Will National politicise the new Covid outbreak? *
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- Date published:
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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- Release: Children fall deeper through the cracks in Govt cutsWith Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesnât know or care about the frontline cuts sheâs making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...6 days ago
- Release: Labour honours memory of Sir Robert MartinThe Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...7 days ago
- Release: 130,000 cattle saved from live exportLabour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. Â ...1 week ago
- Central Bank makes clear Government is pouring fuel on housing crisis fireTodayâs Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...1 week ago
- New unemployment figures paint bleak pictureThe Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...1 week ago
- Release: Nationalâs job cuts already starting to bite as unemployment risesUnemployment is on the rise and itâs only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. âThis is the second rise in unemployment ...1 week ago
- Release: National hiking transport costs for families and young New ZealandersWeekly expenses will grow for more than 1.6 million New Zealanders as the Government ends free and half price public transport fares tomorrow. ...1 week ago
- Release: Labour welcomes EU free trade agreementThe New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...1 week ago
- Surprise: Landlord tax cuts donât trickle downThe Green Party is renewing its call for rent controls following reports of rental prices hitting an all-time high. ...1 week ago
- Release: $1.7b for no increase in access to medicineThe National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. âThe government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicineâ, said Ayesha Verrall âThis is far from the bold promises made to fund ...1 week ago
- Release: National should heed Tribunal warning and scrap coalition commitment with ACTThis afternoonâs interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour childrenâs spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...1 week ago
- Release: More accountability for preventable workplace deaths this Workersâ Memorial DayLabour is calling for more accountability for preventable workplace deaths because everybody who goes to work deserves to come home safely. ...1 week ago
- Gaza: Aotearoa Must Support Independent Investigation into Mass GravesTe PÄti MÄori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Working together on consistent support for veterans this Anzac DayOur two-tiered system for veteransâ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veteransâ affairs spokesperson Greg OâConnor said. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Penny drops â but what about Seymour and Peters?Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxonâs management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...2 weeks ago
- Another âStolen Generationâ enabled by court ruling on Waitangi Tribunal summonsTonightâs court decision to overturn the summons of the Childrenâs Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about MÄori without evidence, says Te PÄti MÄori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. âThe judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Budget blunder shows Nicola Willis could cut recovery fundingIt appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last yearâs severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...2 weeks ago
- Further environmental mismanagement on the cardsThe Governmentâs resource management reforms will add to the heavy and ever-growing burden this Government is loading on to our environment. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: RMA changes will be a disaster for environmentThe Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labourâs environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour supports urgent changes to emergency management systemLabour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour calls for New Zealand to recognise PalestineThe Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Three strikes law political posturing of worst kindThe Government is bringing back a law that has little evidential backing just to look tough, Labour justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Government cuts unbelievably target child exploitation, violent extremism, ports and airpor...Some of our countryâs most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...2 weeks ago
- Three strikes has failed before and will fail againResurrecting the archaic three-strikes legislation is an unwelcome return to a failed American-style approach to justice. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Environmental protection vital, not âonerousâThe Governmentâs Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a âget out of jail freeâ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...2 weeks ago
- Ferris – Three Strikes targets those âtoo brown to be whiteâThe government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te PÄti MÄori Justice Spokesperson, TÄkuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, MÄori and Pasifika received ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Govt cuts doctors and nurses in hiring freezeCuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...3 weeks ago
- Fast-track submissions period must be extendedThe Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...3 weeks ago
- Release: Progress on climate will be undone by GovtNew Zealandâs good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National governmentâs lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...3 weeks ago
- NZ â European Union ties more critical than ever
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Â Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Â Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Â Ladies and gentlemen -Â Â In diplomacy, we often speak of âcloseâ and âlong-standingâ relations. Â ...7 hours ago - Therapeutic Products Act to be repealedThe Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. âThe medicines and products we are talking about ...10 hours ago
- Decisions on Wellington City Councilâs District PlanThe Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. âWellington notified its District Plan on ...12 hours ago
- Rape Awareness Week: Government committed to action on sexual violenceRape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. âWith 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...13 hours ago
- Smarter lunch programme feeds more, costs lessAssociate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. âWe are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayersâ money ...14 hours ago
- Report provides insights into marine recoveryNew research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in TairÄwhiti and Hawkeâs Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...15 hours ago
- NZ to send political delegation to the PacificDeputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealandâs engagement with the region.  The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu.  âNew Zealand has deep and ...15 hours ago
- Low gas production threatens energy securityThere has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...20 hours ago
- Defence industry talent, commitment recognisedDefence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealandersâ security and wellbeing. âCongratulations to this yearâs recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealandâs defence capabilities, ...1 day ago
- Speech to the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for IndustryWelcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...1 day ago
- Speech to the Sixth Annual New Zealand Government Data SummitIt is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealandâs digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...1 day ago
- Ceasefire agreement needed now: PetersNew Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. Â âThe immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...1 day ago
- Daily school attendance data now availableA new online data dashboard released today as part of the Governmentâs school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...2 days ago
- Ambassador to United States appointedForeign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealandâs next Ambassador to the United States of America.  âOur relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,â Mr Peters says.  âNew Zealand and the United States have a ...2 days ago
- New permit proposed for recreational gold miningThe Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. âNew Zealand was built on gold, itâs in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...2 days ago
- NZ and the UAE launch FTA negotiationsMinister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...2 days ago
- New Zealand Sign Language Week an opportunity for anyone to signNew Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is âan Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhereâ and aims to ...2 days ago
- Next stop NASA for New Zealand studentsSix tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. âThis is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASAâs Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...2 days ago
- $1.9 billion investment to keep NZ safe from crimeNew Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. âOur Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...2 days ago
- OECD reinforces need to control spendingThe OECDâs latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its membersâ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli.  ...2 days ago
- Agreement delivers Local Water Done Well for AucklandThe Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Councilâs Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...4 days ago
- Gaza and the Pacific on the agenda with GermanyForeign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today.  "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...5 days ago
- Decision allows for housing growth in Western Bay of PlentyThe Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Councilâs Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...6 days ago
- Speech to New Zealand China CouncilThank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today.  Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...6 days ago
- Modern insurance law will protect Kiwi householdsThe Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. âThese reforms are long overdue. New Zealandâs insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...6 days ago
- Government recommits to equal payThe coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. âThree years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...6 days ago
- Transforming how our children learn to readStructured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. âBeing able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...6 days ago
- NZ not backing down in Canada dairy disputeTrade Minister Todd McClay says Canadaâs refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ânext moveâ ...7 days ago
- Stronger oversight for our most vulnerable childrenThe rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Childrenâs Commissioner. âThe Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...7 days ago
- Streamlining Building Consent ChangesThe Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.    âThe coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...7 days ago
- Minister acknowledges passing of Sir Robert Martin (KNZM)New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. âOur Governmentâs thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...1 week ago
- Speech to New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Parliament â Annual Lecture: Challenges ...Good evening â  Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealandâs foreign policy, weâd like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...1 week ago
- Accelerating airport security linesFrom today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. âCreating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...1 week ago
- Community hui to talk about kina barrensPeople with an interest in the health of Northlandâs marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...1 week ago
- Kiwi exporters win as NZ-EU FTA enters into forceKiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. âThis is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the countryâs total economic activity. ...1 week ago
- Mining resurgence a welcome signThere are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. âThe beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...1 week ago
- Ĺ-RÄkau Remembrance Bill passes first readingThe return of the historic Ĺ-RÄkau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mĹ Ĺ-RÄkau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ĺ-RÄkau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...1 week ago
- Government to boost public EV charging networkEnergy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Governmentâs plan to supercharge New Zealandâs EV infrastructure. The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four â and up to 10 ...1 week ago
- Residential Property Managers Bill to not progressThe coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Governmentâs plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. âI have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...1 week ago
- Independent review into disability support servicesThe Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People â Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...1 week ago
- Politics with Michelle Grattan: James Paterson on prospects for passage of the governmentâs deport...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Next week the government will again next try to get its legislation through to deal with non-citizens who wonât cooperate with efforts to deport them. The bill, which the opposition and crossbench refused to rush ...5 hours ago - NZCTU Launch Project To Set Out Alternative Vision For Aotearoa
A long-term project that will set out an alternative vision for Aotearoa that looks beyond the narrow confines of the policy straight jacket adopted by successive governments. ...7 hours ago - Yes, Australiaâs big supermarkets have been price gouging. But fixing the problem wonât be easySource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bree Hurst, Associate Professor, Faculty of Business and Law, QUT, Queensland University of Technology TK Kurikawa/Shutterstock A much-awaited report into Coles and Woolworths has found what many customers have long believed â Australiaâs big supermarkets engage in price gouging. What started ...7 hours ago
- The government wanted to avoid an inquiry into its deportation bill. Given the findings, itâs easy...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Ghezelbash, Associate Professor and Deputy Director, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Law & Justice, UNSW Sydney The Albanese government wanted to avoid an inquiry into its migration amendment bill. The report, handed down yesterday by a senate committee that ...7 hours ago
- Senate report on lobbying passes the buck on improving transparency or legislationSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joo-Cheong Tham, Professor, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne Lobbying is at the heart of government. Who has access to and influence over key government officials shapes the decisions governments make â and how they make them. The ability to influence ...7 hours ago
- NgÄti Toa rallies against Fast Track Approvals Bill
Iwi would not allow the government to degrade its whenua, moana or awa for the purpose of urban development, ministers were told. ...8 hours ago - Free school lunches: Labour MP apologises over 'offensive' Hamas tweet to SeymourDuncan Webb had queried if the ACT leader did not like hummus because it is too close to Hamas. ...8 hours ago
- Australiaâs Eurovision entry this year is the first to sing in First Nations language: meet Electr...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Myfany Turpin, Associate Professor, Ethnomusicology, Linguistics and Ethnobiology, University of Sydney The act representing Australia at this yearâs Eurovision contest has sadly not qualified for the grand final. Yet for Zaachariaha Fielding and Michael Ross, the duo that makes up Electric Fields, ...9 hours ago
- Labour claims win as govt commits to new free school lunches modelThe Labour Party is claiming a win for its campaign that the government commit to keeping and funding free school lunches. ...9 hours ago
- A definitive list of woke and non-woke foods
In announcing changes to the school lunches programme, David Seymour said kids would no longer be served âwokeâ foods. To clear up any confusion, The Spinoff has compiled a guide to the wokeness levels of some common food items. Apple = NOT WOKE Avocado = WOKE Avocado, smashed = EVEN ...10 hours ago - Future of the planet more important than the Greens survival, former co-leader James Shaw saysFormer Green Party co-leader James Shaw calls out tribalism and hyper-partisanship - including in his own party. ...10 hours ago
- Fourth urgent inquiry by the Waitangi Tribunal, this time on MÄori wardsThe Tribunal is conducting another urgent inquiry into plans to require councils to hold a binding referendum on MÄori wards. ...10 hours ago
- NCSC Briefs IPAC Representatives On Response To Malicious Cyber ActivityThe Minister Responsible for GCSB and the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security have been notified of this review, and have been provided a finalised Terms of Reference. ...11 hours ago
- How is China being taught at Australian universities? And why does this matter? Hereâs what our re...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Minglu Chen, Senior Lecturer, Government and International Relations, University of Sydney Robert Way/Shutterstock As the past few years have illustrated so clearly, the Australia-China relationship is complicated. As such, it is crucial for Australians to develop a more nuanced understanding of ...11 hours ago
- Saving the Mary River turtle: how the people of Tiaro rallied behind an iconic speciesSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mariana Campbell, Research Lecturer, Conservation, Charles Darwin University Marilyn Connell Australian freshwater turtles are facing an alarming trend. Almost half of these species are listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered. The Mary River turtle (Elusor macrurus) is one of Australiaâs ...11 hours ago
- Why are algorithms called algorithms? A brief history of the Persian polymath youâve likely never ...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Debbie Passey, Digital Health Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne Algorithms have become integral to our lives. From social media apps to Netflix, algorithms learn your preferences and prioritise the content you are shown. Google Maps and artificial intelligence are nothing without ...11 hours ago
- Neuroaffirming care values the strengths and differences of autistic people, those with ADHD or othe...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Josephine Barbaro, Associate Professor, Principal Research Fellow, Psychologist, La Trobe University Unsplash Weâve come a long way in terms of understanding that everyone thinks, interacts and experiences the world differently. In the past, autistic people, people with attention deficit hyperactive disorder ...11 hours ago
- âRecklessâ kina devaluation spells disaster for PNG, says NomanePNG Post-Courier Papua New Guineaâs deputy opposition leader James Nomane has accused the government of âreckless economic managementâ that has forced devaluation to manage loan repayments in foreign currency and placate the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Prime Minister James Marape âmust stop lying to the people of Papua New Guineaâ, ...11 hours ago
- Modernising Census â Stats NZFrom today, members of the public can have their say on what Aotearoa New Zealandâs census could look like in the future. ...11 hours ago
- âI do love a good funnysad novelâ: Jane Arthur on her favourite booksWelcome to The Spinoff Bookseller Confessional, in which we get to know Aotearoaâs booksellers. This week: Jane Arthur, author of Brown Bird, and former bookseller at Good Books. The book I wish Iâd written I have been working on not comparing myself to others. On accepting that what I can ...11 hours ago
- RMA Minister rejects Wellington council's bid to remove heritage protections from buildingsCouncil did not provide sufficient evidence to support its reasons for removing the 10 buildings from the Heritage schedule, Chris Bishop says. ...12 hours ago
- War for Wellington: Minister approves sweeping upzoning, rejects heritage changesThe final decision on the Wellington District Plan makes it official: High-density housing is legal across most of Wellington. Housing minister Chris Bishop has announced his decision on the Wellington District Plan, approving a series of amendments to radically upzone most of Wellington, allowing tens of thousands of new townhouses ...12 hours ago
- Bryce Edwards Analysis â Following the political moneyAnalysis by Dr Bryce Edwards – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz) Political scientist, Dr Bryce Edwards. âFollow the moneyâ is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to ...12 hours ago
- Free school lunches: Year 7 students and above to shift to alternative modelA new interim delivery model will kick in next year to allow time for a full redesign of the scheme before any more money is dedicated. ...13 hours ago
- Rafah âlast place of safetyâ in Gaza, UN aid boss warnsRNZ News As Israel presses ahead with strikes in Rafah and seizing the Rafah crossing from Egypt, aid agencies are sounding the alarm of a âcatastrophic humanitarian situationâ. Rafah was âsignificantâ because it was the only part in Gaza that had not been terribly damaged by the conflict, United Nations ...13 hours ago
- Foreign Affairs minister to lead Pacific delegationThe Foreign Affairs minister is heading on a five-stop Pacific tour, which he says will strengthen New Zealand's engagement in the region. ...13 hours ago
- Why weâre fighting to save Te Huia, the Hamilton-Auckland trainWith funding set to be scrapped for the Hamilton-Auckland commuter train, Te Huia enthusiast Georgie Dansey argues for it to be thrown a lifeline. Itâs 5.45am and the chain of my crappy old bike falls off slugging up the one hill in Hamilton. I contemplate yeeting the bike into the ...13 hours ago
- Greens Call On Government To Keep Same-day Election Enrolment And VotingOn Radio New Zealand this morning, the Justice Minister stated the Government was considering ending election day enrolments. ...13 hours ago
- Many people are feeling ecological grief. How can we help those whose work puts them at risk?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Cooke, Honorary Fellow, School of the Environment, The University of Queensland We feel ecological grief when we lose places, species or ecosystems we value and love. These losses are a growing threat to mental health and wellbeing globally. We all see ...13 hours ago
- Revitalizing Torontoâs downtown core after COVID-19 greatly benefits the city and the regionSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shauna Brail, Associate Professor, Institute for Management & Innovation, University of Toronto A shift to hybrid and remote work continues to affect worker presence in Toronto’s downtown. (Shutterstock) Downtown Toronto, the core of Canadaâs largest city, continues to reel from the lingering ...13 hours ago
- Government quiet on costs, building plan for Waikato prison expansionThe extra beds would take longer than the four-years covered in this week's budget announcement to deliver, the Corrections Minister told RNZ. ...14 hours ago
- Chief Electoral Officer Needs To Fall On His SwordResponding to an Auditor-General's report slamming failures in the administration of the 2023 General Election, Taxpayersâ Union Policy and Public Affairs Manager, James Ross, said: ...14 hours ago
- How many productivity apps do I have to use to become more productive?Productivity apps now make up a big chunk of the software market. But do they work? And why do they all have AI integrations? Despite being firmly on the record as a physical planner fan, I sometimes dream of something better than my pretty diary and its scrawled, ugly, interior ...15 hours ago
- Government considers removing election day voter enrolmentJustice Minister Paul Goldsmith says very few countries allow it, and New Zealand should consider changing the rules. ...15 hours ago
- Beehive Need To Lead By ExampleThe Taxpayersâ Union says the Beehive need to lead by example, following reports of more than $50,000 spent upgrading video conferencing equipment and furniture in the Prime Ministerâs office. Taxpayersâ Union Campaign Manager, Connor Molloy, ...15 hours ago
- The Spinoff Power List: 50 New Zealanders you need to knowAn objective list of the 50 most powerful people in New Zealand, as judged by the Spinoff Editorial Board. Itâs power list season, baby, and we want in on the action. Sure, thereâs the rich list and the powerful âc-suiteâ list and the young people with power (hmmm) but here, ...16 hours ago
- First Nations imprisonment is already at a record high. Unless government policy changes, it will on...Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thalia Anthony, Professor of Law, University of Technology Sydney Shutterstock This article contains information on deaths in custody and the names of deceased people, and describes ongoing colonial violence towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. First Nations people in Australia ...16 hours ago
- Martha isnât Baby Reindeerâs biggest villain. So why is she painted as such?Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alex Simpson, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Macquarie University Netflix Baby Reindeerâs phenomenal success has much to do with its writer and lead, Richard Gadd, who plays Donny in a tender semi-autobiographical account of sexual abuse, harassment and stalking. Gaddâs story has ...17 hours ago
- Yes, adults can develop food allergies. Here are 4 types you need to know aboutSource: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Collins, Laureate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Newcastle KarolinaGrabowska/Pexels If you didnât have food allergies as a child, is it possible to develop them as an adult? The short answer is yes. But the reasons why are much ...17 hours ago
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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/