1. Tanz 1

    Yes, despicable, once again, Key ignores the popular, majority view. Anything for power. All the same, why didn’t Labour make this change while they were in office? The drinking age should never have been lowered in the first place, another National outcry (I remeber back then, this was a very unpopular move). The more things change, the more they stay the same. Democracy? Pass me a Tui.

    More lives will be lost, as you say. Can Key and Joyce live with that?

    • RedLogix 1.1

      And why didn’t National make this change in the 90’s? Or maybe the 4th Labour govt in the 80’s?

      In fact come to think of it it must be Muldoon or Holyoake’s fault….surely. Hell even King Dick Seddon could have the finger pointed.

      • Tanz 1.1.1

        It is up to the govt of the day to make changes, they do make the laws, after all, especially the ones that the populace never voted for. Speaking of Holyoake, can we have him back now? He is just what we need, and have, for ages. What a Christmas present that would be! I wish.

        Happy New Year.

        • Marty G 1.1.1.1

          Holyoake’s reign can be summed up with ‘relatively benign neglect’. His failure to do anything to prepare NZ’s future while just riding on high commodity prices helped set the scene for the disasters of muldoonisn and neoliberalism

          • Tanz 1.1.1.1.1

            He is right up there with Michael Joseph Savage and David Lange.We’ll be lucky to see the likes of them again. The best NZ ever had, bar one.

            • Marty G 1.1.1.1.1.1

              what did he do that was so great?

              • Tanz

                He had integrity, was as honest as the day is long, listened to the majority and had a Christian worldview. Long gone, sadly missed. He is revered, even by Key (going by what I’ve seen in the media…).

                In Holyoake’s time, crime was nill, our doors were left unlocked, boyracers did not exist, drugs and drinking were not a problem…and that’s for starters. and did what he promised, with no nasty surprises.

                • Logie97

                  Revered by Key?
                  Key was just born. Key told the world he wasn’t interested in politics even in the ’80s.
                  Let’s see – For starters
                  No boy racers – only Hot Rods terrorising shoppers in Queen Street Friday and Saturday nights.
                  No drinking problems – only the 6 o’clock swill,
                  Nil Crime – only commissioned and built Paremoremo.

                • Marty G

                  so, you can’t name a single thing he did.

                  • jcuknz

                    Perhaps the essence of his reign was that he did little or nothing rather than being a stirrer stiring up discontent so that the next mob would reverse everything? My only memory of those days of politics in the early single channel TV was a reporter doing a wonderful impression of him after interviewing him as he left for an overseas trip. naturally it never went to air 🙂

                  • Other than sending our kids as cannon fodder in Vietnam.

                • bbfloyd

                  holyoak also managed to make a fortune from being prime minister. buying cheap farmland a, and then having major highways rerouted to go through land he had acquired. using inside knowledge of future rezoning laws to buy up seemingly worthless land that now has an industrial area parked on it. oh yes, he was as honest as the day is long alright…

                  drugs and drinking were not a problem? which plane were you living on at the time? our drinking problems were well entrenched by then. we were still doing the “we don’t talk about that stuff” then.

                  and, making a virtue of the fact that technology had not brought us cars that would go as fast as they do today is just plain naive.

                  crime was nill? refer to “we don’t talk about that stuff”. in fact, there was a lot of crime as a percentage of population. remember, of course, that our cities had only just started to fill up with migration from rural areas (and pacific islands)just starting to build momentum.

                  in fact, holyoak’s time as prime minister can be catagorised by the word
                  ‘inaction”. his government managed to do no more than maintain the status quo, and we are living with the results of a decade of his short sighted, self serving, do nothing administration.

                • Well Tanz by explaining that he had “Good Christian values tells me why I distrusted him. If there is one thing worse than the “Good Tory” its the self confessed Christian.
                  they have betweenn them bought horror ,hardship and unhappiness on to millions of working class people .

        • Zorr 1.1.1.2

          I would have to say that, at the end of the day, what is past is past and all we can attempt to do is learn from it and move forward. I would be equally disappointed in Labour if they now came in to power and also ignored the evidence by refusing to lower the drink-driving level. However, currently, the ball is in John Key’s court as he is the leader of the ruling government and has the power to make the change.

          • Tanz 1.1.1.2.1

            I pretty much agree with that, Zorr. It just proves that once again, Key is more interested in exhibiting personal power and that annoying ”we know best’ attitude he often exudes, even in the face of popular opinion, than listening to the voice of the people and doing the right thing. Very sad, and rather weak, as well. I can’t believe I ever voted for him, but never again.

            • Zorr 1.1.1.2.1.1

              As always, until a more suitable option comes along, party vote Green and electorate vote to the most deserving.

              • Tanz

                Party vote the Kiwi Party, electorate vote whoever. Not a wasted vote, a protest vote.

                • MrSmith

                  The Kiwi party: go easy Tanz , if you want to protest get out in the street but don’t waste your vote on these fruit loops.

    • tsmithfield 1.2

      Tanz “…Key ignores the popular, majority view. Anything for power.”

      These two sentences directly contradict each other.

      • bbfloyd 1.2.1

        ts.. not if you factor in the amount of positive pr the national party will get courtesy of the liquor lobby’s largesse. they may figure that outweighs any public backlash. assuming the public get the full story to start with.. highly unlikely.

  2. SPC 2

    There is little evidence that those in the 50-80 blood alcohol level area have a significant impact on the road toll.

    The number of people who died in road accidents with this level (and no other factors such as drugs) is very low. The impact is overstated because of blood tests of those at accidents – but these occur afterwards (the level lowers with time) and the blood alcohol at the time of the accident would have been higher (over 80).

    The only real case for lowering the amount is to prevent people from going over 80 which a lower legal limit at 50 might achieve. The appropriate compromise is to lower the level to 50 but have the 50 to 80 level as a fine offence.

    Criminalising people for going over 50 is to target the wrong people.

    The biggest gains are in the better targeting of repeat offenders who go over 80.

    PS The quiet new year was because those over 18 had access to controlled drinking environments and were informed of club and bar policy of excluding those who pre-loaded. If that policy was extended to all year around the current policy would work much better.

    • There is plenty of scientific and medical evidence that tell us that even one drink of alchohol can slow down reactions. The best law is no drinking and driving. Is it not possible for a person not to drink now and then?

      • SPC 2.1.1

        Medication and lack of sleep will have more impact on driving than drinking up to 50 … .

        As for being unable to have a can or a bottle or a glass and drive afterwards – that just shows how extremist the whole campaign gets when it targets moderate drinkers when we know the major problem is repeat offenders who drink well over the current limit.

  3. Irascible 3

    Does anyone think that Key’s interests in the liquor industry held in his transparent blind trust might have had something to do with his pressuring of Joyce??

    • jcuknz 3.1

      Naturally there has to be a conspiracy 🙂 Rather than basic common sense, instead of the emotionalism that this thread starts with, as put by SPC. It is like the reduction of the speed margin from 10 to 5km over for the holiday period … sounds good but we are still heading to equal last years total for road deaths. One must feel sorry for Sup Paula Rose having to deal with the idiots in NZ.

  4. tsmithfield 4

    There is all sorts of things we could do that would significantly reduce road deaths. For instance we could make the speed limit 20kph. However, there needs to be evidence that doing so will make a meaningful difference without overly impinging on freedom and convenience. I don’t think the evidence is there with the current limit.

    As I understand it most alcohol related deaths are from those well over the limit. Also, it is an inaccurate assumption to assume that the majority push the current limit to the max. It is likely that most take a cautionary approach because they don’t want to exceed the limit so are actually well under.

  5. Blocking lowering the drink drive limit is interference by government officials in road policing as far as I am concerned.

    Who is the expert here, road police or Key on safer roads?

    Why is Key not listening to the experts?

    Why is Ryall listening to Key?

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-28T19:23:12+00:00