Wage gap $40 a week wider under Nats

Written By: - Date published: 11:39 am, July 28th, 2010 - 95 comments
Categories: national, wages, workers' rights - Tags: , ,

Closing the wage gap with Australia was one of National’s key promises in the leadup to the 2008 election. More than anything, National claimed, the 30% wage gap with Australia was proof that nine years of Labour government had failed New Zealanders.

It didn’t matter that the wage gap had opened up under National in the first place, or that it had remained steady and actually started to close under Labour. National assured the electorate that it was Labour’s fault and that they were going to fix it.

gap 450

Of course, the authors writing on The Standard knew that National’s posturing about the wage gap was driven more by focus groups than any genuine concern. They called National on their dodgy figures while political reporters lapped them up uncritically. They explained that simply cutting taxes was no plan to lift incomes, and that National’s planned employment reforms would only dampen wages like we saw in the 1990s. There was post after post after post after post explaining that National had no plan to close the wage gap, and in fact its donors, its core supporters and its own neoliberal ideology favoured relative wage reductions rather than increases.

Sure enough, Claire Trevett reports in this morning’s Dom Post that the wage gap has in fact increased by $40 a week since National gained power.

The wage gap between New Zealand and Australian workers has widened by $40 to $580 a week since National came to power in late 2008 promising to address the income gap.

Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee yesterday claimed the gap in average wages was now less than it was when Labour left office in November 2008, after being questioned about it by Labour’s David Parker.

However, a comparison of average weekly earnings in November 2008 and February this year shows New Zealand wages grew by 5.2 per cent over that period while Australia’s grew by 6.7 per cent.

Australia’s ordinary average wage rose from A$1165 to A$1243 while New Zealand’s went from NZ$891 to NZ$947. On yesterday’s currency rates, the gap widened from $540 a week in December 2008 to $580 in March this year.

This is no big surprise, no abberation. Once in government, the party of big business was never going to strengthen workers and lift their wages to Australian levels (in fact, as we’ve seen in the last few weeks their instinct is quite the opposite.) The only amazing thing is how long National managed to get away with their spin and empty rhetoric before someone decided to call them on their bullshit.

[If you still believe National ever had a genuine plan to close the wage gap, take a look at Brownlee’s pathetic performance in the video below.]

95 comments on “Wage gap $40 a week wider under Nats ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Pete 1
    28 July 2010 at 11:57 am

    But it’s all about a long-term game of ‘growing the pie’, ‘equality of opportunity (but not outcomes)’, and ‘trickle down’ – seriously.

    We’ll catch up as soon as those October ’10 tax cuts kick in and the ‘step-change’ and the ‘rolling maul of changes’ and investment in infrastructure (i.e. cycleway) help us all see the National government’s ‘relentless focus’ has all been worthwhile – I’m convinced.

  2. Pascal's bookie 2
    28 July 2010 at 12:17 pm

    Credit where credit’s due:

    Note that Claire Trevett steps out of the ‘he said/she said’ model of ballanced reporting and runs with an objective “he said/facts are” model of journalism.

    Nice.

    • Craig Glen Eden 2.1
      28 July 2010 at 12:30 pm

      Good points Pb, another day rolls on and another piece of National Party Rhetoric bites the dust and sadly for NZe’s the Gap will only get worse. Aussie is looking better and better sadly!

    • A Post With Me In It 2.2
      28 July 2010 at 12:32 pm

      One can only hope that this is a “step change” to proper journalism. But I am not holding my breath.

      Can they back date the journalism to call out billy boy on his previous lies also?!

      • Roger 2.2.1
        28 July 2010 at 3:33 pm

        Yes, sadly Gerry Brownlee’s answers were essentially even more stupid than the norm and probably invited journalists to do the research required into finding out the facts.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 2.3
      28 July 2010 at 1:00 pm

      Claire will be in big trouble now, the ex journo heavies in the Beehive will punish her for this one

  3. exbrethren 3
    28 July 2010 at 12:37 pm

    Key will be disappointed. Wages increasing must be a blow – as he said he’d love to see wages drop.

  4. Pete 4
    28 July 2010 at 12:43 pm

    Let’s see how the PM and Minister of Economic Development get on with Oral PQs 1 and 6 today.

    1. Hon PHIL GOFF to the Prime Minister: Does he agree with his Minister of Economic Development’s statement yesterday that the current weekly income gap between New Zealand and Australian full-time workers “is certainly a lot less than it was when Labour was in office’?

    6. Hon DAVID PARKER to the Minister for Economic Development: What was the gap, expressed in New Zealand dollars, between the average gross weekly wage or salary paid to an adult full-time worker in Australia compared with New Zealand in December 2008, and what was the gap in March 2010?

    Noice.

    I’m with PB BTW – Trevett’s work is definitely worthy of special credit simply for breaking the mould. (And cheers for the post Marty).

  5. mickysavage 5
    28 July 2010 at 12:48 pm

    Wow Brownlee really put his foot in it.

    It is Key’s turn today. Question 1 is

    “Hon PHIL GOFF to the Prime Minister: Does he agree with his Minister of Economic Development’s statement yesterday that the current weekly income gap between New Zealand and Australian full-time workers “is certainly a lot less than it was when Labour was in office’?”

    And question 6 is

    “Hon DAVID PARKER to the Minister for Economic Development: What was the gap, expressed in New Zealand dollars, between the average gross weekly wage or salary paid to an adult full-time worker in Australia compared with New Zealand in December 2008, and what was the gap in March 2010?”

    Brownlee could not lie straight in bed. He claims that he did not know the figures but the gap had gone down. But Trevett confirms that the gap had gone up.

    My porkie detector went haywire when I watched that video.

  6. felix 6
    28 July 2010 at 12:56 pm

    I’ll be surprised if they both show up in the house today.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 6.1
      28 July 2010 at 1:04 pm

      Theyll create a diversion, multiple points of order and so on.
      Its Jerrys day job to muddle and obstruct in the house.

      Expect to hear that NZ has more cats per head or detergent washes clothes cleaner in NZ now that Labour has been stopped from soiling housewives laundry

      • Pete 6.1.1
        28 July 2010 at 1:21 pm

        I’d bet on blaming the effective reduction in our comparitive wages on the last three terms of the Labour government – it’s still got currency. I think I hear it in at least every other Oral PQ.

        Question is, when does this stop being an excuse for
        1. inaction, and
        2. doing the opposite of what’s needed?

        • Tigger 6.1.1.1
          28 July 2010 at 1:53 pm

          Pete’s nailed it – that’s their trick when cornered, just scream loud that Labour is to blame. It’s bogus at the best of times but ultimately it’s like a fireman standing the street complaining that they didn’t start the fire so why should they put it out.

          • ghostwhowalksnz 6.1.1.1.1
            28 July 2010 at 3:11 pm

            Gerry cant blame Labour ‘today’ because yesterday he said the gap had closed under National but didnt have the numbers.
            So when its good its national and when its bad its labour ?
            Sorry Gerry, foot in mouth

            • Carol 6.1.1.1.1.1
              28 July 2010 at 3:33 pm

              Today Gerry didn’t argue this. He and Key argued that, in fact, they had figures to show that the gap in wages betwen Aussie & NZ had narrowed. He said his figures showed that, in terms of relative spending power in both countries, the gap had narrowed – unlike under Labour where he claimed the real gap had grown.

              Browlnee also got into an extended explanation about which series of figures needed to be looked at – lost me. I guess I would have needed figures in front of me and some time to follow his logic. Brownlee tabled his figures.

              Goff and Labour a little later came back saying that, even with the figures that Brownlee & Key had tabled and discussed in heavily massaged terms, the gap had grown.

              Each side stuck to their story. So, now I need someone to look at & present the figures, and explain to me which party has the correct analysis of the figures…. or indeed, which are the correct figures.

              • Pete …
                28 July 2010 at 4:03 pm

                And voila:

                Hon JOHN KEY: … It took 9 years for Labour to make a complete and utter mess of the economy; it might take a bit longer than that for us to sort it out.

                http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QOA/a/f/7/49HansQ_20100728_00000001-1-Income-Gap-Parity-with-Australia.htm

                • Carol …
                  28 July 2010 at 4:08 pm

                  So National are having a bob each way: ie the wage gap has ACTUALLY decreased between Aussie & NZ under National; but anyway, any lack of result is Labour’s fault..??!!

                  • mickysavage …
                    28 July 2010 at 4:43 pm

                    Prepare for the stretching of your brain trying to accommodate the maschinations of the National Party where they promised to close the gap, did really dumb stuff which made the gap bigger but continued to blame Labour for it even though with the benefit of hindsight Labour did a very good job.

                • Armchair Critic …
                  28 July 2010 at 7:44 pm

                  And what he meant was:
                  Hon JOHN KEY: It took 9 years for Labour to make a complete and utter mess of the economy; it might take a bit longer than that for us to sort it out sell it all off to our backers.

    • Armchair Critic 6.2
      28 July 2010 at 1:16 pm

      I expect they will be good employees and produce a doctor’s certificate explaining their one day absence. Just like the rest of us might shortly be expected to do…..

    • Fisiani 6.3
      28 July 2010 at 4:18 pm

      So John Key and Gerry slam dunked Labour today. Chortle.
      It was great to see the apoplectic faces on the opposition benches as the firecrackers fizzed and spluttered out

      • Carol 6.3.1
        28 July 2010 at 4:27 pm

        Well, it was hard to work out how much there was a real basis for National’s claims today, and how much was creative accounting. But time will tell when a few people actually look at their figures closely.

        It could just as easily have been a National own goal.

      • gobsmacked 6.3.2
        28 July 2010 at 4:46 pm

        Fisiani is clearly on spin duty overtime, with that absolute whopper.

        Key was anything but “relaxed” today. His most unconvincing performance in ages. And that’s with a whole day’s notice.

        He usually sees off Goff by using his adolescent comedy routine, but it didn’t work today.
        It’s not a pretty sight when a comedian’s trying too hard and needs the canned laughter. Better just get off the stage.

      • Craig Glen Eden 6.3.3
        28 July 2010 at 4:47 pm

        Open your good eye Fisiani then put in your hearing aid and yup Key was talking shit! thats what shit sounds like. what a bad week for National its all starting to unravel as the taste of the John Key wine becomes a distant memory.

  7. tc 7
    28 July 2010 at 1:44 pm

    I always thought that the nats campaign of closing the gap meant actually moving to OZ……there’s no other way it’ll be achieved under their stewardship.

    Ya know much like any bankers rhetoric about security, great returns, cheque’s in the mail etc etc

  8. Craig Glen Eden 8
    28 July 2010 at 1:55 pm

    Where are all the wing nuts today are they all sick as well?

    • mickysavage 8.1
      28 July 2010 at 2:27 pm

      Even wingnuts do not want to defend the indefensible.

    • loota 8.2
      28 July 2010 at 3:01 pm

      I want to see the wing nuts provide proof of illness dammit.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 8.3
      28 July 2010 at 3:13 pm

      Having a holiday in London with the olds – you didnt think there was more than one !!

    • Andrew 8.4
      28 July 2010 at 3:45 pm

      Unlike you lefties that all seem to hang out on this blog all day with nothing better to do than being ready to congratulate and high five each other on another awesome smack down on a n00b RWNJ …. we are all out working. You should try it some time.

      Do your bosses know how much time you spend on political blogs every day of the week?

      Anyhoo, back to the point at hand. From the same article:

      “The increase is unsurprising. Australia managed to stay out of recession during the global economic crisis while New Zealand was in recession for much of that period, with pay freezes common.”

      Think that pretty much hits the nail on the head. Would have been nice if we had stayed out of recession, but we didn’t, hence the consequences.

      • Carol 8.4.1
        28 July 2010 at 3:55 pm

        You assume we all work 9-to-5 weekdays.

        Shane Jones is being very impressive on Key/National’s lack of narrative, plastering over underlying emptiness by focusing on marginal issues. National’s lack of leadership, Key’s emty rhetoric, and being out of NZ too long to really understand what’s needed in NZ.

        Jones is a very good speaker.

        • Tigger 8.4.1.1
          28 July 2010 at 3:59 pm

          He also assumes we all work for someone else or that we are not the boss or that we’re not on call 24/7 so aren’t as strict on ourselves between 9 to 5 as some others… I thought righties were all about flexibility in the workplace.

      • Pete 8.4.2
        28 July 2010 at 4:00 pm

        “a n00b RWNJ …”

        …speaking of…

        “Unlike you lefties…”

        How do you explain Kiwiblog et al Andrew?

        Jeez, it’s like fish in a barrel with some of ’em…

        • Andrew 8.4.2.1
          28 July 2010 at 4:08 pm

          Farrar is on holiday, i guess he will get around to commenting on it when he feels like it. Hop back in your barrel, there’s a good fishie

          • Pete 8.4.2.1.1
            28 July 2010 at 4:15 pm

            Say what?

            You were talking about the comments here, I was talking about the comments there… or have they dried up while Farrar holdays? Nup? Ok then.

            Thanks for adding to the discussion.

            • bobo 8.4.2.1.1.1
              28 July 2010 at 4:34 pm

              I hope Andrew puts “telling off lefties for wasting work hours” for 3.45pm and 4.08pm on his timesheet today.

          • Kevin Welsh 8.4.2.1.2
            28 July 2010 at 4:27 pm

            Yeah, I can hardly wait to check out the latest photos of his bath house tour of Turkey.

      • Craig Glen Eden 8.4.3
        28 July 2010 at 6:22 pm

        We are the bosses Andrew, havent you worked it out yet? Hell nothing worse than a dumb wingnut as an employee aye.

        Its only in your deluded world Andrew that the boss could only be a Tory.

        “The increase is unsurprising. Australia managed to stay out of recession during the global economic crisis while New Zealand was in recession for much of that period, with pay freezes common.’ So they did the right thing economically we did the wrong thing Get it Andrew or shall I type it slower.

        • Andrew 8.4.3.1
          28 July 2010 at 9:15 pm

          We were in recession before the rest of the world numb nutts. That started under labours watch. Now, did you get that, or should I type slower?

          • IrishBill 8.4.3.1.1
            28 July 2010 at 9:29 pm

            Actually our early recession has been a lot shallower than other countries. That’s because we started from a lower government debt ratio. I’m not saying it couldn’t be a lot better as Cullen wussed out on targeting the housing debt bubble, because of his pathological fear of regulating the private sector, but his moves to pay down debt and boost savings through the super fund and Kiwisaver gave us some breathing room.

            And it’s spelled “nuts” and “labour’s” you fucking moron.

            • Andrew 8.4.3.1.1.1
              28 July 2010 at 9:40 pm

              Don’t call me a fucking moron you anonymous coward. I was responding to a snarky comment made at me, I responded with facts. So why would you call me a fucking moron? Nice work! It’s tricky typing on an iPhone. Sorry I didn’t pass the Irish spelling bee.

              • IrishBill …
                28 July 2010 at 9:56 pm

                My house, my rules. You’re banned for life. Fool.

                • Andrew …
                  28 July 2010 at 10:12 pm

                  Oh, and I can comment under any IP and email address I choose, so just try banning me.

                  • loota …
                    28 July 2010 at 10:15 pm

                    IrishBill is right though Andrew, you are a fucking moron.

                    (Please excuse the language, Irish).

                • Herodotus …
                  28 July 2010 at 10:22 pm

                  IB- just minor issues Lab lost the Oct 90 election yet this graph displays the 1990 year as blue, also there is no 2008 year data to finalise the trends of the red team. I would hate for incomplete data to be used by either side. It would also be of interest to see the graph continue to incorporate the blue teams reentry into the chart, also the 84-90 to see from what base we started. As I think pre 84 NZ was a basket case and data would have minimal relevence.

          • mickysavage 8.4.3.1.2
            28 July 2010 at 9:49 pm

            We were in recession before the rest of the world numb nutts.

            The sad thing about having an agrarian based economy and suffering a drought is that your income goes down. Now please explain why Helen is to blame?

            • loota 8.4.3.1.2.1
              28 July 2010 at 9:56 pm

              Replying to Andrew makes me think that we’re all just going to get dirty while he squeels in enjoyment.

  9. tc 9
    28 July 2010 at 2:38 pm

    Yes indeed the paper mache political sculpture known as NACT built upon the business rountable/insurance council/fed farmers/booze industry and others paper and paste is showing up as the short term, don’t look too hard, flimsy piece of crap that it is…..would’ve washed away months ago if we had an MSM with hoses instead of lederhosen.

  10. tsmithfield 10
    28 July 2010 at 4:19 pm

    Marty being disingenuous again.

    Firstly, Claire Trevett referred to the wage difference in the context of the current exchange rate. Therefore, if the Kiwi suddenly surges against the Auz then the difference will disappear or perhaps go the other way. Also, a lower exchange rate is good isn’t it? Makes our exports more competitive. If we export more then we will close the gap. I bet you will be stamping your feet demanding action to reduce the exchange rate if we are at Auz 90 cents again.

    Secondly Trevett herself says:

    “The increase is unsurprising. Australia managed to stay out of recession during the global economic crisis while New Zealand was in recession for much of that period, with pay freezes common.”

    Australia was one of the only countries to stay out of recession. This was due to Australia enjoying massive exports to China over that period. Therefore, it is a bit rich to criticize National when the conditions have made it virtually impossible not keep up no matter what we did. I doubt very much that Labour would have been able to do much differently without putting the country massively further into debt.

    • Pete 10.1
      28 July 2010 at 4:33 pm

      It’s almost as if suggesting that we’d ‘catch up with Australia’ was a ploy to get elected or something – go figure.

      • tsmithfield 10.1.1
        28 July 2010 at 4:41 pm

        So was the “promise” of closing the gap with Australia to be met within a given time frame? I seem to remember National saying it would take a long time to achieve this.

        • mickysavage 10.1.1.1
          28 July 2010 at 4:46 pm

          Aw TS they did promise. I remember it clearly.

          You mean they never intended to keep their promise?

          • tsmithfield 10.1.1.1.1
            28 July 2010 at 4:52 pm

            “Aw TS they did promise.”

            Link?

            • Pascal's bookie 10.1.1.1.1.1
              28 July 2010 at 5:02 pm

              It was just yesterday t, that gerry was saying they were already closing it…

              “Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee yesterday claimed the gap in average wages was now less than it was when Labour left office in November 2008, after being questioned about it by Labour’s David Parker.”

              Try and keep up.

              • tsmithfield …
                28 July 2010 at 5:16 pm

                According to Travett the difference was exchange-rate adjusted. Given that the rate has recently been as low as 75 cents recently and is now at 81 cents, the gap has been closing compared to when the rate was 75 cents.

                • loota …
                  28 July 2010 at 5:21 pm

                  well if we keep jacking up our OCR and attract overseas currency to speculate on the NZD, its value should keep going up versus the AUD. In this way we will sooner or later reach wage parity with Australia, and no more kiwis will leave for Aussie jobs.

                • Pascal's bookie …
                  28 July 2010 at 7:03 pm

                  I heard you the first time t, and holy shit you’re right. If we had parity with the euro, then we might even catch up. Be ahead even.

                  But sfw?

                  Not even the parliamentary tories are fucking shameless enough to run the line you’re attempting, and they’re so godawful blatant they’ve got Dumkoff Garner calling them hacks.

              • Carol …
                28 July 2010 at 5:30 pm

                Did Brownlee say that yesterday?

                Brent Edwards on Nat Rad, said that in referring to the figures Key & Brownlee were using today, the Nats carefully left out mentioning 2008. The Nats said that in terms of spending power, the Aus-NZ wage gap was now smaller under National than various other specified years under Labour. Edwards said that they carefully left out 2008, because, even with Nat’s adjusted figures, the Aus-NZ wage gap between Labour’s last year in office and now had grown.

            • mickysavage 10.1.1.1.1.2
              28 July 2010 at 5:14 pm

              TS

              Link?

              You have to be kidding. Key has said this so many times, just Google it.

              I do note that National has taken down its 2008 policy from its website. I can understand this decision. If you remove your promises from public scrutiny then you can subsequently deny ever making the promise and people cannot prove you are lying …

              • tsmithfield …
                28 July 2010 at 7:50 pm

                Have done that. Nothing particular came up. From what I remember it was more of an “aspiration” and did not have a set time frame.

                • Armchair Critic …
                  28 July 2010 at 8:06 pm

                  “[National and ACT] have agreed on the concrete goal of closing the income gap with Australia by 2025.‘
                  Straight from the coalition agreement between ACT and National, TS. Have a look at page 2.
                  Have a look at the terms of reference of the 2025 taskforce, too. If wage parity was not one of National and ACT’s goals, why is it part of the taskforce’s terms of reference?
                  Aspirational? – I don’t think so. More BS from NACT? – pretty much.

                  • tsmithfield …
                    28 July 2010 at 8:15 pm

                    Exactly Armchair,

                    Certainly a lot further out than 2010.

                    So why the big fuss about a slight movement due to exchange rate fluctuations over the short-term. Its a long way to 2025 yet.

                    • Armchair Critic …
                      28 July 2010 at 8:24 pm

                      The fuss will be because, while we may be on the road to parity, we are heading in the wrong direction.
                      Got a reference to show the change is due solely to exchange rate fluctuations?

                    • Pascal's bookie …
                      28 July 2010 at 8:27 pm

                      NZ Dollar would get you 85 cents in Nov 08 there ts.

                      So as stupid as I thought your argument was, it’s actually worserer.

                    • Herodotus …
                      28 July 2010 at 8:38 pm

                      Sp PB all we need to do is increase the OCr to 8% watch the NZ:Aust cross rate and then magic NZ has caught up with Aussie wages.
                      This graph only views gross wages I gather no cross over re cost of living, govt assistance, providing for the future, quality of life etc.
                      Like all pollys asspirational comments they are hollow but great sound bites. Clark did this, Bulger, Lange, Muldoon etc. The only difference is the esculation of rhetoric, I cannot wait for 2011 and watch 2 inferrrior teams the red in one courner and the blue go at it, great inspriation and like the 08 crash we the voter gets to clean up the damage from the non delivery, as increasing nos. leave middle class society and become the new growth area lower middle.
                      Aspirational in rhetoric, unambitious in what the govt delivers.

                    • tsmithfield …
                      28 July 2010 at 8:54 pm

                      “The fuss will be because, while we may be on the road to parity, we are heading in the wrong direction.”

                      Look at the graph above, armchair. Look at the red part. Notice something.

                      The reference for exchange rates is given in my earlier post and is from the article that Marty referenced.

                    • Armchair Critic …
                      28 July 2010 at 9:13 pm

                      Look at the graph above, armchair. Already did.
                      Look at the red part. Hard to miss it
                      Notice something. Yes – it appears to show that, after widening rapidly under the disaster that was the 1990s under National, the wage gap remained consistently bad under Labour in the 2000s.
                      Under National it is now getting worse, again. Notice that, TS? National agreed to try to improve it, and at present they are failing. Notice that, TS?
                      You don’t have a reference that shows the worsening is solely due to exchange rate fluctuations, and neither does Marty. That’s because the widening wage gap is due to other factors, including National’s appalling economic management and total lack of a plan (beyond “steal what you can”).

                  • tsmithfield …
                    28 July 2010 at 9:30 pm

                    Actually, I noticed several things, Armchair.

                    Firstly, there was a considerable period when the wage gap was going in the wrong direction under Labour. What it shows is that short-term trends don’t mean a hell of a lot when you’re considering long-term goals. Its like saying that climate change is wrong because of a cold day.

                    Another thing is that sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better. Try learning a new skill and you will find this out. Similar with making changes in the economy. Sometimes restructuring etc that is required can cause short term pain. As the saying goes, “short term pain for long term gain”.

                    The earlier trend was under National was more to do with the explosion in commodity prices. Have a look at some graphs for price trends of commodities that Australia produces over the last 30 years or so.

                    Finally, as I mentioned earlier, there was obviously a fairly major short-term hiccup that Australia survived better than almost anyone else, thanks to China soaking up huge quantities of their commodities. So, its not surprising that over the short term wages have done better in Australia than NZ.

                    • loota …
                      28 July 2010 at 10:03 pm

                      Yes you’re spot on, its important not to mistake short term trends and read into them more than they are.

                      So in the short term, NZ incomes are falling further behind Oz, that is neither here nor there in the scheme of things. So placing that in context over the last ten to fifteen years to check out the longer term trend…and, uh unfortunately, its completely consistent with NZ wages falling further behind Australia in the longer term as well.

                      Re your comment on a boom for Australian commodities, yes that is also fair enough, but we should consider that a real economy is built on a series of one offs – deals cut, industries developed, markets opened, short term opportunities taken when they appeared. Those one offs are valid and important to consider because each one can go someway to building a bit more strength into an economy.

        • gobsmacked 10.1.1.2
          28 July 2010 at 4:49 pm

          It’ll be 2025. Don Brash is onto it.

          Oh wait, his report’s been chucked in the bin.

          Next …

  11. illuminatedtiger 11
    28 July 2010 at 6:03 pm

    “We would love to see wages drop” – John Key

  12. ghostwhowalksnz 12
    28 July 2010 at 6:15 pm

    During Keys tirade answering this oral questions, he sounded as though hes been to a long lunch!

    Seriously , was Key drunk in the House

    • Carol 12.1
      28 July 2010 at 6:23 pm

      Key’s speech in the House today seemed slurred to me. As I watched it I started wondering, “What is he on? Or is that the way he talks all the time & I was just noticing it?”

      • gobsmacked 12.1.1
        28 July 2010 at 6:31 pm

        When he’s under pressure, Key talks faster. So he gabbles and slurs more. It’s a dead giveaway.

        Ask any detective: when the crims lie, they lie fast.

        • illuminatedtiger 12.1.1.1
          28 July 2010 at 8:11 pm

          Has anyone ever noticed that when answering questions he doesn’t blink?

  13. gobsmacked 13
    28 July 2010 at 6:17 pm

    3 News had a good report tonight, exposing John Key as “slippery”.

    There are statistics, damn statistics, and John Key’s statements to Parliament.

    • Carol 13.1
      28 July 2010 at 6:29 pm

      Yes, I noticed Garner referred to Key’s use of statistics in the House today as “slippery”, for focusing on earlier years and not mentioning the gap since 2008. He said that afterwards Garner pinned Key down to agreeing that, even on his own statistics, the wage gap had increased between Aus & NZ by $22.00 since 2008.

      But Garner ended by saying that the gap should close a bit when the Nats’ tax cuts start to have an impact at the end of the year. In contrast, Brent Edwards on Nat Rad reckoned Key & Brownlee’s predictions of the gap closing in future were not very realistic.

      • Carol 13.1.1
        28 July 2010 at 7:05 pm

        In reading the Blue’s series here on “The States of John Key”

        http://www.thestandard.org.nz/the-states-of-john-key-%E2%80%93-nasty-side/

        http://www.thestandard.org.nz/the-states-of-john-key-%E2%80%93-telling-the-truth/

        http://www.thestandard.org.nz/the-states-of-john-key-avoidance/

        I have wondered about the difference between using such skills in the context where he developed them (as a finance trader), and using them as a politician. As a finance trader, was he used to having a large amount of his moves and strategies made public? Was he able to get away with being “slippery” because few would see how he operated with diverse people in different contexts?

        Whereas in politics much more of the way Key operates is a matter of public record. In stretching the truth today in the House, and avoiding dealing head-on with the rise in the Aus-NZ wage gap, did it not occur to him in advance that journalists would notice he was avoiding making a direct comparison between 2008 & now?

      • kriswgtn 13.1.2
        28 July 2010 at 7:12 pm

        “But Garner ended by saying that the gap should close a bit when the Nats’ tax cuts start to have an impact at the end of the year”

        But he forget to remind the public about the gst rise
        ooohh achieving is my anti spam word

        the NACTS achieving exactly what they set out to do. and it got NOTHING to do with closing the gap

  14. Zaphod Beeblebrox 14
    28 July 2010 at 8:01 pm

    The gap is much larger than what it appears to be because Key is neglecting to mention-

    1. Australians get 10% of their wage contributed to their super. If you salary sacrifice you get a lo of it tax-free

    2. NZ is soon to have 15% GST versus 10% for Oz.

    3.Workers in Oz can claim things like work uniforms, self education expenses, travel between work places, school uniforms and home office expenses even if they are PAYE employees. Thats even before you consider the plethora of rebates- health insurance, child care, school fees and books etc etc etc..

    Not sure slippery and double Dipton included all that in their calculations.

  15. Daveosaurus 15
    28 July 2010 at 8:24 pm

    Lynn, if you’re reading, I see an error in the headline image as viewed from the site’s main page (i.e. the image at http://www.thestandard.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/national-brighter-future.gif ).

    It’s missing a silhouette of a number of empty seats and a couple of brain-dead robots.

    Hope that helps.

    [lprent: Ummm I wonder who they are? The thumb images get cut off to make a square image… ]

    • Daveosaurus 15.1
      28 July 2010 at 9:17 pm

      Not on Firefox version 3.6.8 on Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 it isn’t – not the first one on the headline article, anyway. The other images are cut down to 100px x 100px, but the one in question is showing the full image, taking up the entire right-hand column.

      • loota 15.1.1
        28 July 2010 at 11:31 pm

        I should say, I am running those exact specs and that headline image is alot bigger than 100×100, looks like 400w x 300h, and yes it fills up the width of that right hand column.

  16. randal 16
    29 July 2010 at 1:14 pm

    the fact of the matter is that our wunnerful lil ole country will never catch up to australian wage rates and like superannuation it has become a perrenial bone of contention that willnever be solved.
    unless.
    national is the party of business.
    where is the new business?

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-24T13:21:21+00:00