Will National politicise the new Covid outbreak? *
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12:38 pm, August 12th, 2020 - 182 comments
Categories: covid-19, jacinda ardern, Judith Collins, national, same old national -
Tags: covid-19
So the bad news that we were all hoping not to hear has occurred. There is a new case of community transmission discovered in Auckland. A test conducted on Monday was positive.
The Government has acted quickly and imposed a level 3 lockdown on Auckland and a level 2 lockdown on the rest of the country.
It does not need to be repeated that this virus is a bastard. Throughout the world Covid has brought countries to their knees. Other countries and areas such as Singapore, Vietnam, Australia and Hong Kong are now struggling with far worse outbreaks after initially appearing to be on top of the virus. This graph shows what is happening to similar nations most of who were apparently handling the virus well. New Zealand’s line will unfortunately trend upwards.
This is the sort of event where the political parties should display a sense of solidarity and concentrate on communicating to the country what we need to do as a nation to get through this. Because the cost of failure is clear, you just have to look at the rest of the world to see how this works out.
So how has National responded? I am afraid that for them it is business as usual. From Jason Walls at the Herald:
National Party leader Judith Collins is putting the blame for the new cases of community transmission in Auckland squarely in the lap of the Government and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Speaking to the Herald tonight, Collins said she was “extremely disappointed” in the Government, given that Covid-19 has come back to New Zealand.
Asked if she was disappointed in the Government, she said yes.
“I am, like I’m sure the rest of the country is, extremely disappointed that this [Covid-19] has been allowed in through our borders.”
…
Collins was not impressed, given the fact she said New Zealanders have been told that the country was free of community transmission.
Sunday had marked 100 days since the last case of community transmission.
“We believed it had happened; this has clearly come through a border and must not be something that was homegrown in New Zealand.
“I have seen the Prime Minister tonight, who is leader of the Labour Party, in the middle of an election campaign, speaking about all this failure.”
I have had some feedback about this recent post where I said that Gerry Brownlee was engaging in conspiracy theories. People claim that Brownlee was right to question the Government getting prepared for a potential new outbreak but they should reread what he said. He was saying that it was strange that we are getting ready. He also questioned the recommended advice to wear masks.
In that post I said:
Getting ready for a potential second wave is not puzzling. The world is awash with the disease and we will be doing extraordinarily well if we continue to keep it out. And you just have to see what has happened in Australia and South Korea and Singapore to see that the virus will come back and hurt if it is not eradicated.
We have elected to keep our borders open to returning kiwis and selected others. The only other option would be to seal the borders shut to everyone. This is not a policy decision this Government is willing to make, and not one that any Government in the world has taken.
Some of these returnees are infected. We have had a couple of scares but so far so good. But it should be remembered that there is a low chance that each infected returning Kiwi may spread the virus. This is through contamination of quarantine staff, or early or late onset of the disease, or plain bad luck. Te Punaha Matatini, a team of mathematicians and scientists, have estimated that New Zealand could expect one person over the next 18 months to be released into the community while still infectious. That may be enough to set off a second wave.
So of course the Government should be preparing for the possibility of a second wave. Brownlee reaching out to the tinfoil wearing sector of the population in an attempt to score political points is just weird.
If you want to have a further example of National’s frankly dishonest messaging around the issue there was the homeless person in the Crown Plaza rumour started by Michael Woodhouse. After a thorough investigation, the All of Government Response Group concluded yesterday that, wait for this, an unnamed man had actually returned to Auckland on a flight from Melbourne and accessed the hotel legitimately.
You may recall that Woodhouse went to town on the issue. From now on “went to town” in the context of a National MP should be equated with “told fibs”. I mean let us analyse what he said. As reported by Newstalk ZB:
A homeless man sneaked into a five-star hotel used as a quarantine facility and stayed there for two weeks, claims opposition health spokesman Michael Woodhouse.
National MP Michael Woodhouse claims a “reliable source” told the National Party the homeless man pretended he was a new arrival completing his 14-day isolation.
Woodhouse told the AM show that although the story is currently “unverified”, he said his source is an Auckland-based health professional.
“One of the five-star hotels housed a homeless person for a couple of weeks under the pretense that it was someone who came back from overseas. When the person was ready for discharge, he was asked for a forwarding address, only to tell the official that he didn’t have one – because he was homeless,” Woodhouse told the AM Show.
“He hadn’t come back from overseas, he just joined the back of the queue two weeks ago, and spent a fortnight getting three square meals and a bath every day on the Government.
“It just shows what a shambles this thing is. The ministry should be managing this – it’s not actually rocket science.”
Shambles is the right word. But only if it is applied to the opposition.
Of course the conspiracy theorists will have a field day and will say that this is one big cover up and they have known for a while. But the time line refutes this. It appears that the second positive test was returned yesterday afternoon. Bloomfield has confirmed that he received the news shortly before 3 pm yesterday, Ardern was told at about 4, cabinet then met and the decision was released to the public at 9:15 pm. The turn around was pretty quick and closing Auckland down in less than 24 hours is phenomenal.
There was a flurry of twitter activity just before the announcement and it has been suggested that Judith was the source of the information.
Hahah the PM calling out Judith Collins for leaking the briefing to the media before she was able to do the presser last night
— Hannah (@han_dall) August 11, 2020
National’s point scoring during a pandemic is very disappointing. Every time they persuade someone in quarantine that it is all a bit of a joke and they do not have to take it seriously, or that testing is not that important, or that masks are a bit of a joke, or they leak information they weaken the collective response and increase the chances of the virus taking hold and spreading. Right now, of all times, is not the time for political business as usual.
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Teanau Tuionoâs Memberâs Bill, the Citizenship (Western Samoa Restoration) Amendment Bill, has passed its third reading and will become law. ...2 days ago
- Release: Minister of Education thinks New Zealand ends at the Bombay Hills
The Minister of Education has shown complete disregard for rural communities and their school bus routes in Question Time today. ...2 days ago
- Economists sound alarm on Government’s slash-and-burn approach
A group of prominent economists has released an open letter to the Government, raising grave concerns about the far-reaching consequences of its fiscal policy. ...2 days ago
- Release: Smoking numbers up under Costelloâs watch
Nationalâs repeal of Labourâs smokefree legislation has taken New Zealand further away from achieving a Smokefree 2025 and a smokefree generation. ...2 days ago
- Release: Call for Palestine recognition by NZ, Australian and Canadian MPs
Parliamentarians from Australia, Canada and New Zealand have written an open letter to their respective Prime Ministers calling on them to recognise Palestine. ...2 days ago
- Justice Select Committee opens floor for Treaty Principles submissions
Today, the Justice Select Committee has decided to officially open submissions for the controversial Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Power of the people on full display as hīkoi approaches Parliament
Today, HÄ«koi mĆ te Tiriti arrived in Wellington, with thousands gathering to march in unity against the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...3 days ago
- Hypocrisy as Te Whatu Ora contractor bill balloons
Te Whatu Oraâs bill for contracting and consulting staff has ballooned by nearly 20 percent under the National Government, breaking a promise they made during the election campaign to cut contractors. ...4 days ago
- Release: Growing pressure to scrap Section 7AA Repeal Bill
The newly released Section 7AA Repeal Bill's select committee report is further evidence that the Government should scrap it. ...5 days ago
- Governmentâs move to monetise access to nature a slippery slope
The Green Party is voicing serious concerns over the Governmentâs proposal to charge for access to public conservation land, released today. ...1 week ago
- Green Party condemns the passage of Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party condemns the passing of the Treaty Principles Bill at first reading, and is clear that the fight is not over. ...1 week ago
- Stand Up for Te Tiriti
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is our countryâs founding document. It forms the basis of the relationship between MÄori and the Crown â and the Aotearoa New Zealand we live in today. ...1 week ago
- Release: Over 15,000 sign Labourâs open letter to Luxon
As the hīkoi to Parliament continues, Labour has sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in a last-ditch attempt to get him to kill the Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Fast Track Bill threatens environment, climate and reputation
The fast-track legislation passing its second reading in Parliament is another step towards environmental ruin. ...1 week ago
- Greens join Kingâs Counsel in calling for Treaty Principles Bill to be abandoned
The Prime Minister must answer the call from a group of senior lawyers of the Kingâs Counsel to abandon the divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...1 week ago
- Chris Hipkinsâ apology statement to state and faith-based care survivors
...1 week ago
- Release: Labour formally apologises to state and faith-based care survivors
Labour joins with the Government in unreservedly apologising for the abuse, neglect and trauma including torture in state and faith-based care and for ignoring the voices of survivors for too long. ...1 week ago
- Green Party stands in support of survivors of abuse in care
Today, the Green Party stands alongside the survivors of abuse in state care and faith-based care as the Government issues an historic apology. ...1 week ago
- Green Party calls for conscience vote on Treaty Principles Bill
The Green Party has written to the Speaker of the House requesting he enable a personal vote on the Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Govt move to exclude journalist risks chilling effect
The Green Party is alarmed by the Governmentâs move to exclude a journalist from covering this weekâs apology for the survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care. ...2 weeks ago
- Without action, an apology will be empty air
For tomorrowâs apology to survivors of abuse in state and faith-based care to hold any water, the Government must not pursue the same policies that drove the abuse in the first place. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Concerns remain over tobacco interference
Concerns about the tobacco industryâs ability to interfere in government policy making remain, despite the inability of the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the Governmentâs decision to halve the excise tax on heated tobacco products. ...2 weeks ago
- Urgent wake-up call on climate
The Climate Change Commissionâs latest advice indicates Aotearoa needs to be stepping up on climate action. ...2 weeks ago
- Green MPâs Meme-berâs Bill set to save the world
Break out the punchlines and dust off your meme folder: Green Party MP Kahurangi Carterâs Copyright (Parody and Satire) Amendment Bill was pulled from the Ballot yesterday. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Poroporoaki: Ta Robert (Bom) Gillies
Kua hinga te manawa kairÄkau o Te Rua Tekau Ma Waru Tiwhatiwha te po! Kakarauru i te po! Ka rapuhia kei hea koe kua riro! Haere e te Ika a Whiro ki o tini hoa kua ngaro atu ki te PĆ ...2 weeks ago
- Labour, Greens and Te PÄti MÄori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principles Bill
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te PÄti MÄori are working together against the Governmentâs divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour, Greens and Te PÄti MÄori call on the Prime Minister to block the Treaty Principle...
The opposition parties stand united for an Aotearoa that honours Te Tiriti, rather than seeking to rewrite it. Labour, the Greens and Te PÄti MÄori are working together against the Governmentâs divisive Treaty Principles Bill. ...2 weeks ago
- NZ must pursue independent foreign policy
The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...2 weeks ago
- Appointments strengthen Predator Free 2050
The latest Predator Free 2050 Board appointments will help to strengthen biodiversity efforts across Aotearoa New Zealand, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. Mr Potaka today announced two appointments to the Board of Directors of Predator Free 2050 Limited, a key player in the wider Predator Free 2050 Programme. âThe Predator ...1 hour ago - New facility in Christchurch will improve the lives of young New Zealanders
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey today opened Kahurangi, an innovative and much-needed facility for Canterburyâs Child, Adolescent, and Family Mental Health Services. âThe new state of the art outpatient facility opened today will be a gamechanger for the way mental health is delivered for young people in Canterbury,â says Mr ...1 hour ago
- Driver safety screens to be installed on Auckland buses
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news from the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) that bus driver protection screens will be installed across Aucklandâs bus fleet by 2026.âThe Government is committed to improving the safety of working environments for bus drivers, and Budget 2024 allocated $15 million of Crown funding over ...2 hours ago
- Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements
The Government is taking action to ensure Southland farmers and growers are not affected by unreasonable regional farm plan deadlines, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.âCabinet has agreed to provide more time for farmers and growers to comply with regional rules ...18 hours ago
- Bill reaffirms Governmentâs commitment to crack down on serious youth offending
The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Governmentâs commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. âIn recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. âThis Bill makes ...19 hours ago
- Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review
Fairer, more sensible rules about managing earthquake risks are a step closer with the passing of legislation and the appointment of an independent chair to provide expert advice, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. âThe Government is committed to reinvigorating our cities and regions to support economic growth, ...19 hours ago
- State of the art radiology machine for Auckland
People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...20 hours ago
- Foreign Minister to visit Europe
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Europe for high-level talks with France, Germany and the United Kingdom next week. "Since taking office almost a year ago, the Coalition Government has emphasised the importance we place on New Zealand's traditional and likeminded diplomatic and ...20 hours ago
- First arrests made under gang patch ban
Police have made their first arrests under the new gang patch legislation, with two gang members arrested, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. âJust before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He has been arrested and will now face enforcement ...22 hours ago
- Better support for victims of sexual violence
The Government is proposing two major changes to name suppression laws that will put the views of victims of sexual violence first, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. âWe are committed to restoring law and order and these two proposed changes will help ensure the victims of crime are put at ...22 hours ago
- Government moving forward with Regional Deals
Cabinet has agreed to invite all regions to submit proposals for Regional Deals between central and local government that drive economic growth and deliver the infrastructure our country needs, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop say. Inviting all regions to propose a Regional Deal that boosts ...23 hours ago
- MSA pilot participant update
One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Childrenâs Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naĂŻve to think that none of these young men would reoffend. âIâm saddened that this young person has not taken this opportunity ...23 hours ago
- Fighting for Kiwis in Trade
Delivered at Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School Good morning and thank you Deputy Vice Chancellor Lithander for your warm welcome and for inviting me to open Auckland Trade and Economic Policy School today. A Special thanks to the University of Auckland, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and ...1 day ago
- Attendance rates increase, again
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that school attendance is continuing to rise. In Term 3 of 2024 51.3 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from 46 per cent in Term 3 of 2023. âThis Government has prioritised student attendance and it is ...1 day ago
- Improving the lives of young New Zealanders
Ensuring New Zealand is the best place in the world for children and young people is the vision at the heart of the Governmentâs new Child and Youth Strategy, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says. âChildhood represents a huge opportunity to set people on a positive path towards living ...1 day ago
- Government continues work to reinstate livestock exports by sea
The Government is reinstating the trade of livestock exports by sea while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, says Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard.âThe Government will introduce legislation changes to reinstate the trade, enhance oversight, and strengthen requirements for exporters to identify risks and manage the welfare of ...2 days ago
- Speech to the National Quality Forum 2024
TÄnÄ koutou katoa â it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...2 days ago
- New Zealandâs COP29 National Statement
TÄnÄ koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...2 days ago
- Latest Quarterly Investment Report released
The Government has released its second Quarterly Investment Report (QIR) which shows substantial work still to be done by agencies to improve investment reporting and meet the Governmentâs expectations, Infrastructure and Acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. âNew Zealand has significant infrastructure and investment needs. The Government is determined to get ...2 days ago
- New Zealand supporting loss and damage fund
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced New Zealand will contribute NZ$10 million to the new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage while at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. âNew Zealand is joining the global effort to address the significant challenge of responding to ...2 days ago
- Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight
The free ride for gangs is over when the clock strikes midnight tonight, with tough new laws officially coming into effect, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say. âGang patches will no longer be able to be worn in public. To earn the right to wear a ...2 days ago
- LGFA increases borrowing capacity to support high growth councils
The Government is welcoming the decision by the Local Government Funding Agency to increase access to financing tools for fast growing councils to support greater investment in critical infrastructure, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says.âCommunities across the country are facing an infrastructure deficit and significant population growth is projected in ...2 days ago
- Temporary Traffic Management costs revealed
The Government has revealed that over the past three years, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has spent an eyewatering $786 million of taxpayersâ money on road cones and temporary traffic management (TTM), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.âWhen I became Minister, I was surprised to learn that that NZTA did ...2 days ago
- Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal to double
Legislation that will double the financial jurisdiction of the Disputes Tribunal from $30,000 to $60,000 has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. âWe need to improve court timeliness and access to justice so that Kiwis and get on with their lives. Court delays affect everyone, the ...3 days ago
- Protecting New Zealand from foreign interference
Legislation that will specifically criminalise foreign interference and strengthen espionage offences has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. âIt is normal and appropriate for states to interact and work to influence one another. This encourages cooperation and can have mutually beneficial outcomes. âHowever, the reality ...3 days ago
- Significant milestone for Canterbury Road of National Significance
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news that the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board has approved funding towards pre-implementation and early works on the State Highway 1 (SH1) Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass Road of National Significance (RoNS). âReaching this significant milestone is a reflection of our Governmentâs ...3 days ago
- Health survey results to help drive change
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says findings from the annual Health Survey highlight the need to continue driving better health outcomes for New Zealanders. The New Zealand Health Survey is an annual snapshot of key metrics measured from July 2023 â July 2024. Findings released this morning include: In 2023/24, ...3 days ago
- Final push needed to get to Smokefree 2025
A renewed effort to get people to quit smoking will build on what has worked to date and target the groups who most need support, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today. âThe latest New Zealand Health Survey results show the daily smoking rate at 6.9 per cent and we ...3 days ago
- New diplomatic appointments
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced four new diplomatic appointments. âOur diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealandâs interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,â Mr Peters says. âIt is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign ...3 days ago
- Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill
Regulation Minister David Seymour has today announced the next steps in the Governmentâs plan improve the quality of regulation by opening consultation on a proposed Regulatory Standards Bill. âNew Zealand's low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation,â says Mr Seymour. ...3 days ago
- Red Tape Tipline goes live
Minister for Regulation David Seymour has today announced that the Ministry for Regulationâs Red Tape Tipline is now live. âWe want to hear about your red tape horror stories. From today, New Zealanders will have a say on how they are regulated through an online portal,â says Mr Seymour. The ...3 days ago
- Youth Parliament 2025 announced
The Minister for Youth Matt Doocey has today announced the eleventh Youth Parliament will be taking place in 2025. âYouth Parliament offers a unique youth development opportunity to young people from across New Zealand to experience the political process and learn about how government works,â says Mr Doocey. âThe two-day ...4 days ago
- Police stats show promising change
After nearly a year in Government, Kiwis have seen significant change across law and order with promising early results shown across some Police statistics, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. âIn August 2023, I told New Zealanders that if they had not started to see a change in public safety within ...4 days ago
- Better coordination of anti-scam efforts
With the launch of Fraud Awareness Week, the Government is committing to new coordination efforts across industry and government to combat online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. âOnline financial scams are a growing problem for New Zealand. New data released today shows that Kiwis lost nearly ...4 days ago
- Minister to consider 7AA select committee report
Minister for Children Karen Chhour will consider the recommendations made by the Social Services and Community Committee in its report back to Parliament on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill. âI want to thank the people who made submissions and those who appeared before the committee in ...4 days ago
- Defence Minister to attend ASEAN meeting
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministersâ Meeting-Plus in Vientiane, Laos. âWe need to take every opportunity to engage with our international partners, given the increasingly unstable geo-political situation,â Ms Collins says. âNew Zealand has a long-standing commitment to this ...4 days ago
- Launching the White Ribbon Ride
The Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour, was on hand to wish riders well at the start of the North Island leg of the White Ribbon Ride in WhakatÄne this morning. The ride helps mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, ...5 days ago
- Construction to begin on next stage of Papakura to Drury
Construction on the next stage of the SH1 Papakura to Drury project will begin early next month, with the contract for works awarded to Fulton Hogan, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. "SH1 Papakura to Drury is a key project that will drive economic growth and productivity, reduce congestion, and enable people ...6 days ago
- NZ signs trade deal with Costa Rica, Iceland and Switzerland
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has signed a pioneering trade agreement that prioritises New Zealandâs sustainable exports at a ceremony during APEC in Peru today. âThe Agreement on Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS), between Costa Rica, Iceland, and Switzerland was concluded in July of this year and opens up significant ...6 days ago
- Government and iwi work together on aquaculture
Five new Aquaculture Settlement Areas will help ensure NgÄi Tahu shares in the opportunities aquaculture offers for Southlandâs economy, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. âThe Aquaculture Settlement Areas (ASAs) Iâm announcing today set aside space so the Crown and NgÄi Tahu can assess their potential for aquaculture development. ...7 days ago
- Justice Committee Makes Further Decisions About Submissions Process For The Principles Of The Treaty...
The committee plans to hold hearings in the week starting Monday, 27 January and the weeks starting 10, 17 and 24 February 2025. ...23 minutes ago - Watch live: Christopher Luxon faces questions during power station visit
It comes as Labour accuses National of not listening to evidence about boot camps. ...33 minutes ago - Survivors of abuse in care know how redress should work â will the government finally listen?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Winter, Associate Professor in Political Theory, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images When Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stood in Parliament last week to apologise to survivors of abuse in care, his words were among many fine speeches by ...47 minutes ago - Review: The Day of the Jackal is a riveting and ridiculous ride
Eddie Redmayneâs globe-trotting assassin thriller on TVNZ is worth putting your phone down for. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. This is a vulnerable thing to say as someone who often writes about television for a job, but boy am I really ...50 minutes ago - RNA editing is the next frontier in gene therapy â hereâs what you need to know
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Flora Hui, Research Fellow, Centre for Eye Research Australia and Honorary Fellow, Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), The University of Melbourne IoanaB/Shutterstock The United States Food and Drug Administration has just approved the first-ever clinical trial that uses CRISPR-Cas13 RNA editing. Its ...3 hours ago
- Yes, you still need to use sunscreen, despite what youâve heard on TikTok
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Lee, PhD Candidate, Dermatology Research Centre, The University of Queensland Karolina Grabowska/Pexels Summer is nearly here. But rather than getting out the sunscreen, some TikTokers are urging followers to chuck it out and go sunscreen-free. They claim itâs healthier ...3 hours ago
- Humans are killing off the old and wise animals that hold nature together. Hereâs what must change
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Keller Kopf, Senior Lecturer in Ecology, Charles Darwin University Laxmikant Ameenagad, Shutterstock In humans and other animals, ageing is generally associated with a decline in biological function. But scientists are now discovering older animals perform vital roles in populations and ecosystems. ...3 hours ago
- A man scouring Google Earth found a mysterious scar in the Australian outback â and now scientists...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matej Lipar, Adjunct Research Fellow, School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University Author provided/Google Earth Earlier this year, a caver was poring over satellite images of the Nullarbor Plain when he came across something unexpected: an enormous, mysterious scar etched ...3 hours ago
- Design as a movement: how First Nations people take ownership of their cultural stories through fash...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Treena Clark, Chancellorâs Indigenous Research Fellow, Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building, University of Technology Sydney Once located 250 metres to the east of the Art Gallery of South Australia, the grand beaux-arts style Jubilee Exhibition Building was constructed to house the ...3 hours ago
- ‘We need more doctors’ – Support for new Waikato medical school
The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists says a third medical school and more students in Auckland and Otago are both needed. ...3 hours ago
- Cricket balls can concuss and even kill batters â at all levels, helmet use must be taken seriousl...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Annette Greenhow, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, Bond University Linda George/Shutterstock The ten-year anniversary of the death of much-loved Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes falls on November 27. The 25-year-oldâs life was tragically cut short in 2014 when a bouncer ...3 hours ago
- Hold the roosters, no economic dawn yet
Treasury likely to downgrade economic forecast while Chris Bishop says the government wonât be âa slave to a surplusâ, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Recession will be deeper and last longer â Treasury At a recent Spinoff ...4 hours ago
- Knowing superstitions arenât real doesnât stop us behaving superstitiously â why?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephanie Gomes-Ng, Senior Lecturer of Psychology, Auckland University of Technology Getty Images Former New Zealand prime minister John Key has three white rabbits painted on his helicopter, a nod to his âmassively superstitiousâ habit of repeating âwhite rabbitsâ three times at ...5 hours ago
- Government slammed for pushing ahead with boot camps while trial still under way
The coalition has "absolutely no intention of listening to the evidence that comes out of their experiment", Labour MP says. ...6 hours ago
- Smoke and mirrors in tobacco debate
Labour claims Government is âcherry-pickingâ smoking trends data to hide decade-first increase in daily smokers The post Smoke and mirrors in tobacco debate appeared first on Newsroom. ...6 hours ago - Smoke and mirrors in heated tobacco debate
Labour claims Government is âcherry-pickingâ smoking trends data to hide decade-first increase in daily smokers The post Smoke and mirrors in heated tobacco debate appeared first on Newsroom. ...6 hours ago
- Treasury bangs the drum on âunsustainableâ superannuation
The Government’s economic adviser is sending a message it doesn’t want to hear – superannuation is increasingly unaffordable The post Treasury bangs the drum on ‘unsustainable’ superannuation appeared first on Newsroom. ...6 hours ago
- Victims of sex offending welcome shift on name suppression laws
A man abused by a former political figure is "immensely relieved" at a government proposal to end secrecy around sex offenders' identities. ...6 hours ago
- This week three parties stood together â can they withstand the storm to come?
There is plenty yet to play out, but the next election is at this rate shaping up as trio versus trio, writes Toby Manhire. A subplot of this weekâs historic hÄ«koi mĆ te Tiriti has been the sight of the three opposition parties presenting a unified front. Te PÄti MÄori ...6 hours ago
- All 33 malls in Auckland ranked from worst to best
From the low lows of abandon empires to the high highs of a mall done just right. This is the second in the Malls of New Zealand series, where we rank the malls in major centres. Next week: Wellington. A note from the editor: This is the hardest ranking weâve ...6 hours ago
- The cost of being: A clothes-mad 20-something who walks everywhere
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a 27-year-old apartment-dwelling marketing exec explains her approach to spending and saving. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here. Gender: Female. Age: 27. Ethnicity: PÄkehÄ. Role: Marketing exec at ...6 hours ago
- Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 22 November
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Friday 22 November appeared first on Newsroom. ...6 hours ago
- Daily crossword, Friday 22 November
The post Daily crossword, Friday 22 November appeared first on Newsroom. ...6 hours ago
- China likely to strengthen regional relationships in response to another Trump term
Opinion: Recent discussions in Shanghai provide some insight into whatâs likely to be on the table The post China likely to strengthen regional relationships in response to another Trump term appeared first on Newsroom. ...6 hours ago
- Nuclear winters know no borders
Opinion: The immediate horror of nuclear weapon explosions â the blinding flash, crushing blast wave, and radioactive inferno â is well documented.But what nuclear-armed nations either don’t grasp or won’t admit, is far more chilling: how their weapons could devastate even countries thousands of kilometres from any mushroom clouds.The collapse ...6 hours ago
- This weekâs bestselling books â November 22
FICTION1 KÄwai: Tree of Nourishment by Monty Soutar (David Bateman, $39.99)Sample dialogue, all from one chapter:“That can’t be,” replied Taona doubtfully.“You were right. The pÄ is unnervingly quiet,” Taona murmured.“The HÄkuwai,” Motukia breathed. “Our grandfathers told us they rarely saw the HÄkuwai in daylight,” Motukia muttered.“Their fight would have been futile ...6 hours ago
- Burma the flying elephant
After about two and a half years of planning and waiting, New Zealand’s last elephant has moved to her new home at Monarto Safari Park in South Australia.Burma and her “human herd”, that is, her keepers, arrived last week, and she’s settling in well, according to Auckland Zoo’s Andrew Coers.“Something ...6 hours ago
- NZâs membership of Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance in jeopardy
Senior ministers in the coalition suggested NZ’s membership will be re-evaluated if it restarts offshore oil and gas drilling The post NZ’s membership of Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance in jeopardy appeared first on Newsroom. ...6 hours ago
- Raw Politics: Six months in a leaky Bill
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon did not meet the Treaty Principles Bill hikoi crowd, sees “nothing” of merit in the Act-proposed law but the Parliament his Government dominates will spend six months debating a “divisive” measure.That’s because he has accepted there needs to be “aeration” of people’s views on the Treaty, ...6 hours ago
- Taken to the brink, Govt is now close to selling big Whakapapa ski field
Bidder Whakapapa Holdings walked away from the sales process last year, but says it’s now ‘95% there’ on a purchase agreement â so who blinked first? The post Taken to the brink, Govt is now close to selling big Whakapapa ski field appeared first on Newsroom. ...6 hours ago
- Watts nears a landmark deal on global carbon trading
A framework for global carbon trading under the Paris Agreement is finally nearing completion at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan after years of halting talks.Climate Change Minister Simon Watts is one of two ministers tasked by the COP29 hosts with landing a long-sought deal on Article 6 of the climate accord, ...7 hours ago
- Grattan on Friday: Marles plays a defensive bat on nuclear as the government rushes to get though la...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Richard Marles is an ambitious man who hasnât given up the dream of one day reaching the top job. But, despite being deputy prime minister, his profile is much lower than that of Treasurer Jim ...12 hours ago
- Fears MÄori will pay heaviest price if police carry guns
"Overwhelmingly, those people who die will be young MÄori men," the spokesperson for People Against Prisons Aotearoa says. ...13 hours ago
- NEW POLL: Kiwis Overwhelmingly Support MPs’ Expenses Transparency Law Change
62% of respondents support the extension of the OIA to cover MPsâ spending, compared to just 13% opposed and 24% were unsure. ...14 hours ago
- The House: Meanwhile, a week of passing law
The political week has been packed with worthy distractions, but all week Parliament has focused on passing new laws. Here are the highlights. ...14 hours ago
- The biggest difference between HÄ«koi mĆ te Tiriti and past hÄ«koi: More support from non-MÄori
Analysis - The diversity of voices during the hÄ«koi was noticeable - from tangata moana to young immigrants to elderly PÄkehÄ from the South Island. ...15 hours ago
- The House: Samoan citizenship restoration – ‘It means we belong to this land’
When the bill to restore NZ citizenship to some Samoans passed this week, Parliament's galleries were full to the brim with members of the community. ...16 hours ago
- More Delays In Action On Use Of Puberty Blockers With Children
Womenâs Rights Party Co-leader Jill Ovens says the Ministry has put New Zealand children at risk by continuing to allow âoff-labelâ prescribing of puberty blockers at far higher rates than other similar countries. ...16 hours ago
- Police Minister adamant he wasn’t aware of gang members training at gun clubs
That is despite two papers from police that raised the matter with him. ...17 hours ago
- Shorten declares himself âa proud moderateâ, saying Australians âin the middleâ shouldnât ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Bill Shorten has declared himself âa proud moderateâ in a valedictory speech declaring parliament has the responsibility to ensure the extremes of left and right do not set the terms of political debate. Shorten, ...17 hours ago
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The site will be off line for some hours.
By tomorrow morning Judith will rise with the sun and confess her sins to her Maker, put on her cloak of righteousness,
and regally rise to greatness by inviting the Prime Minister to form common united media briefings with all the Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet arrayed across Parliament's steps,
and then Judith's wings rise as she forms a successful unitary Cabinet with Labour, just like the two front singers Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lingstad,
and after a week of this glory radiating out of our television screens, where people get to dream about the unity that the two sides presented during World War 2, the Greens and Act will see this wisdom and together they are invited by the Governor General, in place of the impossible election to join this magnificence,
singing with perfect harmony, just as Bjorn and Benny did in that magnificent quartet:
Did You Hear The Drums Fernando? Sing along my people, sing along:
Haha!
I believe that JC is non-religious and self-made in her own image. I thought the Swedish Beatles were from before your time, Ad.
Her Maker is the National Party.
Not the easiest of deities, sure, but All Shall Love Her, And Despair
If you're not familiar with them, start with this timeless classic.
https://rateyourmusic.com/release/comp/abba/the-best-of-abba-14/
There was bugger all unity in NZ during WW2. Some Nats like Adam Hamilton and especially Gordon Coates played a decent role, putting their country first, but National's leader Sid Holland attacked the Labour government on everything.
Remember when, just 2 days ago, Judith Collins vowed National will do ‘whatever we have to’ to get power back?
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/08/nz-election-2020-judith-collins-vows-national-will-do-whatever-we-have-to-to-get-power-back-thinks-nz-first-greens-won-t-get-into-parliament.html
In the accompanying photo, I see cats, replete with cream. (I know, cats can't smirk or gloat, so my analogy falls a little short)
What’s with the asterisk in the title of the Post?
To show that the comment continued in the description.
Ah, that only shows up in the excerpt; it makes no sense when opening/reading the actual main text. I should not worry so much about trivial little detail đ
OK, let's politicise it some more.
If dissolution is delayed, and the election is (e.g.) November, then Bennett and Kaye and Adams and Walker and all the other leavers … are back sitting in Parliament. They would have a job to do.
They want a delay? Cool. Enjoy your caucus meetings, guys.
A wise lefty on this site once told me, “ everything is political “ I guess he may have forget the part “only when it suits me”
Putting the safety of Kiwis at risk for petty point scoring. #NationalNotFitToGovern
https://twitter.com/edmuzik/status/1293332344758181888?s=21
They will attack of course, never having mastered the elements of strategy.
Avoiding Brownlee is axiomatic. Play away from thickness .
Defeated warriors go to war first, and then seek to win – Sun Tzu
"OPINION: The worst has finally happened. As we were all warned, and as has been painfully obvious from looking at the pandemic overseas, it was inevitable. Despite a whole nation’s best efforts Covid-19 was always going to pop back up in the community somewhere."
(My bold)
Luke Malpass
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/122417199/election-2020-in-this-new-lockdown-labour-competence-will-be-key
not sure who he is, but yeah, a lot of people were saying that. And anyone not thinking it was somewhere in dream land happily drifting on some lovely clouds.
This country is as safe as is the rest of the world, namely one infection away from a major disaster. And considering that we are allowing citizens back in, and upon arrival have them in contact with workers at the airport, hotels etc the chances that one gets infected on the job and takes it home were good enough to wager on it.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/114251734/stuff-appoints-new-political-editor-to-lead-parliamentary-team
A rising star in foreign affairs and political reporting at the prestigious Australian Financial Review is set to lead Stuff's award-winning political team.
Luke Malpass has been appointed Political Editor following an extensive recruitment process, Stuff editorial director Mark Stevens has announced.
This from above stuff link. Luke Malpass, like a name from a political thriller. I've read his thoughts, sound whiny and anti-left and inclined to be malicious. Maybe it was his off day. Hope I am right or we are in for more of the yellow press warlock's coven, witches welcomed.
I agree. It was so bizarre to hear Collins and Brownlee complaining about mixed messages last week, saying we can't be both apparently 'safe' (Cook Islands here we come) and 'at risk' (get some masks) at the same time – yes we can! The whole world is somewhere on that spectrum, we were just right on the edge between safety and danger. And still today are in a much better place than most.
Collins and Brownlee are the scum twins. If they thought spreading covid-19 through rest homes would help their chances they would deliver vials of the stuff there and make sure it was spread most efficaciously.
Someone said… "On the positive side, 120+ days with no community transmission in the South Island."
Judith Collins = Nastiness.
Radio NZ are saying Collins and Reti have a presser scheduled for 3pm.
Will she come across as a PM-in-waiting? Watch the eyebrows.
Okey so Crusher has her bulldog on hand for it. We know what they'll do let's see how our msm deal with the fear mongering.
They could challenge their BS but it’ll be a spray and walk away again probably.
This is why Collins is desperate to politicise it.
Latest UMR poll: Labour 52%, National 28%, Act 5.9%, Greens 5.4%, NZ First 5.1%.
(not public poll but already widely reported in media).
Winnie’s back! Just.
Collins speaking now – will try to de-legitimise the election and call for its postponement.
as expected
She spoke for just 5-6 minutes before taking questions. Just an opportunity to get in front of the cameras really.
In that 5-6 minutes she complained people don't have certainty about the election. We do have certainty, it's on Sept 19. The only person promoting uncertainty is Collins herself.
Does that mean sheâs sending a secret signal to National voters not to vote this time?
yes. nat fans should boycot the election. that will teach the rest of us a lesson!!
The same crowd who wanted the borders opened up to students and rich yanks now complain covid is back. And Collins criticises the management of the borders when she can't manage her own damned caucus.
Mickey
It's like saying that sport and politics don’t mix. That was the fallacious argument of those supporting the 1981 Springbok tour. Governments need to be held to account.
Sounds like the Nats are trying for Coup de gras. Funny to watch the Collins live moan with Brownlie. Oh dear Labour is not asking them for advice.
Coup de grace, old chap.
Mind you, in French 'gras' means fat, so maybe you were making a clever allusion to a certain Nat…
This Collins/Brownlee press conference is insane.
She wants the election put off until NEXT year. Wow.
De-legitimise an election Labour, with its partners, did win (2017), de-legitimise an election Labour might win (2020). These f*ckers are dangerous.
Lab should call her and put the election off til sept 2022
Dates for a different election date after early December (the absolute max assuming you used all available authority without legislation) would take a act of parliament.
If you're going to do legislation for a few months until 2021, then you may as well do a few years until we are absolutely sure that we are clear of infection.
September 2023 anyone? It makes as more sense as 2021. There is a pretty good bet that there will be a diminished chance of covid-19 outbreaks then.
Until then, September 19th 2020 looks as good as anything else. NZ isn’t a failed state – we already do 1.24 million advance votes in the weeks leading up to the 2017 election in NZ. another few million shouldn’t be a problem.
FFS: are the current National MPs all mindless idiots?
Listening to Collins, I was reminded of a sulky young teenager that doesn't want to sit at the kids table at a family Christmas lunch. Despite having spent the morning, telling people what was in their presents before they were opened and relentlessly tormenting their younger sibling.
I was hoping one of the journos would hand her a straw that she was so desperately grasping for.
Brownlie today continuing his conspiracy theory hints
He wouldn't go into more detail about what he meant by those comments.
17 minutes ago
"I'm just outlining facts," Brownlee said.
17 minutes ago
He said the messaging around further outbreaks about 10 days ago, the advice to wear masks and have them available, and the PM's visit to a mask manufacturer are all "very interesting things to happen".
Hipkins owns him with the line that Gez should swap a tinfoil hat for a mask the other week. A zinger that nails them.
Jude's probably hoping he keeps the 'china virus' meme to himself, that would be uncomfortable for the former Oravida minister.
I must say that Collins didn't look like she believed what she was saying. She looked like she didn't want to be there.
She wants to be on
Cloud 9the 9th floor.Collins complains that gov't has not held a briefing with National's health spokesman.
Perhaps that's because National's previous health spokesman made things up. If you want trust, don't destroy it.
Probably can't keep up with who it is this week.
Do they know who the health spokesperson is for the NATS?
Hmmm, Collins was briefed yesterday and immediately leaked the info. She and her Party have a serious incontinence problem but without the embarrassment that usually comes with it.
I for one hope National don't even know who this family in South AK is, otherwise they will probably leak it.
Yet Jacinda talked directly with Judarth an hr before media conference.
A nasty, spiteful, mean woman, trying desperately to make herself and her cabal relevant. The behaviour is appalling and has a real Trumpish ring about it, making a public health emergency a political game.
That " appalling fear raising" out there she says; then her real fear hits the airwaves.
No to postal voting Trumpism fear because we have two referendums that postal voting would not be fair to do by mail.
Didn't we vote by mail before, for a flag, Judith?
" I think mail-in voting is horrible,” Trump said in Tuesday’s coronavirus press conference.
“You voted by mail in Florida’s election last month, didn’t you?” the reporter asked.
“Sure,” the president replied. “I can vote by mail.”
“How do you reconcile with that?”
“Because I’m allowed to,” Trump said."
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/04/trump-mail-in-voting-is-horrible-except-when-i-do-it
keep the election as per scheduled, move date back if we cannot quickly get on top of the covid outbreak. And come election day lets all cross our fingers for an election result that decimates the National vote and marks Collins as dead woman walking in terms of leadership. After the election the fragments of National can drop Collins and Brownlee at the curb for the rubbish truck to pick up.
We all know National is desperate, but stooping to the levels of implying a conspiracy about release of covid data, holy shit. Either a spiteful little childish tantrum, or tinfoil hat stuff. Either way, by going there, Collins and Brownlee have shown they need to be decimated in the election. Not fit to govern.
While I completely disagree with the conspiracy theories Brownlie was throwing down I do think they have a point in being unable to campaign while the government sucks up all the oxygen.
Labour can't campaign either. Nor the Greens.
That is true but Labour and Ardern will suck up all the media oxygen so it isn't fair on the greens either.
No other party can even do a proper campaign launch
National only have themselves to blame for not launching earlier.
Life's not fair, poor life choices, etc. Mike Hosking will tell you all about that.
bollocks johnselway. nats have plenty of dosh, a proper campaign launch for them would be champagne on a launch, at the dock, with planking and other assorted nat party games..film at eleven…yuk…lifes not fair johnnyboy.
John reckons we should all wait until the Nats are ready. Maybe loan them a coupe of players to make it fair?
Guess what, it's not little Johnny's U8 football tournament…
#snoozelose
Yes – that's exactly what I said. Fucking nitwit.
You said it's not fair. It's fair. Fucking nitwit.
Oh I don’t think it’s particularly fair no. I don’t know what to do about it – but for all parties that have yet to have a campaign launch it’s pretty unfair on them. It’s not labour’s fault nor is it because I support national. I know if I were the leader of a party and suddenly my campaigning got thrown into disarray I would feel pretty jilted by it.
but I never said we should wait until the Nats were ready. Perhaps reading isn’t your strong suit.
How many votes is a 'campaign launch' worth these days? As many as a glossy manifesto, a street corner meeting, or a hand-cranked gazette at the fete?
It would help them if they used their press conferences and time when they do have attention, to do something other than whinge and make stuff up.
Yet Paula Bennett is on air campaigning … oh? That's different? Somehow????
Collins reckons she's going to need 12 months to get the National Party back on track, headline:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/423358/collins-calls-for-election-to-be-pushed-back-to-late-november-or-2021
from Fear Facts Exposed FB group–well said and best explanation of Nationals ruse đ
What Judith said…
Judith said she is disappointed about this particular Covid outbreak – again.
Then things got very self centred and petty.
Judith was upset that Shane Reti has been trying to tie up Chris Hipkins in meetings since 12 noon but there has been no meeting yet?
National have pestered Chris Hipkins every half hour about this dire matter of doing what National demand – but now it is past 3PM and Hipkins is still focussing on the pandemic rather than National.
Yes – mind boggling isn't it.
Judith is so upset about the lack of respect for pre-election conventions she needed a press conference about it.
She says this Government must not make major decisions in a pandemic in an agile fast way – without first spending hours having endless consultations with her.
A quick phone call from Jacinda is not good enough at all – says Judith.
The whole thing is about Judith and her election chances.
Judith told us she needs to know immediately – right now – today about the election date – NOT tomorrow, NOT on Monday – nor anything silly like that.
Stamp feet. Huff and puff.
Judith says it is unsustainable to expect a fair election when she is not free to campaign.
A rattle has been spat onto the floor.
New Zealand deserves better – says Judith.
New Zealand is dealing with a Covid lockdown – and there is Judith in all her malignant glory – being a selfish loser.
Judith called upon the PM to shift out the election to where National would benefit most.
Apparently next year suits National best according to Judith.
Judith was self centred, power crazy and she had nothing to say about the people and their jobs or health or anxiety.
Is anyone surprised?
And 20% prefer her as leader.
What Judith said…
You missed out the endless sound loop, ' I want transperency, we've been waiting all day, transperency , we've been waiting all day'.
Seems like she's remembered what NZers were asking for during Natz last term.
"however" Judith Collin added, "we only have ourselves to blame. If we had got our shirt together earlier, rather than playing silly buggers and turning our political party into a complete shambles, we would have been ready to start our campaign several weeks ago, rather than scramble to pull something together at the last minute which some covid cases has interrupted. So yes, I am having a tantrum but really the fault lies entirely with me and my party. I can understand if Kiwis wouldn't trust us to run the country, heck, they probably wouldn't trust us to be able to buy a round at the pub".
Judith's name should be changed from crusher to shocker.
In their position I couldn’t resist to state the fact that with the way the localised Auckland shutdown was executed a key mistake was made.
I know that hindsight is a beautiful thing but in this case we had many examples of failed localised shutdowns: Wuhan, Milan and New York are just three examples.
In Aucklands case it took 15 hours till we closed the roads.
I fear the consequences of this will be a north island or worse nation wide lockdown.
Lets not let the Toryists win.
I see some expat yob is saying what we are doing does not work and the 4 new cases proves it. No the number of deaths here prove what we are doing does work. The Toryiosts don't care if a few people die as long as they can make a profits. They want us to put money ahead of human lives and hope that heard immunity will win the day. Well the US is reaping those rewards in the numbers of infected and dead. No thank you Toryists, I would prefer the on and off again lock-downs.
https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/the-remarkable-run-is-over-world-reacts-with-scorn-sympathy-to-nz-outbreak/ar-BB17QxL2?li=BBqdg4K
Memory problems "I don't think I swore," she told the news outlet. "I don't think I said it."
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/121780498/mp-judith-collins-muttered-swear-during-select-committee-zoom-call
And paranoia "worried about the lack of transparency"
https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/politics/judith-collins-expected-to-formally-call-for-the-election-to-be-delayed/
Are worrisome signs in a potential prime minister.
Muttonbird:Remember when, just 2 days ago, Judith Collins vowed National will do ‘whatever we have to’ to get power back?
DO NOT let National anywhere near top level discussion and decision making. Judith has shown she cannot and will not play nice, and they just can't be trusted.
DO NOT postpone the Election date –have it on Sept 19 or over a few days – every day of delay is a risk that an unknown will present itself .
DO NOT be a sap and play into Nationals hands or MSMs hands!
Sorry Duncan and Tova you are not calling the shots here.Our PM is too smart to fall for any ruse
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/aug/12/plain-politics-not-safety-fears-are-root-of-opposition-calls-delay-to-new-zealand-election
Plain politics, not safety fears, are root of opposition calls to delay New Zealand election
Claire Robinson
With access to information and the voting process remaining open, there is no reason to postpone the September poll because of Covid-19 outbreak
[Deleted]
Claire Robinson is professor of communication design and pro vice-chancellor at Massey University college of creative arts.
[You copied & pasted the whole article from the Guardian, which Iâve now deleted for the most part. Besides possible copyright infringement, it is poor behaviour to just dump a whole lot of text here without adding your opinion as to why anybody should read it. In addition, you should add a conversation starter, e.g. why you agree/disagree with it, thanks â Incognito]
See my Moderation note @ 9:47 PM.
I’ve never been a fan of Claire Robinson’s writing (I don’t watch much free to air TV these days so I can’t comment on her talking head appearances). She has tended to brush very lightly over political topics.
But this article is a sound summation of the issues around shifting election date. Essentially it comes down to what is the case for doing it? If you can’t guarantee that same issue won’t arise in the new target date, then there is no real point in shifting dates apart from straight medical issues.
That can be handled with the week by week procedure by the electoral commission and the director of health.
The reason to defer writ day at present is a good one. Mostly to consider if legislation needs to be considered for introduction about election changes to cope with a level 3 or 4 lock-down. Longer periods of advance voting perhaps? In a level 3 or 4 the essential issue medically is that you don’t want voters to crowd together in lines in polling booths on the same day. Spreading that day over a week or more would probably be preferable. That would carry about as much risk as queuing at the supermarket did in level 4.
In the last election there were 2,591,896 valid party votes cast. 1,023,059 were valid advance votes. This isn’t exactly a major ramp up.
Elections aren’t held for or at the convenience of political parties and politicians. They are held for the voters to cast a vote on their political representatives. Self-involved fools of politicians should remember that.
As far as I am concerned Nats and Covid are already politicised. Every time someone breaks quarantine or does some thing stupid to expose us all to covid ( apart from the few who obviously have other deeper issues) I immediately think " I bet they for vote National or maybe Act".
Suspect I'm not the only one thinking like that – with the constant demands to open borders etc- and that sort of linkage is probably fairly hard to shift.
Stunning News
On the Radio this morning I heard Judith Collins tellingly inform Distinguished Kim Hill, that she is a Lawyer.
Wow !
Judith maybe under some stress, but she in no way had anything like the clarity of Kim Hill.
Most Lawyers have excellent clarity and avoid running all around and round a toddler's paddock. Judith Collins did however give out masterpieces of nonsense – including full on mountains of nonsequiturs.
I hope National can do a bit better. But it looks unlikely.
Most people in NZ are discusted by Collins Brownlee Trumpish behaviour.
They haven't learned why they are polling at 28% on average polling.
Collins own words when in a hole why would you keep digging.
On a Serious Note
Vaccine
There is obviously tremendous interest in Covid-19 Virus. We are fortunate to be on the expert side of New Zealand's approach to managing the nasty Virus.
Above all, Sensible Kiwis have assisted each other to follow the instructions of our Prime Minister Ardern, Health Minister Bloomfield, Fiscal Grant Robertson, and Exceptional Chris Hipkins.
These few Leaders have given us the best run of the whole viral World.
Unfortunately, the National party have not contributed anything towards the well being of New Zealanders. If anything, they have nothing but Dollars on their minds. They are always at it.
However, the vital thing we need will be Vaccine. We will be unable to work along side National on that. because their minds are occupied on their mean little Pockets and their big houses.
Vaccine discovery is the most necessary item we will need in the near future.
I feel we should set up a Kiwi Foundation of Vaccines. So that we are ready for the much wanted Break Through.
You could argue Ardern has been politicising it from the first out break with her daily 1pm health speeches the other bloke could do.
You could, but you'd be a dawk if you thought that the best interest of New Zealanders was not her only motivation.
You could but youâd have to argue why the person in charge does not front the media and the NZ public and tries to avoid accountability, responsibility, openness, and transparency.
Give it your best shot!
The PM has no reason to front these daily sessions other to maximise political effect. An occassional appearance would be more than sufficient. Labour have leveraged this crisis beautifully for political gain. All power to them, but denying it is just naieve. Or ignorant.
All those overseas articles observing the power of a visible national leader communicating well must just be bunkum I suppose?
There is a big difference between being visible and exploiting a crisis. But she's a politician, and that's what they do.
What would 'not exploiting' look like?
It's funny how "exploiting" is perceived, isn't it?
The Prime Minister has ultimate responsibility for the country's response to a virus. The Prime Minister has no responsibility whatsoever for the results of the All Blacks.
Only one of those is "exploiting".
The PM has ultimate responsibility. Doesn't mean she has to pretend to be a micro-biologist.
Give an example of her pretending that.
You're really big on the sweeping statement, but when asked for evidence, you have nothing. Why do you keep dong this?
Watch tonights ppb again. You'll see the evidence.
The PM bases her decisions on evidence and is guided by (the) science. Her job is to relay some of the decision-making process back to the people who are mostly lay-people. In other word, the PM is sharing her information and (basic) knowledge with the general public. Only a fool would see fault in that.
Did she dye her hair pink/purple? Did she fake her PhD degree? Are you wearing a tinfoil nightcap at night?
" In other word, the PM is sharing her information and (basic) knowledge with the general public. "
No, her job is to win re-election. She doesn't have information that a half decent health minister couldn't share.
Nope, her job is to lead the Government in an unprecedented time of crisis. Funny that some have accused her of not being interested in the Election and downplaying it. How naive!
Not turning the daily briefings into a party political broadcast.
So if we check recordings, the word "Labour" will appear?
The PM is the leader of a governing political party in an election year. Anyone who doesn't know which party she leads must be asleep.
That’s a “No” then. Quite a relief to see that you didn’t resort to making outright lies, just insinuations.
The buck stops with the PM, as the saying goes. She has the ability to clarify and justify decisions, as they are made by Cabinet, not by Uncle Ashley. She also has the trust of the NZ people, as polls have shown. Despite the howls of protest and wacky conspiracy theories from the usual suspects, the PM nor the Government that she leads have deliberately orchestrated this outbreak. However, she might want to distance herself from the daily pressers ASAP to avoid further insinuations and accusations by dim-witted RWNJs â Iâd nominate the Deputy Prime Minister or the Minister of Health. To argue differently is deliberately misleading but quite understandable coming from RWNJs.
I tend not to judge the quality of what a politician does as a popularity contest. The PM has played this crisis with absolute finessse. It's really quite a show.
Isn’t it great when Kiwis show interest in politics and pay attention to the actions of their dutifully elected Government in a global health crisis AKA pandemic?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/122432961/imdb-users-review-new-zealands-coronavirus-daily-briefing-favourite-show-of-2020
She had damn well better not step aside, lest it encourage more tinfoil merchants and chancers.
The "daily sessions" with the PM ended months ago.
They returned on Tuesday.
I know that doesn't fit the fantasy narrative, but it is a simple, verifiable fact.
Who cares when it ended? I'm expressing my considerable admiration for how well the PM has exploited this. Previous PM's have been no different.
I care, because truth matters.
It's an attack line constantly repeated, and it's false.
The 'truth' is the PM fronts these daily sessions. She doesn't need to. It's politicking, pure and simple. And it's not an attack line. The PM is a politician in an election year. Any politician would do exactly the same. But for goodness sake don't try to make this out as anything other than bald opportunism.
They. Are. Not. Daily. You are repeating the lie.
So, details please …
Should she not have made the announcement on Tuesday? Yes or no?
Parliament is not sitting any more, so should she have fronted to media yesterday? Yes or no?
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/03/livestream-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-s-daily-covid-19-press-conference.html
Stop being so silly.
Can you read dates?
Probably not.
She isn't the director general of health or health minister.
To pretend it isn’t politicking is a bit of a joke really
The previous health minister always attended the daily briefings….oh wait…
She is doing her job and sheâs doing it very well, by all accounts. I didnât hear you complain about âpolitickingâ during L4 lock-down.
Can you read headlines?
OK, so we've established that the press conferences have not been daily for months, and you've conceded that. Progress.
Now please address the second part – should the PM have refused to front to media on Tuesday night? And subsequently?
What we've established is that the media have used the expression 'daily' with refernce to the ppb's. Get over yourself.
" should the PM have refused to front to media on Tuesday night? And subsequently? "
Meh, it's a health issue. Stick the MoH up there (at least this one's not AWOL). Or have the PM introduce the briefing and then step back. That way it would look much less like a party political broadcast.
Ardern doing her job, & doing it well. Collins’ eyebrow similarly hardworking.
Check out the Paddington Brow Bar – just joking
https://browbar.com/store/paddington/
This attitude pretty much says it all.
Do you actually not want a fair election?
[I canât be bothered with your insipid trolling any longer. The incumbent leader/party generally has an advantage over the challenger(s). The fact that this Coalition Government grapples with a huge crisis should offset their âhome advantageâ to some degree, as the Opposition carries zero responsibility. To even think that the latest turn of events is being cynically manipulated to tilt the election in favour of the incumbents is ludicrous. The National Party has made its bed and has to lie in it so please spare me your crocodile tears about a âfair electionâ. Banned till Monday week, which is Super Troll Day â Incognito]
No-one is forcing you to vote Labour.
That will be one yes.
Though you haven't made up your mind yet đ
When did you stop beating your wife?
See my Moderation note @ 6:24 PM.
" To even think that the latest turn of events is being cynically manipulated to tilt the election in favour of the incumbents is ludicrous. "
My goodness, another one. Gullible as.
By Golly, another one. Paranoid and misguided as.
Governments cynically manipulate elections, from Muldoon's dancing Cossacks to Clarks cynical election bribe of the student free loans. I don't trust any of them.
Binary thinking leads to false equivalences.
" Binary thinking leads to false equivalences. "
Gullibility leads to an inability to recognise reality.
Paranoia disturbs both reality and imagination.
Just as well I don't have that problem.
Paddington is exploiting this situation and this blog to sound wise with a world-weary air. He's devious and projecting this onto our PM. See projection referred to today in one of the posts.
Actually I greatly admire the PM, so you've got that entirely wrong. But she lies, and exploits and makes mistakes just like any other politician. The popular ones (eg the last PM to be as popular) just do it better or cover it up better than the others.
Paddington, by your own admission you "greatly admire" a political leader who you believe "lies, and exploits and makes mistakes".
Personally I couldn't admire anyone with that combination of flaws, but if that's what appeals to National party supporters then the behaviour of Key, Barclay, English, Joyce, Ross, Bridges, Collins, Brownlee, Walker, Falloon, Woodhouse, Bennett, Boag et al. starts to make sense.
“Strong Team”
It really is politics through the eyes of a moral vacuum: duplicitous PM is turning briefings into party political broadcasts and faking empathy better than the nats ever could because her job is to win the election, and while the commenter is annoyed that she's on the other team her skill at deceit is worthy of admiration.
Because they can't comprehend having a PM who genuinely empathises with the people she is supposed to lead, nor can they comprehend the concept that a politician might view themselves as having any obligation other than furthering their career.
The worldview of the practitioners of Dirty Politics.
Strong smell.
Yup, demeaning comments about the PM to undermine her authority and to further erode public trust in politicians and the political process. It canât be irony that you state that you âgreatly admire the PMâ and it must be sarcasm.
That would be a first.
There is zero reason that Bloomfield just can't front it.
Especially given the new lock down, the government shutdown and the election coming up.
Bloomfield is not elected. The elected government is ultimately responsible.
We went through all this before ("why is she hiding, why won't she front?"). She is there, she is not there, just toss a coin and attack either way it lands.
No. He is the expert I want to hear from. The facts. That's it.
Parliament has shutdown till the election.
What is the point of Ardern doing her pep talks apart from politicising leading up to it and getting all the media oxygen?
So when there is a major issue, of huge concern to the public, you want the PM to refuse to face the media? You want the media to say "We wanted to put these questions to the PM, but her office said she was unavailable."
Again, you have to make a choice. She fronts, or she does not front.
Tell us what the PM should do and why.
Sorry.
I don't get your point.
I don't care if she isn't there.
Who said I wanted information from the deputy PM?
Nobody said that. Are you as paranoid as Gerry?
Your comment was a reply to observer @ 36.2.2.1.1.1, 13 August 2020 at 5:04 pm.
Who said " So you do want information from the deputy PM answering ". So you were wrong again, weren’t you?
It was a comment from observer @ 13 August 2020 at 7:17 pm. So, you replied to the wrong comment and didnât answer, but just negated, which is so typical of you here.
"She is getting an Emmy for her performance."
Well she deserves.
Do send in your nomination and do vote for her.
You knew the comment was to observer, yet you still got it wrong.
You replied to the wrong comment. Do you need special assistance?
You knew the comment I replied to, and still got it wrong.
At the time I did not know that because in the back-end I looked at which comment you replied to and that did not say what you stated it said. You still havenât addressed that comment properly and youâre just bleating on about me being wrong. Why donât you address the questions that other commenters have put to you instead of evading genuine engagement? Iâve not banned you to give you exactly this opportunity but youâre squandering it, as usual. Do you have any interest in engaging here because that is not obvious at all. Just asking because you have presented an âinteresting line of factsâ, so far. I’m growing tired of your comments so why donât we draw a line under this disappointing exchange and you start engaging with other commenters in a genuine way?
" Do send in your nomination and do vote for her. "
The funny thing in all this is that I may still be voting for her. It is becoming increasingly apparent the border control process has been absolutely botched (https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/08/nearly-two-thirds-of-nz-s-covid-19-border-isolation-staff-had-never-been-tested-a-week-ago.html). My dilemna is I have absolutely no confidence the nats could do any better. Sigh.
Luckily, I donât have your dilemma đ
" Why don’t you address the questions that other commenters have put to you… "
I have.
Nope
Then you'll be able to provide an example.
You seem to be confusing 'speaking while PM' with 'politicising'. I hope you get some help with that but you have done more than enough diverting here for one day. On your bike.
This is an election year. In fact we are just weeks out from an election. We have a second wave of a global pandemic, possibly the result of mistakes at our border. The PM is speaking at length in daily briefings, and is enjoying huge political gain as a result. If you think that is not planned, you are seriously naieve.
'Planned'? The PM somehow made a Covid resurgence happen on cue? How daft do you think the rest of us are?
You're being obtuse. The planning is around exploiting the political advantage. The Pm could take her own advice https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/08/coronavirus-jacinda-ardern-s-message-to-covid-19-conspiracy-theorists.html. But then why should she? She's doing what politicians do. Never let a good crisis go to waste.
Never let a good crisis go to waste.
It's because she doesn't try to squeeze every drop out of them that her handling of them wins her such approval. Maybe she's read her Taleb – there's never a shortage of crisies.
The PM’s advice was for paranoid fear mongers such as you. There’s no “exploiting” or “planning” other than dealing with the current crisis. Meanwhile the National Party is self-destructing in a mushroom cloud of highly dangerous paranoia. Maybe you should offer your ‘invaluable insights’ to them.
"It's because she doesn't try to squeeze every drop out of them that her handling of them wins her such approval. "
Are you serious? The pained expression. The serious furrowing of the brow. This PM is a master. That's why she has the approval, not becasue she is in any way sincere.
Are you serious? A person showing real emotion and empathy must be faking it. She is getting an Emmy for her performance. All polls and approval ratings are based on her acting skills. Yeah, right!
" The PM’s advice was for paranoid fear mongers such as you. "
Paranoid? Fear mongerer? Good grief you are as sensitive as ever.
The PM's advice was for votes. She is politiking, and who'd blame her? It's just amazing you are fooled by it. Rather than holding her daily PPB's, I rather she was addressing the reason we're back in lockdown.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/08/nearly-two-thirds-of-nz-s-covid-19-border-isolation-staff-had-never-been-tested-a-week-ago.html
I urge you to send an e-mail tonight as you have single-handedly solved the case of the community spread and found the source of the âindex caseâ. Well done!
I don't for a moment think the covid resurgence was planned. According to Winnie it was a case of incompetence around the management of quarantine https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12356430.
So you do want information from the deputy PM answering media questions, but you do not want information from the PM answering media questions.
This is hard to bear.
You find Winnie a credible source or is this just because it suits you?
Your sweeping insinuations, your refusal to back them up with specific information, and the lack of any substantial evidence are exactly the reasons why you and I clashed in the past. You simply keep repeating the same insinuations and attack lines that are not really “attack lines”, just making some comments and just asking some questions but evading questions by other commenters. Yeah, right! You probably smirk more than Gerry does when you write that kind of nonsense.
You’re not commenting in good faith. I’m letting you know now this ‘game’ will be a lot shorter than in the past here. I’ve already banned Chris T and you’re still free to comment here but this is you only and last warning. Make it work!
" but evading questions by other commenters. "
The reason we've clashed on the past is because you don't exercise moderation with any kind of finesse. Your banning of ChrisT is a classic example. You're idea of unacceptable is something you don’t agree with or don’t understand. It's quite pathetic.
As to "evading questions by other commenters" I challenge you to provide an example. You won't be able to.
Compared to Lprentâs, my Moderation is the epitome of patience and finesse đ
However, it is a diversion again (!) because you donât respond to either way of Moderation here. Nice try, but no cigar for you.
FYI, Chris T has been trolling this site for donkeyâs years, has had many warnings, and copped a few bans. It was the behaviour why Chris T was banned, but that is something that cannot seem to understand and/or accept. Either way, youâre really not that smart to defend Chris T and criticise Moderation on TS. In fact, the latter is a bannable offence here.
Since you asked:
https://thestandard.org.nz/will-national-politicise-the-new-covid-outbreak/#comment-1740831
https://thestandard.org.nz/will-national-politicise-the-new-covid-outbreak/#comment-1740843
https://thestandard.org.nz/will-national-politicise-the-new-covid-outbreak/#comment-1740813
https://thestandard.org.nz/will-national-politicise-the-new-covid-outbreak/#comment-1740902
None of which has been answered by you. All you seem capable of, or willing to, is giving evasive replies that suck oxygen & energy out and away from the commentariat. Maybe youâre a sophisticate trollbot; you certainly come across like one.
BTW, this is your last chance to show that you want to play a part in the TS community although I have a strong suspicion you will blow it in your idiosyncratic way. Still, itâs not over till the Fat Lady sings.
Incognito
Your first link…here's my response, with a clear answer
https://thestandard.org.nz/will-national-politicise-the-new-covid-outbreak/#comment-1740862
Your second link…very clearly answered at https://thestandard.org.nz/will-national-politicise-the-new-covid-outbreak/#comment-1740859.
Your third link…again a very clear response @ https://thestandard.org.nz/will-national-politicise-the-new-covid-outbreak/#comment-1740818
Your fourth link…the one you found difficult to understand, was answered here
https://thestandard.org.nz/will-national-politicise-the-new-covid-outbreak/#comment-1740910.
Next.
BTW, you’re banning of Chris was for a particular comment that was totally innocuous. It was a petulant response that wrecks open dialogue, not enhances it.
[Next? There wonât be a ânextâ for you for a while. Stubborn slow-learner who refuses to take heed. The Fat Lady has sung, a Requiem, just for you. Iâm sure you enjoyed it because you repeatedly asked for it. In the end, I could no longer ignore and refuse your request. God knows I tried. You wonât be wasting anybodyâs time here for two months, by which time the Election will hopefully be done & dusted and the new Government sworn in â Incognito]
See my Moderation note @ 10:42 PM.
I stopped engaging with Paddington on this because there is not even an attempt at good faith. I'm happy to debate and disagree, but not waste my time.
When asked for evidence that "the PM pretends to be a micro-biologist" I would expect at least a quote, an example, or a link. Something to support the claim.
Instead the response was:
"Watch tonights ppb again. You'll see the evidence."
Might as well say "I got nothing, so go search for the wild goose". It's empty bluster, by somebody found out.
The other bloke is not elected leader of the nation. Though he'd have a great shot if he ever wanted to be đ
Yeah, he could go with NZF and actually do its name justice and given the Party some real street cred instead of pandering to horse breeders and fishing industry.
Indeed. These are just two pieces that detail the smell in the relationship between NZF and the racing industry.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-depth/423192/border-exemptions-for-horse-racing-track-workers
https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/11-08-2020/the-sorry-stench-of-nz-firsts-horse-race-politics/